Luft’s Locker Room

Archive for April, 2009

Yes, the Brett Favre story has hit the presses with the 2009 edition and as much as it may or may not be just titillating subject matter for sports writers and bloggers, it is like the coming of spring and discussions about the weather, we just can’t resist. But, more on that later, let’s talk the draft: I haven’t had much time to digest it a whole lot, being busy over here in Kuwait and all (which is probably a good thing), but I do have a first impression.

Percy Harvin – I was sort of surprised by this pick. I thought all the press about the Vikings wanting him was pure subterfuge. Tice was rebuked for expressing the Vikings’ desired pick one year. Then there was the whole “culture of accountability” thing, the stupid act in judgment of Percy to decide to go organic prior to the scheduled test, and the fact that he is an under-sized hybrid that will be asked to fit into the rigidity of the KAO scheme, a round peg into a square hole type of thing. With all of that, I thought all of the talk was pure smoke. …The type that gets you busted on a pee test. I was wrong.

If Childress gets creative (and Percy abstains from trouble), this could be brilliant and make whoever plays quarterback almost irrelevant. If he gets lined up in the slot opposite of B2 and with AD in the backfield, who gets the one on one coverage or drops out of the box to help defend leaving Adrian with almost an unfair advantage. I’m drawing up plays in my head now and starting to get excited. …But can we really expect that from Mr. Predictable who may still be laying awake trying to think of new ways of, “How am I going to get the ball to Tahi?” (Thanks Jim Souhan for that disturbing mental picture).

Talking with a good buddy of mine, Noroof from Vikings Valhalla and author of The Purple Buckeye, about the Harvin selection and here is what he had to say.

If Childress has a plan for Harvin, and it works, my God…imagine AP, No Mercy Percy, and Berrian all available to get the ball. If you focus on AP, Harvin will kill you. You focus on neutralizing Harvin and AP will run all over you. Concentrate your efforts on neutralizing Berrian’s deep threat, and the next thing you know Harvin takes a 5 yard swing pass and goes 80 yards untouched. At Florida Harvin was like Moss in his prime, Devin Hester, and Adrian Peterson are…when he touches the ball, you hold your breath, because you’re thinking something big is gonna happen. When he makes the first guy miss, your pulse picks up, and when he gets to the second level it becomes a foot race. You mutter ‘My God’ and rewind the Tivo to make sure you really just did see what you think you saw. Can Childress use Harvin correctly? He better be able to, or he’ll be out of a job.

Phil Loadholt will be that competition for Ryan Cook that I talked about in my previous blog. I worry that he was written up as having issues with speed edge rushers. But hey, that is no different than we have now on either side of the line. He can also play left tackle if Bryant McKinnie gets his groove on one night and gets a little too feisty. Loadholt has the size and comes from a good program at OU. This was a good pick and should pay dividends for years.

I think picking the corner, Asher Allen, next was a good move. The kid sounds like a young version of Antoine Winfield and from what I’ve heard idolized and emulates him as a player. He will at least have the opportunity to watch and learn from him for a year if not hopefully a couple. I also saw this move as a motivational one for Winfield’s extension talks. The team can say, “we’ve drafted your replacement”. That can also possibly said about Harvin being Chester’s.

Speaking of the runningbacks, I like what I read about the undrafted free agent (UDFA) we signed out of Boise State, Ian Johnson. We needed at least one more body back there like I had pointed out in my needs blog. Did you notice that there wasn’t a fullback picked like I thought? They are cheap and we may have signed an UFDA one already…(the Vikings haven’t), or with the Harvin drafting, Chilly may be moving away from using them so much (or he’s happy with who is on the roster already).

It looks like Rick Spielman read The Purple Buckeye blog and we picked up that linebacker, Jasper Brinkley. He is big enough to play MLB, but what I’m really hoping is that he’ll be the bookend twin of Heath Farwell on the special teams.

I’m starting to get excited about the possibilities of the new season and for some reason, even think Childress might even pull it off. “In 2009, the Vikings will play a remarkably easy schedule. They will play in a mediocre division. They will be in their fourth year under Childress’ guidance, and will have maintained continuity on their coaching staff and throughout their football operation.” – Jim Souhan

Remember, we also now have a new special teams coach [a sore spot from last year] and that alone should mean a couple more wins. The Packers had a decent draft and have started to rebuild and mold their new 3-4 defense. The Lions have started the Stafford era and in a couple of years hopefully will have something to show for it. I like the new redesigned logo and uni’s, and Detroit is due for a fresh start. The Bears had nothing but a second day draft, but they did land Jay Cutler and will be tough to play against and the most likely team to have a shot at challenging the Vikings for the NFC North crown (sorry Cheeseheads, you’re destined for at least 3rd again).

Now to the story that just keeps coming back year after year for the last few years or so, “to retire or not retire,… or even un-retire… again”. Brett Favre’s agent, Bus Cook passed his words in a message Tuesday, “Nothing has changed. At this time, I am retired and have no intention of returning to football.”

