A Pessimist's Take on the Draft--Part 1

Thanks to a great draft, it seems everyone is excited about the Vikings' prospects for the upcoming season. And they should be. Everyone of the Vikings' picks addressed a need (except for Tyler Thigpen--more on him later) and the offense finally has some players worth watching. The thing is, after four Super Bowl losses, numerous soul crushing playoff failures and countless other frustrating seasons, the Vikings' fan base has its fair share of pessimists (or realists, depending on if you are one). We know the Vikings' draft was great for the optimists, but was it great for the pessimists (realists)? In a word--yes. (Look Ma, I'm Joe Biden!)

So to rein in my enthusiasm and to widen my appeal to the pessimists (realists), I'm going to take off my rose colored glasses, think negatively and take another look at the Vikings' draft picks.

#7--Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson is a great pickup at running back, if you like your running backs injury prone. Yes, he's an amazing talent and a game breaker, but none of that matters if he's in street clothes. And after a dislocated right shoulder, a high ankle sprain, a broken collarbone and a reinjured collarbone, well, it doesn't seem all that unlikely he'll be missing time with some kind of malady. When you add in his upright running style and the fact he likes to mix it up, well, you're just asking for your #1 pick to miss his rookie year for the second straight season.

#44--Sidney Rice

Even the pessimists (realists) have to admit that trading down was a masterstroke by the Vikings. Nothing like adding picks while still getting to pick the player you wanted. Of course, when that player can be described as "very raw", "has durability concerns" and "very immature and not strong minded", well, that's not good. Nor is it good that Rice is a project, having only played two years of college ball and had his big games against lesser competition. Basically, you have to trust the Vikings' coaches to develop him, and even thinking optimistically, I can't say I have that kind of faith in them.

#72--Marcus McCauley

The corner back with the best physical tools for the position also had the worst season of any corner drafted. I think it's safe to say that I had a better season at corner in 2006--I didn't lose my starting job. And let's be honest here, it wasn't like he was starting for LSU, Florida or Michigan--Fresno State was awful last --4-8 was almost as bad as the Vikings. Yes, he could bounce back with proper coaching, but he could also be Willie Offord II.

#102—Brian Robison

Robison could be the answer to the Vikings’ inability to rush the passer. Or his lack of speed, mediocre strength and inability to shed blockers could render him a special teams player. And while a 40+ inch vertical is going to let you block kicks at the line of scrimmage in college, in the NFL, you’re still not going to get up high enough unless it’s Doug O’Brien or somebody brings back Morten or Gary Anderson. Even if he does get to the quarterback, his upside is Lance Johnstone, so don’t expect him to get many sacks on first or second down or even be in, since he’s like Keneci Udeze in reverse—effective against the pass, ineffective against the run. And I don’t even want to get into his injury issues—nothing like having lingering knee and leg problems when you’re depending on speed to succeed.

[That’s it for today—I can only handle so much pessimism in one sitting. I’ll be bringing more negativity tomorrow, as I take a pessimists’ view of the Vikings last four picks and wonder why they didn’t draft any help for the offensive line.]

And It Was Gooooooood

I have to say, I'm ecstatic about the Vikings' draft. Every single pick addressed a need, they didn't reach for any players and their trades were perfectly timed. And after some of the more, how do you say, interesting drafts the Vikings have had in the past, it was a sorely needed change of events.

On offense, the addition of Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice and Aundrae Allison will give Tarvaris Jackson some play makers to work with. Provided Peterson can avoid the injuries that plagued him at Oklahoma, he has the potential to fulfill his goals. Rice was the best wide receiver available to the Vikings at #41 and at #44, which was particularly nice since the Vikings got a fourth round pick for moving down (a pick they'd use later to move up to get Brian Robison). And Allison is FAST. And I like fast.

On the other side of the ball, the Vikings addressed their two biggest needs on defense in the third and fourth rounds. Marcus McCauley was widely considered as most physically gifted corner in the draft. If properly coached, he has the potential to be a shut down corner. Thankfully, the Vikings just hired a top notch secondary coach. And even if he can't turn McCauley into a star, McCauley should still be able to add depth to the secondary as well as be a quality addition to the special teams.

Robison, whom the Vikings traded up for, gives the Purple an intriguing pass rush specialist prospect. And really, that's what the Vikings need most defensively--someone that can get to the quarterback in passing situations. He's got speed and athleticism, as well as a reputation as a hard worker. Which means that even if he doesn't turn into Lance Johnstone, he'll still be able to contribute on special teams. Don't be surprised to see him block a kick or two with his 40+ inch vertical.

In the later rounds, the Vikings got good value out of their picks, adding Rufus Alexander, a linebacker from Oklahoma who is tailor made for the Cover 2, Tyler Thigpen, a long shot quarterback out of Coastal Carolina (who honestly can't be any worse than Drew Henson) and Chandler Williams from Florida International, a small wide receiver that has a lot of potential as a return man.

