Vikings Message Board.Com

fiestavike wrote:Watching Deandre Hopkins vs LSU, its hard not to think of a Hines Ward or Santonio Holmes.

If Allen and Austin are gone I think they could do worse than this kid.

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

Hopkins and Keenan Allen strike me as similar players, so all else being equal I'd take Allen before Hopkins.

I do like Hopkins game, though, and would not be unhappy if the Vikes take him. I just hope it would be with their 2nd rounder and not their 1st.

mrc44 wrote: I have heard from many Tennessee fans that Hunter is a ball dropper, like Braylon Edwards. Had the talent to be great, but had issues dropping balls. I didnt watch a single game that Hunter was in, so I really have no first hand knowledge of Hunter, I have only seen his highlight films, which dont show anything but the good plays. I have also heard he doesn't always commit to the ball. Are there any Tennessee fans or big college guys on these boards that have knowledge of Hunter?

As it relates to your question, it appears that Justin Hunter does have a higher drop rate than some (not sure what the average is).

Cordarrelle Patterson - WR - Player

Tennessee WR Cordarrelle Patterson dropped just 4.2 percent of his intended targets in 2012.

The drop rate compares favorably to Keenan Allen (4.7 percent), Terrance Williams (5.8 percent), and especially Vols teammate Justin Hunter (12.1 percent). Although draftniks have nitpicked Patterson's tendency to "body catch" as opposed to secure passes with his hands, his efficiency wasn't an issue in college. Patterson is expected to be drafted in the 11-27 range this April.
Source: Houston Chronicle

Myself and others have said it, but I was expecting physical limitations with Hunter in 2012. Instead we saw plenty of mental setbacks.

Evan Silva on Twitter

Studying film. Keenan Allen is a stud. I would love to see him add a few pounds to his frame, but he good at everything he does. So good after the catch. Man, I hate comparisons but some of you guys just beg for them. I see a smaller Marques Colston in Keenan Allen

NFLosophy on Twitter

What are the chances Tavon Austin gets to the 20th overall pick? ... 0.00 percent.

Evan Silva on Twitter

VikingLord wrote:Hopkins and Keenan Allen strike me as similar players, so all else being equal I'd take Allen before Hopkins.

I do like Hopkins game, though, and would not be unhappy if the Vikes take him. I just hope it would be with their 2nd rounder and not their 1st.

Sometimes problems that WRs have in college only get worse in the NFL. Keenan Allen strikes me as that kind of receiver. I've seen him play a lot of college ball and consider him to be a young Michael Jenkins, who also had a lot of hype when coming out of Ohio State. As a pro, I don't think Allen will be what the Vikings need.

I seriously hope that the Vikings look elsewhere for a WR from the draft. I would not complain at all if they took DeAndre Hopkins, who I think is not a similar player to Allen. Hopkins has far more range and explosiveness. YMMV

@SI_JimTrotter: Most impressive player at USC's pro day was wideout Robert Woods - by far. >>That's my dude. Ankle injury and all.

Robert Woods - WR - Trojans

CBS Sports' Rob Rang reports USC WR Robert Woods ran a 4.38 20-yard shuttle at his school's pro day.

Woods ran a 4.47 20-yard shuttle at the NFL Scouting Combine and a 7.15 three-cone. At the school's pro day, he improved his three-cone time to 6.84 seconds. Following the workout, he was seen spending time with the Minnesota Vikings. Woods is best fit as a slot receiver in the pros.
Source: CBS Sports

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Robert Woods - WR - Trojans

NFL.com's Andy Fenelon reports the Minnesota Vikings spent "quality time" with USC WR Robert Woods.

Fenelon specifically reports that Vikings wide receivers coach George Stewart spent time with Woods. The team is in dire need of receivers after they traded away their best, Percy Harvin, to the Seattle Seahawks earlier this off-season. Woods is best fit as a slot receiver and could be an option for the team in the second round.
Source: Andy Fenelon on Twitter

Considering that everyone isn't talking about three wide receivers like they do most years, you can see why this draft is so freaking deep and why people keep saying that?

There are a lot of good wide receivers, which is partially why the Vikings would be best off in the long run using those top two picks on defense. There are roughly 4 holes right now on defense. They could use a serious upgrade at one safety position, one tackle position...and obviously a linebacker and a corner. That's a lot more holes than you probably want. Defense wins championships may be a cliche, but what exactly did you see happen in that last Super Bowl? And with the run/option currently en vogue, you probably want to be solid with your linebackers and corners.

A lot of these names people are tossing around will be there in the second, and there will be pretty good ones in the third and fourth, too. Woods may well be there at their second pick, Hunter probably will as well. You're not going to find Randy Moss in this draft, but the only teams Moss ever won a Super Bowl with had a complete defense. A big, fast, super receiver doesn't improve your team as fast as a solid defense. Between Jennings, Wright, and even Simpson too, the Vikes aren't hurting as bad as people think. There's no guarantee with a rookie receiver, too, especially one that may be "pretty good" at the combine and in college, but isn't an athletic freak or has any really special gift. There's a lot of those in this draft.

