offensive neglect

[Mothman]

Which ONE OL are you talking about? We took three.

Three is the new one, baby.

[mansquatch]

All last season we complained about how teams could just pick on Josh Robinson if they had a quality #2 WR with some height. (Robinson wasn't all bad last year). Adding talent at this position was not a bad move, not only did we add talent and height, we also added Depth since Robinson is not a terrible player.

LB was an obvious need, especially ILB. That has been talked about on here for literally years.

IMO, people need thing back farther than last season on offense. 2 seasons ago our OL was average to good, but our QB situation was a mess. (Our D was a bigger mess) Now our D looks to be ascendant and we have some positive vibes at QB. (not settled yet.)

Frankly, I'm not shocked at the investment in Defense at all. WR we have 2 legitimate starters, a strong backup in Jarius Wright and question mark with a massive ceiling in CP84. This group didn't need more talent. RB was a question mark, but the Vikes have always held all the cards in that situation. Rudolph is signed to a big contract. So the only position on O that really needed direct high pick attention was Guard. IMO, the Vikings might have taken Scherf (or whatever his name is) but WSH took him early. Considering our starts at MLB over the past 5 years have been 2 guys named Henderson and Jasper Brinkley it was long over due that we invest a pick there.

I'm quite happy with the draft.

[chicagopurple]

i missed the third one. Our first choice seems like a very likely lock to start.

[VikingPaul73]

i missed the third one. Our first choice seems like a very likely lock to start.

But at what position? I was hoping he could play OG but from what I've read he really seems best suited at RT. of course that's not set in stone and I have no idea what the Vikes' plans are here, but the consensus seems to be a RT

I think this is a great value depth pick who will eventually replace loadholt, but not a Day 1 starter. Still a great value in the 4th.

Just my opinion....

[mansquatch]

I doubt any of the late day guys will see starting time this year or next. Year 3 is the magic number of those picks. If even of the three is starting or seeing quality back up time that is a win for a pick at that level, at least IMO.

David Yankey is likely the LG starter a this point.

[Mothman]

But at what position? I was hoping he could play OG but from what I've read he really seems best suited at RT. of course that's not set in stone and I have no idea what the Vikes' plans are here, but the consensus seems to be a RT

Yes, and I read this at the Star Tribune site today:

http://blog.startribune.com/sports/acce ... -nfl-draft

On how they’ll use Clemmings, who does not project to play guard:
“He has the athletic skill set to play either side [at tackle].”

I think this is a great value depth pick who will eventually replace loadholt, but not a Day 1 starter. Still a great value in the 4th.

It definitely sounds like they see him as depth/competition for Kalil or Loadholt, not as a guard, so I doubt he seizes a starting job immediately. Spielman said they would probably start 7th round pick Austin Shepherd out playing guard and that 6th round pick Tyrus Thomson can play either outside at tackle or inside at guard.

Unless they sign a free agent guard, I'm guessing Berger, Yankey, Shepherd and Thompson will duke it out to see who starts next to Kalil.

[720pete]

I like the CB pick in round 1 but would have preferred an O-lineman in the second round over a linebacker.

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[Pondering Her Percy]

I like the CB pick in round 1 but would have preferred an O-lineman in the second round over a linebacker.

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Not over Eric Kendricks. He is the best LB in the draft

[Mothman]

Not over Eric Kendricks. He is the best LB in the draft

That's debatable but he's a good one.

I'm with Pete, I probably would have chosen an o-lineman (specifically, A. J. Cann) in R2 but that's not to say I dislike the Kendricks pick. I just believe in building a strong o-line and protecting the QB. They made the investment in Bridgewater and they're clearly viewing him as their present and future at QB. They need to make sure he's well protected and since they're also counting on Peterson coming back and making a big contribution, being strong up front makes even more sense . To me, a plug-and-play guard like Cann could would have been as valid a choice as Kendricks, who, let's face it, while a very productive player with a great motor, is undersized for his position (assuming the Vikes play him in the middle and not on the weak side).

