Manti T'eo

[saint33]

Sure, what do you have in mind?

avatar change of the other person's choice for a month?

[VikingLord]

avatar change of the other person's choice for a month?

Deal, as long as it's not something that can get one of us banned from the board.

[Texas Vike]

I think Te'o has several characteristics that make it really likely that we take him at 25.

1. high character guy
2. ND; we seem to love their players.
3. He's just a solid MLB who is projected right around where we're picking and we happen to need that position really bad.

I'm not against the pick at all. I think he'll be a solid pro. The Alabama game doesn't rest solely on his shoulders. ND's D-line did him no favors and no other LB candidate looked good against Bama either. I like what I see in Te'o's college production over the course of his career. He plays with grit and real energy. I see him as solidifying the position for us for years. It isn't just about measurables, it's about what a guy has in his heart and mind, especially at LB.

[hibbingviking]

he has a high football IQ, not a workout warrior, questionable leadership qualities. not real athletic.

[big deli Vike]

And need a guy to that can tackle Eddie Lacy, since he's gonna be in the NFL too. Minter was able to do pretty well, BAma only scored 21 against LSU.

[PurpleKoolaid]

he has a high football IQ, not a workout warrior, questionable leadership qualities. not real athletic.

Teo? Ponder has a high IQ and is one of the worst QBs ive seen play for the Vikes. Hes right up (or down) there with McNabb. And where did you see his football IQ?

Hes in excellent condition, wtf is a workout warrior? Barry Bonds?

Hes been a leader on one of the top college teams. What more do you want?

[PurpleKoolaid]

And need a guy to that can tackle Eddie Lacy, since he's gonna be in the NFL too. Minter was able to do pretty well, BAma only scored 21 against LSU.

Yeah Spielmans going to base the draft for our LB on one game.

[big deli Vike]

Yeah Spielmans going to base the draft for our LB on one game.

or base it of the whole season and see that there are better LB than Te'o

[PurpleKoolaid]

or base it of the whole season and see that there are better LB than Te'o

like?

[CaptainKirov]

Kevin Minter: Shows very good anticipatory skills to project where the ball is going, demonstrating the burst and agility to beat offensive linemen to the ball. Shows good effort to slip blocks, demonstrating a quick swim move and hand-slap to shake free, as well as a spin move. Reads the quarterback's eyes nicely when in pass coverage and has a feel for what is happening around him. Enough lateral agility and speed to cover backs. Passionate player with a high-revving motor. Isn't the physical thumper that some teams prefer in the middle and may lack the sheer athleticism to handle the switch outside vs. NFL speed. Wraps his arms around runners' legs for the sure stop but isn't a consistently explosive hitter who'll strike fear into ball-carriers. Has been surrounded by an awful lot of speed in Baton Rouge and does not appear to have elite speed, himself. Can be beaten to the sideline and relies on angles, vision and effort, rather than speed to track down ball-carriers when in pursuit.

Manti Te'o: Has a stocky, powerful frame with overall weight distribution and a naturally low-center of gravity which aids him in anchoring against blockers. Shows very good key and diagnosis skills, correctly identifying the intent of the play and quickly attacking. May not possess elite straight-line speed as timed in workouts but consistently gets to the edge due to his lateral agility, balance and anticipation. Generally a reliable open field tackler. Brings his hips as he hits the ball-carrier, powering through him and wrapping his arm securely for the tackle. Does a nice job of forcing the ballcarrier to commit, rarely allowing cut-back opportunities. does not possess ideal change-of-direction skills for man coverage responsibilities against NFL pass-catchers.

Arthur Brown: Possesses excellent key and diagnosis skills. Often takes his initial step toward where the play is designed to go before the quarterback has finished taking the snap. Possesses explosive, active hands to quickly slip blocks and plays with excellent leverage, bending at the knees to consistently get under the pads of would-be blockers and pushing them aside to make the play in the hole. Very good balance to avoid cut blocks and when knocked to the ground; remarkably quick in popping back up. Very good sideline to sideline speed. Drops back into coverage fluidly, demonstrating not only the athleticism but the awareness to handle this responsibility in the NFL. Times his blitz well with the snap, showing the flexibility to slip past blockers, flatten out and close on the quarterback. Tendency to take on blocks with alternating shoulders, putting him in excellent position to slip off and make tackles but also could be jeopardizing the long-term health of his body, especially considering his relative lack of size in the first place. Stands out on tape for his size, physicality and open-field tackling, but hasn't proven to be much of a playmaker over his career, posting "just" three interceptions and not a single forced fumble over his collegiate career.

