Mock drafts that make sense

The draft as we know is getting closer and I feel like my mind is changing to what the Vikes will do in the first round. I had previously felt like the team will package a 1^st round and a middle round pick to move up. I feel now we will keep both.

I am getting more of a feeling the more I read and the mock drafts that the first choice will be Mane Te’o out of Notre Dame. The Vikings have had good luck with players from this college as currently the team has 5 former Fighting Irish.

I went to NFL.com and found 7 different projections of who the Vikings will take.

Daniel Jeremiah has # 23- Manti Te’o LB out of Notre Dame. Te’o is 6” 1 and 241 pounds. Jeremiah has the pick at 25 as Jesse Williams DT out of Alabama. Williams is 6’4” and weighs 320 pounds. He also at one time bench pressed 600 pounds. He played for Alabama and all this school has done is win 3 out the last 4 National Championships. A kid who has not seen much losing if any would be nice to see him bring a winning mentality to the pros.

Bucky Brooks has # 23 Manti Te’o and at 25 Keenan Allen WR out of Cal. I would love this two in purple. It would fill 2 of the major needs for 2013

Akbar Gbajabiamila has # 23 Tavon Austin WR out of West Virginia and at 25 Jarvis Jones OLB out of Georgia U.  Jones is versatile who can play inside or outside linebacker. He is another player out of what I believe is the best conference in football, the SEC. 

Austin is 5’9 “and 174. I have read he has been referred as the most dynamic player in the draft with a chance to also return kicks. I do not believe he will drop this far but if he does I would love to see this speed burner wearing Vikings colors.

Gil Brandt has # 23 Cordarrelle Patterson WR out of Tennessee. This has been my hope since this whole draft process has begun. This is the big receiver I had hopes of obtaining. He stands at 6’2” and weighs 216. He is being compared to Broncos Demaryius Thomas. Oh boy would this be nice. I really like Thomas in Denver and he has been a very good producer for Denver.

Brandt has at 25- Jonathon Banks a DB out of Mississippi State. Banks is tall at 6’2” and weighs 185. This is a thought with the departure of Antoine Winfield.

Charlie Casserly has at # 23- Kawann Short DT out of Purdue. He is 6’3” and 299. This is once again interesting knowing Kevin Williams is not getting any younger. I still love Kevin’s play but it would be nice to get someone ready to take over when Kevin finally packs in up for a career

Casserly at 25 has Manti Te’o out of Notre Dame.  This makes 3 of the first 5 guys that would take Te’o in the first round.

 

Matt Smith has at # 23 Tavon Austin WR out of West Virginia and at 25 Sylvester Williams DT out of North Carolina. Williams is 6’3” and weighs 313. This is now the second gentleman who thinks Minnesota would take the next heir apparent to Kevin Williams.

Josh Norris has at # 23- Keenan Allen WR out of Cal and at 25 Arthur Brown ILB out of Kansas Sate. If selected in the first round Brown would be only the 5^th former Wildcat to be drafted in the first round. Brown is 6’2” and weighs 231. Brown is 2 inches taller than Te’o but 10 pounds less.

Mock drafts are fun to read as I have said before. These 7 guys have done a god job of addressing the major needs of the Minnesota Vikings. I am in the camp that feels I will hear on April 25^th the name of Manti Te’o being called.

We all have our thoughts, what are yours?

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Source: NFL.com analysts

 

 

 

Webb at receiver? I love it

Joe Webb has been fascinating to me since he has come to the Vikings organization in 2010. Joe was taken at 199 in the 6^th round out of the University of Alabama Birmingham.

Is he quarterback or wide receiver material? He played quarterback at UAB but was drafted by to be a receiver but Coach Childress wanted him as a quarterback back then.

In the 2013 off season the Vikings signed free agent Matt Cassel in what I believed to be the end of the quarterback days for Joe.

The Vikings found a quarterback last off season whose name was McLeod Bethel- Thompson. He made the team but did not play. His arm is unbelievable and seems to be cannon like. The only problem is lack of game experience. The Vikings evidently thought so much of him they kept him and released veteran Sage Rosenfels. I remember the shock when that happened last summer.

