As he's met with linebacker prospects, Singletary said, he's placed more emphasis on their ability to command 10 other players than on their ability to go to a white board and diagram the Vikings' defense.
Not everyone can walk into a huddle at age 22 and earn immediate respect, and Singletary has used his meeting time to try and determine which players are up to the task.
"Do they have the personality to get in a huddle and say, 'OK, here's what we're doing' -- as a rookie -- and, 'Here's why. Let's go?' " Singletary said. "Do they have the presence, that sort of thing, that charisma that draws guys to them and have them believe that he's the guy?
The article includes very brief comments about 4 LBS: Arthur Brown, Kevin Minter, Alec Ogletree and Manti Te'o.
Bracing for the possible cascade of critical comments about Singletary, Te'o and Ogletree this post may trigger...
I agree with Te'o over Olgetree because of his instincts and ethic/personality are better. I think he proved he has the strength and knowledge to play the run well but also has great instincts in coverage with 7 ints his senior year. So pick the slightly less athletic guy with great work ethic or the physical stud that doesn't appreciate was he has? Manning or leaf?
“I remember my mistakes more than my success.” - Adrian Peterson
allday1991 wrote:I agree with Te'o over Olgetree because of his instincts and ethic/personality are better. I think he proved he has the strength and knowledge to play the run well but also has great instincts in coverage with 7 ints his senior year. So pick the slightly less athletic guy with great work ethic or the physical stud that doesn't appreciate was he has? Manning or leaf?
That's an interesting parallel to draw and it make good sense.
This probably doesn't just come down to Te'o or Ogletree, even though they're the two MLBs we talk about most around here. The Vikes may be interested in Brown, Minter, Bostic...
Anyway, you make a good point and Singletary's comments suggest that leadership and personality may play a significant role in this decision. What the Bears do could make a difference too. They're the most likely team to select a middle linebacker before the Vikes in this draft, although there are some other directions they could go with their pick too.
Mothman wrote:
That's an interesting parallel to draw and it make good sense.
This probably doesn't just come down to Te'o or Ogletree, even though they're the two MLBs we talk about most around here. The Vikes may be interested in Brown, Minter, Bostic...
Anyway, you make a good point and Singletary's comments suggest that leadership and personality may play a significant role in this decision. What the Bears do could make a difference too. They're the most likely team to select a middle linebacker before the Vikes in this draft, although there are some other directions they could go with their pick too.
I am sure some of the Te'o haters will eat it up when they see it lol On the other hand, who do you personally want or think fits the best here as a vike?
“I remember my mistakes more than my success.” - Adrian Peterson
Like you say, it's inevitable. The Vikings have no other options on the roster and the prospect of overpaying some falling-apart dinosaur like Urlacher can't be at all appealing to anyone. They'll draft a rookie in the first, maybe second round, and unless he really stinks he'll be starter. And if he's not that good as a starter, they'll run nickle and dime packages 80% of the time.
Mothman wrote:Anyway, you make a good point and Singletary's comments suggest that leadership and personality may play a significant role in this decision. What the Bears do could make a difference too. They're the most likely team to select a middle linebacker before the Vikes in this draft, although there are some other directions they could go with their pick too.
That's a good point. I think what the Bears do will make a significant difference for the Vikings. Whoever the top 2 MLBs are on the Vikings board, if the Bears take one, I think the Vikings take the other. Both teams need big time help at MLB and I'm not sure either one will leave R1 without a MLB pick.
I think the Vikings currently have a great drafting staff, so I'll trust their MLB pick. But I have to admit that I'd love to see the Vikings pick their future MLB in R1, and it's one of the picks I'm most looking forward to seeing. WR is another.
Olgetree, MInter, or Bostic. 2 beasts and the last is a solid player. I know people have concerns about olgetrees past and its a huge red flag. Minter is just a football player, concerns in coverage are valid. Bostic could be a steal in the second/3rd and a solid just not maybe amazing MLB for years.
Eli wrote:The Vikings have no other options on the roster ........
I'm still high on the class of 2012. I think the way Audie Cole performed in Pre-Season, he at least deserves to be given the chance to win the starting job of MLB.
Cole is a long shot. If the Vikings have adequate resources as draft evaluators, then they should also have adequate ability to evaluate the talent that they have on the roster. If Cole can earn a starting job at any time in his career he'll be doing fine.
Singletary's comments made me think of Chili's comments about TJack in his first training camp....Chili praised him for the way he delivered the play in the huddle and the fact that the players seems to listen.
I'm pretty much all about Arthur Brown and Kevin Minter at this point. Both guys have stepped up and worked their butts off to get drafted...and they were both very good players in college, too. Te'o and Ogletree have both underwhelmed me in regards to how seriously they've taken getting ready for the draft. I know both of those guys are better players than they've been in their pro days. It's pretty disappointing.