Now, there are questions about the Vikings' top picks. Peterson has his injury problems, Rice is still pretty raw, having only played two seasons of college ball (he redshirted his first year), McCauley had a horrible 2006 after a top notch 2005 and Robison battled nagging injuries throughout his final year at Texas. The Vikings did take risks. Each of those risks, however, has enough of a reward attached to it, nor did the Vikings assume any extra risk by drafting a player higher than necessary. So while the Vikings' success will be tied to the success of their draft picks this upcoming season, the players they picked have more than enough potential to make sure the Purple have a successful year.

ADRIAAAAANNNNN!!!

I'm writing this as the Vikings' clock is slowly ticking down...and now they're showing "The Pass". As of right now, I want Adrian Peterson or to trade down. And it is....

ADRIAN PETERSON!!!!!

The Vikings just got themselves an offensive play maker, someone who has break away speed, the ability to break tackles (a "violent runner" if you will) and a ridiculous watch (Did you see the diamonds on that sucker?!). Aond he was the only player available to the Purple that I wanted them to pick. So I'm going to ignore the fact that his collarbone is still injured (I think the fact he'll be sharing carries with Chester Taylor will help) and bask in the fact that the Vikings just added a player that defenses will fear. If they can add a wide receiver in the second round, their offense will actually be worth watching next year.

Who to Take....Who to Take

After spending most of April previewing second rounders and ignoring the first round, I've come to the conclusion that their second round pick will have a bigger impact on the franchise than their first rounder (there is a slight possibility that I'm completely wrong, which I will own up to when LaRon Landry is being inducted into the Hall of Fame in Purple). I'm not going to rank all twelve of the players I previewed, but I will give you the top five players I'd like to see in Purple:

1. Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
   
2. Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
3. Dwayne Jarrett: WR, USC
4. Justin Blalock: OG, Texas
5. Tim Crowder, DE, Texas

I think the Vikings should take a wide receiver in the second round, which is why I have three receivers at the top of my wish list. I like Rice better than Gonzalez because Rice is a deep threat, is taller and has more upside. Both have great hands, good speed and great work ethics with Gonzalez being better at running routes than Rice. Gonzalez actually turned in a faster forty than Rice, but was not the deep threat Rice was in college. In the end, it comes down to a willingness to take on more risk for possible greatness. Gonzalez is the much safer choice and would still be a great addition to the Purple.

Dwayne Jarrett is in the third spot because I can't make up my mind on whether his forty times are as big a problem as everyone is making them. I can't figure out how he blew by so many people in college if he's actually that slow. It's a question I'll leave up to the Vikings' scouting department--if they think he's faster than his forty from his game tapes, I'm willing to trust them, because Jarrett has pretty much everything else you'd look for in a receiver.

Of the other receivers, Steve Smith, Jason Hill and Craig "Buster" Davis all had even more question marks than Jarrett, Gonzalez and Rice and should be passed over if there's another receiver available. And thinking Robert Meachem will be available is a waste of time, as he'll be off the board in the first round.

The final two players on my top five are guys who would help address the other holes in the depth chart. Blalock would be a perfect addition to the right side of the Purple's line, either at tackle or guard, while Crowder would be a great addition to the Vikings' pass rush. I'd prefer the Vikings take either of them before one of the receivers not on the list, especially considering someone like Jason Hill might still be available in the third round. The Vikings have multiple areas to address and shouldn't be reaching for players just because they play a certain position.

[You probably didn't believe I'd get this update in, did you? Not that I'd blame you. Depending on when the Vikings get to draft, I'll be checking in with my take shortly after each of their first two picks. If that pesky thing called "reality" intercedes again, I'll start my draft review on Monday]

Excited for the First Round? Don't Be.

Let's get this out of the way: Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas are not going to be drafted by the Vikings unless the Vikings' trade up. And the Vikings should not trade up--it would cost too many picks they need to fill other holes and because I'm just now getting over the Herschel Walker trade. With those two gone, we're left with six players that could be holding up a purple #1 jersey on Saturday, three on each side of the ball: JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Adrian Peterson, LaRon Landry, Jamaal Anderson and Gaines Adams.

Of course, as we've seen already, what a team does with the #7 pick is largely dependent on what the six teams ahead of them do. Of those six, as many as four players might be drafted before the Vikings go on the clock. And to be honest, there's only one player that I would be mad the Vikings missed out on: Gaines Adams. I wouldn't necessarily be unhappy if the Vikings ended up with one of the other five players, but I'm not going to complain if they aren't available when the Vikings' pick rolls around.

To begin with, I'm not entirely sold on JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn, nor am I sure the Vikings' need them. Russell has bust written all over him, due it's his poor decision making at LSU, he fact he wasn't the the Tigers #1 QB until his senior year or his tendency to throw mindbogglingly bad interceptions (Football Outsiders has a good article on why those three things are important). It doesn't help that the Raiders seem to like him (that's a warning sign).

