Offensive Line: Isodora
It is quite clear that Pat Elflein is the glue that holds
this whole thing together.
Bud Grant understood the undeniable
importance of this position, where last year we were forced into the playoffs
with one sledge hammer tied behind our backs. Don't get me wrong in that
Berger provided more than a reliable option as he performed at a very high level
at center but we had to remove him as a solid piece at right guard to become our new
field general in the center. Add that to the our other losses that
included Easton and what was left standing there was a
depleted corps vying for the NFL's greatest prize.
We need to do better and to do so ... we need to proactively realize
potential.
With Elflein on the mend, we had no choice but to find Berger's position
flexibility to fill the role at center. The result was to trade a 7th
round pick to the New York Giants for Brent Jones. Overall I was not
overly impressed with his play as he appeared to be man-handled at times but we
had little choice as we were buying time as well as position experience to
protect the asset known as Cousins. We can thank our lucky stars
that it didn't manifest into another event of the magnitude inflicted upon us
like Bradford/Bridgewater which ended up added vital pieces to Philadelphia's
crew.
Now we find ourselves at that juncture in regard to that impressive asset also
known as Kirk Cousins. Not only did he join our organization to take on
its primary leadership role ... he has also brought along some goodies with
him. The first major item, of course, is our back up plan starting at left guard Tom Compton
due to the injury to Easton. The second, which has blown my doors off, is
known to us by #17 Aldrick Robinson (maybe it's time to introduce him to the
Purple Nation & America). To be
direct, in regard to Tom Compton, for Kirk Cousins, he was a known commodity that
has clearly had a history of providing our quarterback with a blanket of
security. However one question still remains ... is Tom Compton our best
option in regard to the starting five in those nasty trenches?
Now let's look at this another way. In Kirk Cousins eyes, he might be
openly stating that Tom Compton is my guy (end of discussion) but this is the
NFL. That group of five also includes his tight ends & blocking backs
that provides his overall umbrella. To be direct, what we've witnessed up
to and
including our first seven regular season games has been alarming, if not
distressing. Of course you could say that Kirk Cousins "alarming-hurries-stat", as well as the brutal punishment that he's been exposed to this year,
has been due to Kirk Cousins holding onto the ball too long ... but this stat
alone is
beyond the pail. When you hear Kirk Cousins describes the
aftermath of each game as somewhat equivalent to being in a car accident ... the
red flags start rising in earnest. The follow up question to this
statement should have been, "Is this new or has it been every week playing
quarterback in the NFL?" ... but we'll never know as a lid will certainly
drop on this one. Now to put Kirk's statement into perspective, this is
not to brag (knock on wood), but I've been in several car incidents being very
fortunate in each case, but nothing that I've experienced can ever compare to
taking an NFL hit. Sure Kirk Cousins is not talking about tangling with a
fully loaded 18 wheeler but he's also not talking about a simple fender bender
either. Maybe it's time for the big Chief to step in & take the reigns
as there just might be a better option as we all know a dual dimension will
always trump a one-dimensional offense.
Which gets us back to our offensive line evaluation that once again is screaming
in my ears. Last year we brought in free agents of Riley Reiff at Left
tackle and Mike Remmers at Right Tackle. Reiff has been stalwart, where he
may not be the best left tackle in the league but he most certainly has been
doing very well, holding his own. That is, right up to the point that we faced the Buffalo
Bills. The cause of course being his foot injury, that now has had two weeks to heal.
In short, what we need is a healthy Riley Reiff & if we need to wait for
that to happen ... so be it. He's just too important a piece to have when
the chips are down.
One of the best moves I've seen
this organization make ever was in moving Mike Remmers to Right Guard. To
be direct, an ego would have prevented this move in the past, but planting Mike there with
occasional watering just might make him & this organization the happiest
bunch of cogs
ever known to man. At times at Right Tackle he appeared to be out of his
element but at right guard, what we see is steady improvement on the right side
of that line. Each game day he's gaining
more & more experience & he's melding more & more with that group of
knuckleheads. It's as if Mike was an NFL quarterback being
moved to safety. In time he will look like he's accelerating where that
safety somehow knows exactly what
the opposing quarterback will be doing. Now that's line play & you've
just broken the seal on Brian O'Niel. Why did it take us so long to
understand the principals of all that potential energy?
Which brings us to November 15, 2016 when Rick Spielman pulled the trigger
freeing Rashod Hill from the Jacksonville's practice squad. Remembering that
first start at tackle there was a comment thrown out there, "Who the heck is
this guy?" Something brought me to blurt out ... "You watch ... this
guy just might end up starting for this team for the next 10 years."
So, should Rashod Hill be a Minnesota Vikings opening day roster starting left of
right tackle ... well the answer to that question is most likely no, but just
take a look at the number of starts & relief appearances that this dude has
handled on both the right & left side. It is clear to see his value to
this franchise & we have been very fortunate indeed to have found him. Up to the moment he joined this franchise,
our offensive line couldn't protect
anybody ... then something wonderful happened ... we actually had found a real
life offensive tackle.
