After a surprise 2012 season where the Minnesota Vikings went 10-6 and made the playoffs, some writers, like Jason La Canfora, think the team will disappoint in 2013.
I understand where that thinking comes from. But if I was to rattle off the three keys to the Vikings proving guys like La Canfora wrong it would go in this order: 1) Christian Ponder 2) Christian Ponder 3) Christian Ponder.
Yes, the Vikings wide receiver situation was a huge weakness last season and the team must get major improvement from that unit to be better in 2013. Yes, the Minnesota secondary (and I'm largely talking about the cornerbacks here) is young and did not always play great in 2012. And now the team goes into 2013 without its best corner - Antoine Winfield. It's not hard to imagine Chris Cook, Josh Robinson, rookie Xavier Rhodes and A.J. Jefferson getting picked on game after game by NFL quarterbacks. Finally, the health of Adrian Peterson is always paramount for the Vikings considering how much the team has leaned on his talents during his six years in the league.
But I think it is Ponder who matters the most. Consider that last year there were six games where he didn't throw for 150 yards and three where he didn't even throw for 100 yards. Yet the Vikings managed to win four of those games, which is tough to do (and tougher to repeat doing) in a league where passing is so important to being successful. I highly doubt Ponder can continue to put up such poor passing numbers, and be asked to do as little as offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave asked him to do in many of those games, if the Vikings want to be in the playoffs on an annual basis and challenging for a Super Bowl. I know the Vikings have assembled some nice young talent the past three drafts, but Ponder just has to be better in 2013 and beyond for this team to have a chance.
Improvement in his play will also have an impact on the other things I mentioned above. If Ponder is more accurate on his medium-to-long throws and making better decisions in the pocket, he'll make his wide receivers look better and give them a better chance to succeed. If his passing is better and the Vikings offense is scoring more points and staying on the field longer, they'll be keeping the Vikings defense and young secondary off the field a bit more and give opposing QBs less time to exploit them. And a more professional and potent passing attack should allow the Vikings to give Peterson the ball a little less, keeping him fresher and exposing him to fewer hits over the 16 game season.
The 2012 Vikings were an average team that won two-to-three games more than they should have last season - just like they lost two-to-three more than they should have in 2011. The 10-6 record was a fluke - although a welcome fluke. In 2013, the Vikings schedule looks tougher, the team has gotten younger and more inexperienced and lost two of its best players in Winfield and Percy Harvin. Its also unlikely Peterson will have another 2,000 yard season (and I hope he doesn't, because that will likely mean the Vikings have found other ways to move the ball.) But if Ponder can progress to where he's consistently playing good and occasionally playing great, it will go a long way to setting the Vikings up for another surprisingly good season. Dare to dream, everyone.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
National Friday League: Defensive Backs, Punters
Size in the Secondary
Last season, the Vikes had to play against 6' 5" Calvin Johnson and 6' 4" Brandon Marshall, two of the most physically imposing wide receivers in the league, twice each. Calvin Johnson's prowess is well-documented, but Brandon Marshall might be even better at using his large, long body to fight off defensive backs to catch balls high in the air. In those four games, those receivers netted an insane 39 catches for 513 yards (though the Vikes went 3-1).
Those two wide receivers again appear on the Vikes' schedule four times.
On the current Viking roster, there are 10 defensive backs listed at 6'1" or 6'2":
Brandon Bishop (6'2")
Robert Blanton (6'1")
Chris Cook (6'2")
Darius Eubanks (6'1")
Bobby Felder (6'1")
A.J. Jefferson (6'1")
Mistral Raymond (6'1")
Xavier Rhodes (6'1")
Andrew Sendejo (6'1")
Harrison Smith (6'2")
Of course, a player on the roster in May is not a player on the roster in September, and a player listed at 6'1" is not necessarily listed at "good" or even "competent." But that lineup of height in the secondary indicates a unified approach to building up the secondary. It's conceivable that sometime soon the Vikings could be starting an entire secondary comprised of tall defensive backs: Cook, Rhodes, Smith, and Raymond (or Blanton, or somebody else?).
