2014 Vikings Draft Discussion

[VikingPaul73]

I don't believe that is the case. I mean Floyd hasn't even been given a chance to prove himself. I think the Vikings want to trade down. I would if I was Spielman. He always says that his goal every year is to have 10+ draft picks and a trade here could get him to that and give him ammo to move back into the end of the 1st. I think this is nothing but a smokescreen.

As mentioned before, Spielman hardly ever allows what he is doing to leak out. I mean we literally had zero connection to Harrison Smith in 2012 until we drafted him. There was never anything leaked about us drafting Rhodes or Patterson either. Nobody ever knew Spielman was THAT in love with CP (obviously for good reasons).

We were constantly linked to Manti Teo, Arthur Brown, Sylvester Williams, Desmond Trufant, Alec Ogletree, Justin Hunter, etc. last year and never drafted a single one of them. Nobody knew Floyd would fall as far as he did, Rhodes was rarely linked to us, and Patterson wasn't suppose to slide past 13-15.

Bottom line is, I don't believe a damn thing I hear until the draft pick is made. Mark my words, the Vikings will surprise us at #8.

All good points. Good news only 3 more days until we find out!!!!!

[Eli]

Aaron Donald strikes me as a classic tweener who may not be able to excel at the next level. At just 285 lbs he's too small to play all the time in the middle of the defensive line. He's going to get dominated in the run game (as he often was in college). He's a pass rusher who lacks ideal physical traits to play 4-3 DE. He would be a little like Everson Griffen playing in the middle. Can the Vikings really afford to use a #8 pick on a situational pass rusher?

[Funkytown]

A fun little thing I found. It's an infographic examining the 2011 draft:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-foo ... -nfl-draft

And re-grading the 2011 draft:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pet ... onder-an-a

[JD_Fiction]

I can't wait, these days are going to just DRAG on! This is my last comments on the draft then i am going to try to wait it out the best i can.

Let me start by saying this coaching staff has made me get fired up for the first time in a long time, i absolutely admire what coach Zimmer has done as a DC and believe whole heartily that he can build our foundation and make us contenders for years to come.

NEEDS FOR THE DRAFT 2014: OLB/ILB, QB, CB, S, OG

MOCK DRAFT 2014:
1. Blake Bortles QB UCF - I would really like Anthony Barr at this pick but i think they might not be able to pass on Bortles.
2. Deone Bucannon S WSU - Perfect SS to compliment Harrison Smith, Starts day 1
3. Bishop Sankey RB WASHINGTON - Spielman doesn't trade up this time but does take a RB early to take some load off AD
3A. David Yankey OG STANFORD - Pushes Charlie Johnson for Job day 1, wins it by pre season.
4. Aaron Colvin CB OKLAHOMA - Coming off ACL, talked about in round 1 to 2 prior to injury and i am an OU fan this guy will be a STUD.
5. Loucheiz Purifoy CB FLORIDA - Questionable pick but has tremendous upside and we have a need for corners in the NFC North.
6. Crockett Gillmore TE CSU - Backs up Rudolph day 1, Solid in every Aspect of game.
7. Aaron Lynch DE USF - Solid Depth to a new D-line.

Only need not addressed is LB, it might hurt but i am intrested to see what Zimmer can do with the Young guys. Let me know what you guy think give me some insight into what direction you would be happy with and if any of my picks make you thanks for reading, till next time. SKOL!

[Slick Rick]

Aaron Donald strikes me as a classic tweener who may not be able to excel at the next level. At just 285 lbs he's too small to play all the time in the middle of the defensive line. He's going to get dominated in the run game (as he often was in college). He's a pass rusher who lacks ideal physical traits to play 4-3 DE. He would be a little like Everson Griffen playing in the middle. Can the Vikings really afford to use a #8 pick on a situational pass rusher?

What I'm not sold on with Donald is him being able to beat NFL defensive linemen consistently. In college, he would often break through the line with hardly anyone even getting their hands on him, and I promise you that it won't be the same in the NFL. Can he still be effective when blockers are all over him? I realize he dominated at the Senior Bowl, but what percentage of Senior Bowl offensive linemen are going to be viable or starting in the NFL?

Anyways, I've been thinking it the whole offseason, but now I'm sure of it. I think the Vikings will pick a QB in the 3rd or 4th round, and use their first pick on either a guard or a cornerback. Imagine this offensive line, with Zack Martin at LG. Our QB(s) would be getting about the best pockets in the league. Maybe Jeff Baca is better than we thought, and we'll go with a corner. With Dennard or Gilbert (some think Kyle Fuller is the best corner in this draft too), I bet we have our best secondary since.... Well, I don't even remember the last time the Vikings have really even had a good secondary. It'd be nice for a change.