[mansquatch]

Jim, one thought I had on the decision is that by picking defensive players it "might" indicate confidence the Vikings have in their upcoming developmental prospects on the OL. They have had success with Fusco and Sullivan, perhaps they believe that this season one of the late rounds guys is ready to turn the corner?

Another way to think about it is that Charlie Johnson was old and really at his best an "average role player" type of guy. So if a guy like Yankey replaces him, is there even going to be a drop off on account of Yankey being younger and fresher? It isn't like we are trying to replace Randall McDaniel, thus I'm not convinced that the drop off is going to be that big of a deal aside from the new guy needing time to "gel" with the rest of the unit and gaining game day experience. Talent wise, my guess is it will be an upgrade but maybe not as dramatic as it would have been with a high round talent.

I agree with the premise that the interior OL could use some talent infusion. However, this is one place where the Vikings have had some success in finding late round talent. Perhaps they think they've done so again? We should all certainly hope this is the case since it saves both cap space and allows future picks to be used in other areas.

[Mothman]

Jim, one thought I had on the decision is that by picking defensive players it "might" indicate confidence the Vikings have in their upcoming developmental prospects on the OL. They have had success with Fusco and Sullivan, perhaps they believe that this season one of the late rounds guys is ready to turn the corner?

Good point. I probably shows confidence in Yankey or at least in Berger, who has been a good backup for them over the years. I get the impression they're comfortable with him starting if it proves necessary.

Another way to think about it is that Charlie Johnson was old and really at his best an "average role player" type of guy. So if a guy like Yankey replaces him, is there even going to be a drop off on account of Yankey being younger and fresher?

There might be but since Johnson was inadequate in the first place, I don't think it's just a question of being concerned about a dropoff. That's a position where they need to get better, wouldn't you agree?

I agree with the premise that the interior OL could use some talent infusion. However, this is one place where the Vikings have had some success in finding late round talent. Perhaps they think they've done so again? We should all certainly hope this is the case since it saves both cap space and allows future picks to be used in other areas.

...and since they have an under-sized QB who they're counting on to do big things. I thought poor OL play and taking way too many big hits in his rookie season had a lasting negative effect on Ponder. I've seen it negatively impact Cutler's development in Chicago and poor line play helped ruin David Carr's career in Houston. The Vikes line isn't "expansion team Texans" bad but it needs to get better, not just stand pat. I don't know if the mid-to-late round picks they chose are going to help that happen this year, although they might down the road. I have little confidence that Yankey will help the line improve this year but I could be wrong about that.

I think this was a draft where Spielman would have been wise to break from his general philosophy of drafting o-linemen in the mid-to-late rounds and developing them. It's pretty obvious the team is counting on Peterson's return to give them a boost and they're counting on Bridgewater's development as well so to me, it doesn't make sense to take a casual attitude toward the o-line, which is the engine that makes an offense run. In my view, an offense that can't block effectively is hard-pressed to do anything consistently.

[fiestavike]

Good point. I probably shows confidence in Yankey or at least in Berger, who has been a good backup for them over the years. I get the impression they're comfortable with him starting if it proves necessary.
There might be but since Johnson was inadequate in the first place, I don't think it's just a question of being concerned about a dropoff. That's a position where they need to get better.

It may not be week 1, but my money is on Tyrus Thompson to be the starting LG by the end of the season.

[Mothman]

It may not be week 1, but my money is on Tyrus Thompson to be the starting LG by the end of the season.

You just like him because he has an alliterative name. I hope his middle initial is T!

Actually, I'm curious: why do you think he'll be the starting LG by the end of the season? I didn't find his draft profiles terribly encouraging but I haven't seen him play so I don't really have much of a "read" on his game.

[Cliff]

You just like him because he has an alliterative name. I hope his middle initial is T!

Triple T! Like Terrible Terry Tate; Office Linebacker

"I don't got time for pain, the only pain I got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"

[Mothman]

I forgot all about that, Cliff. I just laughed my head off for about 3 minutes watching that video. You quoted the best line too. In fact, I'm going to make that my signature for a while.