Chris Kluwe, we hardly knew ye (actually, we knew you pretty well)
Chris Kluwe has become an average punter: he ranked 17th in net yards per punt last season (he ranked 22nd in '11, 10th in '10). There's nothing wrong with with a team having an average punter; it's also entirely reasonable for a team with an average punter to look for a cheaper punter to try be at least average. But let's hope this decision doesn't punt a ball right into the Vikings' ass next season.
The Vikes made the right call replacing Ryan Longwell with rookie Blair Walsh last season (I mean, they really made the right call). But let's remember the Vikes were at that point coming off a 3-13 season, when a reliable but pricier kicker could hardly have been considered a priority for a rebuilding team. Now the Vikings are coming off a 10-6 playoff season and have added to the roster Gregg Jennings and three (three!) first round picks. Expectations are high, and unreliability at a key special teams position--where a single botched play can turn a game--could be costly (I'm not saying that Eddie Johnson kept the 2003 Vikings out of the playoffs, but I always sort of thought Eddie Johnson kept the 2003 Vikings out of the playoffs. Well, that and going 0-4 against the league's four worst teams that season).
If the Vikes' new punter doesn't fumble, shank it, or make some crazy decision that sets an opponent up with easy field position in a close game, then we will think about Chris Kluwe the punter next season about as much as we think about most punters--very, very little. But if the new punter screws up or basically isn't very good, people are going to question everything that went into that decision.
Last season, the Vikes had to play against 6' 5" Calvin Johnson and 6' 4" Brandon Marshall, two of the most physically imposing wide receivers in the league, twice each. Calvin Johnson's prowess is well-documented, but Brandon Marshall might be even better at using his large, long body to fight off defensive backs to catch balls high in the air. In those four games, those receivers netted an insane 39 catches for 513 yards (though the Vikes went 3-1).
Those two wide receivers again appear on the Vikes' schedule four times.
On the current Viking roster, there are 10 defensive backs listed at 6'1" or 6'2":
Brandon Bishop (6'2")
Robert Blanton (6'1")
Chris Cook (6'2")
Darius Eubanks (6'1")
Bobby Felder (6'1")
A.J. Jefferson (6'1")
Mistral Raymond (6'1")
Xavier Rhodes (6'1")
Andrew Sendejo (6'1")
Harrison Smith (6'2")
Of course, a player on the roster in May is not a player on the roster in September, and a player listed at 6'1" is not necessarily listed at "good" or even "competent." But that lineup of height in the secondary indicates a unified approach to building up the secondary. It's conceivable that sometime soon the Vikings could be starting an entire secondary comprised of tall defensive backs: Cook, Rhodes, Smith, and Raymond (or Blanton, or somebody else?).
Chris Kluwe, we hardly knew ye (actually, we knew you pretty well)
Chris Kluwe has become an average punter: he ranked 17th in net yards per punt last season (he ranked 22nd in '11, 10th in '10). There's nothing wrong with with a team having an average punter; it's also entirely reasonable for a team with an average punter to look for a cheaper punter to try be at least average. But let's hope this decision doesn't punt a ball right into the Vikings' ass next season.
The Vikes made the right call replacing Ryan Longwell with rookie Blair Walsh last season (I mean, they really made the right call). But let's remember the Vikes were at that point coming off a 3-13 season, when a reliable but pricier kicker could hardly have been considered a priority for a rebuilding team. Now the Vikings are coming off a 10-6 playoff season and have added to the roster Gregg Jennings and three (three!) first round picks. Expectations are high, and unreliability at a key special teams position--where a single botched play can turn a game--could be costly (I'm not saying that Eddie Johnson kept the 2003 Vikings out of the playoffs, but I always sort of thought Eddie Johnson kept the 2003 Vikings out of the playoffs. Well, that and going 0-4 against the league's four worst teams that season).
If the Vikes' new punter doesn't fumble, shank it, or make some crazy decision that sets an opponent up with easy field position in a close game, then we will think about Chris Kluwe the punter next season about as much as we think about most punters--very, very little. But if the new punter screws up or basically isn't very good, people are going to question everything that went into that decision.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Chris Kluwe - it's been nice knowing you
Chris Kluwe is the most famous football punter in the world. But he didn't gain his fame by being otherworldy good at his job, he did it by speaking out on issues that many other players wouldn't touch - like same sex marriage and gun control.
But for those who feel his political views played a large role in the Minnesota Vikings decision to release their long-time punter on Monday, I have to agree with this post by ESPN's Kevin Seifert, where the NFC North blogger writes that Kluwe's strong views played only a supporting role in the release.
