Questions Answered: The Goofy RB Situation, Blake Brandel, Vikings Practice Squad Shenanigans
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the August 28th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: The Goofy RB Situation, Blake Brandel, Practice Squad Shenanigans
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Are the Vikings playing with fire by employing just two running backs?
Answer: A little bit, yes.
Last year, Alexander Mattison got hurt, Ty Chandler got hurt, and — you guessed it — Cam Akers got hurt. So, in theory, why would this season be any different?
Of course, the Vikings could sign a free agent like D’Onta Foreman, and the anxiety would be gone. They could also formally promote Myles Gaskin to RB3 off the practice squad.
No matter what, though, it is a little weird to have just two halfbacks on the 53-man roster. Only the Vikings, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals used the tactic when rosters were finalized.
Q: Do you trust Blake Brandel with the starting left guard job?
Answer: Yes.
Minnesota had all offseason to determine the plan at left guard — and chose Brandel over all others from free agency, the draft, and Mr. Dalton Risner. He won the offseason battle; give Brandel his flowers.
The Vikings won’t willingly start a crappy guard just because. We think Brandel will play quite well, in fact.
Q: Is it normal for a team — like the Vikings — to just sign all of its same guys back to the practice squad without adding newcomers?
A: It’s not normal for every single player added to the practice squad … to be one of the team’s players from the summer roster.
There’s usually a bit of variation with a new guy or two added from waivers or free agency. And the Vikings may still do that — add a newcomer after the fact. The regular season is 11 days away.
For now, yes, the Vikings got the band back together for the practice squad. This is the group:
- Henry Byrd (OL)
- Andre Carter II (OLB)
- Dallas Gant (ILB)
- Myles Gaskin (RB)
- N’Keal Harry (TE)
- Lucky Jackson (WR)
- Jeshaun Jones (WR)
- DeWayne McBride (RB)
- Bobby McCain (S)
- Sammis Reyes (TE)
- Bo Richter (OLB)
- Tyrese Robinson (OL)
- Robert Tonyan (TE)
- Thayer Thomas (WR)
- Jonah Williams (DT)
- Jaylin Williams (CB)
- Nahshon Wright (CB)
We have no grievances with this group. A lot of proven veteran depth. We’ll take it.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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