Who should the Vikes draft?

[james_walleye]

Just as in the case with junkson, clearly you alone are right and the rest of us chumps are out in left field.....lol. It doesn't matter what scheme you run, if your left tackle can't block anyone 1 on 1 you are hosed. You ever wonder how schematically the patriots can keep running Hernandez and Gronk downfield? It's because their line is good and they don't have to constantly keep their TE's in to block!! If you have good personel you don't have to get to creative with scheming, you let your horses do their job. You've been watching this garbage line we got to much talking about scheme. The vikings have no choice but to come up with different schemes and still they can't keep the qb upright. Rudolph and Shiancoe were invisible all year because they can't afford to let their TE's run free because now the tackles are exposed.

[collegepaul]

A lone linemen or DB will change nothing!!!!! A quality QB or Receiver can change an entire franchise quickly.

An offensive lineman will change nothing!?!? Did you not watch all the games this year? How many rushing yards and receiving yards were taken back this year because one of our lineman was called for holding....a lot! Peterson had some games with long runs that were called back.

How many drives were messed up because the O-line was called for a false start which caused 2nd or 3rd and long?

Point is better O-line don't commit as many penalties because they're good enough not to and that's a big gain for this team! The first step for the Vikings to improve is to quit beating themselves.

[thatoneguy]

A lone linemen or DB will change nothing!!!!! A quality QB or Receiver can change an entire franchise quickly.

In todays NFL it's all about the QB and receivers without those key pieces you are nothing.

There is no chance they are taking a DB with the 3rd pick so get that out of your heads quickly! Personally I'll throw up if they take a line-men with the 3rd pick.

Only way either of the O-line or DB theory's work out is if we can trade the pick and get something else along with the linemen or DB.

A QB or a WR is worthless if you don't have a line that allows time to throw, or a defense that can stop the other team. The defense went half of the 2011 season without a single INT, and you think WR is a greater position of need?

You're as goofy about the Vikings as you are about the Twins

[zepman]

The best help our defense could get would be to get those road-graders in here and SUSTAIN some drives. Three and outs by the offense kill any defense.

[thatoneguy]

The best help our defense could get would be to get those road-graders in here and SUSTAIN some drives. Three and outs by the offense kill any defense.

Yes, that would be a huge help.

Having a total of zero top-notch players in the secondary also doesn't help. Winfield is past his prime and becoming fragile. Griffin, it is clear, is not the same player he was before the knee injuries. Cook was only marginally effective, is injury prone, and has off-field issues. They have nobody to play safety that they can count on.

These are very bad things in a pass-happy division in a passing-centric league.

[zepman]

Griffin should be moved to Free Safety and Winfield to Strong or nickel...neither are good enough to be starting corners anymore.

That being said, I give it about 50/50 chance that either of them are on the roster next year.

[collegepaul]

To answer the post, I think the Vikes should draft Kalil. If he's not there, take Claiborne.

IMO, Vikes have too many holes to fill for just this draft. We'll need the 2013 draft to fix the rest.

[klecker]

[\quote]

Yeah the Packers and Patriots really run that ball great with the those lines... Not.

Protecting your QB is more about the total scheme and the QB's BRAIN and reaction time!

Not saying we don't need improvement or a stud left tackle in the line thats pretty obvious but passing on a potential game breaking QB or receiver is ludicrous in todays game.

It's a different game you don't even need a defense any longer "see patriots, packers"

[simple1]

If the Vikes stay at their pick, then they should probably draft Kalil. I would really trade their picks a couple of times in the first round for some extra picks. Way too many holes to fill, but a good offensive line does fix A LOT of problems.

[james_walleye]

I completely agree. If neither becomes an option and with such a passing league, I would find it quite appropriate to add the best CB in the draft to the te am. Claiborne is also a weapon in the return game if needed. Drafting Claiborne for one side and possibly adding a Carlos Rodgers or Brent Grimes in FA would immediately change the defense for the better. Not sure the asking price on these corners, or what kind of cap room the vikes will have, but they certainly be in the market to add a CB. This scenario would involve moving winfield to safety and may purely be a pipe dream, and like I said, Kalil would be the nicer option.

[zepman]

To answer this quesrtion: The best available pass rusher or defender. The Giants have proved this point more than once. Defense beats offense much like pitching beats hitting.

Vikes need sooooo much help...let's hope they trade down and pick up help on both sides of this equation.

[LMITOUT]

Defense beats offense much like pitching beats hitting.

How'd that work out for Denver?

Thank goodness for their defense, holding Brady to only 45 points.

LOL.

[PierBridge]

Did you guys enjoy those defensive battles this weekend? All I needed was 1 freaking score in the 2nd half of the Ravens game to have a clean sweep on the OVERS. We are at an all time NFL high for points scored at this point in the playoffs with 270 points scored...

But hey defense wins championships .... if it's the 70's or 80's... LOL.

I will add with the parity in todays NFL there is a chance Baltimore could be the 1st team in 9 years to win a super bowl with-out an Elite QB and Receiving core.

In order dating back.... A Rodgers MVP, Drew Bree's MVP, Big Ben Shoulda been MVP, E Manning MVP, P Manning MVP, Big Ben, T. Brady, T Brady MVP.