It's not Rashod Hill's fault that the "big guy" didn't give him a #1 draft pick's athletic
body & skills set but is our fortune that he was blessed with the heart of a
Viking ... maybe the best compliment you can give anyone.
So where is this going? Well things happen for a reason. Was it just
happenstance that the left side of our offensive line is no longer protecting
Kirk Cousins with both Riley Reiff & Tom Compton dealing with
injuries? Is it just a coincidence that Brian O'Niel has been thrust into
the fires of holding down right tackle? Well if you answered no to any of
these questions ... then you'd be right. For some unknown reason, we have
always formulated our game time battle plans, using concepts similar to the generals
of history ... which are later accused of fighting their wars
& battles ... using obsolete ideas & concepts. What results are massive & unforeseen losses due to
fighting these battles upon new battlegrounds where the battle plan gets based upon
events that should have been left in the past. In regard to this franchise, it
has a nasty habit of ignoring its full potential ... especially in regard to its
untested or unrealized athletes. Sure experience is important but it
should never trump untapped potential as game time experience may have been
granted ... as there was, simply stated, "No other option". Thus
is the reason that Game 1 of the season is only a building block of that season
whereas the most important game of the year is known as the Super Bowl.
Said another way, "Only a moron would try to unleash an athletes potential
in the biggest game of the year". Maybe the most important quote for
this franchise might be, "The only obstacle to seeing reality is
entitlement!"
For example, Aldrick Robinson may be the worst practice player in the league, or
he might have an have an issue like Cordarrelle Patterson (who is now tearing up
the league for the Boston Patriots), but the only thing that matters is what he brings to the game when the
chips are down. It's not like we gave up a 2nd, 3rd, 4th
& 7th round draft picks for Cordarrelle, to the Patriarch's, to now play for
the beaners. How shrewd a deal was that? On the other hand, seeing
only limited action, Aldrick is now the owner of
three (3) NFL touchdowns for this franchise. Simply stated, it is the realization of that
potential energy that is at issue.
So where does Danny Isidora fit into this mix? Well that question was once
again answered last week. Tom Compton is a well know commodity where there
was a reason he was plucked from the streets. Isidora, on the other hand,
has undeveloped potential. In regard to experience, he is still just a pup
but what might be behind that curtain just might be more than you have ever
expected. Now for one moment consider Nick Easton who had his opportunity
to show us his stuff. Now combine that with an injury anywhere along
Easton's spine & it is once again like having the unknowns attributed with Teddy
Bridgewater's leg. Sure, we loved what both Teddy & Nick Easton could bring
to us from the potential-side of things ... but it will come with very big
question marks. Either way, it's time to consider what we are in fact
seeing.
Would it be a bad idea to start Tom Compton at anything less
than 100%? Yes, it would, especially knowing that there may be a major unexplored upside to
Danny Isidora that just might be the difference maker in 2018. Now for a
moment consider what happened in Philadelphia in 2017 after they had lost their
all-world left tackle to a season ending knee injury. The result was some
of the best offensive line play that I've seen in a very long time. If a player like
Riley Reiff can be moved out of left tackle in Detroit ... anything can happen in the NFL
but there is one undeniable fact. Isidora has been showing gifted flashes,
especially in the run game, with resultant numbers that just cannot be
denied. Sure, he has lapses needing to polish his facets, & he's far from perfect, but the learning
curve & the potential realized cannot be obtained from riding the
pine. After all, the issue is to stabilize that left side, and protect the
long term interests in Riley Reiff ... by taking the one-dimensional stress off
of him.
Isn't it odd that the Viking Nation is sick over the prospects in regard to our
offensive line. This of course is due to our impatient lust ... after all
it's been 57 years in waiting. All the pieces are there, that is, assuming
that Flip takes the bait. Just consider for a moment of not only having to
put "The Leash of Discipline" upon Kirk Cousins, for the greater good,
but in also having to have the self discipline over himself (Flip). All a
golfer ever wanted was a smooth self controlled swing ... taking all that tense
effort out the equation ... to see that ball role on the short grass.
Sometimes the thought of taking one of Harrison Smiths vicious hits seems
reasonable than having to deal with our greatest fears but I can tell Flip one
thing for certain ... if you lost your job tomorrow for taking a leap of faith
... you'd have ten people picking up their phone wanting to talk to you about
another.
The word discipline has
been much maligned in that it's meaning is thought to impart pain & fear
into the process. Well, Kirk Cousins has had more that enough of
that. What discipline actually means, in reference to anyone, is to have
absolute control over your mind, body & soul. It doesn't matter who
you are ... we all need more of that.
Everson ... it's nice to
have you back ... and don't sweat the pitch count, as in sex ... slow
& easy is a whole lot better than none.
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: October 24, 2018
