PFT Mock Draft

[Mothman]

And if they targeted Te'o, then it's because they had respect for him. If Bama respected him that much, I can't help but believe Te'o must be good.

Exactly. They knew taking him out of plays was one of the keys to be being successful against Notre Dame.

[losperros]

Exactly. They knew taking him out of plays was one of the keys to be being successful against Notre Dame.

What's weird is that some seem to be turning their noses up at that. Notre Dame lost to Bama but went 12-1 for the season, beating Oklahoma, Stanford, and Michigan among others along the way. I didn't get to see ND play until the BCS game but I remember reading before the game that their D allowed something like only 12 points a game, and that was against some big offenses. Somebody on their D was doing something right.

[Demi]

Exactly! Bama humiliated defenses all season long. In case anyone missed it, Alabama has been the BCS Champion 3 out of the last 4 years! Yes, they're that good.

Who's getting worked up about the Alabama game anyway? I see it used as a straw man in Te'os defense far more often then I read about it the way the Te'o lovers seem to think it's being used.

What's the problem? There's major questions about if he can even be a three down backer, and he doesn't fit the defense....some pretty significant questions/problems...

[allday1991]

Where to start now that Winfield is gone, we have at least three key needs being WR MLB and CB. I don't believe there will be a game changing WR at 23# certainly not allen running a 4.70. We need a 3 down line backer, again not going to be one at our postion in the draft. Now with Winfield being gone we rely on Jefferson and cook in coverage, witch is scary for anyone who remembers the 2010 season where we blew leads like nothing. Some how I hope spielman pulls a miracle and gets s quality starting mlb, wr, and cb out our first 1-4 picks or else I don't see us competing for a wild card spot or the packers. Year after year I fail to see the improve or attempt of improvement to this team but hopefully they prove me wrong again like last year.

[S197]

Te'o is the most decorated player coming out of college football. Ever. Now I get that these college awards (like the Heisman) do not always translate to success in the NFL but I think I'll put a little more weight on those accomplishments than one game against 'Bama.

[losperros]

Who's getting worked up about the Alabama game anyway?

Apparently you are.

I see it used as a straw man in Te'os defense far more often then I read about it the way the Te'o lovers seem to think it's being used.

See what I mean?

What's the problem? There's major questions about if he can even be a three down backer, and he doesn't fit the defense....some pretty significant questions/problems...

You mean like Brian Urlacher?

[Demi]

Apparently you are.

After 3 people brought it up in one page.

See what I mean?

I could care less about the Alabama game. People using it like a witch hunt to defend him though? Guess they're the same thing though.

You mean like Brian Urlacher?

If we're going to keep pursuing old washed up has beens like Jennings and Winfield, yep, might as well! Especially when we don't have anyone else to play the position. And I think 13 years of experience in a system gives someone a bit of a leg up over a player in the draft that doesn't appear to have the physical abilities to fit well in it in the first place. Besides never having played in it.

[saint33]

Who's getting worked up about the Alabama game anyway?

All you have to do is look...

No real problem but I already addressed why a couple of posts above. I also think we have 2-3 backers rated higher.

Teo in the National Championship game is a decent indicator. He, along with the rest of ND, was mowed down by that minor league tam from 'Bama, and coaches are scared of that and drafting him so high.

Minor league team. It's a sarcastic reference to 'Bama's dominance where ND & Teo were lacking. And such evidence and game film of Teo being mowed down is not taken lightly. And those two 'Bama OL examples, Teo has to see every week. That's the point.

You're reaching for secondary factors. How many other first round projected LB's are being tagged with the 'not every down player' line? And why is this so?

The reasons are known to even us, hence my posts. I feel no need to talk about a guy we are NOT going to draft. Besides, do you think Teo fits the mental mold of what Singletary looks for?

This is absolutely not "a witch hunt' that "Te'o defenders" have made up. Stop being ridiculous, it's quite possibly the 2nd most common criticism of Te'o for those who don't want him.

