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OVERVIEW
Xavier Rhodes (pronounced "ZAY-vee-er"), a redshirt junior, started all three years he spent on the field while at Florida State, including a three-man rotation in 2011 that featured Mike Harris and Greg Reid. The Seminole is best known for his big, physical, imposing frame on the edge and willingness to press receivers in man coverage, a trait that is difficult to find at the college level. Rhodes was lucky to line up behind behind pass rushers like Brandon Jenkins, Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine during his career, but they were equally as thankful to play with a defensive back that refused to get his opposition a sliver of separation. The imposing corner does have some injuries on record, including one to his hand after only three games in 2009 and a gruesome knee injury at the end of the 2011 that turned out to be a bad sprain.

As a redshirt freshman in 2010, Rhodes started all 14 games at the boundary corner position and registered 58 total tackles, 3.5 of which went for a loss, including two sacks. He added 12 pass breakups, including four interceptions. Rhodes was forced to play in a three-man rotation in 2011, and his numbers show it. He still went on to be credited with 43 total tackles, 1.5 went for a loss. Along with the tackle numbers, Rhodes added four pass breakups including an interception. Finally, in 2012, Rhodes regained his full-time place on the boundary side of the formation, tallying 39 total tackles, two of which went for a loss. To go along with one forced fumble, Rhodes intercepted three passes on seven pass breakups.

STRENGTHS Big frame and size for the position. Press corner that likes to have a hand on his opponent at all times. Consistently does get some kind of contact or jam when pressing, remains balanced without overextending. Contact is the arm mirroring the release side. Stays with quick twitch cuts and release with equally fast movements. Flashes strength to throw receiver to the side when wanting to get in on piles. Improved against the run as the season went along. Can really lay into a hit if it is lined up on the edge. Turns to find the football and adjusts well if in the hip pocket of a receiver downfield.

WEAKNESSES Coming off of a knee injury in 2011. Very inconsistent on runs to the empty side, loses contain, does not react quickly enough. Misses tackles when lunging at ball carriers and when leaving his feet. Hands are by his waist at the snap instead of higher to punch more quickly. Can be disinterested when play goes to different receiver he is not responsible for in man coverage, closing speed lacks urgency. Does not have experience inside as a slot corner in nickel. Performance takes a step back in zone coverage, struggles to pass off and close on receivers entering or leaving his area. Looks sluggish or tight hipped when not asked to mirror movements. Not a blitzer when path is impeded.

BOTTOM LINE Rhodes thrives in physical press coverage, something very few college players can put on their resume. At time his tackling technique is questionable, but Rhodes will make his living locking up boundary receivers with a balanced and strong jam followed up by enough speed to stick in their hip pocket. Just don't ask him to play in zone, because Rhodes shows tight movements when forced to pass receivers to a separate area. His game is somewhat scheme dependent, but expect Rhodes to be selected in the first 50 picks.

http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/V ... 8c8f544b18

Overall, I like the pick but I'll be VERY interested in seeing how he's utilized in our scheme. I really hope we start taking advantage of great press guys like Cook and Rhodes and actually DO more of that.

Pelissero shares the concern: http://www.1500espn.com/videos/bold_mov ... or_vikings

Of course, more man coverage might place even more emphasis on the stud MLB we don't have. Spielman was clearly high on him, though, as he was reportedly one of only a couple of players they wouldn't trade out of if he fell. In a division with Jordy Nelson, Brandon Marshall, Calvin Johnson, James Jones...you can never have enough good corners. With Winfield gone, Rhodes will be asked to step in and contribute immediately. If we don't tweak the scheme and continue to play primarily zone, I worry about this pick a bit. He doesn't have the background and it could mean bad things for his first couple of years as he makes the transition.

I didn't know much about him when we drafted him, but watching him and the analysts talk about his strengths and weaknesses, I couldn't help but feel puzzled. He excels at press and man coverage, but is weak playing off and in zone. Not to mention his tackling is questionable. Um... are we switching our defensive scheme, because we play a LOT of zone and like our corners to be able to tackle.

Maybe someone can explain this pick. I understand the need at corner, but if he doesn't fit our system, wouldn't we have been better off with Ogletree or Te'O?

Edit: heh, ^ you beat me to it.

Poet, I agree on the scheme question. Our defense seems to be set up to really allow a playmaking LB thrive. Rhodes should be a great addition if he is used properly. The question remains, who is going to be that guy at LB?

If Rhodes can live up to his billing our secondary is going to be beastly. Hopefully our pass rush can do them justice.

Another draft video: http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... 3f6419c1ce

mansquatch wrote:If Rhodes can live up to his billing our secondary is going to be beastly. Hopefully our pass rush can do them justice.

I'm not concerned about our pass rush. We have the horses to get to the quarterback. I'm more concerned with MLB, defensive back scheme/playing to strengths and defensive line makeup in 2014.

dead_poet wrote:Overall, I like the pick but I'll be VERY interested in seeing how he's utilized in our scheme. I really hope we start taking advantage of great press guys like Cook and Rhodes and actually DO more of that.