Quinn seems more likely to be successful, but that doesn't mean I'm excited about the Vikings' getting him. To begin with, he gives off a very "Joey Harrington" vibe, possibly because of the name ending in "y", possibly because they seem to have similar looks on their faces. He has much better statistics in college, however, and spent a lot of time under a great coach in Charlie Weis. And yet, there's just something about him that dampens my enthusiasm.

Adrian Peterson was a player I was excited about the Vikings' getting to draft until the story broke that he had re injured his collar bone in the Fiesta Bowl and was still recovering. That puts him at four injuries in three seasons at Oklahoma. At some point, freak injuries stop being shocking and become commonplace (see Prior, Mark for a non football example). Peterson isn't necessarily at that point yet, but he's awfully close. And it might just be me, but it'd be cool to see the Vikings #1 pick play his rookie year.

Of the two defenders besides Adams, LaRon Landry is the pick I'd be happiest about. The guy is a stud--6'2, 205lbs with a 4.37 forty. And he's both a playmaker and a guy that destroys people. The thing is, he's a safety, a position where the Vikings' have a lot of good players. So if they draft him, they're set at the position for a while. If they don't, well, they're still set at the position for awhile.

Jamaal Anderson, on the other hand, seems to be the defensive end version of JaMarcus Russell. Everything you would want physically, but without a lot of experience or grasp of the subtitles of the position. One good year is not a guarantee of future performance.

Gaines Adams, on the other hand, looks like a player that can step in and solve one of the Viking's problems. He needs to bulk up, but he makes up for his size with speed (4.64 forty) and great technique. His list of moves is long, and he showed them off his junior and senior years. He is the best pass rusher in the draft, something the Vikings desperately need. He is this year's Javon Kearse, which is exactly what the Vikings need. Which is why I fully expect him to be drafted in the first six picks, leaving the Purple to have to settle for a player they don't need or don't want. And if you were wondering, this is why I've been concentrating on possible second round picks.

[Second round preview to come later this afternoon. I promise.]

Get to Know 'Em: Lamar Woodley

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.
April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
April 4: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
April 5: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
April 8: Steve Smith, WR, USC
April 10: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
April 18: Jason Hill, WR, Washington St.
April 19: Tim Crowder, DE, Texas
April 20: Justin Blalock: OG, Texas
April 23: Robert Meachem: WR, Tennessee
April 24: Craig "Buster" Davis: WR, LSU
April 25: Dwayne Jarrett: WR, USC
April 26: LaMar Woodley: DE, Michigan

Ask and ye shall receive--my first round preview will be up later this afternoon. In it's place this morning, I'm taking a look at LaMar Woodley, the 6'1, 266lb senior defensive end from the University of Michigan.

Woodley was a force to be feared for Michigan, leading a tenacious defense in sacks his last two years there. He has a relentless motor (by the way, who choose "motor" as the cliche to use in this situation? Why wasn't any else consulted?) and has a nose for getting to the QB. And once he gets there, the QB remembers him, since Woodley can just destroy people. He also uses that strength, along with great technique, to make up for his lack of bulk.

That lack of size is probably his biggest drawback. He's small for an end, but doesn't have a linebackers' instincts, despite spending time at the position for the Wolverines. That size disadvantage rears it's head against double teams and bigger tackles, which he'll be working against in the NFL. And scouts question whether he has the speed and burst necessary for smaller defensive ends to excel in the NFL. He turned in a 4.79 forty at the combine, but followed that up with a 4.62 on campus. It seems that he would be an ideal blitzing linebacker in the 3-4, since he is basically your prototypical "tweener".

Woodley will be availble to the Vikings at #41. He would also be available late in the round, whether they choose to trade up or down to secure the pick. I think the Vikings can get better value with their second rounder than Woodley, whether it's by drafting a different defensive end or by choosing a wide receiver. One of the keys to the draft is getting players that will fit your system. Woodley's lack of size and good but not great speed would be problematic in the Viking's scheme.

Get to Know 'Em: Dwayne Jarrett

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.
April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
April 4: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
April 5: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
April 8: Steve Smith, WR, USC
April 10: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
April 18: Jason Hill, WR, Washington St.
April 19: Tim Crowder, DE, Texas
April 20: Justin Blalock: OG, Texas
April 23: Robert Meachem: WR, Tennessee
April 24: Craig "Buster" Davis: WR, LSU
April 25: Dwayne Jarrett: WR, USC

Instead of taking a look at prospects such as guard Ben Grubbs from Auburn, tackle Tony Ugoh from Arkansas or defensive ends Jarvis Moss from Florida or Anthony Spencer from Purdue, all possible second round choices by the Vikings, I'm going to finish with a player that many were calling for the Vikings to take with their first round pick, Dwayne Jarrett, the junior wide receiver from USC.

A 6'5, 210 playmaker, Jarrett wowed scouts and football fans with huge games against Notre Dame and Michigan his junior year, but has seen his draft stock plummet from the top half of the first round to the top of the second round. He catches everything, has amazing body control (his catches near the side lines are near legendary), runs routes exceptionally well due to his ability to stay low out of his breaks and can hang on to the ball while absorbing a hit. Not to mention the fact that he knows how to exploit his height and reach to create mismatches against faster corner backs.