That Kluwe drew attention to himself with his support of off the field activities that didn't include the United Way and other apple pie causes certainly didn't help him remain employed as a punter for the Vikings. But this was largely a football decision. The man who will - barring a season-ending injury - replace Kluwe, fifth round draft pick Jeff Locke, is younger, cheaper, and has a stronger leg than his predecessor.
Seifert also points out the average (and in some cases below average) punting numbers Kluwe put up in 2012. I couldn't argue that Kluwe cost the Vikings any games in 2012, but for a team that has to improve in a number of areas in 2013 to duplicate or better its surprising 10-6 record last year, even upgrading the talent at the punter position is a step forward.
In short, Kluwe was a replaceable part of the team, and the Vikings went out and replaced him. From a football point of view, it's hard for me to get all hot and bothered about this decision.
From a non-football point of view, the Vikings lose an interesting voice in the locker room. Adrian Peterson is a fantastic football player and seems like a genuinely nice guy, but I don't recall ever hearing him say anything of substance in his six years in the league. I'm OK with that, however. I'd rather Vikings players entertain me on the field rather than off it.
But for those who feel his political views played a large role in the Minnesota Vikings decision to release their long-time punter on Monday, I have to agree with this post by ESPN's Kevin Seifert, where the NFC North blogger writes that Kluwe's strong views played only a supporting role in the release.
That Kluwe drew attention to himself with his support of off the field activities that didn't include the United Way and other apple pie causes certainly didn't help him remain employed as a punter for the Vikings. But this was largely a football decision. The man who will - barring a season-ending injury - replace Kluwe, fifth round draft pick Jeff Locke, is younger, cheaper, and has a stronger leg than his predecessor.
Seifert also points out the average (and in some cases below average) punting numbers Kluwe put up in 2012. I couldn't argue that Kluwe cost the Vikings any games in 2012, but for a team that has to improve in a number of areas in 2013 to duplicate or better its surprising 10-6 record last year, even upgrading the talent at the punter position is a step forward.
In short, Kluwe was a replaceable part of the team, and the Vikings went out and replaced him. From a football point of view, it's hard for me to get all hot and bothered about this decision.
From a non-football point of view, the Vikings lose an interesting voice in the locker room. Adrian Peterson is a fantastic football player and seems like a genuinely nice guy, but I don't recall ever hearing him say anything of substance in his six years in the league. I'm OK with that, however. I'd rather Vikings players entertain me on the field rather than off it.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
National Friday League: Quarterbacks and Linebackers
Quarterback
I'm repeating the prediction I made when the Vikings signed him: Matt Cassel will start games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2013. Since then, the Vikings signed WR Greg Jennings and drafted WR Cordarrelle Patterson with their third first round pick (which they traded a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th round pick for). All this did is convince me further: the Vikings rightfully have high expectations to succeed in 2013, they have taken away any excuses for Christian Ponder, and they will not be patient as he "develops" in 2013.
I don't think Christian Ponder makes good pocket decisions, and he's shown little ability to consistently make mid-range and deep throws. I'll happily be proven wrong, and find out that Ponder has improved since last year, and that he was hurt by a glaring lack of downfield receiving threats in 2013. But I think it's likely that he'll struggle. And if the Vikings successfully run the ball, play solid defense, but still end up losing games early in the season because of incompetent passing, I think that's that. Matt Cassel is there for a reason, and a QB protected by Matt Kalil, handing off to Adrian Peterson, and throwing to Greg Jennings, Kyle Rudolph, and a new 1st round WR isn't expected to struggle. Failure will be put on Ponder, and I hope Leslie Frazier isn't too stubborn or conservative to keep sending him out there.
I don't think Cassel will be given the job Week One: it will be Ponder's job to lose, which he will. So when? If the Vikings start the year 1-3, we might see Cassel after the bye. If Ponder is still starting after the bye week, and the Vikes lose to both the Panthers and Giants, I think it's "Here, save our season" time on a Week Eight Sunday Night game against the Packers. And if Ponder starts longer than that, it's probably too late, and the season is shot, and we're done with Christian Ponder.