“At this time” is the key phrase in the statement that has folks all over the NFC North in a bit of a tizzy. No matter which side of the love-hate side of Brett Favre the future Hall of Famer and player, this begs the question of will he get the itch to come off the tractor and play? He is now a free agent, one that could sign the $1 contract with the Packers and call it officially a career. Then again, he being the same best friend of Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and a good acquaintance with Vikings head coach Brad Childress. These are the men running the offense on the team that Brett openly said that he wished to play for last year and the only one that has question at quarterback. There is a small question of a torn bicep tendon needing extensive rehab or surgery, but who knows what Brett has been doing since the end of last season.

My friend Noroof, an avid Brett to the Vikes advocate last year, doesn’t quite think it would work this year.

Here’s the problem with signing Favre now, as I see it. First off, which QB do you get rid of? TJ is still a Childress guy and will be given every opportunity to win the job. They just traded for and gave an extension to Sage, and for God sakes, they spent two years trying to get him. That leave JD Booty, who might be an insurance policy as your long term QB if Jackson flames out, because Sage is over 30.

If you get Favre, you really upset the apple cart now, because you’ve promised TJ and Sage that they will compete for the job, and the best man will win. If you bring in Favre and make him the guy, you embitter your top two guys that will be here next year (because I doubt Favre will be around more than a year) and as great as Favre is, Childress could really lose a lot of creditability in the locker room.

Is a healthy Brett Favre leading very talented team worth the locker room credibility that Childress has tried to establish in his first 3 years? Does Brett have it in him physically after fading last season due to his arm injury? What about the Vikings other quarterbacks, the newly acquired starting competition Sage Rosenfels, Childress’ own pick Tarvaris Jackson and even John David Booty and UDFA Sean Glennon? Do you think the Vikings would carry 4 quarterbacks on the starting roster, or get rid of Rosenfels who they spent 2 years trying to acquire, or Tarvaris who played his best ball in the final games of last season [not including the Wild Card loss]? Is the gamble worth it?

Worth it or not, it is and will be the talk of the summer again and I’m interested in your opinion.

I’d like to give a shout out to the men and women serving in Kuwait and the rest of the CENTCOM theater, especially the folks I spend time with at Camp Arifjan, K-Crossing and those Camp Buehring. Thanks for keeping America free and enjoying the greatest sport on earth.

The greatest needs for the Vikings fall in two areas.  Strengthen the offensive line and improve the quarterback play.  The draft nears and we ask, will the Vikings address the issues or just white wash over them with spin and hype over draft choices brought in as part of a sustainment effort?  Are they looking years ahead, and only selecting backups to go behind an established “win now” team, or are they looking for a player to make a difference from day one?  We look forward to the discussions here and at Vikings Valhalla as the picks roll in.

On the offensive line, an aging but serviceable former Pro Bowler Matt Birk was let go not because of slightly declining play but because he disagreed with Brad Childress and he did it publicly.  I doubt that Ryan Cook will be moved over center, John Sullivan, the 2008 6th round draft choice from Notre Dame will be given the first shot at the job.  He is built more like a center whereas Ryan is built like a tackle.  I won’t rule out Cook making the move over, but unless the Vikings select someone in round one to compete for and win the right tackle job (and they passed on good players in free agency), I thinks he keeps it.  Even though he had never played the position, he did beat other tackles, some who had even started like Artis Hicks and Marcus Johnson for the job.  There is also Drew Radovich who spent last year on IR, who had prior to his injury earned the number 2 slot behind Cook as a rookie.

Ryan Cook along with Tarvaris Jackson were hand selected by Brad Childress in the 2006 draft.  Coach Childress fancies himself a builder of quarterbacks and offenses.  He will stick by his men unless they are soundly beat in head to head competition.  Tarvaris now has Sage Rosenfels to give the public appearance of a battle for the starting job.  I suspect a tackle draftee will be the same for Ryan Cook, but barring injury or a clearly obvious better play, they both with keep their starting jobs because not to, would mean that Brad Childress isn’t the offensive and talent guru that he wants Zygi Wilf to think he is.

The draft is heavy in tackle talent this year, which is a good thing.  The bad thing is it looks virtually all of it will be selected long before the Vikings and their number 22 pick reach to put a name on a card.

Eben Britton, Andre Smith, may be available especially since the Philadelphia Eagles consummated a trade with the Buffalo Bills for Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters.  But will the Vikings stick with their best player available philosophy and go in a different direction?

Viking shortages come in many flavors.  First is at center with Matt Birk heading eastward and out of Brad Childress’ dog house.  Sullivan is the only person listed as a center on the roster.  Ryan Cook could move over or even Anthony Herrera as center but they both have jobs already on the weaker right side.  I fully expect the Vikings to select in a later round a center-guard type, a guy who can play both positions and backup at both spots if the need arises.  Guard is another position that there presently isn’t a whole lot of depth with just 3 on the roster and 2 of them starting, Herrera and Steve Hutchinson.  If Herrera must move to center, right guard will need filled. If Cook moves over, right tackle will need filled plus the time to gel that all offensive lines seem to require.