On Sunday I was reading and came upon a story that has the Vikings moving Webb from quarterback to wide receiver. I love and embrace this idea whole heartedly.

I would love to see Ponder, Cassel and Bethel-Thompson as the three quarterbacks on the roster. I will have of course to wait and see how Bethel-Thompson does in camp this summer.

The athletic ability cannot be disputed of Joe Webb. There are 2 YouTube Videos on Joe that will blow your mind or it at least did mine.

There is one from winter of 2010 showing Joe jumping 7 blocking dummies in Atlanta. There is also one from March of 2012 where he does a 54 inch standing box jump. You have to see these youtube videos to believe.

Joe was not invited to the 2010 Combine in Indianapolis. He had his pro day at his college of UAB.

The numbers he put out were as follows: 42.5 inch vertical jump along with an 11 foot 5 ½ inch standing long jump, and shuttle time of 3.91. These numbers all beat the times of guys in his position at the combine.

Webb also did 21 reps of 225 pounds which again was better than any receiver at the combine.

Joe is 6’3” and weighed in at 226 on his pro day. He ran two 40 yard dashes coming in at 4.45 and 4.43 which would have put him 5^th fastest at the combine in the receivers group. The size of this man and to run this quick is incredible.

He has so many assets to aid him in becoming the receiver I hope he can. I have met him and shook his hand and I can tell you the man’s hands are huge which will make the ability to catch a lot easier.

The speed, strength and jumping ability should give Vikings fans something to be excited about as well.

I wish Joe so much good luck in this new adventure. He is just too talented to sit on the bench.

One side note: 20 more Sundays until football and 147 days left as well!!!!!!!!

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Sources: UABSports.com

NFL.com

Joe Webb Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Three players to keep an eye out for in 2013

The draft is just 11 days away and with all the mock drafts and talk on who the Vikings are going to take it is time to switch gears. I would like to bring up three players are on the current roster I am looking for big things out of these players this coming season.

The Vikings have all world Jared Allen at one defensive end and at the other Brian Robison. I love the hustle these guys both bring each game but there is one player on the roster that made a big splash with some flashy sacks numbers.

I am referring to Everson Griffen who was taken in the 4^th round out of USC in the 4^th round. In 2012 he made a big statement with his constant quarterback hurries and sacks. In 2010 and 2011 he had 4 sacks total and then in 2012 had 8.

Everson lost his mom last season and played the next week in Washington. He had stated she loved to watch me play that is why I am back.

On January 24^th, 2013 he became a dad for the first time. He has also lost 11 pounds to go from 273 to 262. I believe he showed his quickness already just think how much faster and quicker he will be.

The man has so much to play for and I have reason to believe Vikings fans are going to watch a man on a mission. Good Luck, Everson!!!

On the offensive side of the ball I will be watching guard, Brandon Fusco. I met his parents last season in Mankato at Training Camp and did we ever talk.

It is my first football family I ever got a chance to talk to. Brandon was drafted in the 6th round out of Slippery Rock College in Pennsylvania. Brandon’s dad Steve had told me they had 400 people invited to a bar in hopes that their son would be drafted. The third day was the biggest day of the Fusco’s life in watching their son get drafted. Brandon got the call from Vikings Offensive Line Coach, Jeff Davidson to tell Brandon the Vikings were taking him.

In 2012 Brandon became a starter but at times he shared playing time with Geoff Schwartz. In the offseason Schwartz signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. I am in hopes this gives Brandon the confidence to know he is the full time starter and will make the most of his opportunity.

Brandon drafted sixth round has made it and was part of a line that opened holes for Adrian Peterson. I am looking for bigger things out of Brandon especially with a year under his belt with the experience he got from last season.

The last is tight end John Carslon who the Vikings spent big bucks in last offseason. John got hurt in training camp and again during the season.

The man has size and ability to catch the ball as I witnessed in Mankato last season before the injury.

Kyle Rudolph showed his value last year and my hope this season is to see John be a big contributor. I would love to see options for Ponder to throw to. It would be so nice to have multiple red zone options.

