Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to the
Views and Personal Photos on the Vikes from the Inaugural Hall of Fame fan.
Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to theThe paramount Vikings linebacker of all time, Scott Studwell, was in L.A. for USC's Pro Day. Studwell is the Vikings director of college scouting and this is his busy time of year when he earns enough frequent flyer miles to take a family of ten to Europe via first class for free. I cannot substantiate the rumor that under Red McCombs, all frequent flyer miles had to be turned into the ol’ car salesman himself.
Neither can I corroborate that Studwell was there to eyeball Reggie Bush or Matt Leinhart. I can be sure that Studwell was there to gauge the running back I was very high on previous to these workouts: LenDale White.
The fact is Studwell may have needlessly made a trip to the Crazy Coast. White opted to not work out due to a reported hamstring pull. He then said that he tweaked the hamstring while bench-pressing 225 pounds only 15 times. That was a reported one more than USC punter Tom Malone. White then decided to skip the running portion of the day.
Like many other teams in the NFL, I felt that White had the best chance of being the next Vikings featured running back due to his NFL power back qualities we all saw displayed so prominently in lasts years’ penultimate NCAA football championship game. But if can barely out lift the team’s punter, well then I just don’t know.
It may be time to look at linebacker or defensive end and see what blue-chipper the Vikes can nab. Consider: if the team keeps all their picks, that will be five picks in the first three rounds. One has to think the Vikes draft-day brain trust has the grey matter to at least make three of the five picks turn into long term, viable solutions to their respective positions.
The following players could be available at selection seventeen within the first round:
DeAngelo Williams, RB Memphis: Insanely quick through a hole and is the most elusive (yes, even more than Reggie Bush) back in college.
Laurence Maroney, RB Minnesota: Yes, I'm against him but then has the ability to make a defender miss and that explosive gear that will allow him to take it the distance at any time.
Ernie Sims, OLB Florida St.: He is a very instinctive LB.
Chad Greenway, OLB Iowa: At 6'4 247, Greenway is as big as anyone could hope for in the NFL with the speed of a DB. He was clocked at 4.47 in the forty last fall at Iowa's timing day.
How about selection forty-eight in the second round?
Abdul Hodge, ILB Iowa: One of the smartest middle linebackers I've seen in college football in a long time. He knows where to be at all times. Good in coverage, good against the run, good form tackler.
Omar Jacobs, QB Bowling Green: Omar's combination of accuracy, arm strength and speed makes him much like former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham. As he doesn’t have the speed of a Mike Vick, he still can run around some of the NFL's great defensive players making him a lot like Daunte Culpepper. And don’t forget Omar is another quarterback coming out of the MAC conference at Bowling Green, making him a high prospect given the history of quarterbacks like Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington.
Max Jean-Gilles, OG Georgia: A prototypical right guard who would complete the rebuilding job along the offensive line.
How about selection fifty-one in the second round?
Ryan O'Callaghan, OT California: Prototype right tackle, a weak spot for the Vikes. Solid in pass protection as well as run-blocking. experienced and could start right away.
Thomas Howard, OLB UTEP: Great speed and versatility. Great addition to any team as a coverage guy and can line up against any TE in the NFL.
Alan Zemaitis, CB Penn St.: Experienced player who will be a perfect fit for the teams new Cover 2 defensive scheme.
How about selection eighty-three in the third round?
Brodie Croyle, QB Alabama: Croyle started for multiple years at Bama. He has a strong arm and can play with the big boys like Vince Young and Matt Leinart. He played well at the senior bowl, he has a great personality. He is a good leader and has good mobility.
Julien Jenkins, DE Stanford: A stud defensive end for the team to develop as a pass rushing DE
How about the recently acquired ninety-fifth selection (from Seattle) in the third round?
Andrew Whitworth, OT L.S.U.: An experienced starter who will provide quality depth at both right and left tackle for the Vikes.
So, how would you feel if at the end of the first day of the 2006 NFL draft the Vikes had the following players on the plane and heading for Winter Park?
LB Ernie Sims
QB Omar Jacobs
OT Ryan O'Callaghan
DE Julien Jenkins
OT Andrew Whitworth
Now, I'm not saying that this is who I want. I'm just voicing that one scenario the Vikes could consider is just staying with their picks and avoid the temptation to trade away in order to secure a bigger college name. A name which could become the next Lawrence Phillips, Heath Schuler, or Andre Ware....all first round busts.
In this case, I'm leaning towards rolling the dice on five studs instead of mortgaging away all the picks and taking the chance on one or two supposed blue-chippers.
You?
Shameless Plug
The VU is always ready to help with a new Vikings related site. One of the VU's readers recently started a new Minnesota Vikings message board about a month ago is trying to get the word out about it. Check it out if you get the chance.
Agreed. Take our picks and use them. It's been a long time since A)the draft was this deep B)we had that many first day picks.
What worries me more are these rumors about trading picks to Atlanta for Schuab.