[MatteoSpace]

I don't believe that is the case. I mean Floyd hasn't even been given a chance to prove himself. I think the Vikings want to trade down. I would if I was Spielman. He always says that his goal every year is to have 10+ draft picks and a trade here could get him to that and give him ammo to move back into the end of the 1st. I think this is nothing but a smokescreen.

As mentioned before, Spielman hardly ever allows what he is doing to leak out. I mean we literally had zero connection to Harrison Smith in 2012 until we drafted him. There was never anything leaked about us drafting Rhodes or Patterson either. Nobody ever knew Spielman was THAT in love with CP (obviously for good reasons).

We were constantly linked to Manti Teo, Arthur Brown, Sylvester Williams, Desmond Trufant, Alec Ogletree, Justin Hunter, etc. last year and never drafted a single one of them. Nobody knew Floyd would fall as far as he did, Rhodes was rarely linked to us, and Patterson wasn't suppose to slide past 13-15.

Bottom line is, I don't believe a damn thing I hear until the draft pick is made. Mark my words, the Vikings will surprise us at #8.

I agree.
Last weekend I checked all mock of 2012 and of 2013.
Excluding Kalil in very few analysts have guessed our calls.
Only Patterson and H.Smith were present in some mock.

If we count the mock all the sportswriter and blogger, here is the database

http://www.dailynorseman.com/2013/4/25/ ... al-version

[dead_poet]

Christian Jones - LB - Player

FOX Sports reports Florida State OLB Christian Jones failed a drug test at February's Scouting Combine.

Jones is considered a day-two prospect. He played all three of outside linebacker, inside 'backer, and defensive end at FSU. Jones is a physical tackler with plus athleticism and solid range. He profiles as a three-down player who can cover tight ends and rush the passer. Jones (6-foot-3, 234) looks the part.
Source: FOX Sports

[MrPurplenGold]

My question is if mack falls to Oakland at 5 would it be worth the Vikings trying to trade up to get him.

[MrPurplenGold]

Aaron Donald strikes me as a classic tweener who may not be able to excel at the next level. At just 285 lbs he's too small to play all the time in the middle of the defensive line. He's going to get dominated in the run game (as he often was in college). He's a pass rusher who lacks ideal physical traits to play 4-3 DE. He would be a little like Everson Griffen playing in the middle. Can the Vikings really afford to use a #8 pick on a situational pass rusher?

I agree. Geno Atkins is 6'1" and 300 lbs shariff Floyd is 6'3" 305 lbs. Zimmer's defense emphasizes stopping the run first and then rushing the passer. I think Donald would have been a better fit in Frazier's Tampa 2 than Zimmer's scheme. I actually think Floyd will thrive as a Geno Atkins type player under Zimmer.

[NextQuestion]

Prisco's look back on draft grades is hilarious. He's a big FSU fan and that clouded his Ponder judgement. He also mocks the 49ers every year and then goes back to be like "oops". Called Iupati and Davis (two starting OL, and one with an extension through 2019) both reaches.

[VikingLord]

My question is if mack falls to Oakland at 5 would it be worth the Vikings trying to trade up to get him.

I don't know why the Vikings would take a pass-rushing LB like Mack at #8, much less trade up to take him. The more I watch Mack, the more convinced I am that he'll only excel on the outside in a 3-4 where he can come after the passer a lot. He doesn't strike me as a guy who is going to be great falling back and covering. I'm not saying he's going to be bad at doing that, just not great. Getting up the field and rushing the passer, he can do that, but so much of the pro game at LB involves being good in coverage. If the Vikes do decide to go LB at #8, they'd be better off with Mosely than Mack, IMHO.

[VikingLord]

I don't want a guy who can't look better than this against Stony Brook at 8, let alone at 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb1nhZliuqc

obviously I'm in the minority in that I don't think Mack is a premier player.

You and me both. The more I've watched Mack, the more convinced I am that he's more of a pass rusher than he is a pro linebacker. He's going to have his share of highlight blitzes and if a defense is designed to let him come hard up the field and break down on the QB, he's going to be a force. But in a standard 4-3 like the Vikings run, and in pro defenses where LB's are called on to fall back into pass coverage regularly and neutralize shifty RB's and TE's, I'm not convinced Mack is going to do well there.

If the Vikes take Mack at #8, I'll be OK with it just because the dude does have some skills and might be able to develop as a pass defender under Zimmer, but I would not be happy if they traded up for him.

[Mothman]

I don't know why the Vikings would take a pass-rushing LB like Mack at #8, much less trade up to take him.

