Tag: Jeff Gladney

1 preseason game will add more challenges for new-look Vikings

This offseason has been a challenging one for players joining new teams.

The NFL has proposed playing just one preseason game in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league originally proposed just two preseason games, down from the four that teams normally play.

I wrote about how two preseason games could be a challenge for the Vikings, a team that just selected 15 players in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Obviously, that’s enhanced when you cut that number in half.

With less in-person activities in the offseason due to the pandemic plus just one preseason games, that presents a huge challenge to a team like the Vikings.

Out of teams who consider themselves contenders, the Vikings probably went through more overhaul than any other team this offseason. Replacing players like Stefon Diggs, Trae Waynes and Xavier Rhodes will be rookies Justin Jefferson, Jeff Gladney and Cam Dantzler.

Being a rookie is hard. Being a rookie without any time around your new team and teammates is nearly impossible.

Mike Zimmer and his coaching staff will have to take advantage of the limited time he has with his team before the season starts if he wants the young players to contribute in a positive way early in the season.

This stat for Cameron Dantzler over his last two years with Mississippi State is insane

If Cameron Dantzler translates this stat to the NFL, the Vikings have found a stellar cornerback in the draft.

Minnesota desperately needed help heading into the 2020 NFL Draft within its secondary. 

After losing the majority of their secondary this offseason, the Vikings addressed the cornerback position twice in the first three rounds. TCU product Jeff Gladney was taken in the first round and Cameron Dantzler, out of Mississippi State, was selected in the third round in an attempt to patch up the defensive back corps.

Both cornerbacks bring a physical style of play with them to Minnesota. The Vikings drafting those two in the early rounds is great, because Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has been known for turning cornerbacks into stars. There is a lot of buzz around both of the young corners and there is a good chance that both will need to play significant time in 2020. 

Although Dantzler was taken towards the end of the third round, there’s still plenty to be excited about. During his last two seasons at Mississippi State, Dantzler had a passer rating when targeted of 43.6. 

This stat is absolutely crazy, especially when you consider that if a quarterback spiked the ball on every play his passer rating would be 39.6. 

Not only did he put up one of the craziest statistics a cornerback can have, but he did so against the No. 1 overall selection in his draft class and likely the top receiver in the 2021 class: Ja’Marr Chase. 

With the amount of key departures the Vikings had within their secondary this offseason, they needed to find multiple players that can come in and make an impact on day one. Dantzler has that ability and it’s going to be exciting to see Zimmer get to work with one of the youngest cornerback groups in the NFL.

The Vikings’ young corners will be just fine

Don’t worry, Vikings fans. Despite the offseason losses, the Vikings might have upgraded at cornerback for 2020.

Minnesota lost two starters out wide, Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes, in addition to the team’s nickel corner from 2019, Mackensie Alexander.

That might add up to trouble in 2020 for some teams, but honestly those three as a unit left something to be desired, something that maybe the younger, more inexperienced cornerbacks can build off of.

There’s Rhodes, who had zero interceptions last season. Picks don’t tell the whole story, so let’s look at advanced stats. He earned a coverage grade of 46.5 last season, according to PFF.

There’s also Waynes, who was decent, but only had eight pass deflections and one interception. He earned an overall grade of 65.1 from PFF.

Now let’s look at Alexander. I’d say of the three corners the Vikings let walk, he might have been the best, despite being the nickel corner. Earlier I made the case for the Vikings to re-sign him, but to no avail; he’s gone.

Alexander was a good nickel corner, but the Vikings have a first-round pick who could possibly play that position: Jeff Gladney. He was the No. 31 overall pick out of TCU. He is a physical corner who might be a good fit for the slot due to his strength and relatively small size.

There’s also Mike Hughes and Holton Hill, both of whom have had their question marks at times, but both have also been good when on the field. If Hughes can stay healthy and Hill can play all 16 games, I actually kind of like Minnesota’s chances of having a better cornerback unit than in 2019.

