in the mix for a starting/roster spot along the offense line is Aviante Collins Replica Armon Watts Jersey , a second year man that the Vikings picked up last year as an undrafted free agent out of TCU. So far her17;s generally been seen to be having a good training camp, and had a pretty good night in Denver as well. Looking For a PositionLast year, Collins got most of his reps at right tackle, where he played in college.He was also seen as athletic enough (4.81r1; 40) to see some action at left tackle as well.Collins had the upper body strength (34 benchbress reps), but was a little light for a tackle (295 lbs) and just didnr17;t have the lower body strength and girth to anchor very well against NFL defensive linemen.That created some footwork issues at times as he tried to over compensate, which left him off balance.Nevertheless he made the roster and saw some limited action as an extra tackle in jumbo packages late in the season.He did well in that role. During the off-season, Collins added some weight - about 10 pounds of muscler11; to help his lower body strength and anchoring ability.That, along with a year of NFL coaching, seems to have helped his performance.Collins plays with a nasty streak, which coach Mike Zimmer mentioned he likes about him, and had some good blocks against Denver - playing both left tackle and (mostly) left guard with the second string.The question with Collins is what is his best position?While her17;s played mostly tackle, his arm length (33 3/8r1 is not ideal for playing outside.Mike Zimmer apparently was the one to suggest playing him inside at left guard to see how he does.It makes sense as Collins has the size and quickness to play inside, and his arm length isnr17;t much of an issue there.There are at least a few other guys competing at left guard - Tom Compton, Danny Isidora Stitched Armon Watts Jersey , also Josh Andrews, so itr17;s unclear if thatr17;s where her17;s needed the most.But it may be his best position.Looking at the Denver game, Collins did better in his reps at left tackle.He struggled more at left guard, where he hadnr17;t played before, getting beat at times by quickness as he acclimated to the position.But that happened less frequently as the game progressed, suggesting with more reps he may continue to improve.What he did best at left guard was get to the second level - going out to block linebackers on run plays, and also getting out to block on screen passes.The question is that with so many competing at that position (left guard), how many reps will he get there?And will he improve enough to win the starting job?Tom Compton seemed to have the inside track at the starting LG spot, but he looked outmatched with the first team against Denver, and although Mike Zimmer gave him some light praise (her17;s not going to criticize individual player performance much in press conferences), I suspect they may be looking more seriously at LG alternatives, which I expect will include Danny Isidora, Josh Andrews, and Aviante Collins.I suspect Collinsr17; roster spot is fairly safe at this point Armon Watts Minnesota Vikings Jerseys , as he can play any position except center along the offensive line.And maybe thatr17;s the best spot for him - as a backup tackle or guard.But he may also turn out to be the best option at left guard if he continues to improve there with more reps. Every week, the Green Bay Packers are like any other NFL team, sending video of officials' calls they didn't agree with to the league office for review.This week's will have one that undoubtedly the league already knows the team is unhappy with: Linebacker Clay Matthews' controversial roughing-the-passer penalty late in the fourth quarter, a call that wiped out a Packers interception and allowed the Minnesota Vikings to escape Lambeau Field with a 29-29 tie on Sunday.McCarthy said he and his coaching staff reviewed the tape of the game early Monday morning, and that they'll compile those plays they took issue with and send them on Monday night or Tuesday morning.Matthews was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul for roughing Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins with 1 minute, 37 seconds left and the Packers leading, 29-21.Instead of Jaire Alexander's interception that would have sealed a win for the Packers, they watched as Cousins threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Adam Thielen and completed a 2-point conversion to Stefon Diggs to force overtime.Neither team scored in OT, with Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson missing a pair of field-goal attempts, including one as overtime expired. The Vikings cut Carlson Monday."I addressed it with the team. We don't focus on the uncontrollables. I don't focus on officiating," McCarthy said Monday. "We focus on the fundamentals (of tackling), doing things right r12; footwork, approach, strike and finish of any tackle."And I felt Clay did what he was asked to do. Obviously Minnesota Vikings Jerseys Stitched , they saw it differently. For me to sit here and dispute it is really a waste of everybody's time."Asked if he felt calls such as the one referee Tony Corrente made on Matthews should be subject to instant replay review, McCarthy said, "Well, I think anytime a play can change the game. ... We're not going to sit there and gripe and moan and count on them to get a call to win the game."But also, when you have a chance to reflect and evaluate, everybody's about trying to improve. We're no different. We give the feedback that's part of the process for the officiating department."Speaking to a pool reporter after the game, Corrente said Matthews was flagged because he took Cousins and "lifted him and drove him into the ground. ... It has nothing to do with the rule of full body weight. It has nothing to do with helmet to helmet. He picked the quarterback up and drove him into the ground."While McCarthy said it was incumbent on the Packers defense to respond to the call by still holding the Vikings, Matthews was clearly upset that the call went against him."If you aren't being biased, I think it was a legal hit. You can't help but think if you didn't have that call, how does this game go?," Matthews said. "At the same time, you're bewildered as far as what to think, what to do, how to feel. That's frustrating Armon Watts Jersey nfl draft , no doubt about it."I know there's an emphasis on protecting quarterbacks, but it's gotten out of control. I don't know what else to do. It's frustrating because Jaire's interception, that's game, right?"Instead, they go down and score r12; overtime. We had opportunities to win the game, no doubt about it, but (it's) frustrating to allow a call which I feel like I did the right thing to influence the game."McCarthy said the Packers, who were flagged for only one roughing-the-passer penalty all of last season, have talked about how the plays are being officiated and are trying to adjust accordingly.McCarthy also acknowledged that a roughing-the-passer call on Minnesota's Eric Kendricks for hitting Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers appeared incorrect."It's definitely a topic. I mean, we've had four (penalties) in two weeks. Anytime patterns become abnormal, I mean, there's a reason behind it," McCarthy said. "The way that particular play is being officiated is different. But in Clay's particular case, I felt that he did what he was coached to do."You've got to make sure you're looking at all the variables. I'm not sure that all the variables are clear right now. You look at both of the penalties that were called in the game Custom Armon Watts Jersey , the quarterbacks, they're trying to throw the ball."I think that's where a little bit of the gray area is in the judgment of the defender hitting the quarterback. Because I get what the goal is, and we're all for the goal being achieved. But in the same breath we've got to make sure it's not a competitive disadvantage to the pass rusher trying to hit the quarterback."NOTES: McCarthy said a holding penalty on guard Lane Taylor, which wiped out Jimmy Graham's touchdown catch also bothered him. "Frankly, I was more upset about that call than Clay's," McCarthy said. ... McCarthy didn't think Rodgers was any worse for wear after playing with a large brace to protect his injured left knee. "I mean he's obviously sore. That's to be expected," McCarthy said. "He's a warrior, just for what he gave us yesterday. (It) was outstanding. But I don't have a read on whether he's better this week than last week." ... McCarthy said he wouldn't know until Wednesday whether second-year cornerback Kevin King's groin injury is significant enough to keep him out of Sunday's game at Washington. King was out of the game when Cousins threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to get the Vikings going during the second half. "We're different when he's in there," McCarthy said of King.
is not ideal for playing outside.Mike Zimmer apparently was the one to suggest playing him inside at left guard to see how he does.It makes sense as Collins has the size and quickness to play inside, and his arm length isnr17;t much of an issue there.There are at least a few other guys competing at left guard - Tom Compton, Danny Isidora