The problem is that most corners in the NFL will be faster than him, as well as quite a few safeties. His 4.62 forty time at the combine was what originally sent his draft stock plummeting, something that a 4.57 forty during a campus workout did nothing to stop. And when the questions about his speed arose, they brought with them questions about his durability (he injured his quad, shoulder and suffered a concussion his final season at USC) and about his attitude, one scout saying "there is a lot of the brash Keyshawn Johnson and the flippant Mike Williams attitude in this kid". That, obviously, did nothing to help his draft stock.

There is a very good possibility that Dwayne Jarrett will be available to the Purple at #41. Whether they take him will depend a lot on their perception of his work ethic and whether they think Jarrett's lack of speed is too much for his great hands, height, body control and route running.

Get to Know 'Em: Craig "Buster" Davis

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.
April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
April 4: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
April 5: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
April 8: Steve Smith, WR, USC
April 10: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
April 18: Jason Hill, WR, Washington St.
April 19: Tim Crowder, DE, Texas
April 20: Justin Blalock: OG, Texas
April 23: Robert Meachem: WR, Tennessee
April 24: Craig "Buster" Davis: WR, LSU

My plan for the week is to finish up my previews of second rounders today and tomorrow, discuss possible first round choices on Thursday and then decide on who I'd like to see the Vikings pick in the first two rounds on Friday. So, without further ado, let's get to know Craig "Buster" Davis, a senior wide receiver out of Louisiana State University.

Davis looks like your standard NFL wide receiver, checking in at 6'1, 207 lbs. He has the speed you look for, running a 4.46 forty and he used it well, both as a deep threat for the Tigers and as a return man his senior year, where he returned 10 punts for 142 yards and a touchdown. He pairs his speed with great body control and what some considered to be the best pair of hands in the SEC. And he adjusts well to poorly thrown balls, something that would be very useful in maintaining Tarvaris Jackson's confidence.

The problem is that Davis' is just as likely to pull a Troy Williamson and drop a perfectly placed pass. His focus is a huge question mark--something that's backed up by his lack of production at LSU, as he did not top the 1000 yard mark in four seasons. There's also a lot of questions about his willingness to absorb hits in order to make a catch, as many of the reports describe him as unwilling to go across the middle and dropping passes because he was worrying about getting hit. To put it bluntly, his nickname may as well be "Alligator Arms".

Davis has all the physical attributes you want in a receiver, but seems to be lacking the toughness needed. The last thing the Vikings need right now is player like Troy Williamson, that can't maintain focus or that shies away from contact. There's a good chance that Davis will go prior the Vikings' second round pick, but even if he doesn't, look for the Purple to draft a different wide receiver anyway.

Get to Know 'Em: Robert Meachem

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.
April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
April 4: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
April 5: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
April 8: Steve Smith, WR, USC
April 10: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
April 18: Jason Hill, WR, Washington St.
April 19: Tim Crowder, DE, Texas
April 20: Justin Blalock: OG, Texas
April 23: Robert Meachem: WR, Tennessee

Robert Meachem, a junior wide receiver out of Tennessee, is one of the few players that the Vikings invited to visit Winter Park. And it's not hard to see why: he has good hands, a wide receivers' body (6'3, 210lbs), he's fast and he uses his speed on the football field. Of course, all of those qualities should be enough to convince a team to take him in the latter half of the first round, but there are enough questions that it's not unreasonable for the Vikings to think he might still be available in the second round.

And if he's available there, he'll be a steal for the Vikings. Meachem turned in a breakout performance as a junior, and he has all the tools to have similar seasons in the NFL. His 4.4 forty speed was a huge factor at Tennessee, as he was able to use it as a deep threat and after making the catch, especially after using his strength to break tackles. He also utilized a great vertical leap, long arms and good hands while leading the SEC in receiving. The fact he was able to put up those stats against that caliber of competition, facing every kind of coverage from bump and run to zone makes it all the more impressive.

With all of that going for him, it makes it hard to see him still being on the board at #41. His drawbacks, however, are serious enough (and Troy Williamson-y enough) that teams with late first round picks may go elsewhere. The biggest question about Meachem is about his focus. He had a tendency to drop catchable passes due to a lack of concentration. His routes aren't anything to write home about either, and he is still pretty raw.

Are those question marks enough to drop Meachem all the way to #41? It doesn't look like it, seeing as how most mock drafts have him going somewhere in the 20s. There's a reason the Vikings brought him to Winter Park though, so don't be surprised if the questions about his focus and technique, combined with contending teams looking to fill other needs, might just be enough to allow the Vikings to pick up a first round receiver in the second round.