I wish all players in camp good luck but these 3 I believe have a lot to offer the team. Good luck to John, Everson and Brandon along with all players who will wear purple this season.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

 

Antoine Winfield, short in height but not short in heart will be missed

The draft is getting closer and closer and now a new problem faces the Minnesota Vikings after Friday’s turn of events.

My favorite free agent signing of my lifetime was Antoine Winfield. It was a sad day for me as I see he signed a one year deal with the Seattle Seahawks.

My heart is torn because the selfish fan I am wanted Antoine to remain a Vikings. I have to admit when I found out Antoine was released I figured it would be the last I would see him in Purple.

I held up hopes the longer he took to decide. I know the NFL is all about money and guys wanting to get the ultimate prize, the ring.

I have no hard feelings against Winfield rather I wish him well in the future. This man is a first class act.

I remember when Antoine left Buffalo to sign here along with Pat Williams I was excited to see these big names come to Minnesota.

I will admit it will be different no seeing 26 in the defensive backfield. You know that when a catch was made that Winfield would be a sure tackle even if the receiver was 6’5 the man would go down. The way he made it look so easy is something I will never forget about Antoine.

The fact what is going on now days I see are guys trying to bump players down instead of wrapping them up. Antoine was a wrapper and played the game the way it is meant to be. I hope the Vikings defensive backs that are left on the roster took mental notes on how Antoine played the game.

It is unbelievable the connections that Seattle and Minnesota have. The sad part is Minnesota travels to Seattle this season and will battle against their now ex-teammate.

Seattle is close and now with Winfield added this team is going to be even tougher.

My next thought involves the draft. The team is in need of a linebacker, wide receiver and now do they look at making a defensive back a priority?

Chris Cook and Josh Robinson I like but if one of those guys goes down do we have the depth to keep up with the opposing receivers.

The Vikings I believe play against the best receivers in the NFL right here in our own division. Bears have Brandon Marshall, Packers have Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and James Jones and finally the Lions have “Megatron” Calvin Johnson.

Then to complicate the quarterbacks in the NFC North are a headache with Rodgers, Cutler and Stafford all zinging the ball to the above mentioned.

There are so many questions in my mind in regards to which way the Vikings are leaning with the first round and all the picks.

I once again say Good Luck to Antoine in the future and you will be missed both as a person and a player. Thanks for treating the fans so kindly.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

Reasons to be excited about the number two

The time is getting closer to the draft and for today my favorite number is two. As you will see the number 2 is a busy number.

The date today is Thursday April 11^th and in TWO weeks we will finally have the draft. The day in a day out mock drafts can finally be done. I admit they are fun to read but in reality does anybody really know who is going to what team and what number? The draft day trades can really cause havoc. The only one who knows is the team themselves.

The number TWO is the amount of number one picks the Vikings have in the first round.  I am still convinced a trade will move the Vikings up but for now the team has TWO.

The number 2 also shows up in 23 at that is the amount of potential first round draft picks that have been invited to Radio Hall in New York City on the 25^th. We have more 2’s in the date of the draft with the 25^th, 26^th and 27^th.

The preseason dates were released and the Vikings will be playing on Friday August 9^th at home vs the Houston Texans. I mention this because after Thursday there are 120 days left until the first game. Once again a two in involved with the days left.

Antoine Winfield who wears 26 is torn between Seattle and Minnesota. This is tough for me because not only is he a fantastic player, he is a class guy to the public when it comes to meeting him at Training Camp. The smile he wears on his face is so refreshing to see a guy really enjoy what he does. The selfish fan I am would love him to stay but if not I wish him the best. He will go down in my mind as the best free agent the team has signed in many years. I can say this whether he stays or goes.

The Vikings have 11 draft choices. If you add the two ones in eleven you one again have 2. This number 2 is crazy and fun to look at.

Thanks for reading

Purplesti

Preseason schedule announced

The way last season ended winning the last 4 games, and making the playoffs leaves me thirsty for more and that comes soon.

