Right now Ezra Cleveland is Ben Bartch, last year as well.

Bull [BLEEP]

Ezra was a highly rated guard for two seasons before the injury 

Ben Bartch had literally never done a gotdern thing in this league but make an [BLEEP] of himself talking about meat smoothies. 

Total [BLEEP] horse [BLEEP] from you as usual

I don't give a [BLEEP] what he done in the past.  I said right now.  What he did a couple years ago does nothing for Trevor this year nor did it help him last year. Bartch actually had a higher pff grade than Cleveland did last year.

---

Been done sayin dis
He’s the type of player that allows teams to move on from expensive veterans.

He can also do a cartwheel

That's very important on the football field.

---

Bull [BLEEP]

Ezra was a highly rated guard for two seasons before the injury 

Ben Bartch had literally never done a gotdern thing in this league but make an [BLEEP] of himself talking about meat smoothies. 

Total [BLEEP] horse [BLEEP] from you as usual

I don't give a [BLEEP] what he done in the past.  I said right now.  What he did a couple years ago does nothing for Trevor this year nor did it help him last year. Bartch actually had a higher pff grade than Cleveland did last year.

Bartch started and played 3 full games for this team last year and we lost two of them. Not all on him of course, but there's a reason why he got benched after week 3, after starting in all of those first 3 games.

They benched him and this team won the next 5 straight games. Again, not all because of him sucking, but it can't be overlooked.

He then played a total of 31 Offensive snaps the entire rest of the season. 16 of which came in the final game of the regular season with the 49ers. 12 of those other (31) snaps were spread out between 3 different games before that final game of the season.

---

I don't give a [BLEEP] what he done in the past.  I said right now.  What he did a couple years ago does nothing for Trevor this year nor did it help him last year. Bartch actually had a higher pff grade than Cleveland did last year.

Bartch started and played 3 full games for this team last year and we lost two of them. Not all on him of course, but there's a reason why he got benched after week 3, after starting in all of those first 3 games.

They benched him and this team won the next 5 straight games. Again, not all because of him sucking, but it can't be overlooked.

He then played a total of 31 Offensive snaps the entire rest of the season. 16 of which came in the final game of the regular season with the 49ers. 12 of those other (31) snaps were spread out between 3 different games before that final game of the season.

Yeah, Bartch wasn't good, neither was Cleveland, Bartch still had a higher pff grade.  Campbell, Cisco, Hamilton, Kirk etc. we're all injured last year.  Over the off season they got their bodies ready and healthy and have all had good camps.  Going by all reports not sure I can say the same for Cleveland and he just got a nice extension.  One of the best things that could happen to this offense is for Ezra play like he did a couple of years ago but we shall see

---

He can also do a cartwheel

That's very important on the football field.

Never know when it will come in handy

---

Bartch started and played 3 full games for this team last year and we lost two of them. Not all on him of course, but there's a reason why he got benched after week 3, after starting in all of those first 3 games.

They benched him and this team won the next 5 straight games. Again, not all because of him sucking, but it can't be overlooked.

He then played a total of 31 Offensive snaps the entire rest of the season. 16 of which came in the final game of the regular season with the 49ers. 12 of those other (31) snaps were spread out between 3 different games before that final game of the season.

Yeah, Bartch wasn't good, neither was Cleveland, Bartch still had a higher pff grade.  Campbell, Cisco, Hamilton, Kirk etc. we're all injured last year.  Over the off season they got their bodies ready and healthy and have all had good camps.  Going by all reports not sure I can say the same for Cleveland and he just got a nice extension.  One of the best things that could happen to this offense is for Ezra play like he did a couple of years ago but we shall see

I don't need PFF to tell me 241<748

Or if you wanna play the post-trade game, 28<377

---

Yeah, Bartch wasn't good, neither was Cleveland, Bartch still had a higher pff grade.  Campbell, Cisco, Hamilton, Kirk etc. we're all injured last year.  Over the off season they got their bodies ready and healthy and have all had good camps.  Going by all reports not sure I can say the same for Cleveland and he just got a nice extension.  One of the best things that could happen to this offense is for Ezra play like he did a couple of years ago but we shall see

I don't need PFF to tell me 241<748

Or if you wanna play the post-trade game, 28<377

I don't need a pff grade either to know how bad Cleveland was.  All one had to do was watch the games.  He was good a few years ago though lol

---

I don't need PFF to tell me 241<748

Or if you wanna play the post-trade game, 28<377

I don't need a pff grade either to know how bad Cleveland was.  All one had to do was watch the games.  He was good a few years ago though lol

Mehhh. He came over via trade already injured, and, he ended up playing in two different positions if I am not mistaken last year for us due to injuries elsewhere, again, already injured himself. 