Cameron Dantzler is another corner. He may be more of a project due to his weight. But you never know, maybe he’s able to put on some pounds this offseason and be big enough to play outside.

You also can’t forget about the Vikings having two of the best safeties in the NFL: Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris. That duo can minimize mistakes the young corners make, and maybe Smith will play back deep more now that the cornerbacks are a little less experienced.

Overall, there are definitely unknowns regarding this current Vikings secondary, but those unknowns could prove to be an upgrade over Rhodes and Waynes, two players who were inconsistent while with the Vikings.

Poll: Do you think the Vikings corners will be better, the same or worse?

Poll: Do you think the Vikings corners will be better, the same or worse?

Minnesota has had some turnover this offseason at cornerback, but whether that’s a good or bad thing still remains to be seen.

The Vikings saw Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes and Mackensie Alexander leave. However, the team still returns players such as Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Kris Boyd.

Not only that, but the Vikings took Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler and Harrison Hand in the draft. I think at least Gladney and Dantzler could possibly compete and win starting positions outside in 2020. But will they be better than the unit that featured Waynes, Rhodes and Alexander in 2019?

Many have suggested that the Vikings cornerback corps could actually be better than it was before, considering Rhodes’ lackluster play towards the end of his time with the Vikings.

There’s also a possibility that the corners aren’t experienced enough to succeed in huge roles right away.

Vikings fans, what do you think?

[polldaddy poll=10574116]

Vikings’ turnover in the secondary listed as the team’s riskiest move

Bleacher Report thinks Minnesota is taking a risk with its defensive backs. Do you agree?

Minnesota had inconsistent cornerback play in 2019. With some of those veterans leaving, will the Vikings get worse at that position?

Bleacher Report thinks Minnesota is taking a risk with its defensive backs. A high turnover rate among the defensive back corps might come back to haunt Minnesota. Here’s what the outlet said about the Vikings:

“The Minnesota Vikings were a playoff team last year, but the pass defense was only average: 15th in the NFL at 233.6 yards per game.

Even that benchmark may be hard for the Vikings to hit in 2020.

Losing players in free agency is an annual event for all 32 teams. But this year was especially rough for the Vikings in the secondary. After a down 2019, the Vikings released veteran cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander both signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.

That’s the Vikings’ top three cornerbacks from 2019—gone, gone and gone.

The Vikings didn’t sit on their hands at the cornerback position; the team traded back to draft TCU’s Jeff Gladney 31st overall and took Cameron Dantzler in the third round.

But there’s going to be a tremendous amount of pressure on an unproven Vikings secondary to grow up in a hurry if Minnesota is going to get back in the postseason in 2020.”

Alexander and Waynes are decent losses and it might be too much to expect Gladney to start out wide right away. That said, the Vikings letting Rhodes go could lead to an upgrade at that spot.

Two analysts at NFL.com think the Vikings will get better. Here’s why

Do you think the Vikings got better this offseason?

Despite the turnover this offseason, the Vikings are still in line to improve, according to NFL.com analysts Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah.

Brooks and Jeremiah reviewed whether each NFC North team will improve or get worse. Here’s what Brooks said about the Vikings, via the team’s official website:

“I think Dalvin Cook and Kirk Cousins will have big years. Gary Kubiak is one of the best in the business at calling plays. That stretch-bootleg system leads to a lot of explosive [plays].”

Jeremiah thinks “it’s all set up for Dalvin Cook in Gary Kubiak’s system to have a big year.” Here’s what else he said:

“This is a team that got a win in the postseason last year, but I actually think this team is going to be better,” Jeremiah said. “You look at Justin Jefferson, Jeff Gladney is another first-round pick and them [third-rounder] Cameron Dantzler has some ability.”

Here’s to hoping Jefferson, Gladney and Dantzler step up and the Vikings progress instead of regress.

Minnesota Vikings’ biggest risk listed as betting on unproven replacements

Compared to 2019, do you think the Vikings will be better or worse in 2020?