[Demi]

But we have to get Tyrann Mathieu if we dont get anyone else in the draft.

Just reported today he failed more then 10 drug tests and told a team he quit keeping track after that. What a clown.

And another guy that doesn't fit the defense.

All you have to do is look...

At quotes from one poster? When three posters used it in the opposite way? And any number of scouting reports don't even mention it?

[saint33]

Just reported today he failed more then 10 drug tests and told a team he quit keeping track after that. What a clown.

And another guy that doesn't fit the defense.
At quotes from one poster? When three posters used it in the opposite way? And any number of scouting reports don't even mention it?

Why do you not complain more often when someone brings something up and then multiple people correct that person? It is a pretty common happenstance on a message board.

I don't understand the issue you have with the topic. It gets brought up very often from the Te'o detractors, I've seen it discussed on message boards consistently, seen it discussed often on ESPN and NFL Network alike. As I said, it's not a witch hunt for Te'o defenders. It's something that often gets corrected when it gets brought up, I don't think I've ever seen someone who brought it up out of the blue in defense to Te'o

[Mothman]

FWIW, Mel Kiper thinks Te'o and Ogletree could be both be gone before the Vikes pick:

http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings/201 ... er-thinks/

[saint33]

FWIW, Mel Kiper thinks Te'o and Ogletree could be both be gone before the Vikes pick:

http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings/201 ... er-thinks/

good sign if you ask me, means they should both be there for us

[mondry]

oh well, if teams go nuts on LB's something else we need will fall to us. Trading up to 15 would be a huge mistake in my book.

[headless_norseman]

Tell me, what is it about Te'o that you think makes him any less a 3 down linebacker than Kevin Minter? The two are very similar in many ways.

And ftr, most analysts, or at least respectable ones, have all said in a zone coverage defense Te'o is very much a 3 down linebacker.

I think your analysis of Te'o is off. Did he struggle against Alabama? Absolutely. It is however only one game, against the best offensive line in the country who also made many top tier linebackers look pedestrian, and he had a defensive line that was absolutely man handled in front of him. If NFL scouts are going to base their entire scouting reports off one game, I seriously would question how they got their job.

Is it something that shouldn't be accounted for? Absolutely not. It is a factor in the overall picture, but in the end there is a heckuva lot more good tape on Te'o then there is bad tape. The Bama game gets blown up because of the magnitude of the game and the attention Te'o received nationally. But in the end, one bad game against an elite opponent is not going to cost Te'o nearly as much as your making it out to.

It's not just one game, so to speak. He utterly was unable to handle a Bama offense that did anything they wanted to him and his team mates. If you want to rationalize as this not being noticed as a major red flag, that's fine. Don't worry, the Vikings are not going to draft him.

[Purple bruise]

Where to start now that Winfield is gone, we have at least three key needs being WR MLB and CB. I don't believe there will be a game changing WR at 23# certainly not allen running a 4.70. We need a 3 down line backer, again not going to be one at our postion in the draft. Now with Winfield being gone we rely on Jefferson and cook in coverage, witch is scary for anyone who remembers the 2010 season where we blew leads like nothing. Some how I hope spielman pulls a miracle and gets s quality starting mlb, wr, and cb out our first 1-4 picks or else I don't see us competing for a wild card spot or the packers. Year after year I fail to see the improve or attempt of improvement to this team but hopefully they prove me wrong again like last year.

You left out one key component of the Vike's secondary and that is the fastest player on the roster and the one, in my opinion, with the most upside and that is Josh Robinson. He is 14 years younger than Winfield, bigger, stonger and way faster. He is not as good of a tackler (yet) but who is better than Winfield at his position? Did I mention cheaper$$$$ about 5 million dollars cheaper. This kid flashed moments of brillance last year as a 21 year old who left college after his junior year. If the Vikes manage to pick up a very good,YOUNG, CB in the draft, then I think that they will be just fine in that area. The team also is months away from camp with plenty of time to adjust and make trades if necessary.