Can't remember which game it was, but, I recall him getting several atta' boy's for getting downhill, WAY downhill on one play in particular. May have been against the Browns or Steelers. 

I think he has potential. It kind of sucks that his body is betraying him at the moment, but, I don't think he's complete [BLEEP] the way some people are trying to make him out to be. 

Could we have done better? Absolutely. We could have signed Dalton Risner, the guy who replaced him up there, but, it is what it is. 

He's better than Bartch.

---

"What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king."

I don't need a pff grade either to know how bad Cleveland was.  All one had to do was watch the games.  He was good a few years ago though lol

Mehhh. He came over via trade already injured, and, he ended up playing in two different positions if I am not mistaken last year for us due to injuries elsewhere, again, already injured himself. 

Can't remember which game it was, but, I recall him getting several atta' boy's for getting downhill, WAY downhill on one play in particular. May have been against the Browns or Steelers. 

I think he has potential. It kind of sucks that his body is betraying him at the moment, but, I don't think he's complete [BLEEP] the way some people are trying to make him out to be. 

Could we have done better? Absolutely. We could have signed Dalton Risner, the guy who replaced him up there, but, it is what it is. 

He's better than Bartch.

He wasn't last year nor has he looked better this offseason by all reports.  Yeah he played LG and LT, the position he played in college and the position he has said a few times he wants play.  Hodges has looked better and he missed all of last year and was a 7th round pick.  

  A lot of players were hurt and battled injuries.  We don't know yet if we could have done better, he might come in and have an All Pro year lol.  But up to this point he has been pretty bad and not much better if  any than what we have seen at the LG position the last few years.  Hodges looked like the best olinman on the field last week between both teams, hopefully he looks great again tomorrow. 
 
I'm not letting contracts or experience determine who we put out there and I hope Doug doesn't either.  Hopefully we play the player that is plying the best. If Cleveland is still injured he should be out there risking to make something worse, he isn't playing any other injured players, or it could be coach speak

---

Mehhh. He came over via trade already injured, and, he ended up playing in two different positions if I am not mistaken last year for us due to injuries elsewhere, again, already injured himself. 

Can't remember which game it was, but, I recall him getting several atta' boy's for getting downhill, WAY downhill on one play in particular. May have been against the Browns or Steelers. 

I think he has potential. It kind of sucks that his body is betraying him at the moment, but, I don't think he's complete [BLEEP] the way some people are trying to make him out to be. 

Could we have done better? Absolutely. We could have signed Dalton Risner, the guy who replaced him up there, but, it is what it is. 

He's better than Bartch.

He wasn't last year nor has he looked better this offseason by all reports.  Yeah he played LG and LT, the position he played in college and the position he has said a few times he wants play.  Hodges has looked better and he missed all of last year and was a 7th round pick.  

  A lot of players were hurt and battled injuries.  We don't know yet if we could have done better, he might come in and have an All Pro year lol.  But up to this point he has been pretty bad and not much better if  any than what we have seen at the LG position the last few years.  Hodges looked like the best olinman on the field last week between both teams, hopefully he looks great again tomorrow. 
 
I'm not letting contracts or experience determine who we put out there and I hope Doug doesn't either.  Hopefully we play the player that is plying the best.  If Cleveland is still injured he should be out there risking to make something worse, he isn't playing any other injured players, or it could be coach speak

LOL

Your perspective is like looking at LG through a drinking straw. 

What you should be hoping is that Ezra can get healthy early in the regular season and play like he did at the beginning of last year. Because that would be better than any LG play we've seen in years here. 

The odds of Hodges protecting TL as well as a healthy EC are pretty slim. But I'd love to see anyone rise to the occasion. Maybe the kid can, but I'll wait and see what he does the next two weeks before clamoring for hime to start.

---

He wasn't last year nor has he looked better this offseason by all reports.  Yeah he played LG and LT, the position he played in college and the position he has said a few times he wants play.  Hodges has looked better and he missed all of last year and was a 7th round pick.  