Thursday the NFL announced the preseason schedule. The last year of Mall of America Field has in week 1 the Houston Texans coming. The next 2 are on the road as the Vikings go to Buffalo followed by San Francisco. The 49ers game is the only date known for sure and that will be August 25^th. This game will be nationally televised. The preseason wraps up with the Tennessee Titans coming to Minnesota.

Week 1- (Aug 8-10)

Week 2- (Aug 15-17)

Week 3- Aug 25

Week 4- (Aug 29-30)

The draft April 25-28 followed by minicamp, training camp then preseason where we see what the draft choices do on the field. I make my journey to Mankato in July and by watching practice every day makes preseason games more meaningful for me.  It is interesting to see how these young men are able to translate their practice habits to game action. 

Vikings fans we are getting closer and closer to the season.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

23 until 23

Today’s date is Tuesday April 2^nd meaning 23 days until the NFL draft. The number 23 has 2 meanings one which I just mentioned the amount of days which is 23 until the draft and that is also the number the Vikings are picking with their first pick in the first round.

The first round is intriguing, as I ask what are the Vikings going to do in the first round. Do they package one of the two first round picks along with another pick lower in the draft to move up the board?

What is the area the team choses to go with the first pick? Jasper Brinkley left via free agency. Do they pick a linebacker at this spot whether it is 23 or higher or do they go after a receiver?

Does the Greg Jennings signing make the team want to focus on a new middle linebacker in the first round?

The loss of Percy Harvin leaves another question. If the team does not go after a linebacker do they go after a receiver in the draft that has the skills to be a return man along with being a receiver?

I looked at both wide receiver and linebackers that seem to be in the top 10 in each position. The wide receiver has the names Tavon Austin (5’8” 174 pounds) Cordarrelle Patterson (6’2” 210 pounds), Keenan Allen (6’2” 206 pounds) Terrance Williams (6’2” 208 pounds) and Robert Woods (6’ and 201 pounds)

I would love the choice of Tavon Austin if the team wants to go return man and receiver or Robert Woods if the team just wants to stay using him as a receiver.

The linebacker corps I see Arthur Brown (6 and 241 pounds), Manti Te’o (6”1” and 241), Alec Ogletree (6’2” and 242) and finally Kevin Minter (6’ and 246)  Ogletree played at Georgia and Minter at LSU in college. The SEC puts out top notch NFL players so I would welcome either one of these young men to Minnesota.

The Vikings have 11 draft picks:

1^st round- 23 and 25

2^nd round- 20 (52 overall)

3^rd round- 21 (83 overall)

4^th round- 5 (99 overall) and 23 (117 overall)

5^th round- 22 (148 overall)

6^th round- 21 (179 overall)

7^th round- 7 (213 overall) 23 (229) and 25 (231)

The team is building with youth so my next thought is in regard to the 2012 draft class. Matt Kalil ended up in the Pro Bowl so what will year 2 be like with players knowing how to play against him with lots of film to look at.

Harrison Smith played out of his mind last season. The question is will he have respect from the opposition and throw away from his side?

Blair Walsh had a record year so can he keep it up in being the long time Vikings kicker?

Will Audie Cole be part of the plan for linebacker duty or will he stay special teams? Do you remember last preseason watching this young man return two picks for touchdowns in the same game?

How will Josh Robinson fair in year two as a potential starting cornerback? In the 2012 draft he had the fastest time at the combine in Indianapolis. Is he the man who will return kicks with this speed?

Robert Blanton got some time at special teams last season. Will he stay there and challenge for a nickel position? The result would be more playing time.

Rhett Ellison had a great year with blocking and a few catches. Will the team use him more in routes or keep him more for blocking for AP?

Jarius Wright showed his explosiveness last season. What is the plan for him? I see slot and lots of special teams in is future.

Greg Childs comes in as the biggest question. How does he come back from his serious injury last training camp? If he can make it back he is a big kid who could be a huge plus. I would love to see another red zone target.

There is plenty to be excited about. The team is coming off a playoff year. Can the team have another successful draft in 2013 and make another playoff run?

Thanks for reading

Purplestick