Am I too pessimistic about Ponder? Too optimistic about when Leslie Frazier will turn to Cassel? You tell me, but I'll be surprised if we're not watching Matt Cassel run around throwing passes in those sweet new uniforms during the last season in Thunderdome.
Middle Linebacker
I haven't been too stressed about the lack of a starting middle linebacker for the Vikings. The way the Vikings have played defense since 2006, the team hasn't prioritized the position, and while the defense has had its ups and downs, I don't think middle linebacker play has been a big part of it (though I could be wrong: the Vikes have often struggled to stop tight ends during that time, which could be a weakness in the scheme, poor safety play, or poor MLB play). Just for the hell of it, let's go back to 2003, the beginning of Kevin Williams' reign in the middle of the Viking defensive line. Here's who the primary MLB was, and how the team ranked against the run (yards per carry) and overall (points allowed/yards allowed). Other notable impacts: Pat Williams was the other DT from '05-'10, Jared Allen joined the team in '08, and the Vikes switched to the Tampa Two in '06.
2003: Greg Biekert (31 v. run, 23/23 overall)
2004: E.J. Henderson (28 v. run, 26/28 overall)
2005: Sam Cowart* (17 v. run, 19/21 overall)
2006: Napoleon Harris (1 v. run, 14/8 overall)
2007: E.J. Henderson (2 v. run, 12/20 overall)
2008: Napoleon Harris (2 v. run, 13/6 overall)
2009: E.J. Henderson (6 v. run, 10/6 overall)
2010: E.J. Henderson (9 v. run, 18/8 overall)
2011: E.J. Henderson (6 v. run, 31/21 overall)
2012: Jasper Brinkley (7 v. run, 14/16 overall)
*I think of myself as a big Viking fan. If ten minutes before I typed this, you said to me "Sam Cowart was the starting middle linebacker for the Vikings in 2005," I would have stared at you blankly for 17 straight seconds.
The Vikings basically became a dominant run-stopping team when they adopted their current defensive philosophy and strategy. Napoleon Harris, E.J. Henderson, and Jasper Brinkley were the primary middle linebackers during that time, and they've never ranked lower than 9th in yards per attempt allowed.
But this isn't just about the Vikings: I'm not sure how important a run-stopping middle linebacker for first and second down is in today's NFL. The Vikes will be in nickel and dime a lot, as all teams have to be in nickel and dime a lot, and that means Chad Greenway and/or Erin Henderson playing most downs. The Vikes can once again find a guy to plug into middle linebacker for the relatively low percentage of snaps that they'll need one, and should expect the run defense to remain good.
Which is why moving Erin Henderson from OLB to MLB (as happened with his brother E.J.), if they have more depth and talent to fill what would be a newly vacated hole at OLB, makes sense. I don't know how often the Vikes will have three linebackers on the field--even on first and second down opponents will frequently have three or more WRs and just one RB. Calling one player a MLB is a decision that affects a pretty small number of downs. It might affect short yardage defense, but stopping short yardage plays seems much more team-oriented than MLB-oriented as well.
I'm repeating the prediction I made when the Vikings signed him: Matt Cassel will start games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2013. Since then, the Vikings signed WR Greg Jennings and drafted WR Cordarrelle Patterson with their third first round pick (which they traded a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th round pick for). All this did is convince me further: the Vikings rightfully have high expectations to succeed in 2013, they have taken away any excuses for Christian Ponder, and they will not be patient as he "develops" in 2013.
I don't think Christian Ponder makes good pocket decisions, and he's shown little ability to consistently make mid-range and deep throws. I'll happily be proven wrong, and find out that Ponder has improved since last year, and that he was hurt by a glaring lack of downfield receiving threats in 2013. But I think it's likely that he'll struggle. And if the Vikings successfully run the ball, play solid defense, but still end up losing games early in the season because of incompetent passing, I think that's that. Matt Cassel is there for a reason, and a QB protected by Matt Kalil, handing off to Adrian Peterson, and throwing to Greg Jennings, Kyle Rudolph, and a new 1st round WR isn't expected to struggle. Failure will be put on Ponder, and I hope Leslie Frazier isn't too stubborn or conservative to keep sending him out there.
