I want this guy in purple next year.

[PurpleMustReign]

The UCLA QB should be the 1st QB taken......if not, I hope the VIkings can take him. He'd be perfect!

Im still high on Aaron Murray.

[NextQuestion]

I don't care if Manziel is coked out listening to Phil Collins the night before games. If he's a stud on the field...GO GET HIM.

[PurpleHalo]

I have been a vocal Manziel guy on here, and want to see something different, something bold from this franchise for a change. No more snoozer QB picks, Jackson. Ponder types. This kid is brash, confident, not afraid to make any throw. I will be the first to admit, there is bust potential, as with 80% of draft prospects. But barring a bust, the sky could be the limit here too. I don't see a lot of middle ground, this is the ultimate boom or bust, but confidence plays very well in the NFL.

My pros:

Can make big time throws in small windows.
Able to anticipate route progression, and hit receivers in stride.
Makes deep throws at a good success rate.
Keeps plays alive with his feet, and atheticism.
And as previously mentioned, confidence is off the charts.
Moxie, and the "IT" factor, and leadership!


My cons:

At times he takes too much time waiting for a play to develop, will he have that sort of time in the NFL?
Goes for the big play maybe too often, needs to learn to take what the defense offers, maybe a biproduct of above point.
Off field noise, is this a spoiled rich party boy, who wont dedicate himself enough at the NFL level to succeed?
Maturity, probably connected to the above point, but here I address on field maturity, like can he stay composed in big moments? Can he project his confidence onto his team? Will he stay disciplined enough, and play smart for a good team, or will he be a 1 man team out for himself.
Mechanics and footwork, these need work as he gets happy feet like Ponder does. And his machanics are compared to Tebow, while I think this is a bit blown up (Tebow is a run first guy, Manziel runs to keep a throw alive ) , he may need some work here.

Conclusion is that I want this guy here too, he may frustrate a fanbase by gambling, but he can make the big time throws too, he has a little Favre to him. Or he could end up like Ryan leaf, but the gamble may be worth it in the end. My first question for this guy predraft would be: Would you be a guy who dedicates everything to this game to be the best? Like film study etc..... This would probably be a question better asked of his coaches, but I would leave no stone unturned.

[Mothman]

MacCarron looks very average tonight. Other times I've seen him I walked away pretty impressed by his accuracy and variety of throws he can make.

Mettenberger looks better tonight.

Manziel is money. The kid just oozes confidence and he plays with an attitude. His style of play would be so refreshing b/c its the opposite of what we've had since Wrangler Man.

He's certainly fun to watch.

It's pretty obvious that at this point, nobody knows if there will be a consensus top QB in the upcoming draft and if there is, it's clear that nobody knows who it will be...

Manziel could be great but even if he ends up as a great pro, he might be the kind of player fans will have to be patient with as he develops. It could be a rough ride. Vikes fans who loved the "gunslinger" mentality Favre brought to the position need to remember that he's also the NFL's all-time leader in interceptions. He had several 20+ interception seasons and threw 37 picks in his first two years as a starter. Just imagine the reaction around here to those kind of numbers!

Peyton Manning, who also came into the league as a bit of a gunslinger and he threw 43 interceptions in his first two years, 28 as a rookie. I don't know what awaits Manziel in the NFL but considering the way he plays, I don't think it's difficult to imagine his career beginning with a cascade of turnovers. He has a risky , aggressive style but he won't be throwing against college defenses anymore.

The good news is that Manning threw 52 TD passes over his first two seasons (26 in each year) and Favre threw 37. I don't know if Manziel even deserves to be included in company like that or if he'll be turnover prone in his early years at the next level. Only time will tell. I'm just saying, if the Vikes get him, we might need to prepare to be patient.

[Texas Vike]

He's certainly fun to watch.

It's pretty obvious that at this point, nobody knows if there will be a consensus top QB in the upcoming draft and if there is, it's clear that nobody knows who it will be...

Manziel could be great but even if he ends up as a great pro, he might be the kind of player fans will have to be patient with as he develops. It could be a rough ride. Vikes fans who loved the "gunslinger" mentality Favre brought to the position need to remember that he's also the NFL's all-time leader in interceptions. He had several 20+ interception seasons and threw 37 picks in his first two years as a starter. Just imagine the reaction around here to those kind of numbers!

Peyton Manning, who also came into the league as a bit of a gunslinger and he threw 43 interceptions in his first two years, 28 as a rookie. I don't know what awaits Manziel in the NFL but considering the way he plays, I don't think it's difficult to imagine his career beginning with a cascade of turnovers. He has a risky , aggressive style but he won't be throwing against college defenses anymore.

The good news is that Manning threw 52 TD passes over his first two seasons (26 in each year) and Favre threw 37. I don't know if Manziel even deserves to be included in company like that or if he'll be turnover prone in his early years at the next level. Only time will tell. I'm just saying, if the Vikes get him, we might need to prepare to be patient.

Good points. But I think that the KIND of patience we'd have to muster up would be of an entirely different sort than we have lived with for the past 6-8 years (minus the Favre interlude). I think a lot of fans are sick of the excessively conservative approach that our team takes. We strive for 1 point wins. We play to not lose on both sides of the ball. I long for the days when we wiped teams off the field. My biggest issue w/ Manziel is his character. I have seen some interviews with him and he seems like an articulate, intelligent kid with a deep desire to be great in the NFL. There will be some trials though, as you point out Moth, and he'll need perseverance to get through them.

[MrPurplenGold]

He's certainly fun to watch.

It's pretty obvious that at this point, nobody knows if there will be a consensus top QB in the upcoming draft and if there is, it's clear that nobody knows who it will be...

