Ponder wants Simpson to return

[MrPurplenGold]

And how many people here would savage the Vikings for coming anywhere near what Atlanta did for Jones? Heck a proven commodity like Cruz and people are scared because it would cost our late first round pick and a big contract. Regardless of whether or not it's even a possibility.

We're likely not going to be able to get those top flight outside guys sitting at our late 1st round position, or signing second tier free agents. Are we going to get serious, or just continue our "running the ball is good enough for us!" approach?

I think the fundamental problem is the Vikings have a $100,000,000 player and it's not at the QB position. As much as I like AP, and as much as he deserves that contract, you're not going to be able to put together a lot of offensive fire power and keep it together while AP has a contract like that. You have Harvin whose going to be a $40,000,000-$50,000,000 player, AP, depending on how Ponder progresses this next year you'll have to resign him in 13-14, same thing with Kyle Rudolph. This is why I see the Vikings waiting on the draft to pick up a WR because of the restructured contract system for rookies.

Of course one thing we didn't see last year was Wright and Harvin on the field at the same time as well. I think Harvin is talented enough to play on the outside and create some mismatches for Wright on the inside. Two small WR's can work; Philly has done it before and Steve Smith in Carolina. We really need a reliable WR that can create separation and get open. I think Wright, Harvin, Rudolph, draft a WR (I'm ok with a second round guy with great hands and can create separation that might not be as explosive), restructure Jenkins contract and bring back Simpson on another 1 year deal and I'de be ok with that. As far as our first round pick, the more I think about it the more I hope an Alec Ogletree can fall to the Vikings. I think the offense will get better as Ponder gets better reading defenses and making better decisions, but I think the defense needs more play makers in the LB corps and in the secondary.

[The Breeze]

The top 10 in yards/reception are

Vincent Jackson
Cecil Shorts
Danario Alexander
Torrey Smith
T.Y. Hilton
Chris Givens
Nate Washington
Josh Gordon
Calvin Johnson
Steve Smith

half of them are 6'0 or shorter

there are 3 that are 6'0 or shorter in the top 10 in receiving yards
Reggie Wayne
Wes Welker
Roddy White

there are 3 in the top 12 in receptions that are 6'0 or shorter
Reggie Wayne
Roddy White
Victor Cruz

Being tall doesn't help but it doesn't determine whether or not someone is a #1 WR

How many of these guys are playing today?

[Mothman]

How many of these guys are playing today?

At a glance: Torrey Smith, Roddy White and Wes Welker.

[The Breeze]

At a glance: Torrey Smith, Roddy White and Wes Welker.

julio jones too....but he and White are now gone.

If you said to me that you'd flip a coin and heads I get Harvin or tails I get Welker, I'd feel like I won before the coin was tossed.

The Falcons sold the farm to get Jones and just got beat by a team built around defense and ball control and whose most dangerous receiver is a tight end. They also got shut down in the red zone late in the game with the superbowl on the line.

I think the Vikes can do a lot with players who can play their positions with competency due to the fact that they have elite guys like Harvin and AD as well as Rudolph and Walsh.

I'm not convinced WR is any bigger a need than O-line, defense, back-up QB and possibly starting QB. I not ready to make the argument myself, but I could see how it might be viewed that our QB situation is just as bad if not worse than our WR situation.

[mansquatch]

Both Baltimore and SF put high profile skill players on the field. Neither team fields an "elite QB". Both of the elite QB teams got trounced today. What was most interesting was that the elite QB teams got beat by defenses that adjusted. The 2nd half the Raven's played was simply stunning. So coaching en matters...

...as does playmaking. I have to think that had Gronk been healthy the late game would have turned out differently. That to me is the real difference in outside play. The Vikings already have that playmaker in Harvin. Aside from that they need things to get better on the outside. However that happens, it needs to improve. As far as where to invest I'm still not 100% convinced that WR is the #1 need. I think a playmaking LB or CB would be as a big of an asset to this team as a WR. Especially a LB. The defense has to hold to play power football. As much as everyone is talking about Kaepernick it is the SF defense that really got that team the win today.

[Mothman]

Both Baltimore and SF put high profile skill players on the field. Neither team fields an "elite QB". Both of the elite QB teams got trounced today. What was most interesting was that the elite QB teams got beat by defenses that adjusted. The 2nd half the Raven's played was simply stunning. So coaching en matters...

...as does playmaking. I have to think that had Gronk been healthy the late game would have turned out differently. That to me is the real difference in outside play. The Vikings already have that playmaker in Harvin. Aside from that they need things to get better on the outside. However that happens, it needs to improve. As far as where to invest I'm still not 100% convinced that WR is the #1 need. I think a playmaking LB or CB would be as a big of an asset to this team as a WR. Especially a LB. The defense has to hold to play power football. As much as everyone is talking about Kaepernick it is the SF defense that really got that team the win today.

In the end, it really doesn't matter what their #1 need is because there are several areas of the team with needs that can't be ignored and to a reasonable extent, talent should trump need in the draft. In other words, while they have to address needs, they don't need to address them in a particular order.

[Demi]

talent should trump need in the draft.

Hope so. Even if that means passing on a receiver in the first few rounds if there's a more talented player at about a half dozen other positions.