The Vikings went 10-6 in the 2019 regular season and won a playoff game. To make sure the team gets back to the postseason, it will have to rely heavily on young talent.

Minnesota lost Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander and Linval Joseph in free agency, and that’s just to name a few. The team also saw Stefon Diggs leave via trade.

So what’s the biggest risk on Minnesota’s docket for 2020? Bleacher Report thinks it’s betting on largely unproven replacements. Here’s what it said about the risk:

“Moving on from a large chunk of key players in one offseason could come back to bite Minnesota. While the reasoning is apparent—the Vikings desperately needed cap space—it doesn’t lower the risk factor involved.

If guys like Jefferson and Gladney cannot adequately replace their predecessors, the Vikings could completely slip out of the playoff picture.”

Gladney might be a question mark for playing as cornerback out wide right away. However, the team still has players like Mike Hughes and Holton Hill, who can start if the rookies need time.

Draft Wire assesses the draft value of Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, CB Jeff Gladney

Draft Wire analyzed the Vikings’ two first-round draft picks, based on predraft rankings. See how they did!

Our friends at Draft Wire recently compared the big board ranking of each first-round draftee to where they were actually selected.

When it came to the Vikings picks, the team broke even on their value, according to Draft Wire.

Here are the two first-round draftees, with an explanation for their given value:

WR Justin Jefferson

The wide receiver out of LSU could be a big contributor for the Vikings in 2020, after losing Stefon Diggs in a trade.

However, Draft Wire had Jefferson’s value a little worse than where he was picked. The outlet had him at No. 29, despite going to Minnesota at No. 22, giving the pick a value difference of -7.

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Minnesota Vikings roster analysis: Three storylines surrounding the cornerbacks

It’s a young group. It’s a new group, but that does not necessarily mean it’s a worse group. Take a look at three storylines surrounding the Vikings cornerbacks.

What the Vikings have lost in veteran talent at cornerback, they’ve gained in rookies who have the potential to be just as good.

Xavier Rhodes signed with the Colts this offseason. In 2019, Rhodes had no picks and made six pass deflections. He earned a coverage grade of 46.5 last season.

Trae Waynes will arguably be the most difficult corner to replace, but even he wasn’t stellar for the Vikings. Waynes had eight pass deflections and one interception. He earned an overall grade of 65.1 from PFF.

There’s also Mackensie Alexander, the team’s nickel corner from 2019. Alexander signed with the Bengals, the same team as Waynes.

Alexander is coming off a season where he had five pass deflections and an interception in a slightly more limited role than Rhodes and Waynes. PFF reported that Alexander was the only defensive back to play more than 500 snaps in 2019-20 and never miss a tackle. The outlet gave Alexander an overall score of 65.7.

Waynes and Alexander were both decent, but there’s a chance that whomever is playing corner for the Vikings in 2020 is better. Here are three storylines surrounding the position group:

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Vikings defense ranked ninth by Touchdown Wire

Touchdown Wire thinks the Vikings have a top-10 defense. Agree or disagree?

Minnesota lost a lot of pieces to its defense in 2019, but our friends over at Touchdown Wire think the team will still rank in the top-10 on that side of the ball.

Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire recently ranked NFL defenses from worst to best, and the Vikings came in at No. 9 on the list. Here’s what he said about the ranking:

“The Vikings were able to finish seventh in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted defensive metrics in 2019, down from fourth in 2018, despite fairly disastrous seasons from outside cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes, who combined for 10 touchdowns allowed and just one interception. Both are gone now, and the hope is that first-round cornerback Jeff Gladney from TCU can ramp things up a bit, along with third-year man Mike Hughes. Watch out for fourth-round linebacker Troy Dye from Oregon, who has the athleticism to add to an already stacked position group.”

Notably, the Vikings were ranked ahead of the Packers and the Lions on the defensive rankings. However, the Bears came in at No. 7.