Greenway at MIKE?

[dead_poet]

Chad Greenway - LB - Vikings

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is open to moving Chad Greenway to middle linebacker.

Zimmer played strong-side linebacker last season under Leslie Frazier. He practiced at weak side during OTAs, and is now under consideration at Mike. "It’s a possibility," Zimmer said. "We keep working him in there. We’re just trying to find the best 11 players we can and then figure out where the rest of the guys are going to fit." Greenway's IDP stock could rise in the middle.
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... page=2&c=y

[Eli]

Whatever works. Assuming Barr will be a starter, who becomes the other OLB? It seemed fairly obvious with Barr and Greenway on the outside, then you'd have either Cole or Mauti (or, God help us, Brinkley) in the middle.

[losperros]

Whatever works. Assuming Barr will be a starter, who becomes the other OLB? It seemed fairly obvious with Barr and Greenway on the outside, then you'd have either Cole or Mauti (or, God help us, Brinkley) in the middle.

Maybe Gerald Hodges is the other OLB. Does anyone know how he's been in camp?

[oldskoolvikingfan]

I don't think Greenway will play the Mike lb spot. I think that Brinkley or Cole is gonna start at Mike and Greenway will play weakside.

[Demi]

Whatever works. Assuming Barr will be a starter, who becomes the other OLB? It seemed fairly obvious with Barr and Greenway on the outside, then you'd have either Cole or Mauti (or, God help us, Brinkley) in the middle.

Would be nice to see some younger more athletic guys on the outside that's for sure!

[DanAS]

Chad Greenway - LB - Vikings

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is open to moving Chad Greenway to middle linebacker.

Zimmer played strong-side linebacker last season under Leslie Frazier. He practiced at weak side during OTAs, and is now under consideration at Mike. "It’s a possibility," Zimmer said. "We keep working him in there. We’re just trying to find the best 11 players we can and then figure out where the rest of the guys are going to fit." Greenway's IDP stock could rise in the middle.
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... page=2&c=y

I'm really excited to have Zimmer to help us on the defensive side of the ball ... but I'm not sold on our talent level on that side of the ball.

Greenway at the Mike Backer? I'd love it if it could work, but I'm having trouble picturing him having the kind of toughness and ferocity needed to thrive at that position. And would he be durable enough at this stage of the game?

[PacificNorseWest]

I've said a few time before on VMB, but that might be the best move. It could optimize what you'll get out of a declining Greenway. I think it's probably his preference, but it depends on if he can get others up to speed in order to fill the outside spots.

[S197]

Chad Greenway - LB - Vikings

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is open to moving Chad Greenway to middle linebacker.

Zimmer played strong-side linebacker last season under Leslie Frazier. He practiced at weak side during OTAs, and is now under consideration at Mike. "It’s a possibility," Zimmer said. "We keep working him in there. We’re just trying to find the best 11 players we can and then figure out where the rest of the guys are going to fit." Greenway's IDP stock could rise in the middle.
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... page=2&c=y

I know he likes to get involved with the defense but that might be a bit much?

[Cliff]

I know he likes to get involved with the defense but that might be a bit much?

I bet Zimmer could turn himself into a star! He's known for getting the most out of players, I've heard.

[jackal]

I am assuming they will have Greenway making the defensive calls if he is at Mike

I believe Zimmer ran a hybrid 4-3 defense with the Bengals.. I am assuming we will run something
similar in Minnesota. I am also assuming we will shuffle our defensive line in and out to keep them
fresh and create match up problems.

[Texas Vike]

I bet Zimmer could turn himself into a star! He's known for getting the most out of players, I've heard.

Didn't we sign a LB named Mike Zimmer?

I know that the mistake in the article was supposed to be referring to Greenway, but that's a funny coincidence (if I'm remembering correctly).

[PurpleKoolaid]

I think I posted this before, but I think it was on Rosen's Sports Sunday that Greenway said he would be fine at MIKE, this was months ago. Rousse said hes been getting a lot of reps there. He cant cover, but no LBs we have can. Greenway would be perfect at MIKE right now. Zimmer will drop Jasper the second the games matter. All the other young LB's we have, wouldn't be any more ready for mike then Greenway anyway.

[Eli]

We'll be in nickel 65-70 percent of the time anyway.

Will they? This isn't the same coaching staff as last year, so I don't expect the same mistakes. If you're going to be more aggressive rushing the passer and you also want to contain the run, you generally do it with linebackers. And the Vikings don't exactly have a set of defensive backs that are much better in coverage than their linebackers.

[S197]

Will they? This isn't the same coaching staff as last year, so I don't expect the same mistakes. If you're going to be more aggressive rushing the passer and you also want to contain the run, you generally do it with linebackers. And the Vikings don't exactly have a set of defensive backs that are much better in coverage than their linebackers.

It's a passing league so you see a lot of nickel and dime sets. Especially in the NFC North with Rodgers, Cutler, and Stafford. Maybe if the Vikings were playing the 49ers or Seahawks you'd see a little more base defense but I think somewhere in the 60 percentile makes sense.