I think they'd take him because he's not the one-dimensional player you're implying he is...

[dead_poet]

I don't know why the Vikings would take a pass-rushing LB like Mack at #8, much less trade up to take him. The more I watch Mack, the more convinced I am that he'll only excel on the outside in a 3-4 where he can come after the passer a lot. He doesn't strike me as a guy who is going to be great falling back and covering. I'm not saying he's going to be bad at doing that, just not great. Getting up the field and rushing the passer, he can do that, but so much of the pro game at LB involves being good in coverage. If the Vikes do decide to go LB at #8, they'd be better off with Mosely than Mack, IMHO.

I don't know, from what I've seen/read he's adequate in coverage.

Can zone drop and buzz to the flat with ease

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/ ... id=2543463

Mack's instincts are unparalleled. He understands how to play both positions, actually, he knows how to play several (he told reports at the Combine he often does drills with the secondary). He gets zone coverage schemes, he can pick apart offensive plays and passing routes, he can read the offensive line and figure out points of attack. He always knows where the ball is in relation to himself, and has an innate ability to get to it (his 16 career forced fumbles are an NCAA record).

http://www.hustlebelt.com/2014/4/20/563 ... ing-report

Mack is a highly intelligent, athletic and instinctive player with almost no flaws in his game, whether he is defending the run or pass. Elite speed. Reads and reacts very quickly and can get up to speed rapidly to make plays. Seems to be one step ahead and one beat faster than every other defender. Experience all over the front seven and could feasibly play any LB spot in 4-3 or 3-4. Can take on blockers very well and dislodge himself through great use of hands. Rips and slides into open space well in traffic.

Versatile coverage abilities. Can man up or face up TEs with ease. Could go up against Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski with equaled athleticism and strength. Still working on man coverage skills, which is one area he'll need improvement. Rushes the passer well and stays relentless when battling blockers one-on-one.

Works really hard in pursuit. Relentless on the backside of a play. Looks to get in the mix every play. Unreal range against the run. Quick and relatively agile. Foot speed is very good.

http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/prof ... ct_id=5205

"You talk about a guy like Clowney, who's just got superhuman abilities, versus this kid, and if I had a choice between the two, I think I'm going Mack.''
That kind of ringing endorsement might sound like sacrilege to college football fans who have considered it a foregone conclusion that South Carolina's Clowney would be the first defensive player selected, with his freakish edge-rush skills. But in time, Mack's overall game might even get a step on Clowney in the eyes of NFL scouts, some of whom have reason to question the former Gamecock's work ethic and dedication to his craft. There seem to be no such issues surrounding Mack's blend of pass rush and coverage skills, and non-stop motor.

"Here he is a kid from the University of Buffalo, and you put on the tape and he dominates Ohio State (in the 2013 season opener) like nobody I've ever seen dominate them,'' Mayock said. "He's explosive off the edge, he's tough, he's twitchy, he's got a little edge about him. When I watch him on tape, I feel like he's pissed off at the world, and I like that.

"Then you put on a tape, I think it was Kent State, and he drops into coverage like a safety, reads the quarterback's eye, undercuts a route, one-handed interception. And I'm going, 'What can't this kid do?' I'm thinking he must be a bad kid off the field, and then I find out he's a really good kid off the field.''

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/ne ... z30yEXw4oU

He also bested Mosley in nearly every category, at 17 pounds heavier.

Mack Measurables
HT WT ARM LENGTH 40 YARD DASH 20 YARD SHUTTLE BENCH VERTICAL BROAD 3-CONE DRILL
6'3'' 251 33 1/4'' 4.55s 4.18s 23 40in 10'8'' 7.08

Mosely Measurables
HT WT ARM LENGTH 40 YARD DASH 20 YARD SHUTTLE BENCH VERTICAL BROAD 3-CONE DRILL
6'2'' 234 33 1/4'' 4.63s 4.40s DNP 35in 9'10'' 7.30

He also practices with DBs apparently.

“I don’t want to limit myself to just playing one specific thing,” he said at the scouting combine. “I feel like that’s the biggest thing for me. When I work out with the defensive ends, I work out with the linebackers, I also go over and workout with the DBs — just to stay fresh. I work hard, and I want to stay loose and don’t want to put a limit on myself.”

I'd be OK with Mosley too, but Mack is a freak.

[mondry]

"AJ McCarron will attempt to be just the third quarterback to win both a college national championship and a Super Bowl. The only two quarterbacks to do so are fellow Alabama alum Joe Namath (1964 national championship and Super Bowl III) and Joe Montana (1977 national championship and Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII and XXIV)."

Clearly not looking good for McCarron's chances...