House Spielman built takes shape

[Eli]

So he doesn't deserve credit for the pick? Seriously? Is that what you're saying?

Some credit, but nearly not as much as he's been given. They were going to take one of the three kickers to replace Longwell. From the sounds of it, the Vikings may have had Walsh ranked no higher, possibly even lowest of the three. When the other two were gone, they picked. They could have selected him in the 5th round, and if they had and he'd been the first kicker off the board, then I would give him a lot more credit for a brilliant pick. As it was, it was as automatic as the Kalil choice.

[Eli]

What would you consider a good drafting year for the vikes recently other then grabbing AD?

Peterson fell into their laps. It's not only about who you select. Do you consider the selection of someone like Andrew Luck to be a great pick? He's going to be a great player, but it took about as much drafting talent to take him as it takes to blow your nose.

[admvp]

Peterson fell into their laps. It's not only about who you select. Do you consider the selection of someone like Andrew Luck to be a great pick? He's going to be a great player, but it took about as much drafting talent to take him as it takes to blow your nose.

6 teams passed on Adrian though. That's the difference.

[headless_norseman]

I agree... Spielman has a long way to go before proving his competence. His grade in free agency moves is a 'C' at best. His draft was OK, but great?


1-4. Matt Kalil was a no-brainer. Half the free world expected the Vikings to take him.

1-29. Harrison Smith was a good pick. I still question the need to give up a draft pick to move up just six spots to take him, though.

3-3. Josh Robinson. Good value for a third round corner.

4-23. Jarius Wright. May prove to be a good value. Not a bad pick by any means.

4-33. Rhett Ellison. Typical late 4th rounder. Good pick, in that he contributed his rookie year.

4-29. Greg Childs. Took a chance and whiffed.

5-4. Robert Blanton. Jury is out. Good chance he won't be with the team in another season or two.

6-5. Blair Walsh. Great pick? There were three kickers the Vikings valued and two of them were already off the board. Spielman didn't make this pick - the Texans and Rams made it for him.

7-3. Audie Cole. Wait and see.

7-33. Trevor Guyton. Wait and see.

I'd give your assessment about a C. Any questioning of said picks should be able to offer an alternative to any of those picks.

[Purple bruise]

He didn't make the team they found it in Pre-season he really didn't fit the scheme and they didn't even sign him to the PS. I believe he's signed on the Titans PS.

I wanted Vontaze Burfict or another shot in the dark at WR here at the time too.

Other than Guyton who was one of the final few picks of the entire draft and a long shot anyway, I think Spielman had a phenomenal draft.

Kalil, Smith and Walsh alone make it an A already. Robinson, Ellison and Wright look to be at worst solid depth guys with potential to improve. Ellison was a colossal reach at the time but if you get a decent blocking TE in the 4th round, it's a good pick. Childs had an unfortunate injury, but anything you get him Cole or Blanton anyway is just gravy.

Anyone who knows anything about football knows that this was a grade A draft.

[Eli]

I'd give your assessment about a C. Any questioning of said picks should be able to offer an alternative to any of those picks.

I said he gets a C for his moves in free agency.

Childs was the only real mistake, and there's even a miniscule chance that he could still work out. Blanton in round 5 may still pan out and if he doesn't, nobody really cares if you hit or miss in round 5. More so for Guyton. It was a good draft for who they ended up getting. It's hard (not impossible, I realize) to screw up the #3 pick in the draft, but for the Vikings it was particularly easy with such a gaping hole at left tackle. Kalil and Walsh could have been picked by anyone once the Vikings decided to target a LT and kicker.

[Purple bruise]

I said he gets a C for his moves in free agency.

Childs was the only real mistake, and there's even a miniscule chance that he could still work out. Blanton in round 5 may still pan out and if he doesn't, nobody really cares if you hit or miss in round 5. More so for Guyton. It was a good draft for who they ended up getting. It's hard (not impossible, I realize) to screw up the #3 pick in the draft, but for the Vikings it was particularly easy with such a gaping hole at left tackle. Kalil and Walsh could have been picked by anyone once the Vikings decided to target a LT and kicker.