That said, I wouldn't want to dog either of those guys before the draft...both Te'o and Ogletree could end up being the next Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher of the NFL. They've got that type of talent...but both Ray Lewis (who also had his share of well-known problems...but I can't recall if there was any worries prior to the draft back in '96 since the serious problem happened in 2000) and Urlacher seemed to have a whole lot more desire to play in the NFL.
People often forget what kind of beast Urlacher was when he was drafted. 6'4, 260lbs, and ran a 4.50 40. Neither Te'o nor Ogletree have that kind of athleticism packed into that kind of body. Ogletree is closer, but he's 6'3", 230lbs, and ran a 4.70 AFAIK. These guys are a lot more like Ray Lewis and less like Urlacher (even then, I shouldn't realistically compare any of those four to probably one of the top 5 linebackers of all time...I'd feel better comparing them to Takeo Spikes) I don't remember how Ray Lewis did at the Combine, but it apparently wasn't enough for the Vikings to take him over Duane Clemons. Lewis is obviously a guy who made himself into a (probable) Hall of Fame player with a whole lot of determination and hard work. I don't like that Te'o and Ogletree don't seem to be doing anything to improve themselves in the public eye. Of course they've got to live up to some very big-time hype, which is pretty tough. So I'm not totally out on either of them either.
As for Te'o and Ogletree's off the field issues...I wouldn't make a huge deal of that. A sharp coach and GM would be smart enough to trade them away as soon as either appeared to be regressing on those things. They'd get plenty in return if the hype is still there and they spin it right (not the best fit for a 4-3 D if trading to a 3-4 D team...etc.)
Rus wrote:I'm pretty much all about Arthur Brown and Kevin Minter at this point. Both guys have stepped up and worked their butts off to get drafted...and they were both very good players in college, too. Te'o and Ogletree have both underwhelmed me in regards to how seriously they've taken getting ready for the draft. I know both of those guys are better players than they've been in their pro days. It's pretty disappointing.
That said, I wouldn't want to dog either of those guys before the draft...both Te'o and Ogletree could end up being the next Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher of the NFL. They've got that type of talent...but both Ray Lewis (who also had his share of well-known problems...but I can't recall if there was any worries prior to the draft back in '96 since the serious problem happened in 2000) and Urlacher seemed to have a whole lot more desire to play in the NFL.
People often forget what kind of beast Urlacher was when he was drafted. 6'4, 260lbs, and ran a 4.50 40. Neither Te'o nor Ogletree have that kind of athleticism packed into that kind of body. Ogletree is closer, but he's 6'3", 230lbs, and ran a 4.70 AFAIK. These guys are a lot more like Ray Lewis and less like Urlacher (even then, I shouldn't realistically compare any of those four to probably one of the top 5 linebackers of all time...I'd feel better comparing them to Takeo Spikes) I don't remember how Ray Lewis did at the Combine, but it apparently wasn't enough for the Vikings to take him over Duane Clemons. Lewis is obviously a guy who made himself into a (probable) Hall of Fame player with a whole lot of determination and hard work. I don't like that Te'o and Ogletree don't seem to be doing anything to improve themselves in the public eye. Of course they've got to live up to some very big-time hype, which is pretty tough. So I'm not totally out on either of them either.
As for Te'o and Ogletree's off the field issues...I wouldn't make a huge deal of that. A sharp coach and GM would be smart enough to trade them away as soon as either appeared to be regressing on those things. They'd get plenty in return if the hype is still there and they spin it right (not the best fit for a 4-3 D if trading to a 3-4 D team...etc.)
I sort of agree but I also think this has been fairly humbling for Te'o, I won't make excuses for him as I'm sure he wouldn't make excuses for himself but he ended up going through some goofy stuff and regardless, it was a major distraction. I think it's all hit him now though, the main story, the championship game, the combine stuff. Going from a sure fire top 15 pick to perhaps a late first rounder. I think going forward he's 100% focused on football and even with a chip on his shoulder which could be a good thing for whoever ends up drafting him.
Jeffbleedspurple wrote:I am pretty sure the Vikings will be getting a WR in the first round, that leaves a defensive of player issue to answer, which of the 3 positions would we find better value in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, MLB, DT or CB? Because we need to address all 3 really. I don't know how deep the talent in these positions are for the draft.
1+ for whoever said Audie Cole deserves a chance, he did flash signs of potential in the 2012 preseason.
Here's what I don't get - why didn't they resign Brinkley? It's not like he went out and signed a major deal. They could have kept him for reasonable money and at least gone into the draft not being desperate to find a MLB. Then, if the right guy fell to them they could have taken him and even looked at him not as an immediate starter, but a guy they could work in and develop properly. As it stands, they almost have to take a MLB early in this draft because they have no other options, and the guy they take is going to have to start Day One.
Spielman has made more good moves than bad so far, but this is one he botched IMHO.
On the other hand, who do you personally want or think fits the best here as a vike?