Manziel could be great but even if he ends up as a great pro, he might be the kind of player fans will have to be patient with as he develops. It could be a rough ride. Vikes fans who loved the "gunslinger" mentality Favre brought to the position need to remember that he's also the NFL's all-time leader in interceptions. He had several 20+ interception seasons and threw 37 picks in his first two years as a starter. Just imagine the reaction around here to those kind of numbers!

Peyton Manning, who also came into the league as a bit of a gunslinger and he threw 43 interceptions in his first two years, 28 as a rookie. I don't know what awaits Manziel in the NFL but considering the way he plays, I don't think it's difficult to imagine his career beginning with a cascade of turnovers. He has a risky , aggressive style but he won't be throwing against college defenses anymore.

The good news is that Manning threw 52 TD passes over his first two seasons (26 in each year) and Favre threw 37. I don't know if Manziel even deserves to be included in company like that or if he'll be turnover prone in his early years at the next level. Only time will tell. I'm just saying, if the Vikes get him, we might need to prepare to be patient.

Manziel reminds me of Tony Romo. The question is would the Vikings want a QB like Tony Romo to represent the franchise. Is Tony Romo better than anything the Vikings have had recently, absolutely. But is that what the Vikings want to settle for.


I'm of the opinion, and I might be in the minority, the Vikings should go defense with their first pick and take a QB in the second round. The QB class this year seems deep enough and talented enough that you can find a franchise QB in the 2nd round, that's just me though. I think there are so many holes on the defensive side of the ball that an impact defensive player will help the team more than a rookie QB will. You can't expect every rookie QB to come in and be as successful as Luck or RGIII, those guys are the exception, not the rule.

[PurpleHalo]

He's certainly fun to watch.

It's pretty obvious that at this point, nobody knows if there will be a consensus top QB in the upcoming draft and if there is, it's clear that nobody knows who it will be...

Manziel could be great but even if he ends up as a great pro, he might be the kind of player fans will have to be patient with as he develops. It could be a rough ride. Vikes fans who loved the "gunslinger" mentality Favre brought to the position need to remember that he's also the NFL's all-time leader in interceptions. He had several 20+ interception seasons and threw 37 picks in his first two years as a starter. Just imagine the reaction around here to those kind of numbers!

Peyton Manning, who also came into the league as a bit of a gunslinger and he threw 43 interceptions in his first two years, 28 as a rookie. I don't know what awaits Manziel in the NFL but considering the way he plays, I don't think it's difficult to imagine his career beginning with a cascade of turnovers. He has a risky , aggressive style but he won't be throwing against college defenses anymore.

The good news is that Manning threw 52 TD passes over his first two seasons (26 in each year) and Favre threw 37. I don't know if Manziel even deserves to be included in company like that or if he'll be turnover prone in his early years at the next level. Only time will tell. I'm just saying, if the Vikes get him, we might need to prepare to be patient.

He doesn't belong in that company until he shows it on Sundays. Everyone has to step up when they get to the next level. Even Luck could have been a bust, but you can't be scared to try. The only guy in my lifetime, I said 100% no way this guy busts was Peyton, everyone knew. oops and Brees too, I knew he was gonna be a star in the NFL when he was at Purdue.

[PurpleHalo]

I prefer this guy in purple next year.

We had a dominant DE in 2011, and finished 3-13. 38 years since a super bowl appearence, because theres never a franchise QB here.

[Texas Vike]

I thought it was funny to see a video of highlights from high school

He looks like a man among children, playing pop warner or something. Clowney got huge amounts attention when his monster hit made the rounds on youtube last season… but he's had a quiet year. I have never watched a full game of him playing. Is he really so dominant as to warrant the hype?

I'd rather get our franchise QB. Hopefully we won't be picking this high again for a while. The time is now.

[BGM]

I am souring on Clowney. He has done nothing this season. There is a serious lack of effort and he is not even disruptive. He seems to be coasting on the hype regarding one tackle. If there is a bust waiting to happen in this draft, it just might be Clowney.

There are a bunch of LBs who are looking really good for this draft. I would not mind seeing Barr or the kid from BYU here.

[Texas Vike]

I am souring on Clowney. He has done nothing this season. There is a serious lack of effort and he is not even disruptive. He seems to be coasting on the hype regarding one tackle. If there is a bust waiting to happen in this draft, it just might be Clowney.

There are a bunch of LBs who are looking really good for this draft. I would not mind seeing Barr or the kid from BYU here.

That's my feeling too. Did you see CJ Mosely from Alabama last night? That guy was impressive.

[PurpleMustReign]

I am souring on Clowney. He has done nothing this season. There is a serious lack of effort and he is not even disruptive. He seems to be coasting on the hype regarding one tackle. If there is a bust waiting to happen in this draft, it just might be Clowney.

There are a bunch of LBs who are looking really good for this draft. I would not mind seeing Barr or the kid from BYU here.

I Am too.. he seems to have some effort issues... I have seen a few South Carolina games and he just doesn't seem to have the drive he had last season. He may be injured, but I don't hear anything about it.

[yezzir]

I Am too.. he seems to have some effort issues... I have seen a few South Carolina games and he just doesn't seem to have the drive he had last season. He may be injured, but I don't hear anything about it.

I think he's trying to avoid injury. The guy has millions of $ waiting for him in a few months if he stays healthy. Maybe not the most honorable move, but it's good business.

[Texas Vike]

I think he's trying to avoid injury. The guy has millions of $ waiting for him in a few months if he stays healthy. Maybe not the most honorable move, but it's good business.

Could be. I just watched his highlights from 2012 and he's very impressive. The video ends w/ Mr. ESPN college football guy (can't remember his name) likening Clowney to a Calvin Johnson type of prospect. Many think that his reduced production this year is due to game planning of opponents = staying away from him completely. I would love to hear the opinion of a SC fan who's watched the games.