I don't think Cassel will be given the job Week One: it will be Ponder's job to lose, which he will. So when? If the Vikings start the year 1-3, we might see Cassel after the bye. If Ponder is still starting after the bye week, and the Vikes lose to both the Panthers and Giants, I think it's "Here, save our season" time on a Week Eight Sunday Night game against the Packers. And if Ponder starts longer than that, it's probably too late, and the season is shot, and we're done with Christian Ponder.
Am I too pessimistic about Ponder? Too optimistic about when Leslie Frazier will turn to Cassel? You tell me, but I'll be surprised if we're not watching Matt Cassel run around throwing passes in those sweet new uniforms during the last season in Thunderdome.
Middle Linebacker
I haven't been too stressed about the lack of a starting middle linebacker for the Vikings. The way the Vikings have played defense since 2006, the team hasn't prioritized the position, and while the defense has had its ups and downs, I don't think middle linebacker play has been a big part of it (though I could be wrong: the Vikes have often struggled to stop tight ends during that time, which could be a weakness in the scheme, poor safety play, or poor MLB play). Just for the hell of it, let's go back to 2003, the beginning of Kevin Williams' reign in the middle of the Viking defensive line. Here's who the primary MLB was, and how the team ranked against the run (yards per carry) and overall (points allowed/yards allowed). Other notable impacts: Pat Williams was the other DT from '05-'10, Jared Allen joined the team in '08, and the Vikes switched to the Tampa Two in '06.
2003: Greg Biekert (31 v. run, 23/23 overall)
2004: E.J. Henderson (28 v. run, 26/28 overall)
2005: Sam Cowart* (17 v. run, 19/21 overall)
2006: Napoleon Harris (1 v. run, 14/8 overall)
2007: E.J. Henderson (2 v. run, 12/20 overall)
2008: Napoleon Harris (2 v. run, 13/6 overall)
2009: E.J. Henderson (6 v. run, 10/6 overall)
2010: E.J. Henderson (9 v. run, 18/8 overall)
2011: E.J. Henderson (6 v. run, 31/21 overall)
2012: Jasper Brinkley (7 v. run, 14/16 overall)
*I think of myself as a big Viking fan. If ten minutes before I typed this, you said to me "Sam Cowart was the starting middle linebacker for the Vikings in 2005," I would have stared at you blankly for 17 straight seconds.
The Vikings basically became a dominant run-stopping team when they adopted their current defensive philosophy and strategy. Napoleon Harris, E.J. Henderson, and Jasper Brinkley were the primary middle linebackers during that time, and they've never ranked lower than 9th in yards per attempt allowed.
But this isn't just about the Vikings: I'm not sure how important a run-stopping middle linebacker for first and second down is in today's NFL. The Vikes will be in nickel and dime a lot, as all teams have to be in nickel and dime a lot, and that means Chad Greenway and/or Erin Henderson playing most downs. The Vikes can once again find a guy to plug into middle linebacker for the relatively low percentage of snaps that they'll need one, and should expect the run defense to remain good.
Which is why moving Erin Henderson from OLB to MLB (as happened with his brother E.J.), if they have more depth and talent to fill what would be a newly vacated hole at OLB, makes sense. I don't know how often the Vikes will have three linebackers on the field--even on first and second down opponents will frequently have three or more WRs and just one RB. Calling one player a MLB is a decision that affects a pretty small number of downs. It might affect short yardage defense, but stopping short yardage plays seems much more team-oriented than MLB-oriented as well.
Monday, April 29, 2013
A general manager - what a concept
It's way too early to call it a rousing success, but the decision by Zygi Wilf and Co. to make Rick Spielman the Minnesota Vikings general manager last year appears to be a wise move.
It's sad that it took the Vikings so long to realize a general manager might help the team function better. You won't find many professional sports teams in the NFL and the three other major sports (baseball, basketball and hockey) that don't have a GM in charge of running the product they put on the field, on the court or on the ice. But until Spielman was promoted, the Vikings thought they could do without it.
Not so, it turns out. Watching Spielman at work during last weekend's draft, as well as his handling of L'Affair Harvin, and the early returns from the 2012 draft, you come away convinced the Vikings have a coherent plan and will stick to it.
Gone is the embarrassing indecision on draft day of the Mike Tice-era Vikings. Clock running out and late pick buffoonery that gave ESPN's Chris Berman material on draft weekend for nearly a decade. Gone is the three-headed personnel department - the Triangle of Authority - where drafting and player procurement was arrived at through consensus.
