I'll give them a bump up to an overall C- for resigning Griffin and adding some
depth/competition with Paymah....Don't forget they did re-.sign Farwell who
should help the Special Teams. I think that the plan they had before the
Offseason blew up in their face...I think their plan was to Sign Gross from the
Panthers who never hit the market, TJ Hoos your Mama, then see where the were at
before going after Birk..It blew up in there face and the rest of the FA that
were out there was/is pretty weak. I don't expect any other signings other than
players that may be for depth... Tauschers a 9 year vet coming off an injury so
I doubt it. So it may be time to turn our attention to the draft....

Since we are about a month away from the draft, assuming no trades who should
the Vikes take at #22 and 2nd round pick #54.

I'll take my shot and say they take the best WR available at 22 either Harvin,
Nicks,or Britt, I'll even throw Robiskie out there even though he's more of a
2nd round prospect but won't be there when the Vikes pick at #54 I think they go
best OL this may be an interesting pick don't be suprised if they pick a gaurd
or a center instead of a tackle it just depends who's there I'll say RT
Loadholdt from Oaklahoma or G Duke Robinson from Oaklahomoa

Okay Rusty, Buffster, Al, Stan Bill your turn. Your on the clock!!

Joel


-- In novavikes@yahoogroups.com, "mbuffster" <Mbuffster@...> wrote:
>
> Rusty,
>
> I agree with your analysis and grade of a D+ on efforts to improve the team
this offseason. Bottom Line: The Z-Man may have decidied not to burn more cash
when the state of Minnesota has shown no effort to support a new stadium. I do
not blame him. The Vikes have tons of cap room - approx $30M - and are not
spending $$$ this year. I don't blame him and agree with his decision.
>
> Sadly, the team will not improve much if any over last year without upgrading
at some key positions like C, RT, WR and QB. My only hope is that T-Jack stays
off the field. Everyone but a few crazed Viking fans realized this a long, long
time ago. I knew it was a mistake the day we drafted the guy due to a less than
flattering scouting report and the fact that he could not cut it at the
University of Arkansas.
>
> Three years of time and effort with this guy is too much already. He is in the
last year of his contract and the Vikes have shown no interest in signing him to
an extension - a great move - need to keep it that way and move on. Time to
call endex to this project and move forward with our best but less than optimal
QB option - Sage is now the man. At least he has the intelligence to play the
game. T-Jack was not the answer and never will be, because he lacks
intelligence, poise, confidence and leadership not to mention the fact that he
can't hit the broad side of a barn while tossing the ball with horrible
mechanics and in a dumb mistake prone manner.
>
> GO VIKES!!!
>
> Buffster
>
> --- In novavikes@yahoogroups.com, "Rusty OBrien" <James.OBrien.ctr@> wrote:
> >
> > Well NovaVikes, I'm really suprised nobody is squawking on this site, but
here's my take.
> >
> > To date -- a D+, and that's being kind. Sage??? Yet, I am again the
optomist thinking maybe they aren't as dumb as they sometimes look, and maybe
they have a plan to make huge deal.
> >
> > I've read (and believe) the stories from the front office that the free
agent pickings are slim and I do recognize they tried hard for Houshbag.
Apparently, other teams aren't jumping all over Sharper and the other Vikings
FAs (so, front office judgment nay be vindicated here and this may work out for
the better).
> >
> > Keeping Kleinsasser and Heath were good moves and Paymah will improve
special teams ...
> >
> > However, they misjudged (or lowballed) Birk while not reacting fast enough
to get a quality FA center (Brown, the ex-Raven). And they watched decent FA
tackles get picked off one by one. The off-season is about filling holes and
lowering uncertainties. These moves (or non-moves) actually increased the
number of holes and the level of uncertainty on the OL. Huh?
> >
> > I don't want to talk about Sapp.
> >
> > My faint glimmer of hope is that Sage is not the planned-for QB of this team
and that they have designs on McNabb or Cutler (and earlier held some hope for a
Warner or Cassel to come their way).
> >
> > How do they save the off-season and truly build a team capable of going deep
in the playoffs? Go for either Cutler (emotional baggage and all)or McNabb
(ditto on the baggage) even if it costs their 1st and a 2nd next year -- and
make TJ or Sage part of the deal.
> >
> > Then they need to sign Tauscher quickly as insurance to also getting a
quality T with their #2 selection. Then go for best available WR or DT at #3
selection.
> >
> > This would give me reasonable confidence -- and I would give them a B+
grade. Maybe even an A-.
> >
> > Oh weel, just daydreaming. I'll wake up soon and be forced to root for Sage
(or TJ) and expect poor-to fair play from center and Cook or a rookie at RT.
And a 9-7 season next year (have you seen the 2009 opponents?).
> >
> > Rusty
> >
>