Childs was no mistake. He was a great choice for the 4th round and because he got injured I am not sure how you call that pick a "real mistake". It was very unfortunate but hard to 20/20 hindsight that pick

[Demi]

Greg Childs scouting report: "Has been hurt the last two seasons and durability could be concerning.".
And he gets hurt
No hindsight needed...
He even missed two weeks of OTAs with a calf strain
The main reason he made it to us was his injury issues, so gambling on an injury prone guy, and losing, is a mistake.

[Purple bruise]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/play ... reg-childs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XacQNhrETvs

CBS scouting report, pre draft.
Childs is probably only now recovered from a 2010 right knee injury, but he pushed himself through the 2011 season anyway, catching 21 passes for 240 yards. By the time of the February Scouting Combine he was well enough to run the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds and manage a 36 1/2-inch vertical jump. But he considered his March 7 pro day a coming out when he ran 40 yards in 4.41 seconds and had a vertical jump of 41 1/2 inches. "It was just mainly showing everybody that I was healthy again, showing I was 100 percent again," Childs said after the on-campus workout. The injury was to his right patella and required surgery in 2010, otherwise he probably would have been in the 2011 draft. Instead, he struggled through the 2011 season, missing only a little action. Childs is an extraordinary target due to his unusual combination of size, speed, jumping ability, long arms (34 1/8-inch) and, finally, huge hands, (10 1/8-inch

Of course Spielmen is a fool

[Eli]

Childs was no mistake. He was a great choice for the 4th round and because he got injured I am not sure how you call that pick a "real mistake". It was very unfortunate but hard to 20/20 hindsight that pick

He tore a patellar tendon in college, which was one of the reasons that he dropped to the late 4th round. The Vikings took a flier on him, and he suffered the exact same injury again - except this time to both knees on a play with no contact. I would hope Spielman doesn't rely on CBS scouting reports to make too many draft decisions. Then again, maybe he based this pick on that one.

[PurpleKoolaid]

He tore a patellar tendon in college, which was one of the reasons that he dropped to the late 4th round. The Vikings took a flier on him, and he suffered the exact same injury again - except this time to both knees on a play with no contact. I would hope Spielman doesn't rely on CBS scouting reports to make too many draft decisions. Then again, maybe he based this pick on that one.

So we are to assume AD wil tear his ACL and MCL on his other knee now?

[Mothman]

Some credit, but nearly not as much as he's been given. They were going to take one of the three kickers to replace Longwell. From the sounds of it, the Vikings may have had Walsh ranked no higher, possibly even lowest of the three. When the other two were gone, they picked. They could have selected him in the 5th round, and if they had and he'd been the first kicker off the board, then I would give him a lot more credit for a brilliant pick. As it was, it was as automatic as the Kalil choice.

There was nothing automatic about either pick. They weren't required to draft a kicker. They still had to assess the talent available and make a decision.

Kalil was an obvious choice but "no-brainers" don't always work out and the Vikes had other serious needs they might have chosen to address with that pick. Nobody is suggesting it takes great insight to choose players like Kalil, Peterson or Luck but they're still good picks and making those picks still requires a choice, not to mention some research.

[Purple bruise]

He tore a patellar tendon in college, which was one of the reasons that he dropped to the late 4th round. The Vikings took a flier on him, and he suffered the exact same injury again - except this time to both knees on a play with no contact. I would hope Spielman doesn't rely on CBS scouting reports to make too many draft decisions. Then again, maybe he based this pick on that one.[/quote