Having a coach with some authority over who to draft and who to cut and keep on the roster - like Brad Childress had – never seemed like a great move. Coaches are too concerned with the short-term. They need to win and win all the time to keep their jobs. And so roster decisions made by a coach will be skewed too much to what will help them today, rather than what could not only help the team today, but help the team three, five and even 10 years from today.
Those short sighted days are over in Minnesota. Spielman had made it clear he's committed to building the Vikings through the draft, and he's committed to keeping the franchise young and talented - building a sustainable winner rather than a 2009 one-trick pony.
It may turn out that Spielman is more Fran Foley than Jim Finks, but after two seasons on the job, it feels very much like the Vikings have the right person running the show. As a Viking fan, I can feel good about (most) of the moves Spielman is making building the roster. It's been a long time coming.
It's sad that it took the Vikings so long to realize a general manager might help the team function better. You won't find many professional sports teams in the NFL and the three other major sports (baseball, basketball and hockey) that don't have a GM in charge of running the product they put on the field, on the court or on the ice. But until Spielman was promoted, the Vikings thought they could do without it.
Not so, it turns out. Watching Spielman at work during last weekend's draft, as well as his handling of L'Affair Harvin, and the early returns from the 2012 draft, you come away convinced the Vikings have a coherent plan and will stick to it.
Gone is the embarrassing indecision on draft day of the Mike Tice-era Vikings. Clock running out and late pick buffoonery that gave ESPN's Chris Berman material on draft weekend for nearly a decade. Gone is the three-headed personnel department - the Triangle of Authority - where drafting and player procurement was arrived at through consensus.
Having a coach with some authority over who to draft and who to cut and keep on the roster - like Brad Childress had – never seemed like a great move. Coaches are too concerned with the short-term. They need to win and win all the time to keep their jobs. And so roster decisions made by a coach will be skewed too much to what will help them today, rather than what could not only help the team today, but help the team three, five and even 10 years from today.
Those short sighted days are over in Minnesota. Spielman had made it clear he's committed to building the Vikings through the draft, and he's committed to keeping the franchise young and talented - building a sustainable winner rather than a 2009 one-trick pony.
It may turn out that Spielman is more Fran Foley than Jim Finks, but after two seasons on the job, it feels very much like the Vikings have the right person running the show. As a Viking fan, I can feel good about (most) of the moves Spielman is making building the roster. It's been a long time coming.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Day three Vikings college draft primer: A.J. Klein and Quinton Patton
The Minnesota Vikings watched a lot of players they could have used go off the board in rounds two and three Friday, thanks to giving up their picks in those rounds in a trade that got them in position to select Cordarrelle Patterson (who says Randy Moss was his role model. Not sure I'm jazzed to hear that.) Guys like Manti Te'o, Arthur Brown, Justin Hunter, Robert Woods and Markus Wheaton are all gone now.
The Vikings will be back at the draft table Saturday though, picking 120th overall in the fourth round. A total of 23 teams will pick before they do.
The Vikes addressed three big needs on Thursday night - defensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver. They did not address their middle linebacker situation.
One name to watch out for at that spot is Iowa State's A.J. Klein. Like almost all of these college players, I've never actually seen him play. But the scouting reports I've read describe him as a better athlete than advertised (white football players always get that label) with good ball skills and a reliable tackler. He averaged well over 100 tackles per season at Iowa State. If he's still around at #120, he might be the Vikings man. Kevin Reddick and Khaseem Greene might also be possibilities.
The other name that jumps out at me who is still available going into round four is wide receiver Quinton Patton. Some draftniks thought he'd be a second or third round pick. Not so. Obviously no NFL team felt Patton's gargantuan production at Louisiana Tech the past two years (183 catches, 2,594 yards, 24 TDs) warranted being picked that high. However, I don't think he'll slide any further than the fourth round.
Some fans will wonder why the Vikings would select Patton when they've already drafted Patterson and also have Greg Jennings, Jerome Simpson, and Jarius Wright. But if a guy with this kind of production is still there at #120, he'd be hard to pass up. And I bet he'd be more productive as a receiver in his rookie year than Patterson.
The Vikings will be back at the draft table Saturday though, picking 120th overall in the fourth round. A total of 23 teams will pick before they do.
