E49: Pocket Protectors [Can We Fix It?] - a podcast by SB Nation

In this episode, Eric Eager and Nick Olson join Jayson Brown to discuss COVID-19, draft strategies, positional learning curves, and rebuilding.

To start the episode, Eric helps us to under the “drastic” or “extreme” response to COVID-19 in North America. Eric helps us to understand that the multiplicative nature of COVID-19’s infectiousness poses a great danger to the healthcare system. By practicing social distancing and improving cleanliness, we can flatten the curve which gives healthcare systems the ability to effectively treat people as needed

Next up, Nick challenges the conventional wisdom that the Vikings should address their worst starters in the opening rounds of the draft. While Pat Elflein and Shamar Stephen are among the worst starters at their respective positions, getting better at cornerback, especially after Xavier Rhodes was released, and wide receiver will likely net us more wins overall.

Eric builds on Nick’s point by pointing to recent work at Pro Football Focus by Mike Renner and Timo Riske letting us know why we should address needs in free agency and how learning curves can delay the returns when drafting talented players. Eric also reminds us that the best Vikings draft picks in recent memory weren’t needs based picks citing Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson, Robert Smith, and Daunte Culpepper.

Nick Olson’s reasons for optimism in 2020

Coaching

Kirk Cousins

Young Stars

Front Office


Eric gives us a run down on his article in which he discusses year over year defensive performance and then talks about how the Vikings can apply those principles to field a strong defense in 2020.

Will the Vikings be rebuilding in 2020? 

Vikings QB of the Future?


Anthony Gordon

Tyler Hundley

Jalen Hurts

Josh Love


Read Eric’s work


Offensive Line Fragility - https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-how-fragile-are-offensive-lines-pass-protection


Best Defensive Play-callers - https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-ranking-the-nfls-top-defensive-play-callers-2



Watch the best mock draft of all-time: https://youtu.be/_mB08IMnz9I 

Listen to Eric on the PFF Forecast:  https://www.podcastone.com/the-pff-forecast 

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