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PSYclone22

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In Spielman's tenure (since 2012), only seven offensive linemen have been drafted in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd rounds, including the five in the last four years you mention with many ranking middle of the pack in their respective positions last year. They ranked 28th in pass blocking last year, 23rd in run blocking the previous year.

Maybe they are trying to pay more attention to it now, but not making it a higher priority throughout the Spielman tenure has hurt. That's the only glaring blemish among the playmakers he HAS drafted though.
The average NFL team has drafted 5.5 offensive linemen in rounds 1-3 between 2012 and 2021.
 
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Mr Janny

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In Spielman's tenure (since 2012), only seven offensive linemen have been drafted in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd rounds, including the five in the last four years you mention with many ranking middle of the pack in their respective positions last year. They ranked 28th in pass blocking last year, 23rd in run blocking the previous year.

Maybe they are trying to pay more attention to it now, but not making it a higher priority throughout the Spielman tenure has hurt. That's the only glaring blemish among the playmakers he HAS drafted though.
That's fair.
 

cyfan92

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Sep 20, 2011
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Cousins's cap hit this year is lower than Rodgers's but Green Bay has managed to pay Bakhtiari and have one of the better offensive lines in the league.

The issue to me is less Cousins's contract, more paying the combination of Harrison Smith (16M avg salary) / Barr (10M) / Kendricks (10M) / Tomlinson (10.5M) / Pierce (9M) / Richardson (3.6M) a combined 59.1M in average salary and still not being able to stop the run.

Zimmer is a great defensive coach (at least as witnessed by his time in Cincinatti) who should be able to do more with less on defense and somehow has managed to do less with more on defense. And the money spent there has directly impacted the ability to spend on the offensive line.

I kind of agree on Spielman. But Zimmer's calling card is defense. If he can't get well paid, proven vets to perform.. He needs to leave. My biggest issue with Spielman is his draft picks in round 1

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Reaches far too often for needs and doesn't take BPA or players at positions that hit at a higher rate. Stop taking first round corners with Zimmer who doesn't have the patience to groom. GO sign vets instead

Ponder pick was horrific and such a reach
Kalil was a consensus good pick that didn't work. It was a brutally bad draft after the Luck, Griffen and Kalil
Smith was a borderline HOF pick
2013-2014 drafts were awesome. The biggest issues were coaches missusing talent (ZImmer issue) and bad injury luck
Trae Waynes was OK. But I think it was zimmer issues more than reaching
2016-2019 was REALLY bad. Horrible reaching for positions of NEED not BPA.
2020 draft is a home run without Gladney. Would be a grand slam had Gladney not been a women beater
2021 was widely praised for trading back 9 spots to get the same player you wanted at 14. We shall see how Darrisaw looks once he enters play. Reserve judgement until after several starts. Only wish was Slater and Sewell were obviously the best tackles. Would have love to go bet them as they both look sooo good
 

ISpyCy

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This explains a lot...
 
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AuH2O

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Is that really true though?
The Vikings have selected an offensive lineman using a first or second round pick in each of the last 4 drafts. Two 1st round picks and two 2nd round picks. And this year they used a 3rd round pick on a lineman.

The list of other teams that have spent that kind of draft capital on the line isn't very long.
Now you can make an argument that the picks haven't panned out, but it's hard to say that they don't care or aren't trying to add talent.
The problem is it is the largest unit on the team, and the unit they have addressed the least with signing new or retaining free agents. It’s also the unit that they have had the least success in identifying or developing under the radar talent. Given those factors their recent draft activity should be the minimal expectation and is probably too little, too late.
 

Mr Janny

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What’s latest on Kene? He get any touches then?
I'm not sure if he's active yet. They designated him for return from IR, but he still has up to 3 weeks before he counts against the roster.
 
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Mr Janny

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That was a really nice effort by Mattison
 

Mr Janny

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I'm not sure Zimmer makes it to Monday.
 
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