that the offensive line is a position group that has to be addressed this off-season. The interior offensive line Armon Watts Minnesota Vikings Jerseys , in particular, needs some serious attention.If this report from Star Trib beat reporter Andrew Krammer is accurate, they may be trying to move another tackle inside to guard, in consecutive seasons:For one, this isn’t set in stone, like the Mike Remmers move appeared to be from the outset. That’s good! I find it borderline amazing that the Vikings paid top dollar for Remmers and Riley Reiff in free agency two years ago to play tackle, and now they’re contemplating having both of them move inside in consecutive seasons. Remmers and Reiff are two different players, and much like your kids, you should never compare them when they’re in the same situation, but the Remmers move was a complete failure. Had it not been for the unexpected emergence of Brian O’Neill, it would have gone from failure to unmitigated disaster. Still, our old friend Arif Hasan has a couple thoughts on this development. They’re encouraging and worth a quick read:I know a lot of folks aren’t really keen on Reiff, but I thought he played really well in 2017 until he got hurt in the second half of the season, and was okay last year. Not great, but just okay. He’s a guy I actually think can be a building block at LT for this o-line fix going forward, so a move inside would be a strange one for me. In 2019, Reiff is due to make $11.7 million, with a dead cap hit of $6.6 million, so I’d be surprised if Reiff ends up getting released, not with that much dead money. But it’s not surprising to another good friend of DN, Andy Carlson Minnesota Vikings Jerseys Stitched , who has an interesting theory about this:Secondly, I don’t know that this portends to Nick Easton’s health either way. In 2016, the Vikings o-line rebuild was largely contingent on C John Sullivan and RT Phil Loadholt returning from injuries. When that didn’t happen things fell apart, and injuries mounted at an almost historic level. This could be a possible insurance move that signals Easton, who is recovering from a herniated disc in his neck, won’t be ready in time for training camp. Since the article didn’t specify left or right guard, it could also mean the end of the road for Remmers and/or Tom Compton in a Vikings uniform. Or it could mean nothing other than someone thinking out loud, and the Vikings are just looking for ways to get me so mad about moving another tackle to guard I actually write something.Finally, the Vikes could maybe get a better player in the draft or free agency, but right now, today, there isn’t a better LT on the roster than Reiff. Before they contemplate moving another T to G, I’d have an answer at LT first, because if they don’t they just made two spots worse. So, what’s the answer? Do you want to draft a guy and plug him into the LT spot? Move O’Neill to LT and backfill RT, which I think would be idiotic right now? Is Easton healthy? The Vikings o-line has been need of fixing for going on five years now, and the only time they seemed to get it right was two years ago when they signed Reiff, Remmers, and drafted Elflein. Now, it seems like the Vikings are moving to un-do two thirds of that fix, with evidence to show it didn’t work the first time. Let’s see how it all shakes out. NEW YORK (AP) — Harrison Smith has been making his mark for years with big hits and clutch interceptions for the Minnesota Vikings.As a key piece of one of the NFL’s top defenses Armon Watts Jersey nfl draft , the playmaking safety was voted the top player in the league at his position by a panel of 10 football writers for The Associated Press.“The independent analysts at Pro Football Focus rated Smith’s performance in 2017 the highest by any player at any position in the league,” Minneapolis-based AP writer Dave Campbell said. “This year, the three-time Pro Bowl pick has three interceptions and three sacks in nine games. No player in the NFL hit both of those marks over the entire 2017 season.“With Earl Thomas out for the year, it’s easy to see Smith as the top safety in the league.”The AP voters overwhelmingly agreed. Smith received 97 points in a 10-points-to-one-point system, garnering eight of 10 first-place votes. He finished second on one ballot and third on the other to easily outdistance the New York Giants‘ Landon Collins, who had 69 points.“Not only is Smith the clear leader at this position, particularly with his skills in coverage,” said New York-based writer Barry Wilner, “but he’s probably Minnesota’s most valuable defensive player.”That’s saying a lot, particularly with a team that includes defensive end Danielle Hunter, who leads the NFL with 11½ sacks.“Smith is an elite pass defender who can bat away a throw or pick off a pass on one play, then sack the QB on the next,” Washington-based Howard Fendrich said.Smith finished second in last year’s voting, with Thomas winning. The injured Seahawks star, who’s out for the season with a broken left leg, had 59 points — and received one first-place vote, from Bay Area-based Josh Dubow — to finish third this year.“Thomas is still the benchmark at safety despite a season-ending injury,” Dubow said.There were 28 players who received at least one vote, but Smith and Collins were the only safeties to appear on all 10 ballots.Collins jumped up two spots after finishing fourth last year. He doesn’t have any interceptions yet this season, but has firmly established himself as one of the best at his position.“Yeah, he’s on a team with one win (entering Week 10) Custom Armon Watts Jersey , but Collins is strong tackler and pass defender,” New York-based Simmi Buttar said.Tennessee’s Kevin Byard is fourth with 54 points, but received the other first-place vote from Nashville-based Teresa M. Walker.“Byard is just getting better with every game,” Walker said, “and he was pretty good in 2017 when he was an All-Pro who tied for the league lead with eight interceptions and led the NFL with 10 takeaways.”Byard has two interceptions this season, and caused quite a stir with his star turn on his most recent pick. After intercepting Dak Prescott’s pass Monday night in Tennessee’s 28-14 victory at Dallas, Byard ran to the 50-yard line at AT&T Stadium and danced with his teammates on the Cowboys‘ star logo.“He should’ve left the Cowboys star stomp to Terrell Owens,” said Philadelphia-based Rob Maaddi. “But Byard is a ball magnet and no longer an unknown around the league, even to Deion Sanders.”Sanders and Byard got into a Twitter feud in the offseason about who the league’s top safety is. Prime Time picked Tyrann Mathieu, who didn’t finish in the AP’s top 10.New England’s Devin McCourty was fifth with 38 points, and has been a model of consistency for Bill Belichick’s defense.“Anyone who can stick so long (nine years) on a revolving door that is the Patriots‘ defense is a special performer,” Wilner said.McCourty was followed by Washington’s D.J. Swearinger, who had 36 points.“Swearinger does everything well, from coverage to run support to rushing the passer,” said Dubow, who had him ranked second on his ballot.The Jets‘ Jamal Adams (24 points), Los Angeles Chargers rookie Derwin James (21), Baltimore’s Eric Weddle (20) and Kansas City’s Eric Berry (19) rounded out the top 10.Berry appeared on six ballots despite having not played since last year’s season opener.“He might be No. 1 if he had played a down this season,” Fendrich said. “If he recovers enough from the heel injury that has kept him out for every game so far, he could be a big factor in the playoffs for the Chiefs.”
