Savage Beatings Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Not including re-signs, here's how I would grade the Vikings' FA pick ups so far this off-season... Chester Taylor (BAL) RB / A- Ryan Longwell (GB) K / B- Ben Leber (SD) LB / B- Steve Hutchinson (SEA) G / A+ Tony Richardson (KC) FB / B+ Mike McMahon (PHI) QB / D Tank Williams (TEN) SS / B- DeQuincy Scott (SD) DE / B Total Average Grade - just barely below a B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Ryan Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 (edited) My grade of the Vikings Chester Taylor (BAL) RB / D / already have better RB on team, M Moore Ryan Longwell (GB) K / B- / nice signing Ben Leber (SD) LB / c- / below average starter Steve Hutchinson (SEA) G / B / money paid was rediculous, nice player. Tony Richardson (KC) FB / D / How old is he again Mike McMahon (PHI) QB / D / As a #3, not bad Tank Williams (TEN) SS / B / Upgrades the position. DeQuincy Scott (SD) DE / D / De who? exactly. Overall Grade C- . Hutch is great, but at that price, cost you a legit RB like Edge or Alexander when he was available. Losing Moss and Culpepper in consecutive years put this franchise back 5 yrs, and signing Richardson, and starting Brad Johnson and Chester Taylor compares favorably to Dallas a few yrs back with Quincy Carter and Troy hambrick, flat out awful, and who is the teams #1 Wr, or #2 for that matter. I just dont see what the Queens are doing with this franchise. The new coach cant shut his mouth, ran off Culpepper, and is showing to be a poor evaluator of talent thus far, and severly overspending to lure the quality talent he has acquired, in Hutch, a OG. I dont dislike the Vikings and actually bought into the hype they might be better off without Randy last yr and completely bought into the additions on defense last yr and predicted this team to compete for the NFC Championship. But now I just dont see this as a respectable offense, and the defense is full of players, but no chemistry and little coaching, last yr anyway. Edited March 24, 2006 by Sgt. Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Score 1 Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Not including re-signs, here's how I would grade the Vikings' FA pick ups so far this off-season... Chester Taylor (BAL) RB / A- Ryan Longwell (GB) K / B- Ben Leber (SD) LB / B- Steve Hutchinson (SEA) G / A+ Tony Richardson (KC) FB / B+ Mike McMahon (PHI) QB / D F- Tank Williams (TEN) SS / B- DeQuincy Scott (SD) DE / B Total Average Grade - just barely below above a B C 1386280[/snapback] Fixed it for you Savage Beatings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swiss Cheezhead Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Concur with Sarge. Honestly -- bias aside. I can't believe they're putting their faith in Brad Johnson and Chester Taylor AND haven't signed any cover-2 LBs. I would have raided the Colts' stable or traded for Quarles or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spain Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I actually like Chester Taylor. But what are they going to do with the other 47 running backs on that team? Mewelde Moore has played well when given a chance and I am not quite sure that Taylor is really an upgrade over him. Maybe they only brought in Taylor for depth. Onterrio "SOD" Smith is coming back from Copper Head Row. Moe Williams is still there? What about the incomparable Larry Ned? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted March 24, 2006 Author Share Posted March 24, 2006 Concur with Sarge. Honestly -- bias aside. I can't believe they're putting their faith in Brad Johnson and Chester Taylor AND haven't signed any cover-2 LBs. I would have raided the Colts' stable or traded for Quarles or something. 1386329[/snapback] Fair enough. I'm just throwing my opinion out there, and you're right I obviously am biased and am looking for the best in each signing. But I don't mind the Chester Taylor signing at all. I think it will really pan out especially with an improved o-line. He's got game experience without the wear and tear, plus he can catch out of the backfield. With Richardson blocking for him too, he'll find some nice holes this year. Johnson is just an obvious fill-in player for now. I fully expect the Vikes to go after a young franchise QB in the draft this year. I also expect them to take advantage of what is considered to be one of the strongest classes of Linebackers to come out in a long time. It might not be a first or second rounder, but with so much depth out there we should still be able to find some talented young LB's to round out the cover-2 defense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 You can tell savage isn't a teacher with the grades he gave the players signed, the average is B. No worries guys as a teacher, especially around report card time, I can take a little time out to help compute averages for you. The Professor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBalata Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I actually like Chester Taylor. But what are they going to do with the other 47 running backs on that team? Mewelde Moore has played well when given a chance and I am not quite sure that Taylor is really an upgrade over him. Maybe they only brought in Taylor for depth. Onterrio "SOD" Smith is coming back from Copper Head Row. Moe Williams is still there? What about the incomparable Larry Ned? 1386340[/snapback] Larry Ned has been gone for a couple years. Moe is retiring. Smith still has to apply to the NFL for reinstatement. That leaves us with Moore, Taylor, Fiason and Richardson right now. I've always liked Mewelde too, but he hasn't shown he can stay healthy yet either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I'd give Longwell a better grade because he's also good at kickoffs. I'd give Taylor a lower grade but not much lower because he'll fit into the system very well. Hutch makes the overall grade better than what many other teams would grade out as. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexgaddis Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 How can you give Hutch a lower grade because they paid alot for him...he still will make the left side the best in the NFC... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 When Childress was mentioning his running backs this week, the whizzinator was not mentioned at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dread Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 When Childress was mentioning his running backs this week, the whizzinator was not mentioned at all. 1386370[/snapback] But he did mention Echemandu.