But lets take that shutdown corner as if there is such a thing... hardy har har.....good one!

Quote:

"Defense beats offense much like pitching beats hitting.

Thats absurd to say the least~

Go Vikes~

[zepman]

Yeah, I forgot I guess. Pittsburgh has no defense...the Giants have no defense either. And If I remember correctly, the story of the Saints making their run was their attacking style defense and take-away capabilities. Greg Williams blitz packages were one of the biggest stories of that play-off season.

Eli and Big Ben elite quarterbacks...not at the time they won their rings.

Ben won one as a rookie...but he had no defense then either.

Alex Smith has a chance at a ring this year too...add him to the elite status while you're at it. The 49'ers went 13-3 this year but they don't play defense out West, do they?

[Ybone]

Probably no one will agree with me but Leslie's 1st big mistake was trying to make a point by getting rid of his starting left tackle in the 1st few days of training camp with no viable alternative. He's good enough to play all year for one of the teams still in the playoffs. Now backed into a corner they have to consider using the #3 draft choice for a left tackle.

[james_walleye]

Seems to me that in 3 of the 4 games, the team with the better defense won. It also seems that in 3 of the 4 games the team that possessed the most superior WR between the 2 teams lost. Sounds like a great reason to draft a WR at 3 to me. Drafting Blackmon at 3 isn't going to happen. The sooner you realize that Matt Millen the less the rest of us have to listen to that garbage.

I just did a Google search and looked at 10 different publications that ranked their top 10 recievers in the NFL today. The common theme? Most weren't involved in the playoffs and I saw not 1 name in 10 publications rankings that will be playing this weekend. Yet we should take a WR at 3. Lol give me a break!

[LMITOUT]

RGIII

[james_walleye]

I would rather see him than Blackmon.....

[simple1]

Not all the great teams have an elite LT also. Its nice to have, but you can build a quality line with later draft picks if your GM knows anything about football. Defense is still very much an important aspect of football. Teams are scoring more now, but defenses still show up in the post season. The Pack would have only scored 6 points if it wasn't for the two absurd calls that allowed them to go on and score their only 2 touch downs.

The Vikes have a lot of work to do. They do need a receiver that can catch and run routes, and some Dbacks that can play. And an organization should always look to add quality to the front 7 whenever they see an opportunity. I say trade that pick and attempt to get 1 late first and 3 second round picks. They could trade their pick for a first and second and turn around again and trade their new first round pick for first and second. Teams are built in the later rounds.

Good luck to Viking fans,

Simple1

[zepman]

"teams are built in the later rounds"

I agree.

The Viking's arrogance and complete lack of vision in the last 3-4 drafts has landed them in a position where they can't even get a defensive coordinator to take a job here. Two have turned them down already.

The cupboard is bare...really bare. I've said it for the past two years...if Ponder doesn't hit...get ready for a decade like the Lions just went through.

Frazier can't sell his product and Chilly won't get hired by another team...go figure. The Wilf's are stuck paying two coaches already and a GM with a BAD track record.

Free agency will be full of "just misses", unless we over-pay for marginal players...(see Bernard Berrian).

It just amazes me how a fan-base can see the deficiencies in a team...two years in advance...and watch them do nothing about it. O-Line and D- Backs have been a concern for at least that time period.

Free agency arrives before the draft...let's hope they adress at least one, if not both, of these positions before their 1st selection this Spring.

[Fish Head]

Its going to be a long rebuilding process. No offensive line, no defensive backfield, only one linebacker, etc...

On the bright side, it's nice to be picking near the top of the draft. I wouldn't mind getting the tackle from USC, but I would even be happier if they traded down a few picks.

I agree 100% that teams are built in the latter rounds. For the most part, the Vikings have done a terrible job of that. we need our 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th round players to turn into quality starters. The track record hasn't been very good lately.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

I think if the vikes can trade back a spot or two or three and still get Justin Blackmon that would be the way to go... That guy is a freak and he and Harvin would be a lethal combo.... You SHOULD be able to get quality offensive line help in the 2nd or 3rd rounds, but i dont know if our scouting staff knows what they are doing.

The vikes most GLARING need on defense is a good safety, even a DECENT safety would help. Our safeties have to be the worst in the NFL without question. THey should target the best f/a safety in my opinion as drafting that position is a toss-up i.e-tyrel johnson. If they can just manage THAT much, they should be in much better shape next year

[james_walleye]

It's much easier to find good recievers in later rounds. See the WR cores of the packers, saints, and patriots for proof.

[FISHINGURU]

It's all hit or miss, don't matter what position you add if they are a pie stain. There's a stud out there at every position you just gotta be lucky enough.

Teams can turn it around and make runs going from the bottom to the top. The Bengals made the playoffs, they took a WR at #4. Denver made a nice run with the OLB they took at #2. 49ers took a DE at #7, ect. No one thought any of them teams would make it to the playoffs after doing so bad the year before.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Hey James walley- I wonder if the Saints, Packers and Patriots Qb's help make those late round recievers good????? Any reciever with a pulse looks good on those teams...

Give me Blackmon and he'll make the vikes QB (whoever that may be) better imo...