LB and DB

[mansquatch]

I said this in a prior post but I think it got lost in the Ponder rant. Another possibility is that they move EH to MLB and draft an outside guy. The outside guys seem to be a bit more NFL caliber than the MLB guys in this draft.

If they do stay with MLB, Manti T'eo, at least right now, looks like a very real possibility. I have to think on this one though that the player eval is going to really play the vital role. LB is really hard to get a handle on as fans since there is so much variablity in what each LB does plus there are really two defensive systems in the NFL a great LB for one is not great necessarily great for another.

As an aside, I think part of the challenge with our Mike play is also the lack of a strong NT. I know replacing KWill is a priority, but they also need to adderss the replacement of PWILL. (which still hasn't happeend.)

[Mothman]

I said this in a prior post but I think it got lost in the Ponder rant. Another possibility is that they move EH to MLB and draft an outside guy. The outside guys seem to be a bit more NFL caliber than the MLB guys in this draft.

I saw that and meant to comment on it. It's a good point.

If they do stay with MLB, Manti T'eo, at least right now, looks like a very real possibility. I have to think on this one though that the player eval is going to really play the vital role. LB is really hard to get a handle on as fans since there is so much variablity in what each LB does plus there are really two defensive systems in the NFL a great LB for one is not great necessarily great for another.

As an aside, I think part of the challenge with our Mike play is also the lack of a strong NT. I know replacing KWill is a priority, but they also need to adderss the replacement of PWILL. (which still hasn't happeend.)

I'm hoping it will happen in the first two rounds of this draft.

[mondry]

I said this in a prior post but I think it got lost in the Ponder rant. Another possibility is that they move EH to MLB and draft an outside guy. The outside guys seem to be a bit more NFL caliber than the MLB guys in this draft.

If they do stay with MLB, Manti T'eo, at least right now, looks like a very real possibility. I have to think on this one though that the player eval is going to really play the vital role. LB is really hard to get a handle on as fans since there is so much variablity in what each LB does plus there are really two defensive systems in the NFL a great LB for one is not great necessarily great for another.

As an aside, I think part of the challenge with our Mike play is also the lack of a strong NT. I know replacing KWill is a priority, but they also need to adderss the replacement of PWILL. (which still hasn't happeend.)

I wonder if Spielman would be okay with T`eo, personally I don't see what the big deal is about someone being "played" like that over the internet, from what I understand the "scammer" seemed to do a pretty good job coming up with a believable "avatar."

Of course, you also have the embarrassing championship game and poor combine performance as well, which may ultimately be the bigger factor anyway. Still he's from ND and Harrison Smith seems to have fit our defense so maybe T`eo would too? I remember people on this very board saying holy crap we should get this guy and now we actually could.

Would be something though to see DT, CB, MLB with the first three picks... would do wonders for our defense!

[losperros]

I said this in a prior post but I think it got lost in the Ponder rant. Another possibility is that they move EH to MLB and draft an outside guy. The outside guys seem to be a bit more NFL caliber than the MLB guys in this draft.

I'm beginning to think that's exactly what will happen. I don't know, maybe I'm looking at it wrong, but the only MLB in the draft that I truly like is Alec Ogletree. He has so many skills but his intangibles are rock bottom. For crying out loud, he was suspended one game in 2010, suspended for four games in 2012, and then busted for a DUI right before the NFL Combine. It's like he's going for a Guinness Book record of bad behavior or something. Plus he was a 3-4 ILB for the Bulldogs.

I like the OLBs in the draft, especially some of the SEC guys. BTW, there is talk that LSU great Barkevious Mingo will move from DE to OLB in the pros. Seriously, the guy should be drafted just for his name. Come on, what team wouldn't want a Barkevious Mingo on their roster?

[Mothman]

I'm beginning to think that's exactly what will happen. I don't know, maybe I'm looking at it wrong, but the only MLB in the draft that I truly like is Alec Ogletree. He has so many skills but his intangibles are rock bottom. For crying out loud, he was suspended one game in 2010, suspended for four games in 2012, and then busted for a DUI right before the NFL Combine. It's like he's going for a Guinness Book record of bad behavior or something.

