Who will start at MLB??? Poll

[jackal]

I believe Erin Henderson will be out at Outside linebacker this year or next

I Believe in two years it will Micheal Mauti at MLB and his teammate at outside LB and
Greenway. If Not Mauti do to health reasons it will be Cole or another draft pick next year

[Eli]

That's quite a prediction. If things don't work out so optimistically, I think the Vikings will be targeting a LB high in next year's draft. They've neglected the position for too many years. Of course next year they could also be looking for a QB and some defensive linemen.

[S197]

I think they'll start Henderson. What I think they should do is sign a guy like Dansby and let Cole/Mauti learn a little more under Singletary and Williams.

[Grashopa]

i voted for Cole because that is who i would like to see succeed as our MLB, my opinion is solely based on what i saw from him in the preseason, that's all i have seen of him.

[Rus]

I'm probably one of the few who'd say this, but I kind of think Tyrone McKenzie will start in the middle early on, at least until the team is sure that either Mauti or Henderson is ready and able to take over. I don't know if it would be Urlacher, I would think that Urlacher would ask for more than the Vikings have in available salcap. Maybe he won't ask for much if interest drops off.

McKenzie got a few reps last year, Cole didn't. So going by depth chart, McKenzie seems like he'll have a leg up early on. What it really comes down to though is how well Hodges plays in spring training, because that could mean that Henderson could be moved inside and Hodges could take that WLB spot.

[big deli Vike]

I say let the best men battle it out. and if it doesnt work out, draft a guy like CJ mosley next year.

[VikingLord]

I think the plan right now would be to move Henderson inside where they have a known quantity and see if Hodges can win the other outside LB spot. From the looks of it Hodges should be able to man the spot, although that is a big leap to expect a 4th rounder to be able to jump right into the starting rotation.

Barring that, they might give Cole a shot at winning the job and hope that one of these veteran MLBs like Urlacher stay available into training camp. Then, if things look dicey I could see them make a play to get a vet into camp before things get to a point of desperation. However, I think Spielman would rather not go that route. He's trying to build his team from the ground up and my guess is Frazier and he will be willing to take their lumps trying to get one of the younger guys like Cole or Hodges off the ground. I don't put Mauti in the mix, although he is a real wildcard here. If he's healthy he might have a shot at winning that starting MLB spot outright. For everyone that loved Teo, Mauti has those same intangibles on the field and could end up being this year's SOTD, especially for a team in desperate need of a starting MLB.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I voted Audie Cole. I am almost expecting them to push for Brain Urlacher. However, given that our cap situation will probably be tight after signing the rookies, I think we may just settle for the players on our roster to battle for the linebacker spots. In all honesty, how much worse could Audie Cole be than Jasper Brinkley?

[PacificNorseWest]

If there's one position in all of football that all you need to be successful is grit, instincts, and hustle...It's middle linebacker. I feel like the Penn St. kid can be just that.

[PurpleHalo]

I think they'll start Henderson. What I think they should do is sign a guy like Dansby and let Cole/Mauti learn a little more under Singletary and Williams.

This is right where I am on this, Urlacher is beat up and done. Not sure how well Dansby has been recently but I think he's a little younger. Cole could maybe groom into it, he seems to have a nose for the ball. Dansby had 134 tackles last season, if not too expensive Id nab him. Nick Barnett and Takeo Spikes are still on the market as well.

[Mothman]

I'm probably one of the few who'd say this, but I kind of think Tyrone McKenzie will start in the middle early on, at least until the team is sure that either Mauti or Henderson is ready and able to take over. I don't know if it would be Urlacher, I would think that Urlacher would ask for more than the Vikings have in available salcap. Maybe he won't ask for much if interest drops off.

McKenzie got a few reps last year, Cole didn't. So going by depth chart, McKenzie seems like he'll have a leg up early on. What it really comes down to though is how well Hodges plays in spring training, because that could mean that Henderson could be moved inside and Hodges could take that WLB spot.

I've been wondering if perhaps Mitchell will get a shot to start. He started at MLB against SF last year when Brinkley was hurt and played well. I think he may have started the game at Detroit too, which was another good defensive effort for the Vikes. Ironically, his name isn't even in the poll above.

I don't know what they're going to do at MLB. Maybe they don't either!

[MV711]

I've been wondering if perhaps Mitchell will get a shot to start. He started at MLB against SF last year when Brinkley was hurt and played well. I think he may have started the game at Detroit too, which was another good defensive effort for the Vikes. Ironically, his name isn't even in the poll above.

I don't know what they're going to do at MLB. Maybe they don't either!

Whatever the Vikes do, they need a quality MLB if the defense is going to be sucessful. All the aforementioned LB's are not a proven quantity except for Urlacher. Even with his age and injuries I'd take him in a heartbeat for the right price.

[PurpleHalo]

What puzzles me, is why they were so ho hum about such an important position on a 4-3 defense. They had to have some idea they weren't bringing Brinkley back, who wasn't overly impressive anyways. Lets be honest, despite Adrian dragging them to the playoffs, this team was still rebuilding, so why didn't they give Cole a look at some point? Seems strange to me how poorly this was handled.

[Mothman]

What puzzles me, is why they were so ho hum about such an important position on a 4-3 defense. They had to have some idea they weren't bringing Brinkley back, who wasn't overly impressive anyways. Lets be honest, despite Adrian dragging them to the playoffs, this team was still rebuilding, so why didn't they give Cole a look at some point? Seems strange to me how poorly this was handled.

It's not even May yet so it's too early to say they've handled it poorly. Why would they have given Cole a look last year? He wasn't even second on the depth chart. Were they supposed to bench Brinkley and play Cole while they were trying to make a run for the playoffs?

[PurpleHalo]

It's not even May yet so it's too early to say they've handled it poorly. Why would they have given Cole a look last year? He wasn't even second on the depth chart. Were they supposed to bench Brinkley and play Cole while they were trying to make a run for the playoffs?

Yeah why not, this team was not a true contender, Brinkley was only being showcased for some other team to shore up at linebacker. And I don't care if it was Cole or whoever, they needed to take a look. 3 months from camp, and there isn't an answer, minicamp is the time to have a solid idea, especially at such a vital position.