  A lot of players were hurt and battled injuries.  We don't know yet if we could have done better, he might come in and have an All Pro year lol.  But up to this point he has been pretty bad and not much better if  any than what we have seen at the LG position the last few years.  Hodges looked like the best olinman on the field last week between both teams, hopefully he looks great again tomorrow. 
 
I'm not letting contracts or experience determine who we put out there and I hope Doug doesn't either.  Hopefully we play the player that is plying the best.  If Cleveland is still injured he should be out there risking to make something worse, he isn't playing any other injured players, or it could be coach speak

LOL

Your perspective is like looking at LG through a drinking straw. 

What you should be hoping is that Ezra can get healthy early in the regular season and play like he did at the beginning of last year. Because that would be better than any LG play we've seen in years here. 

The odds of Hodges protecting TL as well as a healthy EC are pretty slim. But I'd love to see anyone rise to the occasion. Maybe the kid can, but I'll wait and see what he does the next two weeks before clamoring for hime to start.

I took my teal glasses off, Its reality perspective.  I hope he can play like he did a few years ago but I'm not banking on it.  Even if healthy we don't know if he can play at that level again.   Teams don't trade good 25 yr old olineman for a 6th.  I think the Vikings seen something there and he wasn't worth keeping in their mind.  They had no intension of wanting or keeping him long term and they were about to draft a rookie QB in the 1st. 

Disagree,  I'd start him this week and see how he does, maybe he sucks or maybe he has a great game, maybe somewhere in between but there is only 1 way to find out.  We know what Scherff is, let Hodges get the week 2 preseason start and let Scherrf rest up.

---

LOL

Your perspective is like looking at LG through a drinking straw. 

What you should be hoping is that Ezra can get healthy early in the regular season and play like he did at the beginning of last year. Because that would be better than any LG play we've seen in years here. 

The odds of Hodges protecting TL as well as a healthy EC are pretty slim. But I'd love to see anyone rise to the occasion. Maybe the kid can, but I'll wait and see what he does the next two weeks before clamoring for hime to start.

I took my teal glasses off, Its reality perspective.  I hope he can play like he did a few years ago but I'm not banking on it.  Even if healthy we don't know if he can play at that level again.   Teams don't trade good 25 yr old olineman for a 6th.  I think the Vikings seen something there and he wasn't worth keeping in their mind.  They had no intension of wanting or keeping him long term and they were about to draft a rookie QB in the 1st. 

Disagree,  I'd start him this week and see how he does, maybe he sucks or maybe he has a great game, maybe somewhere in between but there is only 1 way to find out.  We know what Scherff is, let Hodges get the week 2 preseason start and let Scherrf rest up.

He was in the last year of his contract, and they had a guy who had shown he could do the job, so a 6th round pick is what you get in that situation.  It's really a salary cap move.  It doesn't mean there was something wrong with him, other than the injury he had, which was not going to be permanent.

---

I took my teal glasses off, Its reality perspective.  I hope he can play like he did a few years ago but I'm not banking on it.  Even if healthy we don't know if he can play at that level again.   Teams don't trade good 25 yr old olineman for a 6th.  I think the Vikings seen something there and he wasn't worth keeping in their mind.  They had no intension of wanting or keeping him long term and they were about to draft a rookie QB in the 1st. 

Disagree,  I'd start him this week and see how he does, maybe he sucks or maybe he has a great game, maybe somewhere in between but there is only 1 way to find out.  We know what Scherff is, let Hodges get the week 2 preseason start and let Scherrf rest up.

He was in the last year of his contract, and they had a guy who had shown he could do the job, so a 6th round pick is what you get in that situation.  It's really a salary cap move.  It doesn't mean there was something wrong with him, other than the injury he had, which was not going to be permanent.

I agree with letting Hodges get a lot of reps, whether he starts the second PRESEASON game is not really important. He is basically a second year rookie, and needs the reps. I see best case is he backs up and learns how to play at this level the beginning of the season and plays more snaps as the season progresses. The same thing goes for Foster, he needs reps too, maybe some of them at guard.

---

A new broom always sweeps clean.

LOL

Your perspective is like looking at LG through a drinking straw. 

What you should be hoping is that Ezra can get healthy early in the regular season and play like he did at the beginning of last year. Because that would be better than any LG play we've seen in years here. 

The odds of Hodges protecting TL as well as a healthy EC are pretty slim. But I'd love to see anyone rise to the occasion. Maybe the kid can, but I'll wait and see what he does the next two weeks before clamoring for hime to start.