Brown is a much better version of Alec Ogletree. Would have a bit of a learning curve going from the 3-4 to the 4-3 but has a much more solid head on his shoulders than Ogletree.

Te'o is the ideal fit to me. Zone coverage. Ideal size and bulk. Passion for the game. Great leader.

[big deli Vike]

like?

In order-
Olgetree>>Teo
Minter>>Teo
Brown=Teo (when you balance everything)

[PurpleKoolaid]

In order-
Olgetree>>Teo
Minter>>Teo
Brown=Teo (when you balance everything)

The best LB in the draft, for the Vikes, and their Tampa/Cover 2 Def., is Teo. Even the 'experts' agree hes the best fit for us. But your correct in the fact even an alchoholic, drug fiend could play MIKE for us, as Jasper and EJ played it before. Doesnt mean we should waste a high draft pick on him.

[VikingLord]

an alchoholic, drug fiend could play MIKE for us

So you know enough about Olgetree's background to make a statement like that?

Do you know that the other MLB's in this draft don't have significant issues? For all you know, maybe Teo spent time in a psych ward because he kept talking to fake friends. If that came out in the press, would you still consider Teo a great fit at MLB.

What about Cris Carter? Was it a mistake for the Vikings to pick him up off waivers after Buddy Ryan sent him packing? Carter himself admitted he had a serious drug problem prior to that.

The fact is, none of us have the means to know enough about the off-field situations with college players to make statements like the one you made about Ogletree, and even if we did, Spielman and the Vikings are the ones with actual skin in the game. If Spielman takes Ogletree, I'd have to assume that he would not share your view of him as an alcholic drug fiend who they are going to throw into immediate action and hope he achieves the lofty heights set by EJ and Brinkley.

I've read that Olgetree led his team in tackles despite missing 4 games. I've seen analysts who think he is the best player in the *entire* draft, at least in terms of ability on the field. Dismissing the guy as a total loser is bit over the top, especially in light that none of us know the whole story.

[Demi]

Watching clips of them, if anyone looks like EJ/Brinkley it's T'eo.

And the only article I've read that specifically addresses the Vikings defense has Ogletree and Brown both rated above T'eo.

[PurpleKoolaid]

So you know enough about Olgetree's background to make a statement like that?

Do you know that the other MLB's in this draft don't have significant issues? For all you know, maybe Teo spent time in a psych ward because he kept talking to fake friends. If that came out in the press, would you still consider Teo a great fit at MLB.

What about Cris Carter? Was it a mistake for the Vikings to pick him up off waivers after Buddy Ryan sent him packing? Carter himself admitted he had a serious drug problem prior to that.

The fact is, none of us have the means to know enough about the off-field situations with college players to make statements like the one you made about Ogletree, and even if we did, Spielman and the Vikings are the ones with actual skin in the game. If Spielman takes Ogletree, I'd have to assume that he would not share your view of him as an alcholic drug fiend who they are going to throw into immediate action and hope he achieves the lofty heights set by EJ and Brinkley.

I've read that Olgetree led his team in tackles despite missing 4 games. I've seen analysts who think he is the best player in the *entire* draft, at least in terms of ability on the field. Dismissing the guy as a total loser is bit over the top, especially in light that none of us know the whole story.

CC we got off waivers, so not a huge chance there.

The first pick you have in a draft is.

If you got a guy that cant stay off the stuff already, and get a friggin DUI at the combine, it may be a sign he has proiblems. Everyone said that about Mallett a few years ago when we should have picked him over Ponder. Doesnt that apply now? Maybe Teo's GF made Olgetree have no control, who knows?