Let's say Dillion and Williams aren't options, then who?

[LarryHarris]

Who else is out there that could be better than the four-headed monster that is morency/jackson/wynn/grant?

[th87]

I don't think teams are usually willing to trade players in-season. Which is why we won't be getting Turner. Especially since SD can use all the help they can get right now.

Besides these two (and add Barber), there are really no other options.

[TJ_Ford_11]

I'd be in heaven if Ted could talk Barry Sanders out of retirement. I realize he may not be in game shape, but it sure would be interesting to see what he still could do on the field. There has never been a more exciting player to watch in my opinion.

A more probable solution would be to convert Edgar Bennett from coach to player. At least we wouldn't have to worry about fumbles.

[Ayt]

Morency. Oh, you mentioned him.

[th87]

Per the Tampa Tribune, I hear Mewelde Moore is available. Vikings in talks with the Bucs though.

[El Duderino]

I brought this up in another thread,but maybe the best help to our horrid running game could be to not use the zone blocking on nearly every run as we do now.

Pull the guards,run some traps,and maybe a few counters.Clifton and Tauscher were better run blockers in Sherman's scheme and our guards are athletic enough to pull.I'm not saying to totally scrap the zone blocking runs,just mix in other types to see if the line does better and so defenses can't be almost 100 percent sure that if it's a run,it'll be a zone run.

Usually i DVR games and will watch them a second time.Tauscher and Clifton haven't been very proficient at cutting the backside and thus getting their man on the ground.Instead quite often the guys trying to cut the backside end up on the ground,while the defensive lineman sidesteps or jumps over and ends up basically unblocked.Maybe with more runs called the offensive line will get comfortable and gell using the zone runs.

Right now though and in preseason,no signs have been shown that this unit does the zone blocking scheme well as a group.

[th87]

Usually i DVR games and will watch them a second time.Tauscher and Clifton haven't been very proficient at cutting the backside and thus getting their man on the ground.Instead quite often the guys trying to cut the backside end up on the ground,while the defensive lineman sidesteps or jumps over and ends up basically unblocked.Maybe with more runs called the offensive line will get comfortable and gell using the zone runs.

Did you notice the same issues last year? Or are they worse now? If that's the case, Jagodzinki's departure just might be the culprit.

[bigrich88]

we dont need to trade for anybody, Morency is a solid option at RB and our running game will develop over time, just be patient. we have been playing some of the best run defenses in football. i am confident that over time our running game will develop and we will have a balanced offense. people just have to learn to be patient.

[xTitan]

You want to improve the running game, then commit to the running game....10-20 rushes a week won't work, the running game needs to establish a rythmn like any other aspect of offense...I like there young backs...Grant has some wiggle, Wynn might be there most powerful/instinctual runner, Jackson at the least would be avery good 3rd down back, and last year Morency averaged 4.5 yards per carry in limited play. They will get to establishing the run, but you have to play FB's, blocking TE's etc...right now they have played a number of teams weak against the pass and have exploited them....if Coach Walsh or Holmgren did this they would be called a genius.

[showtimesam]

I say give these 4 running backs each a chance to emerge. I'm not totally down on brandon jackson yet and think he could be a good 1st and 2nd down option with morency taking over the 3rd down rb role.
I'm most concnerned about openning holes for these guys.

[Neusch23]

What the heck has morency done in the past year to make anyone think that he can be a relistic option late in the year?

The only way that I believe we can count on him for the playoffs would be to sit him now, then he may be ready come Jan.

[LarryHarris]

[/quote]
How long should we wait for the running game to emerge? Next year? The time to win is now, I don't doubt that one of these guys, maybe 2 will pan out, however, I am not ready to write off this season. There are only 10-12 runs a game because we know what we'll get out of it... nothing. When a chance is there to win, we must take it! I'm not saying mortgage the future of the team, I'm saying throw a one year deal and some money at someone that can come in here and make a differnece...

Tiki Barber won't unretire...
The Vikes won't trade within the division and I'm not sure Moore is any better than what we have right now...

[Neusch23]

if we felt he was in football shape, and his heart could be in it to make a run in the playoffs with Brett....8 mil dollars might get him to leave the press box....

I think that Tiki is a long shot, but I also believe that we need to at least sit down with every long shots agent, or GM and see just how long of a shot it really is.

[NeedsMoreCheese]

I think Onterrio Whizzinator Smith is still alive somewhere

[skones]

Morency had a few very nice games for us last season with the limited touches he received.

As for guys available. I'd take a long hard look at Domanick Williams (Formerly Domanick Davis) and see what kind of shape he's in. The guy was pretty damn good in Houston while he was there. There was some injury issues with him that the coaching staff disagreed with which eventually led to his being cut. I liked him a lot when he was there.

You could try and wrestle one of Foster or Williams away from the Panthers although unlikely. Williams is getting half the carries Foster is at this point.