There are 5 offensive tackles presently on the roster, with Cook position being the perceived need.  His play is nowhere near what the Vikings and their fans would like, so expect someone to at least give the appearance of competition.  If the Vikings select one in the first round we will see how serious they are about replacing Ryan.  The other implied benefit of getting a starter quality tackle is that if Bryant McKinnie ends up following off the lubed up no incident wagon, he’ll have to serve a full year suspension.  That starting caliber rookie tackle would sure be a bonus then, but fans don’t get your hopes too high, it still takes the young guys a little time to acclimate themselves to the league, the pace of play, the skill and speed of defensive ends and to gel with their linemates.

The defense is sound and will be led by EJ Henderson who is fully recovered from his separated toe injury.  He was on pace last year for his first Pro Bowl quality season when the injury pulled from field.  He along with Chad Greenway and Ben Leber will line up behind the best defensive line in the league.

The line however faces the possibilities of a missing Williams Wall.  Kevin and Pat will find out in June if their suspension for consuming diet pills will be held up, and if they must miss the first four games of the season.  If so, that leaves Jimmy Kennedy and Letroy Guion as the two remaining pure defensive tackles on the roster.   Yes, Brian Robison and some of the other defensive ends could slide in to relieve these big men, but they are only a situational stop gap [pun intended].  Plus, Pat isn’t the jolly youngster we all know and love, but is getting up there in years and unless Kennedy steps up his play more (a hopeful possibility), the Vikings need to grab an heir of parent if one such round bellied stud presents himself.

Sticking with the offense, another couple of spots that are low on the numbers are in the backfield.  There are currently only 3 runningbacks listed and working out at Winter Park.  There is the best one in the league, Adrian Peterson [Who just turned down the Madden cover.  I guess he didn't want to be a part of all of those coincidences.] , and then there is best #2 back in Chester Taylor.  That has to be the best 1-2 punch in the league.  Chester also gives the back office some trade options, should the need arise and Childress willing to go with AD all day or have young Albert Young move into the position.  I see the Vikings taking a running back between rounds 2 and 4.

The other low number is that we have only 1 fullback for the Childress KAO offense.  The coach likes to use the fullback as a battering ram for Peterson, and 1 isn’t enough for the depth chart even though we all know Garret Mills and Jeff Dugan could be moved back there if needed.  FB will be a later round acquisition or at least one of the undrafted free agent signings that come immediately after the draft.

So now we show a need for offensive tackles, guard, center and fullback, and a defensive tackle.  Let’s look at linebacker and defensive back next.

We have 7 linebackers total on the roster and we know the first 4 spots are assured.  Starters Ben Leber [weak side], E.J. Henderson [middle] and Chad Greenway [strong side], along with special teams’ ace and primary backup Heath Farwell.  Of the other 3, Erin Henderson has the best shot as a primary backup.  The Vikings very well may want to increase the quality of the pool of backups and look for someone that can make a mark on special teams.  If the opportunity presents itself, especially in the true best player available analogy, you just might see Rick Spielman and Scott Studwell call on one in an early round.  The linebacking corps is a rough and tumble bunch that have seen more than its fare share of injuries, and especially those effecting Vikings and their playoff aspirations and run, a good backer would be worth his weight in gold.

As for the defensive backs, the Vikings are set on their starts and remarkably have good numbers already on the roster.  They are presently carrying 8 cornerbacks and 5 safeties.  Antoine Winfield like Pat Williams is nearing the end of his career, but unless an obvious groom-able talent presents itself, I don’t see this as much of a need as others might think, especially when you look at it from a pure numbers angle.

The Vikings have 6 picks, and being the numbers game that it is, not just with defensive backs but with receivers on the other side of the ball, the totals and need level go against a high level pick.  Yes, more play makers are always welcome on both sides of the ball, but with Sagevaris Jacksonfels [as a buddy of mine calls him] going to be the quarterback, the best thing for him [them] is going to be a beefy front line to protect him [them] and pave the way for AD to run all day.  So I see the Vikes needing a C, G, OT, DT, and  LB the most with the quarterback position apparently in stone, and then throw in a RB and FB and WR and or CB that can add to special teams and you quickly see the numbers won’t quite match up.   You win football games from the line of scrimmage Chilly, but of course you already knew that, you guru you.

Oh, the frustrations I am having trying to fix this jacked up site…

Between the real money paying job and little time off, I have yet to get the new theme in any respectable shape that a Vikings fan like those reading this would like to see. I apologize for that but will keep working.

In the mean time, I thought this story about Sage Rosenfels history written bey Rick Alonzo might be an enlightening bookmark should the Rosencopter actually take flight as the Vikings new starting quarterback.

Sage Rosenfels raised by hippies? Not exactly

I still believe that we will end up with Brad Childress’ hand picked protege, Tarvaris Jackson as the 2009 starter, but I hope there is a true and equitable competition for the role with the best man winning.