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VikesGuy Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Not including re-signs, here's how I would grade the Vikings' FA pick ups so far this off-season... Chester Taylor (BAL) RB / A- Ryan Longwell (GB) K / B- Ben Leber (SD) LB / B- Steve Hutchinson (SEA) G / A+ Tony Richardson (KC) FB / B+ Mike McMahon (PHI) QB / D Tank Williams (TEN) SS / B- DeQuincy Scott (SD) DE / B Total Average Grade - just barely below a B 1386280[/snapback] Why are you so Harsh on McMahon, he is a pretty athletic QB. And actually showed some signs of decency in Phily. For a back up not bad i would at least give that a C. I haven't seen too much of Tank but you got to love a player with that name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmast Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Why are you so Harsh on McMahon, he is a pretty athletic QB. And actually showed some signs of decency in Phily. For a back up not bad i would at least give that a C. I haven't seen too much of Tank but you got to love a player with that name. 1386472[/snapback] He looked horrible in Phili. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmast Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I'd give Longwell a better grade because he's also good at kickoffs.I'd give Taylor a lower grade but not much lower because he'll fit into the system very well. Hutch makes the overall grade better than what many other teams would grade out as. 1386362[/snapback] Longwell is not that great at kickoffs. I think they had a darn good offseason, but they are taking a bigger risk at RB and QB than they have to, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VikesGuy Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 He looked horrible in Phili. 1386478[/snapback] Even if that were the case it is still a smart move on the Vikes part. You don't have to teach the BU QB the system. He already knows it. More time can be spent on the Vet and Rookie that they will draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Scorp Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I'm not sure that you can lower Hutch's grade because how much salary you paid him. As far as signing a "big name" RB...Edge has a lot of wear and tear and Alexander never really hit the market. I concur that they have a mess in the backfield but the signing of Richardson is not a bad signing. The last time he hooked up with a back up RB from the Ravens it turned out quite well! If nothing else he can teach the young RB's a thing or too. Longwell has proven he can kick well in the Dome, and his kickoffs will also improve since he won't be kicking a frozen ball half the season. The Vikings can still aquire cover 2 LB's in the draft and who knows if the current LB's (who are quick) might be better suited for the cover two versus the previous system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Downgrading the Vikings moves because they "overpaid" for Hutchinson is the dumbest thing I've ever heard at the Huddle. This is a team that pays roster instead of signing bonuses (Winfield) so they can stay over the minimum spending cap. Now that Red is gone, the team goes out and signs a player from a team that would've matched if they possibly could for the very same price. Now we seem to be criticizing the Vikes for completely different reasons than before. This may be an understatement but Don't bring the team back to the way it was with Red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmast Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Downgrading the Vikings moves because they "overpaid" for Hutchinson is the dumbest thing I've ever heard at the Huddle. This is a team that pays roster instead of signing bonuses (Winfield) so they can stay over the minimum spending cap. Don't bring the team back to the way it was with Red. 1386581[/snapback] Agreed. I think they overpaid, but sometimes you have to overpay to get all the pieces you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted March 24, 2006 Author Share Posted March 24, 2006 But he did mention Echemandu.... 1386463[/snapback] Yes, he did in fact mention Echemandu. As noted he did not mention Moe Williams (who is supposedly retiring) and he did not mention Onterrio Smith (but someone pointed out that he might not be able to comment on Onterrio until/if he is officially reinstated by the NFL). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outshined Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 Even if that were the case it is still a smart move on the Vikes part. You don't have to teach the BU QB the system. He already knows it. More time can be spent on the Vet and Rookie that they will draft. 1386489[/snapback] Exactly what I was going to say. Who cares if the he looked horrible in Philly and DTW. Who did they have surrounding him? Its less time spent on him and more time on other areas. I am just glad they signed some players and are active in trying to win compared to our last owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted March 24, 2006 Share Posted March 24, 2006 I haven't seen too much of Tank but you got to love a player with that name. 1386472[/snapback] no way, i can h8 Tank if i want to seriously, i have to agree with the scathing truth above from sarge. their skill position starters are probably the worst in the NFL. there's not much half a good o-line can do for you when that's the case. the vikes' only hope of being even mediocre is that that talent on defense REALLY gels this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 (edited) I'd give Longwell a better grade because he's also good at kickoffs. 1386362[/snapback] I've heard Longwell sucks at kickoffs and can't reach the endzone. I'm disappointed we didn't land Vinatieri instead. Edited March 25, 2006 by CaP'N GRuNGe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
URLACHERisGOD Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Does it really matter? All of those signings last year on defense and the Vikings still had a bum defense. Big names don't always equal big play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 (edited) Does it really matter? All of those signings last year on defense and the Vikings still had a bum defense. Big names don't always equal big play. 1387291[/snapback] It takes time for players to gel in a scheme and that winning streak you saw at the end of the year was more of a reflection of better defense being played than Brad Johnson. An easy schedule sure didn't hurt either though. Now they ALL get to learn a new scheme. But supposedly the cover 2 is very simplistic compared to what Cottrell was calling. Edited March 25, 2006 by CaP'N GRuNGe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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