Get to Know 'Em: Justin Blalock

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.
April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
April 4: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
April 5: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
April 8: Steve Smith, WR, USC
April 10: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
April 18: Jason Hill, WR, Washington St.
April 19: Tim Crowder, DE, Texas
April 20: Justin Blalock: OG, Texas

Today we'll stay in the Lone Star State and in the trenches but move to the other side of the ball and consider an answer to the holes on the right side of Vikings' offensive line: Justin Blalock, a senior 6'4 329 lb guard/tackle. He spent most of his time in Austin at right tackle and could stay there in the NFL, but will most likely play right guard, a position he also spent time at in college.

Blalock was a consistent force for the Longhorns' line, setting a school record with 51 consecutive starts and making the Big 12 All Conference team his last three years. He was also named a finalist for both the Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy and was named a first team All American by the AP. Those recognitions were due to his versatility, quickness and solid footwork. The man can drive block a lineman with the best of them, especially when he stays low, something he was better able to do at guard. He also showed the ability to handle the speed of defensive ends at tackle, due to quick lateral movement. And the man is strong--when he delivers a blow, the defender feels it.

Blalock does have his drawbacks at both positions, however. He doesn't have the frame or reach that you'd want in an offensive tackle. As a guard, he had problems getting to the second level of blocks, as he would get held up by defensive tackles. And he can stand to improve his technique at both positions, as well as his footwork, an issue that likely stems from his splitting time between the two spots.

The Vikings' complete lack of play makers would make it tough for them to draft an offensive lineman with their second rounder, but shoring up the protection (especially since they'll have a young quarterback) is never a bad idea. If they draft Blalock, he would be able to step in and immediately compete for a starting position on the right side, most likely at guard. And he'd allow Brad Childress to feel comfortable enough to incorporate running plays to the right side into the play book, which may just be reason enough to draft him.

Get to Know 'Em: Tim Crowder

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.

April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
April 4: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
April 5: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
April 8: Steve Smith, WR, USC
April 10: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
April 18: Jason Hill, WR, Washington St.
April 19: Tim Crowder, DE, Texas

As I wrote when I previewed Charles Johnson two weeks ago, if the Vikings decide to draft an offensive player in the first round, they'll most likely try and pick up someone to help their pass rush in the second round. Tim Crowder, a decorated 6'4, 272lb senior defensive end from Texas may just end up in Purple because of that strategy. And don't be surprised if he makes an impact in his first year.

Crowder has a lot going for him--intangibles (he was the Longhorn's captain his senior year), experience (he played in every game while he was in Austin) and all the physical tools you look for in a defensive end. He has speed (4.69 forty) and demonstrated that he had enough speed to get around tackles while racking up 10.5 sacks his senior year. And when he gets to the QB, well, they better protect the ball, as he forced four fumbles his senior year. He's not just a pass rush specialist, either as his play against the run as been above average, partly due to his ability to get the most out of his size and partly due to his ability to disengage from blockers.

His technique is not perfect, however. He doesn't always stay low, allowing blockers to stand him up and get their hands into him. Against Baylor, he could get out of it. Against Chad Clifton, he won't have a chance. And while he has enough speed for the position, tackles won't be staying up all night worrying about it. He's fast, but he's not Javon Kearse.

If the Vikings choose to wait until the second round to address their pass rush issues, Tim Crowder would be a solid choice. He probably won't lead the league in sacks, but he will be able to pressure the quarterback, especially since he'll never be the focus of a blocking scheme (if the Vikings can acquire a defensive end that draws the focus away from the Williams "brothers", well, then they won't have to worry about their defensive line anymore). If he ends up wearing Purple, Crowder will be a solid addition to Erasmus James and Ray Edwards

Get to Know 'Em: Jason Hill

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.

April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
April 4: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
April 5: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
April 8: Steve Smith, WR, USC
April 10: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami
April 18: Jason Hill, WR, Washington St.

You like speed? You like blinding, "get out the peanut butter because that corner just got toasted" speed? Then you'll probably like Jason Hill, a 6 foot. 210 lb senior from Washington St. and his 4.32 forty. The only player in the draft with a better time was Ted Ginn, Jr. But like all speedsters, there are some questions.

Hill has a lot going for him aside from his unreal forty time. He is a solid route runner, one that doesn't allow defensive backs to bump him off his route. And his production looks even more impressive when you consider that Washington State's quarterbacks were awful. His hands are good and he has a nose for the end zone, scoring double digit touchdowns his sophomore and junior years.

He didn't reach that mark his senior year, partially due to ankle and calf injuries which caused him to miss his last two games and which have raised some questions about his durability. And even taking his injuries into consideration, Hill's drop off in production senior year should raise a red flag among NFL GMs. There's also some questions about whether his forty time was an aberration, as he didn't always display game breaking speed in college. He may be a possession type receiver with a deep threat's forty time.

It's those questions, as well as the availability of better receivers in the second round that drops Hill in my rankings. The fact that the type of receiver Hill will be is still up in the air should be enough to keep the Vikings away, especially since they should be able to get a much better version of Hill, whether he ends up as a possession receiver or a deep threat.