We need a good route running, good hands WR, that can play flanker and is above 6'2''. At least thats what everyone said when we had PH. Gotta make those draft picks worth giving up one of the best WR in the NFL and the best kick returner in the NFL while still under contract. And hope the same thing doesnt happen when the Vikes lets Moss go and picked up Troy Williamson.

Rus wrote: Defense wins championships may be a cliche, but what exactly did you see happen in that last Super Bowl?

Ravens 34 points 367yds
Niner 31 points 468yds I kid you...we all know where those two teams built their foundations.

I actually agree with your sentiment. Because the WR class is so deep I'd like to see them pick up 2-3 guys for depth across the board rather than spending so much energy on a star type wide out. Lookit Green Bay for example.

We need a DT/NT, CB, LB and probably safety at some point. Bolstering this defense will go a long way in taking pressure off the offense.
What will Rumplespielskin do?

The Breeze wrote: Ravens 34 points 367yds
Niner 31 points 468yds I kid you...we all know where those two teams built their foundations.

I actually agree with your sentiment. Because the WR class is so deep I'd like to see them pick up 2-3 guys for depth across the board rather than spending so much energy on a star type wide out. Lookit Green Bay for example.

We need a DT/NT, CB, LB and probably safety at some point. Bolstering this defense will go a long way in taking pressure off the offense.
What will Rumplespielskin do?

Quinton Patton - WR - Player

Among this year's draft-eligible receiver prospects with at least 100 targets in 2012, Louisiana Tech's Quinton Patton had the best (lowest) drop rate at 0.9 percent.

Patton dropped just three balls among 158 senior-year targets. The best drop rate was actually posted by Marshall's Aaron Dobson, who had zero drops among 92 targets. Patton's percentage remains impressive for a 6-foot, 202-pound prospect who's drawn pre-draft comparisons to Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne.
Source: John Pollard Stats

dead_poet wrote:Quinton Patton - WR - Player

Among this year's draft-eligible receiver prospects with at least 100 targets in 2012, Louisiana Tech's Quinton Patton had the best (lowest) drop rate at 0.9 percent.

Patton dropped just three balls among 158 senior-year targets. The best drop rate was actually posted by Marshall's Aaron Dobson, who had zero drops among 92 targets. Patton's percentage remains impressive for a 6-foot, 202-pound prospect who's drawn pre-draft comparisons to Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne.
Source: John Pollard Stats

the more I hear about these kinds of guys the more I like. Woods, Patton and even Dobson who is 6' 3 and didn't drop a ball all season. it really does look to be a deep draft at WR. I hope we get at least 2.

The Breeze wrote: the more I hear about these kinds of guys the more I like. Woods, Patton and even Dobson who is 6' 3 and didn't drop a ball all season. it really does look to be a deep draft at WR. I hope we get at least 2.

I feel like it isn't worth using one of our 1st rd picks on a WR b/c there isn't that huge of a talent gap between WRs who will be available at 25 and those that will be there in rd. 2 or 3. I'd rather pick two WRs in rounds 2-4 and take two defenders in the first round or a top notch G and a defender (preferably MLB, CB, or DT).

My ideal draft: Give me Patton or Dobson in the 2nd and Josh Boyce (TCU) in the 4th. I'll take Te'o and the best CB or DT in the first and a G in the 3rd.

If the reports on our love of Robert Woods are true, I wonder if we will trade one of our 1st rounders to move down a bit. 25 seems high for him.

Texas Vike wrote: I feel like it isn't worth using one of our 1st rd picks on a WR b/c there isn't that huge of a talent gap between WRs who will be available at 25 and those that will be there in rd. 2 or 3. I'd rather pick two WRs in rounds 2-4 and take two defenders in the first round or a top notch G and a defender (preferably MLB, CB, or DT).

My ideal draft: Give me Patton or Dobson in the 2nd and Josh Boyce (TCU) in the 4th. I'll take Te'o and the best CB or DT in the first and a G in the 3rd.

If the reports on our love of Robert Woods are true, I wonder if we will trade one of our 1st rounders to move down a bit. 25 seems high for him.

I have the same inclination. If there are blue chip defenders there for us, grab em I say.
I really like Woods I hope he fits into where we draft.....maybe he's still around for our 2nd rd pick.

The Breeze wrote: I have the same inclination. If there are blue chip defenders there for us, grab em I say.
I really like Woods I hope he fits into where we draft.....maybe he's still around for our 2nd rd pick.

I like Woods too, but I fear he'll go in the 35 to 45 area. I think 25 is too high for us to take him.