Luft’s Locker Room

Posts Tagged ‘draft’

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.

The last five days have been a whirlwind of activity. It has led to records set at all of the favorite Vikings blogs and fan sites including here at Vikings Valhalla. First, I would personally like to thank each and every one of you for reading and posting here at what I call my Vikings home. Secondly, I look forward to more, especially as the excitement of the season builds. Thirdly [is that even a word], I would like to welcome all the newcomers to Valhalla and I hope you make it your Vikings home, and if not, your favorite Vikings Pub that you like to visit every day.

Back to Jared Allen…

Last update as we know it is that the Vikings had worked out a contract extension in the range of 6 years, $30 million guaranteed money, and a total just slightly below that of Dwight Freeney. I had also read where there might be a 2 year option on the back side of the contract too. A smart option in my opinion.

The Vikes were offering in trade, this years 1st (#17) and 3rd (#74) when the Chiefs said no. The talks are reportedly still continuing, but the Chiefs want to hear from some of the other interested parties, i.e. Tampa, and then maybe New England and Jacksonville. But the Chiefs would like to have all the offers wrapped up by Wednesday so that they can lock in their draft board, something the Vikings have reportedly done already.

Jared Allen is expected to visit the Buccaneers today. No word as of yet as to how that is going, however per many sources he and his agent were extremely impressed with the Minnesota visit.

“I can’t really go into anything now outside of how impressed [Jared] has been with the organization here,” Allen’s agent, Ken Harris, wrote in an e-mail. “Myself, too.”

So for now it looks like everything is up to the Kansas City Chiefs. They will do what is in there best interest and not that of Jared Allen’s. Carl Peterson for the moment, barring an intervention from the new Chiefs owner, the junior Mr. Hunt, is in full control of his own fate. He is looking for the best offer available to help his team win now [and for him to keep his job, which may be in question]. He has the Vikings offer and now he is waiting for what he hopes turns into a bidding war. The only power Allen has is to not accept a contract extension at Tampa or anywhere else leaving the Vikings the only valid trading partner. The only problem with that is it limits Allen’s ability to leave Kansas City to Peterson making up his mind to accept the Vikings offer. He can refuse and keep Jared to the franchise designation they put him under. Jarred could refuse to sign it and not do so until before game 10, then next year become an unrestricted free agent, but this is a man that loves to play football.

So there you have it, a cool down period for Vikings fans while this whole situation works itself out. Hopefully that will be with Jared Allen ending up wearing Purple and starting on one of the best defensive lines in Vikings history, and there have been some legendary ones before.

Thanks again and enjoy your day. SKOL!