2014 Vikings Draft Discussion

[soflavike]

Well, there goes Bortles.

Best QB in the draft.

[Eli]

Best QB in the draft.

I think a good question (that we'll likely never get an answer to) is whether the Vikings would have taken Bortles had he still been there.

Another question is whether they would have taken Khalil Mack instead of Barr. Similar players, so I definitely think they would have.

[Texas Vike]

I think I'd be initially disappointed too in selecting yet another DT when we have so many other needs.

I agree w/ Moth, we're likely to go QB simply because there's been little to no chatter about that. In fact, Sid's reporting that he had inside info on the Vikings liking Barr probably means he's the one guy they won't take. I know if I were Spielman I'd spread misinformation that way… Sid's the perfect candidate given his old school approach to reporting.

I should not have questioned Sid Hartman's inside info. In a draft that had an extra-long wait and millions of annoying tweets and smokescreen theories by the new age of crap media… good old Sid Hartman knew it.

[saint33]

I think a good question (that we'll likely never get an answer to) is whether the Vikings would have taken Bortles had he still been there.

Another question is whether they would have taken Khalil Mack instead of Barr. Similar players, so I definitely think they would have.

I found it interesting to when I listened to Spielman's presser, he said that they believed Barr was the best pass rusher after Clowney with no mention of Mack, so maybe he did value Barr higher than most.

I don't hate the pick, kid is a freakish athlete with strong instincts. Needs the coaching, but he definitely has the talent to be an elite player.

[Eli]

I found it interesting to when I listened to Spielman's presser, he said that they believed Barr was the best pass rusher after Clowney with no mention of Mack, so maybe he did value Barr higher than most.

If they din't see Mack as being able to play OLB in the 4-3, I guess that's possible.

I'm still scratching my head a little. How often do you blitz with an OLB that his pass rushing skills are the top priority? Put another way ... are Barr's pass rushing skills going to be wasted playing linebacker?

[Mothman]

I should not have questioned Sid Hartman's inside info. In a draft that had an extra-long wait and millions of annoying tweets and smokescreen theories by the new age of crap media… good old Sid Hartman knew it.

Hail, Sid!

[Texas Vike]

Hail, Sid!

It seems really fitting to me given all the BS and rumors that were conveyed via the new methods… in the end it was Sid's old-school approach that was accurate. Good for him!

Here's part of Sid's column from today:

The Vikings’ first-round pick of UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr was no surprise to me, since the word around the NFL was that General Manager Rick Spielman and company became impressed with him last season when they watched the 6-4, 255-pounder put on a defensive show against Washington with seven tackles and a sack.

Those impressions remained with Spielman. The word is that Barr, who during his only two seasons at linebacker after earlier playing fullback with the Bruins, made 149 tackles and 23½ sacks while have to carry a big load for the 10-3 Bruins.

Compare Barr’s tackle totals with that of No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney, the South Carolina defensive end who went to Houston and had 94 tackles over his past two seasons, or Khalil Mack, the Buffalo outside linebacker who went fifth to the Raiders and had 194 tackles. Barr also had 41.5 tackles for loss, while Mack had 40 and Clowney had 35.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 72391.html

[Mothman]

It seems really fitting to me given all the BS and rumors that were conveyed via the new methods… in the end it was Sid's old-school approach that was accurate. Good for him!

Indeed. There's something refreshing and satisfying about that.

Thanks for the link!

[dead_poet]

Mack didn't show a lot as a pass rusher.

He had 10.5 sacks as a senior. Dude is a tenacious beast. Should be a consistent double-digit sack guy. He's the complete package.

[maembe]

If we played in a 3-4 I wouldn't question the Barr pick at all. In fact, he would have been my top player after Mack. However, I'm not sure how well he fits our scheme. We'll see though, he's certainly an exciting player and has a ton of potential, so if they can maximize that potential in our defensive scheme I think it could turn out to be a great pick.

[mondry]

If we played in a 3-4 I wouldn't question the Barr pick at all. In fact, he would have been my top player after Mack. However, I'm not sure how well he fits our scheme. We'll see though, he's certainly an exciting player and has a ton of potential, so if they can maximize that potential in our defensive scheme I think it could turn out to be a great pick.

I'd be more concerned if he was like a 4 year veteran and in those 4 years all he knew how to do was rush the passer. Instead he's raw and usually that's a bad thing but I agree with Zimmer that it's actually a good thing in this case. He's still learning rapidly and can be molded into a complete backer, it's not like his game is anywhere near set in stone.

If we had Frazier still I'd hate the pick, but Zimmer's defense is more creative and the -threat- of a pass rushing LB adds another element to our defense outside of the vanilla one we've had. I trust Zimmer will put him in a position to succeed AND coach this kid into a 3 down linebacker.

[Texas Vike]

That's my take too. If it were Frazier at the helm, I would have wanted Mosley. Since it's Zimmer, I am very willing to wait and see how he plans to utilize Barr. I like that the pick hints at a very different way of playing D. I can get a sense of what he plans to do and it is much less predictable than what we're accustomed to. At the end of the day, speed and pressuring the QB is a vital part of defensive success, and I think Barr will help us achieve that goal.

[dead_poet]

Watch the tape. Mostly came untouched on stunts and blitzes.

I have.

A) Several did, but he still converted. He shouldn't be penalized for that.

B) I'd actually argue the majority weren't untouched. Ohio State and Umass come to mind right off the top of my head.

C) I'd wager that the majority of rushers with sacks this season had some sacks from stunts/blitzes and some of those "untouched." It's not as if they were the result of communication breakdowns. Pretty sure they always knew where he was. His sacks shouldn't have an asterisk by them when comparing him to other defenders.

And we are talking about MAC competition. Clowney and Barr would have dominated in a way that Mack simply did not.

It's a nice theory, but not provable. I don't know what you mean about not dominating MAC competition. He's a three-time All-MAC player and finalist for the 2013 Butkus Award, presented to the best linebacker in college football. He was the MAC Conference 2013 Defensive Player of the Year. He set the NCAA record for 16 career forced fumbles during his collegiate career. He established a tie for the NCAA record for career tackles for loss (75). I don't know how that's not dominating.

Even Kiper said during draft coverage that Mack elevated his stock off of one awesome game against Ohio State. He didn't mean it as a knock I dont think just saying that put him on the map.

You're right; that's not a knock.

[PacificNorseWest]

Has this draft changed any of your expectations for this next season and the future of the Vikings?

I feel like the Vikings did a phenomenal job in filling a lot of the gaps that they had and none bigger than QB. I think the Vikings offense will be an absolute force. Defense has a lot of the pieces now, just need to mold the philosphy and that individual talent to Zimmer's liking and we all good.

[Eli]

Biggest disappointment: Failure to address deficiencies in the secondary. Apart from Barr, the Vikings failed to draft another player who will contribute in the near term behind the defensive line. Some of the guys they drafted late could make the roster and eventually work themselves into backup roles, but there isn't a likely starter among them.