I took my teal glasses off, Its reality perspective.  I hope he can play like he did a few years ago but I'm not banking on it.  Even if healthy we don't know if he can play at that level again.   Teams don't trade good 25 yr old olineman for a 6th.  I think the Vikings seen something there and he wasn't worth keeping in their mind.  They had no intension of wanting or keeping him long term and they were about to draft a rookie QB in the 1st. 

Disagree,  I'd start him this week and see how he does, maybe he sucks or maybe he has a great game, maybe somewhere in between but there is only 1 way to find out.  We know what Scherff is, let Hodges get the week 2 preseason start and let Scherrf rest up.

1. You clearly don't understand the difference between reality and perspective, they are two different things ands you just tried to conflate them. 
   
2. Stop saying "few years ago" it was early LAST YEAR , LOL c'mon with the stupid hyperbole
   
3. Yes, teams trade guys (in the final year of their contract who are hurt and recently replaced by a free agent) for 6th rounders duh! Holy hell man, think. 
   
4. Cleveland was drafted in the second round under a different GM and HC than the vikes have now. New regimes move on from past regime's players quite readily if you would pay a little attention 
   
5. What the hell does Scherff have to do with this? It's LG that we need - not right? 
   
6. Why are you bashing Ezra Cleveland and propping up Hodges if you don't see Hodges as an answer at LG? 
   

---

I took my teal glasses off, Its reality perspective.  I hope he can play like he did a few years ago but I'm not banking on it.  Even if healthy we don't know if he can play at that level again.   Teams don't trade good 25 yr old olineman for a 6th.  I think the Vikings seen something there and he wasn't worth keeping in their mind.  They had no intension of wanting or keeping him long term and they were about to draft a rookie QB in the 1st. 

Disagree,  I'd start him this week and see how he does, maybe he sucks or maybe he has a great game, maybe somewhere in between but there is only 1 way to find out.  We know what Scherff is, let Hodges get the week 2 preseason start and let Scherrf rest up.

He was in the last year of his contract, and they had a guy who had shown he could do the job, so a 6th round pick is what you get in that situation.  It's really a salary cap move.  It doesn't mean there was something wrong with him, other than the injury he had, which was not going to be permanent.

It could also mean they seen a decline in his play and the reason they didnt want to resign him.  If they wanted to bring him back to help protect their young rookie qb they could have but there was no intensions on bringing back the young guard.  It wasn't like he was going to break the bank.  Hopefully he can man down the LG spot and have a Pro Bowl type season.

---

I took my teal glasses off, Its reality perspective.  I hope he can play like he did a few years ago but I'm not banking on it.  Even if healthy we don't know if he can play at that level again.   Teams don't trade good 25 yr old olineman for a 6th.  I think the Vikings seen something there and he wasn't worth keeping in their mind.  They had no intension of wanting or keeping him long term and they were about to draft a rookie QB in the 1st. 

Disagree,  I'd start him this week and see how he does, maybe he sucks or maybe he has a great game, maybe somewhere in between but there is only 1 way to find out.  We know what Scherff is, let Hodges get the week 2 preseason start and let Scherrf rest up.

1. You clearly don't understand the difference between reality and perspective, they are two different things ands you just tried to conflate them. 
   
2. Stop saying "few years ago" it was early LAST YEAR , LOL c'mon with the stupid hyperbole
   
3. Yes, teams trade guys (in the final year of their contract who are hurt and recently replaced by a free agent) for 6th rounders duh! Holy hell man, think. 
   
4. Cleveland was drafted in the second round under a different GM and HC than the vikes have now. New regimes move on from past regime's players quite readily if you would pay a little attention 
   
5. What the hell does Scherff have to do with this? It's LG that we need - not right? 
   
6. Why are you bashing Ezra Cleveland and propping up Hodges if you don't see Hodges as an answer at LG? 
   

1. Take off the teal glasses.

2.  He wasn't all that good early last year

3. No teams don't trade good, young 25 yrs old olinman in the last year of their contract for a 6th.  What other teams have done that?  Can you name those olineman.  Let's get a few more this year lol

4.  I don't give a [BLEEP] what GM or HC drafted Cleveland, if he's a good up and coming young olinman they want to retain those guys to help protect their franchise unless there is no way they can for cap reasons.  We aren't talking about a QB

5. Scherff could be upgraded as well, I'm putting the 2 best Guards out there regardless.  Pay attention 

6.  It's not bashing a guy when you are talking a out how he played.   I'd love for Cleveland to play like he did a couple years ago but he hasnt shown it.  I don't know if Hodges is the answer or not, we need to play him though in the next 2 weeks to see how he does.  There is only one way to find out.  Reports last year were he looked very good in camp and the same this year, you could also argue he was the best lineman last week for either team.  He looks like a tugboat out there and Id like to see what one has, how do you know if you don't put him out there?