I like the OLBs in the draft, especially some of the SEC guys. BTW, there is talk that LSU great Barkevious Mingo will move from DE to OLB in the pros. Seriously, the guy should be drafted just for his name. Come on, what team wouldn't want a Barkevious Mingo on their roster?

He definitely has the best name in the draft. If the Vikes could get him and then somehow sign RFA Frank Zombo (who played for GB last year) they could have a Mingo/Zombo combo™ at LB!

[PurpleKoolaid]

I think Teo is less of a headcase then Ogletree. And less of a risk at MLB.

So many talk about Brown, isnt he smaller then Teo?

To me Teo's biggest knock is the championship game, and his line played horrible. A high school line could have played better. Teo is a natural born leader. Much better in coverage then EJ ever was.

[losperros]

He definitely has the best name in the draft. If the Vikes could get him and then somehow sign RFA Frank Zombo (who played for GB last year) they could have a Mingo/Zombo combo™ at LB!

You should be a GM, Jim. You really know how to put a team together.

I think Teo is less of a headcase then Ogletree. And less of a risk at MLB.

So many talk about Brown, isnt he smaller then Teo?

To me Teo's biggest knock is the championship game, and his line played horrible. A high school line could have played better. Teo is a natural born leader. Much better in coverage then EJ ever was.

I'll go along with the less risk scenario but I'm not so sure about Teo. Ogletree seems to cover the entire field better, sideline to sideline, against the run or pass, not to mention he could jog backwards while chugging a bottle of Jack Daniels faster than Teo can run the 40.

Ahem...Ogletree can also outrun anyone to a jail cell too, which really ups the risk ante. What a moron!

[Texas Vike]

Ogletree seems to cover the entire field better, sideline to sideline, against the run or pass, not to mention he could jog backwards while chugging a bottle of Jack Daniels faster than Teo can run the 40.

Ahem...Ogletree can also outrun anyone to a jail cell too, which really ups the risk ante. What a moron!

That cracked me up, hard!

I read Mayock's top 5 MLB prospects and it seems that they all have drugs, alcohol, and/or attitude problems. Not a great year to need one!

I personally think Teo is really hard to form a solid opinion on. He looked absolutely dominant in some games and then disappeared in others.

[Rus]

I think the Te'o circus will vanish as soon as the next media flash in the pan raises its head. It won't be that long from now. Ignore that nonsense because that is precisely what it is. If the guy had a documented problem with alcoholism or drinking and driving and was refusing to get treatment, THAT would be a red flag. Repeated failed drug tests would also be a red flag. Repeatedly stating that they do not want to play in a "cold weather" state would also be a red flag. Having an imaginary girlfriend deal that got blown up by the media to the point where you could no longer control it is just silly. It's not something that's going to effect play on the field, nor is it going to make it impossible to re-sign that player after their rookie contract is up and they start saying "I'm taking my services to a warmer climate unless you pay me a TRUCKLOAD of money".

That said, everyone is talking about these linebackers like they're supposed to be outside linebackers. The problem with that is that the Vikings have both of those positions covered. The problem is that they do not have a serious middle linebacker prospect. Most of these guys that everyone has set for the first round are fast enough to play the position, even in the Vikings offense. In the middle, you need a guy to drop back...but you also want a guy who can tackle, sniff out the play, line guys up, and get themselves in the right position. Speed isn't even close to the only factor there. It's way more important for a weakside linebacker, and the Vikes definitely have that position covered.

[MrPurplenGold]

That said, everyone is talking about these linebackers like they're supposed to be outside linebackers. The problem with that is that the Vikings have both of those positions covered. The problem is that they do not have a serious middle linebacker prospect. Most of these guys that everyone has set for the first round are fast enough to play the position, even in the Vikings offense. In the middle, you need a guy to drop back...but you also want a guy who can tackle, sniff out the play, line guys up, and get themselves in the right position. Speed isn't even close to the only factor there. It's way more important for a weakside linebacker, and the Vikes definitely have that position covered.

