SB Nation - Aundrae Allison

Three Defensive Backs Who Could Be Signed

Brandon — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:19 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

Depth at safety has become a major problem for the Green Bay Packers. S Atari Bigby is out. S Nick Collins and S Aaron Rouse were injured against the Bengals, and Mike McCarthy didn't confirm on Monday that either would be available next Sunday. They should be OK with S Jarrett Bush starting, although the other possible starter is S Derrick Martin, who was acquired in a trade just a couple weeks ago. Since there is literally no depth behind Bush and Martin, the Packers brought in a couple free agent safeties for workouts. From the Press-Gazette:

With both their starting safeties injuried this week, the Packers worked out three defensive backs Tuesday, including five-year NFL veteran Matt Giordano...

The other player the Packers worked out, according to the NFL transactions wire, were Nate Ness, an undrafted rookie from Arizona who was cut by Seattle during training camp; and DeAndre Wright, a sixth-round draft pick of the New York Giants this year who was cut at the end of training camp...

Of that group, it sounds like Giordano might be worth signing. From Stamp ede Blue:

The last few seasons, one of the best special teams players on the Colts was safety Matt Giordano. Giordano was also one of the fastest players on the team PERIOD, and he had a knack for delivering big hits (like the one he placed on a Bears tight end in the Super Bowl).

Nate Ness was in Seattle for about a minute. From NFL Draft Scout: He's an undrafted free agent who was generally unknown until he ran a 4.46 in the 40 at his pro day, and he's been signed and released by three NFL teams in the last six months. I don't like combine stars who didn't do enough make a name for themselves in college.

DeAndre Wright might be a good candidate for the practice squad, but not for the active roster. NFL Draft Scout called him "very raw and unpolished" and Big Blue View described an ugly play he was involved in this preseason:

DeAndre Wright: The rookie sixth-round pick got himself all turned around, then fell on the field in a heap on Erik Ainge 70-yard touchdown pass to Aundrae Allison late in the fourth quarter. Probably appropriate, though, since I think Wright's chance to make the team crashed to the ground as soon as he did.

The big problem with signing someone like Giordano is that someone else would have to be released to make room for him. If disaster strikes and Collins's season is over, they could place him on I.R. Otherwise someone like CB Brandon Underwood would have to be released.

Aundrae Allison Impressing

John B — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:00:25 -0000

A receiver the Jets recently picked up from Brett Favre's new team has caught Rex Ryan's eye.

"Have you seen anything from Aundrae Allison, the guy they recently picked up from Minnesota?"

I'll let Rex Ryan take this one: "The kid (Aundrae Allison) that we picked up from Minnesota, I always call him '88 and out the gate.' He can fly. I'm just waiting for them to throw him a ball over there. I'm like, 'You know he's open? 88 is open again.' So, I'm just waiting for our quarterbacks to realize that. We'll see what he can do. He's been impressive a little bit too."

It's going to be tough for Allison to make the team. The Jets already have a vertical threat, David Clowney, who had a big preseason debut. The real question is what Allison can contribute on special teams. There is a glut of returners on the roster so he'll probably need to stick out on coverage teams to stick.

Vikings' Training Camp Battles: Wide Receiver

Gonzo — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:25:59 -0000

More photos » by Jim Mone - AP

4 months ago: Wide receiver Percy Harvin, a first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings, smiles after arriving for his first workout during NFL football training camp Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, in Mankato, Minn., after it was announced he had signed a contract. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

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When it comes to Minnesota Vikings' Training Camp, all eyes are pretty well focused on the battle at the quarterback position, as well they should be. We've done quite a bit of looking at the QB battle ourselves, and will continue to do so as the next couple of weeks go by. However, there are some other interesting depth chart fights taking place out there as well, and after the Summer of That One Guy, we need to take a closer look at a couple of them.