Did you miss ALL of the information that I posted, including his pro day numbers or did you just conveniently choose to ignore it
CBS scouting report, pre draft.
"Childs is probably only now recovered from a 2010 right knee injury, but he pushed himself through the 2011 season anyway, catching 21 passes for 240 yards. By the time of the February Scouting Combine he was well enough to run the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds and manage a 36 1/2-inch vertical jump. But he considered his March 7 pro day a coming out when he ran 40 yards in 4.41 seconds and had a vertical jump of 41 1/2 inches. "It was just mainly showing everybody that I was healthy again, showing I was 100 percent again," Childs said after the on-campus workout. The injury was to his right patella and required surgery in 2010, otherwise he probably would have been in the 2011 draft. Instead, he struggled through the 2011 season, missing only a little action. Childs is an extraordinary target due to his unusual combination of size, speed, jumping ability, long arms (34 1/8-inch) and, finally, huge hands, (10 1/8-inch"
He passed the team's physical and put up some great numbers at the combine (SEE ABOVE). There was every good reason to believe that he was heeled and ready to have a good career. He was a "bright star" in training camp and was showing great promise until the unfortunate injury. I can't imagine blaming Spielmen for "missing" that pick but obviously you do .

[admvp]

He tore a patellar tendon in college, which was one of the reasons that he dropped to the late 4th round. The Vikings took a flier on him, and he suffered the exact same injury again - except this time to both knees on a play with no contact. I would hope Spielman doesn't rely on CBS scouting reports to make too many draft decisions. Then again, maybe he based this pick on that one.[/quote

Did you miss ALL of the information that I posted, including his pro day numbers or did you just conveniently choose to ignore it
CBS scouting report, pre draft.
"Childs is probably only now recovered from a 2010 right knee injury, but he pushed himself through the 2011 season anyway, catching 21 passes for 240 yards. By the time of the February Scouting Combine he was well enough to run the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds and manage a 36 1/2-inch vertical jump. But he considered his March 7 pro day a coming out when he ran 40 yards in 4.41 seconds and had a vertical jump of 41 1/2 inches. "It was just mainly showing everybody that I was healthy again, showing I was 100 percent again," Childs said after the on-campus workout. The injury was to his right patella and required surgery in 2010, otherwise he probably would have been in the 2011 draft. Instead, he struggled through the 2011 season, missing only a little action. Childs is an extraordinary target due to his unusual combination of size, speed, jumping ability, long arms (34 1/8-inch) and, finally, huge hands, (10 1/8-inch"
He passed the team's physical and put up some great numbers at the combine (SEE ABOVE). There was every good reason to believe that he was heeled and ready to have a good career. He was a "bright star" in training camp and was showing great promise until the unfortunate injury. I can't imagine blaming Spielmen for "missing" that pick but obviously you do .

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictio ... jury-prone

For the record, I'm with you in that I think this was a great draft. And Childs may still turn out, who knows? But as of now, it's hard to deny that it was a mistake. No, not a mistake necessarily, just a gamble (a good one, in my opinion) that we lost. Just because he was healthy again doesn't mean he was no longer injury-prone. Injury-prone means 'often sustaining injuries' regardless of health at the time. You can't deny the risk. I'm not calling it a mistake, but the risk WAS there.

[losperros]

For the record, I'm with you in that I think this was a great draft. And Childs may still turn out, who knows? But as of now, it's hard to deny that it was a mistake. No, not a mistake necessarily, just a gamble (a good one, in my opinion) that we lost. Just because he was healthy again doesn't mean he was no longer injury-prone. Injury-prone means 'often sustaining injuries' regardless of health at the time. You can't deny the risk. I'm not calling it a mistake, but the risk WAS there.

I was thrilled when the Vikings drafted both Childs and Wright. I watched them play college ball and knew they both have loads of talent. If Childs had remained healthy, I think there's a possibility that he would have developed into the #1 WR that the Vikings need. That said, I have to agree with you about there being a gamble in drafting him. Childs has had injury issues, despite his resolve to play even when he's hurting.

Can Childs make a complete comeback this time around? I don't know. What bothers me is that Childs suffered injuries to both knees (with torn patellar tendons) while at training camp and had not taken any real hard contact at the time. I wish the kid the best. Again, if Childs can somehow fully recover, then I believe he'll be a big addition to the offense.