Very well said. I would rather have a cerebral LB with instincts over a LB with speed any day. It doesn't matter how fast you are if you know where the ball is going to go, just as much as it doesn't matter how fast you are if you have no idea where the play is going to go.

[PacificNorseWest]

To me Teo's biggest knock is the championship game, and his line played horrible. A high school line could have played better.

Yep. I don't even really care about all that other BS, but after watching that Nat'l Championship game, you realize just how thoroughly exposed Manti was. Bad D-line or not...It's cause for some concern. I don't have access to all the game tape on Manti so I'll leave this to Spielman and the player evaluators, but for now I would say they need to stay away.

[PurpleKoolaid]

We just got rid of Harvin and now you wanna bring Te'o to town? The circus will follow him like Tebow. I've always thought he was overrated but the media train that will stalk puts the icing on the cake on me not wanting him. Don't let the INTs fool you he's not very good in coverage either.

I'd rather take Ogletree. You might be able to solve his problems like they did with Griffen and somewhat with Cook, but you can't control who the media stalks.

Me not wanting him pretty much guarantees we take him though.

Yeah you are right. An effing drug addict, alcholic, that cant even control himself before the friggin combine so he adds a DUI, over someone who believes in his religion enough that he falls for a prank. That makes alot of sense. Wasnt Harvin the one that smoked dope before the combine? Are you trying to make sense? Who gives an F about the media? And if it bothers you, dont you think they are more likely to follow Ogletree after he screws up once again (my guess is before the first real game), then Teo who more then likely wont have much to say but let his play do the talking?

[losperros]

Very well said. I would rather have a cerebral LB with instincts over a LB with speed any day. It doesn't matter how fast you are if you know where the ball is going to go, just as much as it doesn't matter how fast you are if you have no idea where the play is going to go.

I think we can all agree that speed is far from the only factor needed from a MLB. I've looked through the posts to see who is saying the opposite and found none.

However, if a MLB has issues with lack of speed in college ball, then it's only going to get worse when he hits the faster pro league. Read and react quickness is of the utmost importance, but the MLB needs to physically perform the react part. That means he can't just be a between the tackles MLB and has to cover ground beyond that. This is especially true if he's playing in the Vikings defense, which has needed better coverage from its MLB players for a while now.

Personally, I'm not overly impressed with this present group of MLBs in the draft. If the Vikings pick one of them, that's cool, but I'm not convinced he'll have much of an impact during his rookie year, even if he starts. That's why I think Mansquatch might be right in suggesting that the Vikings could entertain moving Erin Henderson to MLB and maybe take one of the OLBs in the draft. Just speculation but that's all we can do right now anyway, so your guess is as good as mine.

[PacificNorseWest]

Ray Lewis never had a bad game ever. Or any other great linebackers, they were 100% all day. But lets see, Mike Singletary had a bad playoff gave vs the giants. LETS JUST IGNORE HALL OF FAME CAREER NUMBERS BECAUSE OF THAT ONE GAME GUYS.

You can't be serious.

[allday1991]

Te'o is the Tebow of defense. Like it or not every thing he does or doesn't do will be under a microscope and it's a distraction for the team. He's overrated as a player anyway.

And it's not like Ogletree is the 1st person to smoke weed or get DUIs in the NFL and he certainly won't be the last. Testing positive at the combine was stupid, but so did Harvin and Vikings fans worshiped him until about 2 months ago. And Harvin's problems with the Vikings had nothing to do with drugs either.

I know a lot of people think Te'o is overrated due to his performance at the combine and championship game however, having lived with a roommate who has watched Te'o throughout his career told me weeks before the combine, don't except a low 40, he is a pure instinct player. Also isn't it a bad thing compairing Ogletree to Harvin? one of your knocks on Te'o is he is under a microscope but, Harvin was the one talking of holding out and being traded over the last 2 seasons. Would it not being negative attention to the franchise having Ogletree get DUI and test positive?