We're going to do that today, starting with the wide receiver position. Even though the Vikings' receivers aren't elite or anything, it's pretty impressive to see how far they've evolved in terms of talent during the Childress era. The receiver corps for Childress' first season in 2006 consisted of

-Troy Williamson
-Marcus Robinson
-Travis Taylor
-Billy McMullen
-Bethel Johnson

Man. . .compared to that group, our current receiver corps looks like Moss, Carter, and Reed, doesn't it?

In the three years Childress has been in Minnesota, he's only kept five receivers on the roster. If that's the case this year, and there hasn't been any indication given to think that it won't be, then it's going to make for some interesting decisions when the final cuts are made. Cutting Aundrae Allison a few days ago may have helped a little bit, but there's still going to be a log jam.

The way I see it, there are three receivers in camp right now that are absolute, 100% locks to be on the roster on 13 September in Cleveland. I don't think anybody questions whether or not Bernard Berrian, Percy Harvin, or Sidney Rice are going to make the team. Honestly, those will probably be the top 3 guys on the depth chart, provided that Rice can stay healthy for more than five consecutive minutes. The Vikings currently have ten receivers in camp, which means. . .in theory. . .that those remaining seven guys are competing for two roster spots. In reality, however, I think there are only three or four guys that are competing for those spots, while the rest are just camp bodies.

The Kid With All the Buzz

Since the off-season workouts began, the raves have come from all corners about second-year man Jaymar Johnson. Former Viking great Cris Carter worked out with Johnson (among others) at his receiving camp, and had nothing but good things to say about the 6', 185-pound speedster from Jackson State.

"You could tell that he went to a school that didn't have a sophisticated passing attack," Carter said of Johnson, a sixth-round draft pick out of Jackson (Miss.) State last year. "But he has phenomenal quickness and speed. Phenomenal. And his hands are better than you would think, from a guy that fast."
"He could start for the Vikings," said Carter, now an ESPN analyst.

Coach Childress also said that Johnson might be the hardest working guy on the team, based on the progress he's made since being the Vikings' sixth-round selection in 2008 and spending the year on the practice squad.

The scouting report on Johnson tells us that he's got outstanding speed and quickness, as Carter noted, has pretty decent hands, and runs pretty good routes. The big knock on him was his size, but he's added almost 20 pounds since last season, so it doesn't appear that's going to be an issue any more. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings use him in 2008, because I have a feeling we're going to be hearing his name a lot.

The Guy Whose Job Might Not Be As Secure As I Originally Thought

I'll be honest with you. . .I think that a lot of fans have given Bobby Wade a raw deal since the Vikings signed him as a free agent before the 2007 season. The guy has led the team in receptions both years he's been a Viking, and while he's not super spectacular or anything, the guy has been a fairly steady, level-headed presence for this Vikings team. Should Bobby Wade be a starting wide receiver in the National Football League? No, probably not. Is he as bad as a lot of people would have you believe he is? Certainly not.

The problem that Wade is going to run into this season is attempting to figure out where, exactly, he fits into the roster. His ideal spot is as a slot receiver, but Percy Harvin will almost certainly take a big part of that role away, and he has to watch his back for another guy on this list that I'll get to momentarily. He could also possibly fit in as a punt returner, but the Vikings appear to be grooming both Harvin and Jaymar Johnson to take on those responsibilities. He's simply not big enough to line up full-time on the outside, and even if he was, Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice have those spots locked down.

Before the off-season started, I was certain that Wade was going to be a lock to make the team again. Now, with the off-season having gone the way it has. . .I think he's about a 50/50 proposition to be here on Opening Weekend.

The Wild Card

Having come to the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia, Darius Reynaud didn't see a whole lot of action in 2008, but showed some promise in the limited playing time he did get. He averaged 25.1 yards on 8 kickoff returns, including a big 49-yarder against the Bears in Week 13. Reynaud has pretty good speed and quickness, and while not being real tall. . .he's listed at 5'9", and that might be a bit generous. . .he's got some pretty good bulk for a guy that height, weighing in at right around 200 pounds.

Word has been coming out of Mankato that Reynaud has been taking some snaps in the ~~Loki~~ Wildcat formation for the Vikings, which adds a little bit to his versatility. He got to the team last year in Week 12, and he appears to be over the injuries that limited him to three appearances in 2008. If he can stay healthy, he's could very easily find himself on the team as a kick return specialist, at the very least.