The Vikes addressed three big needs on Thursday night - defensive tackle, cornerback and wide receiver. They did not address their middle linebacker situation.
One name to watch out for at that spot is Iowa State's A.J. Klein. Like almost all of these college players, I've never actually seen him play. But the scouting reports I've read describe him as a better athlete than advertised (white football players always get that label) with good ball skills and a reliable tackler. He averaged well over 100 tackles per season at Iowa State. If he's still around at #120, he might be the Vikings man. Kevin Reddick and Khaseem Greene might also be possibilities.
The other name that jumps out at me who is still available going into round four is wide receiver Quinton Patton. Some draftniks thought he'd be a second or third round pick. Not so. Obviously no NFL team felt Patton's gargantuan production at Louisiana Tech the past two years (183 catches, 2,594 yards, 24 TDs) warranted being picked that high. However, I don't think he'll slide any further than the fourth round.
Some fans will wonder why the Vikings would select Patton when they've already drafted Patterson and also have Greg Jennings, Jerome Simpson, and Jarius Wright. But if a guy with this kind of production is still there at #120, he'd be hard to pass up. And I bet he'd be more productive as a receiver in his rookie year than Patterson.
New Cornerstones, or Big Changes
The dream has to be that this isn't just a Viking draft that Viking fans remember for a long time, but that it's a Viking draft that a lot of football people remember for a long time.
A team doesn't draft three first rounders in one year--or for that matter, five first rounders over two years--to fill in functional needs. That many picks should be franchise-transforming: over 2012 and 2013, the Vikings should have formed the basic nucleus of a successful decade of football. They have to be not just functional starters, but good, productive, playmaking performers. Some of them will have to contribute early (Xavier Rhodes); others may see their major contributions in the future. But these five players--Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith, Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes, and Cordarrelle Patterson--will have to be noticeably good starters over the course of the next several years.
If this isn't the nucleus of a consistently competitive team, there will be changes in management soon. It's not just what wasting those picks--if they end up as wasted pick--would mean, though that is significant. But the current management still seems to have a lot invested in Christian Ponder, and with new wide receivers Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson, there is simply no excuse for Ponder to be an ineffective quarterback anymore. If Ponder flames out but somehow (likely with a different quarterback, even Matt Cassell) the Vikes are still successful over the next few seasons, OK. But if Ponder flames out and the Vikings struggle over the next few seasons, there's a problem that will cost some people jobs.
There's no reason for Viking fans not to be excited right now. Why not be hopeful in April? I always thought Chaucer was more right about April than T.S. Eliot (though this Minnesota April has had me doubting). The Vikings filled three big needs with three very talented, athletic football players. Let's give ourselves over to the hope of the stirrings of a dynasty. But we can also know that the Vikes have been bold, and cannot fail now without consequences.
A team doesn't draft three first rounders in one year--or for that matter, five first rounders over two years--to fill in functional needs. That many picks should be franchise-transforming: over 2012 and 2013, the Vikings should have formed the basic nucleus of a successful decade of football. They have to be not just functional starters, but good, productive, playmaking performers. Some of them will have to contribute early (Xavier Rhodes); others may see their major contributions in the future. But these five players--Matt Kalil, Harrison Smith, Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes, and Cordarrelle Patterson--will have to be noticeably good starters over the course of the next several years.
If this isn't the nucleus of a consistently competitive team, there will be changes in management soon. It's not just what wasting those picks--if they end up as wasted pick--would mean, though that is significant. But the current management still seems to have a lot invested in Christian Ponder, and with new wide receivers Greg Jennings and Cordarrelle Patterson, there is simply no excuse for Ponder to be an ineffective quarterback anymore. If Ponder flames out but somehow (likely with a different quarterback, even Matt Cassell) the Vikes are still successful over the next few seasons, OK. But if Ponder flames out and the Vikings struggle over the next few seasons, there's a problem that will cost some people jobs.
There's no reason for Viking fans not to be excited right now. Why not be hopeful in April? I always thought Chaucer was more right about April than T.S. Eliot (though this Minnesota April has had me doubting). The Vikings filled three big needs with three very talented, athletic football players. Let's give ourselves over to the hope of the stirrings of a dynasty. But we can also know that the Vikes have been bold, and cannot fail now without consequences.
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