Posted by: Lonnie at April 4, 2006 8:09 AM- Brodie Croyle, QB Alabama: Croyle started for multiple years at Bama. He has a strong arm and can play with the big boys like Vince Young and Matt Leinart. He played well at the senior bowl, he has a great personality. He is a good leader and has good mobility. -
We DO NOT want this guy. I do not care how good he looked or what he did at the Senior Bowl. He spent every single year of his college career on tyhe sidelines for at leats a game or two with injuries. You also say he is mobile...not really. He has lost quite a few steps with his inability to get away from the would be tacklers. They used him up at Alabama and his best years are behind him. Stay away!
As for your first round pick...I say we are going to get Schaub for our first round and make the best of our 2nd round and beyond picks. I would much rather have Schaub than most guys in the draft as Schaub plays a good game. Now, I will also say this...there are some good LBs in the draft and getting one of those would be ideal.
Until next time...
Gene Ramsay
AKA - AlabamaViking
Take Croyle off the list! If Alabama Viking says "NOT" then we need not discuss further! Thanks for setting us straight Gene!
And the VU has discussed Schaub previously on March 21, 2006:
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/maasx003/Vikings/040927.html
Keep in mind that Schaub was a 3rd round selection. So there is always hope!
Posted by: MrCheerOrDIe at April 4, 2006 8:55 AMLonnie,
I would rather trade picks for Schaub than for a shot at Lienart. Ideally, though, I think MN should keep all of its picks and use them well. I really like Ernie Sims and Omar Jacobs, and while I don't know a lot about the linebackers in the draft, I've been hearing all about how deep this draft is and I think the Vikes should fill their holes with their plethora of picks.
However, if Schaub could be acquired for just one pick, I would be happy with that move too.
Mr. Cheer or Die, thanks for doing this post. I've been looking at a lot of mock drafts lately and it's great to see your opinion all the way through the third round.
Posted by: Peter at April 4, 2006 9:10 AMGee-Whiz, Can you use a gosh-darn spellcheck program? I actually lost count of the errors because there were so many. Just press the spellcheck button, please, so you don't look like you are stupid. I say this because I care. And we need to try to break out of the stereotype of football people being dumb. Thanks buddy.
Posted by: spelling nazi at April 4, 2006 12:42 PMCompletely agreed that we should hang on to these picks. If they decide they must get Schaub, I hope he doesn't cost more than one pick.
This draft is deep enough that a lot of the folks between picks #11 and #51 are pretty subjective and their ultimate value will be based on their (perceived) aptitude and ability to fit into the system of the team that drafts them. For example, after A.J. Hawk, there isn't a consensus "must have" linebacker, (although it's Sims if there is one).
Thomas Howard seems to be dropping in a lot of mocks; I've heard all along that he's supposed to be a good fit for a Tampa 2 defense. If the Vikings can't get Sims in the 1st, maybe they draft a DB at that position (besides Michael Huff, most every DB might still be around) and see which LB falls to them at #48. There might be Howard, Jackson, Ryans, or Hodge.
But I would be elated if the draft played out just like you wrote, CoD. I'm not a fan of Croyle (seems to be a theme) but I guess I'd rather roll the dice on him in the 3rd, if we miss out on Jacobs, than not draft a QB the first day at all.
Whut in tarnation spellin' erro's? ah allus use a spell-check prio' t'postin'. Or is yo' speakin' t'punckuashuns which ah do suck at?
Ha ha!
Posted by: Peter at April 4, 2006 1:21 PMThanks for the plug MrCheerOrDie.
Posted by: akvikefan89 at April 4, 2006 11:19 PMRegarding Maroney...if we don't get him and he ends up with Gayle Sayers like numbers...is a certain Minneapolis native going to write a column about how the "geniuses at Winter Park" let another one of us get away?
I would like to gather White, for probably nothing more than an insurance that for all the press and focus on him, perhaps our current crop of RB's would be scared enough to actually work during the season.
Posted by: Eric at April 5, 2006 10:43 AMPlease take down Studwell's picture. It's scaring my kids
Posted by: pa viking at April 5, 2006 2:21 PMWhat will happen to the Whizzinator. I predict that he will be the number one back next year by week four, and will lead the team in rushing.
Posted by: J. Lichty at April 5, 2006 11:08 PMTo address your first point - No, they didn't have to turn in their frequent flyer miles to Red. On the other hand, what good are frequent flyer miles on Bubba's Discount Airlines and Truck Rental except for the weekend specials on pickup trucks (gun rack extra).
I agree with the consensus that we need to keep our picks. QB-wise, I have heard nothing but good reviews about Jacobs and mixed comments obout Croyle. Given his tendency toward injury, I also would avoid him. That's all we need, for Johnson to go down and then Croyle a week later.
I also like the idea of strengthening the LB position rather than offensive line. I think we'll be alright there. There are always adequate guys available for fill-in duty later on and if you need more than one at a time, you are in the hurt locker anyway.
Posted by: Dave at April 6, 2006 1:23 AMWow, coupole of days without updates. I hope everything is alright on the homefront!
Posted by: Peter at April 6, 2006 9:07 AMSome on Sirius NFL Radio were saying that Thomas Howard may actually make a smash mouth SS. That might be a great pick up in the second for us.
Posted by: Daren "The Hiking Viking" at April 7, 2006 9:18 PM