I think they might. I've always said, there;s no point in playing press coverage if you don't have the players to do it. Now they may have them so hopefully, they'll mix it in more often.

Of course, more man coverage might place even more emphasis on the stud MLB we don't have.

It could certainly put more pressure on Smith and Sanford.

Spielman was clearly high on him, though, as he was reportedly one of only a couple of players they wouldn't trade out of if he fell. In a division with Jordy Nelson, Brandon Marshall, Calvin Johnson, James Jones...you can never have enough good corners. With Winfield gone, Rhodes will be asked to step in and contribute immediately. If we don't tweak the scheme and continue to play primarily zone, I worry about this pick a bit. He doesn't have the background and it could mean bad things for his first couple of years as he makes the transition.

It's a legitimate concern. Maybe we're seeing the beginnings of a schematic shift.

dead_poet wrote: I'm not concerned about our pass rush. We have the horses to get to the quarterback. I'm more concerned with MLB, defensive back scheme/playing to strengths and defensive line makeup in 2014.

Paul Allen is interviewing Erin Henderson on the radio right now and he said something interesting about the league. His comment was that teams are finding that they slot guys in at LB with greater ease than at other position. I wonder if this plays into why we didn’t seem them draft LB. Still, I think our defense would greatly benefit from a LB who can be a factor via the blitz. Right now none of our LB are particularly effective in this regard. That was the basis for my comment on the pass rush. Our front 4 are great, but having an X factor at the 2nd level would be very helpful, especially if we are playing man and a guy is freed up to blitz without compromising the scheme. I guess it is a “if you have it, why not” sort of thing.

We might also see them run more out of the nickel and have either Josh Robinson with his speed or Harrison Smith blitz. I bet Smith could really deliver a shot on the blitz if they let him. Frasier has shown that he likes to blitz his secondary in “gotcha” moments.

80 PurplePride 84 wrote:My favorite pick, so happy he fell. I've wanted him since 2011, so happy he fell.

Sounds like some taylor swift lyrics up in here.

Mothman wrote:

I'm very certain that we are. The Vikings haven't hid the fact that they're adding bigger and faster corners, including guys who like playing press and man coverages.

losperros wrote:I'm very certain that we are. The Vikings haven't hid the fact that they're adding bigger and faster corners, including guys who like playing press and man coverages.

No, they haven't and here's what DB coach Joe Woods had to say about the Rhodes pick:

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Note ... 042613?t=2

The Vikings interviewed him at the combine, and Williams attended his campus workout in Tallahassee. When Woods made a highlight tape of the draft's top 10 cornerbacks, breaking down five or six games from each player, it quickly became obvious Rhodes was "a natural fit" for the scheme and he emerged with one of the highest grades.

"You can't really sit there and say we want to play Cover-2 the whole game," Woods said. "You can't sit there and say you want to play man. It has to be a mixture, because any team that you play, if you have a tendency, they're going to try to take advantage of it.

"We try to pride ourselves on playing different coverages, mixing in disguises. But now, we can mix in a little bit more man, a little more pressure. That's just a general feel. We'll talk about that in the offseason and see what happens."

Rhodes is a scary corner. He does play a lot of man but I think he can get better at zone. FSU doesn't play a lot of zone and I realize that in college they play more to your strengths than try to fix your weakness. He may not be the best zone player but he can jam the WR at the line and knock guys off their routes. THAT he can do.

JEC334 wrote:Rhodes is a scary corner. He does play a lot of man but I think he can get better at zone. FSU doesn't play a lot of zone and I realize that in college they play more to your strengths than try to fix your weakness. He may not be the best zone player but he can jam the WR at the line and knock guys off their routes. THAT he can do.

Good observation. Rhodes definitely can knock WRs off their routes. He can also knock WRs and RBs into next week with the way he hits.

Some say Rhodes needs to improve on his tackling. Maybe so. But he's already a hard hitter and a physical corner. I think this kid is going to be a big contributor for the Vikings D.

losperros wrote: Good observation. Rhodes definitely can knock WRs off their routes. He can also knock WRs and RBs into next week with the way he hits.

Some say Rhodes needs to improve on his tackling. Maybe so. But he's already a hard hitter and a physical corner. I think this kid is going to be a big contributor for the Vikings D.

They must have him mixed up with another Xavier Rhodes because this one is a very hard tackler. He tackles almost like Harrison Smith because he likes to lunge his body at the ball carrier. However he can also wrap his hand around the carrier, I didnt see any plays where someone broke a tackle off him.

JEC334 wrote: They must have him mixed up with another Xavier Rhodes because this one is a very hard tackler. He tackles almost like Harrison Smith because he likes to lunge his body at the ball carrier. However he can also wrap his hand around the carrier, I didnt see any plays where someone broke a tackle off him.

While I personally have not seen any tape of it, I think most people think this is a weakness because every scouting report I have read so far lists mis tackles or giving up too many broken tackles as his number one weakness.