---

1. You clearly don't understand the difference between reality and perspective, they are two different things ands you just tried to conflate them. 
   
2. Stop saying "few years ago" it was early LAST YEAR , LOL c'mon with the stupid hyperbole
   
3. Yes, teams trade guys (in the final year of their contract who are hurt and recently replaced by a free agent) for 6th rounders duh! Holy hell man, think. 
   
4. Cleveland was drafted in the second round under a different GM and HC than the vikes have now. New regimes move on from past regime's players quite readily if you would pay a little attention 
   
5. What the hell does Scherff have to do with this? It's LG that we need - not right? 
   
6. Why are you bashing Ezra Cleveland and propping up Hodges if you don't see Hodges as an answer at LG? 
   

1. Take off the teal glasses.

2.  He wasn't all that good early last year

3. No teams don't trade good, young 25 yrs old olinman in the last year of their contract for a 6th.  What other teams have done that?  Can you name those olineman.  Let's get a few more this year lol

4.  I don't give a [BLEEP] what GM or HC drafted Cleveland, if he's a good up and coming young olinman they want to retain those guys to help protect their franchise unless there is no way they can for cap reasons.  We aren't talking about a QB

5. Scherff could be upgraded as well, I'm putting the 2 best Guards out there regardless.  Pay attention 

6.  It's not bashing a guy when you are talking a out how he played.   I'd love for Cleveland to play like he did a couple years ago but he hasnt shown it.  I don't know if Hodges is the answer or not, we need to play him though in the next 2 weeks to see how he does.  There is only one way to find out.  Reports last year were he looked very good in camp and the same this year, you could also argue he was the best lineman last week for either team.  He looks like a tugboat out there and Id like to see what one has, how do you know if you don't put him out there?

---

“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

My hope was that Hodges and Foster could spell our two veteran guards and as the season went on increase their playing time. Alas, things never are that simple are they.

---

A new broom always sweeps clean.

My hope was that Hodges and Foster could spell our two veteran guards and as the season went on increase their playing time. Alas, things never are that simple are they.

Well, that remains to be seen and could still be a possibility. Foster is a pretty good prospect. I was really fixated on this year's center's and guard's that I neglected to really delve into the tackle class. 

Because I figured we were set there between Harrison last year, obviously Robinson not going anywhere, and then, naturally, that left us with Walker Little as the swing tackle. Which, makes the Foster selection that more interesting. 

Good chance Foster is competing with Little for the RT job next year after they move Harrison over to LT to replace Robinson and his bloated contract situation on the salary cap. Finally. 

Next year though, regardless of what happens with Cleveland, Morse and Scherff. I would expect to see names like Alabama's Booker, Georgia's Ratledge and Ohio St's Jackson coming up on our radar. 

I'll also throw out there LSU's Frazier and Kentucky's Burton, since Baalke seems to like those schools lately. It's also really early, so, names will rise, names will fall. Center wise though. I am looking forward to seeing what Florida's Jake Slaughter looks like this year. I am a Bulldog's fan, but, I noticed him in a few games last year. He can be pretty nasty in the run blocking department.  

Crippen out of Michigan and Foster out of Kansas are also worth watching in 2024. Foster is another mauler. He transferred over from Texas A&M but he can be streaky when healthy.

---

"What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie? I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky. The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing; Rush in and die, dogs - I was a man before I was a king."

OK, yall taked me into it. When Cleveland comes back this line will be fixed. He's gonna be a top 10 G again and Trevor will be behind a good oline. That left side will be strength and we are SB bound!! Let's get it.

---

My hope was that Hodges and Foster could spell our two veteran guards and as the season went on increase their playing time. Alas, things never are that simple are they.

You have to think more positive than that.  Hopefully one of them are looking so good that it will be very hard for the coaching staff to keep one of them off the field.  One thing I hope the coaching staff doesnt do is keep a guy on the sideline that is better at this point in their careers because they want the vet out there.

---