A Word on Interconnectedness

I'll get back to my draft previews tomorrow with a look at Jason Hill, but yesterday's events at Virginia Tech left an impact on me in an unexpected way. I don't know any students at Virginia Tech. I've never been to Virginia Tech. I don't even know any graduates of Virginia Tech. Some of my friends do (it being a common college choice for Northern Virginians, which said friends are), but I've never met any of them. And so, while the idea of the sanctity of a college campus being shattered horrifies me (and worries me, as this is my off year between undergrad and law school), it was something that happened to someone else. There was no real connection, no person I knew to check on, send my condolences, or to identify with. The events are tragic and horrible and every other word you might think of to describe it, but they have no effect my life, or anyone in it.

At least, that's what I thought until this morning, when in the course of my morning routine, I stopped by Pulling a Blyleven and found out that one of the authors is a grad student at Virginia Tech. RK was, thankfully, able to avoid the tragedy, but his post struck me in an interesting way. I've never met RK, could not pick him out of the crowd, nor do I even know what "RK" stands for. Yet, if he'd been injured, or killed or effected by this tragedy, well, it would have been the same to me as if someone I knew in real life (read, not from the internet) had been effected. I can think of a whole host of bloggers of whom I could say the same thing. Which, when you think about it, is an interesting thing to say, considering I've never met any of them, nor do I know much about them outside of what they choose to write on their sites. And yet, somehow, through the written word, a community has been created, a community that could not have existed 20 years ago. And while normally that community just adds to my enjoyment of my favorite sports teams, today, it brought home to me a tragedy in a way that would not have happened before. This here internet really is an interesting piece of technology, isn't it?

That's Just Embarrassing

SI.com headline: "Refusal to pull up pants leads to Viking's arrest".

Let's all applaud Cedric Griffin for being the first Viking to tempt the wrath of the Commissioner. I'm sure the Vikings would love to spend time without one of their starting corner, seeing as they have so many capable backups. Unless the reason that players become safeties rather than corners is because they can't cut it at corner. Then the defense might have some problems.

[Editor's note: Griffin's problem stemmed from wearing pants too low, not because he was undressed or in the act of undressing. So he's got that going for him. Which is nice. Still gotta love the headline though.]

The New NFL Conduct Policy and You

The biggest news in the NFL world is the suspensions of Pacman Jones and Chris Henry and Commissioner Roger Goodell's new league conduct policy. The policy has two possibly controversial aspects, the first of which pertains to when players can be punished:

"It is not enough to simply avoid being found guilty of a crime," the new policy says. "Instead, as an employee of the NFL or a member club, you are held to a higher standard and expected to conduct yourself in a way that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the league is based, and is lawful.

"Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime."

Some may have a problem with this, and I can't comment on the legality of the policy, seeing as how I'm not a lawyer, but at its core, the policy rests on the fact that no one has a right to play in the NFL. Employers can expect certain conduct from their employees and it is not unreasonable for the league to expect its players to avoid the type of situations that lead to felony charges. And don't expect the NFLPA to help Pacman Jones fight for his right to make it rain:

"The NFL Players Association and the Player Advisory Council have been discussing this issue for several months," Upshaw said. "We believe that these are steps that the commissioner needs to take and we support the policy. It is important that players in violation of the policy will have the opportunity and the support to change their conduct and earn their way back."

The new policy won't just effect the way players conduct themselves either. It will also have an effect on the way teams evaluate players. Aside from the fact that players with a history of behavior problems may end up missing large chunks of their teams' games, making them akin to a player with a history of injury problems, Goodell has added in another incentive for teams to avoid behaviorally challenged players: punishing teams for their players run ins with the law. He didn't expand on what would happen to teams, but most articles seem to think he'll end up taking draft picks away. So not only would a team lose a player to a suspension, they'd also lose the most precious commodity in the NFL.

What will the effect of this policy be on the Vikings? Well, for one, don't expect to see Brandon Meriweather in Purple. Aside from that, it will likely only serve to harden a policy the Vikings have already implemented. Following the Randy Moss trade and the Sex Boat Incident, the team rolled out a pretty strict behavioral policy and rid themselves of many of the players making the wrong kind of headlines, such as Daunte Culpepper, Fred Smoot and Koren Robinson.

That doesn't mean they'll get rid of a player upon the first sign of trouble, however. Bryant "the Giver" McKinnie and Dwight "Wisconsin Women" Smith are still on the roster, with McKinnie receiving an extension and Smith being resigned. What set them apart from the others is that McKinnie and Smith managed to avoid any further trouble after a relatively minor incident: Culpepper had a publicized falling out with Childress, Smoot had problems with making meetings on time and had a drop off in performance and while Robinson's offense was his first with the Vikings, it was a repeat of previous alcohol related issues. What this implies is that from here on out, the Vikings will tolerate a minor incident, but will not tolerate any further mistakes. And if they stick to that policy, they should be able to avoid having the Commissioner step in, something that all Vikings' fans should hope never happens.