The "Return Guy"

Glenn Holt joined the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent out of Kentucky in 2006 He spent last year returning kickoffs and punts for the Bengals and signed with the Vikings during the off-season. He hasn't shown much as a receiver at the NFL level. . .Holt has just 20 catches in three years, and 16 of those 20 came in 2007. . .but he has shown a little bit of spark on special teams, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in 2007. However, since it appears that his place in the NFL is strictly on special teams, I'm not sure if he's going to be able to latch on to the roster, particularly when the Vikings have some younger and more versatile options at their disposal.

(Oh, and I put "return guy" in quotes up there because, quite frankly, I think Glenn Holt has "Maurice Hicks" written all over him. No, that's not a positive.)

The Rest

The other three receivers currently in the Vikings' employ are Vinny Perretta, Bobby Williams, and Nick Moore.

Perretta's claim to fame, at this point, is throwing the TD pass in overtime of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl that set up the "Statue of Liberty" play that current Viking Ian Johnson ran into the end zone for a Boise State victory, allowing Johnson to propose to his cheerleader girlfriend in the end zone after the upset.

(Man, if my old high school English teacher was dead, that sentence would have him spinning in his grave.)

Perretta's father, Ralph, was an NFL lineman for six years with the San Diego Chargers. Unfortunately for Perretta, I have a feeling that that's all the closer he's going to get to being in the NFL this year. He might be worth a practice squad flier, but I just don't see him being able to make the climb onto the big club, barring something strange happening.

Nick Moore, out of Toledo, is the younger brother of New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore. Like Perretta, I just think there are too many obstacles in his way to making the squad this year.

Bobby Williams is a 6'3", 195-pound receiver out of North Alabama. And, with that, you now know every bit as much about Bobby Williams as I do. He doesn't even have a picture on the Vikings' official website. Something tells me that they won't have to do a lot of looking around for one.

Gonzo's Projection

As I've already stated, Berrian, Rice, and Harvin are in. I think that Jaymar Johnson makes the squad as well. . .after all, if Cris Carter tells you that the kid can play, the kid can play.

The fifth (and possibly final) spot? Man. . .I don't know. At this point, I think you'd almost have to flip a coin between Wade and Reynaud. Or maybe Childress will be compelled to keep six wide receivers this year, although I'm not sure which position he'd sacrifice at in order to make that happen. In any case, the battle for those last two receiver spots should be a very interesting one, and definitely something non-QB related to talk about through the course of camp.

Jets Claim Aundrae Allison

John B — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:00:34 -0000

The Jets have picked up receiver Aundrae Allison off waivers from Minnesota.

The New York Jets have claimed WR Aundrae Allison off waivers from Minnesota and waived WR Mario Urrutia. The announcement was made by Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum. Allison (6‘0", 198) was drafted by Minnesota in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2007 NFL draft. In his two seasons with the Vikings, he recorded 18 receptions for 231 yards. In his rookie season, he set a Vikings record with the longest play in team history, a 104-yard kickoff-return touchdown against Detroit on Dec. 2, 2007.

For a scouting report, we turn to SB Nation's Vikings blog, Daily Norseman.

Yes, in a move that comes as a bit of a surprise. . .to me, anyway. . .the Vikings waived WR Aundrae Allison this afternoon after being unable to work out a trade for him. Allison, the Vikings' 5th round selection in 2007 out of East Carolina University, has long had a reputation as an outstanding athlete with great speed. Unfortunately, he also had a reputation for having a lousy work ethic and for having a bit of an attitude problem.

If I had to guess, the latter is the reason that he now finds himself unemployed.

There was obviously a catch. If the Jets were able to pick this guy up for cheap, there had to be some issues. Still, I'm for this one. There's no risk involved. This is a high ceiling acquisition at a position of need. The Jets surely can use a receiver with speed to stretch the field. Maybe this staff can reach him in a way Minnesota's couldn't. Maybe after his first team sent him packing, something will click, and he will start taking the game seriously knowing he might not get a third chance. If not, the Jets can just drop him.