Get to Know 'Em: Brandon Meriweather

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.

April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
April 4: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
April 5: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
April 8: Steve Smith, WR, USC
April 10: Brandon Meriweather, S, Miami

If the Vikings want to get first round talent in the second round, their best bet is to draft Brandon Meriweather, a senior safety out of the University of Miami. Disregarding the fact that the Vikings are being investigated by the Attorney General for a Safety monopoly, something all those mock drafts with LeRon Landry going #7 have already done, there are some slight issues that may cause the Purple to pass on a player that could be their version of Sean Taylor.

Before we get into Meriweather's issues, it's best that we talk about what he would bring to the table. He has the speed necessary to be a returner (4.48 forty), the tackling ability of a strong safety and the coverage skills necessary to play any position in the secondary, something he did for the Hurricanes. He has great hands and routinely put the fear of God into receivers as they came across the middle. You can expect him to score touchdowns for the Purple, whether it's by returning interceptions or kicks. And to top it all off, he is reported to have a great work ethic and was seen by the 'Canes as one of the leaders of their defense. Quite simply, he has the potential to be a Pro Bowler for the Vikings for the next 10 years.

Like all prospects, however, he has his drawbacks. Durability is an issue, due to how he throws himself around on the field. There are also some small character issues, such as how he starred in the FIU-Miami brawl as the "Cane Stomper", a role he played to perfection by kicking and stomping an FIU player on the ground. He also has issues with his aim, as his return fire failed to hit an assailant who shot his roommate. The gun he used was legally owned and was used only in self defense, but it forces the Vikings to decide whether it was an isolated incident or something likely to reoccur due to poor choices by Meriweather.

It's the answer to that question, as well as his conduct during the FIU-Miami brawl that will determine where Meriweather is drafted. If a team is willing to overlook them, Meriweather could go as high as the mid first round. If teams are worried about those issues, he could fall past the Vikings to the mid second round. I don't see Zygi and the new look Vikings taking a chance on Meriweather, but if they feel the brawl was a heat of the moment incident, and his return fire an isolated matter of self defense, his talent would be awfully hard to pass up.

Get to Know 'Em: Steve Smith

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.

April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
April 4: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
April 5: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
April 8: Steve Smith, WR, USC

Steve Smith, a senior out of USC, might be the strongest wide receiver available to the Vikings with the #41 pick. The problem is that the way Smith demonstrated his strength might be enough of a reason for the behavior-conscious Vikings to draft a different receiver with question marks. Not only did he break Minnesota native Dominique Byrd’s jaw in a fight, the fight occurred because Smith owed Byrd money and refused to pay him. Sounds like a classy guy. You do have to give him some credit for being willing to fight Byrd. As someone who played Byrd in high school (and who needed to take a play off to recover my senses after being run over by him), I can attest to the fact that Dominique Byrd is a very large human being.

Now, if the Vikings decide that the incident in question (which Pete Carroll felt did not require disciplinary actions) was not something that would happen again and decided to take Smith, they’d be getting a receiver with soft hands, good speed (4.40 forty time) and four years in a pro style offense at USC. He has also shown the toughness necessary to go over the middle, the ability to avoid tackles in the open field and a willingness to block in the running game. His blocking was one of the reasons that Reggie Bush was able to break so many long runs.

Smith does have some big question marks, however. He stands a shade under 6 feet and weighs 195lbs, and did not demonstrate the speed on the field that he did in workouts. Short receivers that have success in the NFL are usually very fast, something he may not be on game day. And even when they are, they are not their team’s #1 receiver. Aside from the Panther’s Steve Smith, no receiver under 6 foot is on the top of their team’s depth chart. And Smith’s size also leads to questions about whether he’ll be able to handle big, physical corners, something that would be even more problematic if the concerns about his speed are true. To make it worse, he’s never been the #1 receiver on his team, having played opposite Dwayne Jarrett and Michael Williams.

More likely than not, there will be a better receiver available to the Vikings in the second round. Smith’s lack of size, his character issues and the questions about his speed make him too much of a risk, since his upside is that of a #2 receiver at best.

Get to Know 'Em: Charles Johnson

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.
April 3: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
Yesterday: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina
Today: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia

What? You thought that all the candidates for the Vikings second round pick were offensive players? You realize that's not their only weak spot, right? What if they decide to draft Adrian Peterson or Brady Quinn? Think it might be worth it to draft a defensive end then? No? Well, me neither, but that doesn't mean they won't do it, just to spite us. And, so we'll all be prepared for that eventuality, I give you Charles Johnson, a 6'2, 270lb junior defensive end out of the University of Georgia. [Editor's note: Yahoo! didn't feel it necessary to keep track of his stats, so those listed are not accurate. He actually had 19 TFLs and 9.5 sacks last year. Hopefully, Johnson uses Yahoo!'s snub as motivation if he's in Purple next year.]

Johnson projects to be a workmanlike end, able to play the run, collect a few sacks and generally get the job done. His upside is "good", not "great". To put it another way, he's never going to be the focus of the other team's blocking schemes, rather, he's going to be the guy that forces the other team to keep their schemes honest.

Johnson has the strength, build and long arms you look for in a defensive end, and has also demonstrated the ability to be an effective run stopper, but he has average speed (4.87) and there are questions about his burst, specifically his ability to get around left tackles. That shouldn't be too big of an issue for the Vikings, since that's supposed to be Erasmus James' job. And if the Vikings are passing up on a defensive end in the first round, they better be sure James' is going to be ready to be their top defensive end.

James' health might be key to Johnson's success for another reason: he was never the focus of offensive blocking schemes in college, as most teams focused instead on stopping his teammate Quentin Moses. Despite this, he is generally regarded as a better NFL prospect than Moses, who is projected as a third or forth rounder. If the Vikings decide to go with an offensive player in the first round, look for them to target someone like Johnson to help with their anemic pass rush. While Charles Johnson may not ever be a Pro Bowler, he has the ability to be a quality defensive end for a long time.

Get to Know 'Em: Sidney Rice

Rather than add my voice to the legion of bloggers speculating on the Vikings' first round pick, I'm going to take the draft analysis a step further and preview players the Vikings might take with the 41st overall pick. And in case you're wondering, I'm getting the ideas for players from NFL Draft Countdown, Draft Tek and FF Tool Box. So for all I know, these guys will all be gone in the first round, or will still be available when the Vikings draft in the third round. If it's the latter, let's all pretend this was a third round preview, ok? Thanks.
Yesterday: Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Ohio St.
Today: Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina

How do you like your second rounders? Are you willing to take a high risk for high reward? Or do you want a player that's closer to fully formed? How much reward is necessary for your risk? Would you rather avoid another Troy Williamson, or find another Randy Moss like steal?

Depending on how you answer those rhetorical questions, Sidney Rice might be the second rounder for you. Rice is a 6'4, 200lb, Redshirt Sophomore out of South Carolina with the potential for stardom and the inexperience and question marks of a bust. Rice has hands that Troy Williamson would kill for, the body type of a #1 receiver and the leaping ability of a basketball player, which, coincidentally, he was in high school. He also has shown the ability to outrun corners at the college level.

On the other hand, he turned in a relatively pedestrian 4.51 forty, has only two years of college games under his belt and doesn't run very precise routes, which, if the Vikings' draft him, can hopefully be explained by his inexperience, rather than any inability to do so. There are also some questions about his ability to make plays after the catch. He will need some time to adjust to the NFL, and would fit in best with a team able to bring him along slowly, something the Vikings don't have the luxury of being able to do.

If the Vikings are willing to risk another Troy Williamson for a player that could become their #1 receiver and has the potential to be a Pro Bowler, Sidney Rice is worth the 41st overall choice. If they want a player that is ready to contribute right away, then Rice is likely not the answer. It might be a moot point, however, as some mock drafts have Rice being drafted before the Vikings choice in the second round.

Get to Know 'Em: Anthony Gonzalez

March Madness is over. Baseball's spring jewel, Opening Day, was yesterday. Which means that, aside there being baseball to watch every day (which I'm unbelievable excited about), it's time to start focusing on the NFL Draft. Like everyone else, I'm interested in who the Vikings' take with the #7 overall pick, but what really interests me is who they might take with their second rounder. So, over the next week or so, I'm going to take a look at those players who'll still be around for the Purple to add with the 41st overall pick, starting with Anthony Gonzalez, a senior wide receiver out of Ohio State.

At 6'0 and 193 lbs, Gonzalez doesn't have the height or bulk necessary for a first round pick. His size also lead to problems with physical corners and getting off the line when bumped. Gonzalez also does not have the experience as a #1 receiver, that you'd like to see, as he lined up opposite Ted Ginn, Jr, meaning he rarely saw double coverage while in college. What he does have, however, is an understanding of how to run routes. Everything I've read about him has emphasized that Gonzalez is a precise route runner, something that will fit in well in Brad Childress' West Coast Offense.

What makes Gonzalez different than your average possession receiver is his speed. The 4.44 forty he turned in at the combine was the 15th fastest time by a wide receiver, faster than the times turned in by Sidney Rice, Dwayne Jarrett and Dwayne Bowe. Gonzalez has also shown the work ethic and continual improvement necessary for success in the NFL. His stats improved each year, and he went above and beyond the normal routine by purchasing and sleeping in an altitude tent this past season to improve his conditioning. And his grades suggest a player smart enough to grasp a complicated offense (so he'll have no trouble with Childress'...Oh Snap!).

Gonzalez looks like he might be a diamond in the rough, and while he will not be Randy Moss, he has the potential to be a quality receiver for the Vikings for a long time. If the Vikings end up using their first round pick on a defensive player, Gonzalez would be a great way for them to address their lack of depth at receiver in the second round.