This affects all of the receivers under Jerricho Cotchery on the depth chart. It creates another competitor. If one guy should be a little more concerned than the others, it's David Clowney since Allison also possesses his signature attribute, speed. Jerricho Cotchery is a lock to make the roster as the number one receiver. So is Chansi Stuckey who is proven in the slot if nothing else. Brad Smith and Wallace Wright are too valuable on special teams to cut. If the Jets only want to keep five receivers, it probably will be a battle between Clowney and Allison.

Vikings Cut WR Aundrae Allison

Gonzo — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:46:10 -0000

I had a nice little article about the potential battle for WR roster spots in Training Camp all ready to go, but the Vikings have decided to go and make a change, so now my article is a bit out of date.

Yes, in a move that comes as a bit of a surprise. . .to me, anyway. . .the Vikings waived WR Aundrae Allison this afternoon after being unable to work out a trade for him. Allison, the Vikings' 5th round selection in 2007 out of East Carolina University, has long had a reputation as an outstanding athlete with great speed. Unfortunately, he also had a reputation for having a lousy work ethic and for having a bit of an attitude problem.

If I had to guess, the latter is the reason that he now finds himself unemployed.

Allison does have his name in the Vikings' record books. . .he holds the record for the longest play in team history with his 104-yard kickoff return against the Detroit Lions in 2007. He looked to have a pretty bright future with the Vikings as a return man, having broken a few returns for 40+ yards as a rookie. Then, in 2008, he only fielded 6 kickoffs with a long return of 22 yards as Brad Childress thought that Maurice "Straight Into the Pile" Hicks was a better option at the kick return spot (among others).

Allison had fallen behind both Jaymar Johnson and Darius Reynaud on the depth chart, and with the Vikings only keeping five or six receivers, there was no room for Allison on the team. He's young enough and he's a very good athlete, so I don't think he'll be out of work long. Maybe he'll make more out of his next opportunity than he made out of his chance in Minnesota.

Tuesday Notes: Grady Jackson Finally Practices

Sean Yuille — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:31:57 -0000

More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP

4 months ago: Detroit Lions linebacker Curtis Gatewood takes a drink during their morning workout at NFL football training camp Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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Grady Jackson practiced today after missing the first few days of camp with an illness. He spent most of the offseason recovering from knee surgery, so it's good that he is finally practicing again, though he only participated in individual workouts and line drills.
Other injury updates: Brandon Pettigrew, Casey FitzSimmons, Keith Smith, and Eric King all missed practice on Monday. King was back on the field today, but the other three missed practice for the second day in a row. Pettigrew and Smith seem to be day-to-day, but FitzSimmons reportedly has a high-ankle sprain, which probably means he is week-to-week.
Today was the first day of practice in pads, and the players responded well to that, wanting to get more physical. Jim Schwartz liked what he saw, noting that this was probably the hottest day of practice so far.
In yesterday's two-minute drill, Matthew Stafford and Drew Stanton led their units into field goal range, whereas Daunte Culpepper's unit turned the ball over on downs at the 40-yard line.
It seems like the Lions' receivers are dropping a ton of passes, especially in the 7-on-7 drill. Tom Kowalski pointed this out, saying that outside of Calvin Johnson and Dennis Northcutt, the receivers are struggling to catch the ball on a consistent basis. I guess this explains why the Lions made a trade for Northcutt, as the other receivers certainly aren't cutting it. The loss of Bryant Johnson is also a bigger blow than I originally anticipated. Having him back will be nice for the quarterbacks, especially if this case of butterfingers keeps up.
Adam Jennings did make a nice catch yesterday, snagging a pass from Drew Stanton by diving in the end zone for a TD.

(More after the jump)

Phillip Buchanon likes practicing against Calvin Johnson, as lining up against one of the top receivers in football on a daily basis will only make him better.
Julian Peterson thinks Cliff Avril can be one of the league's top pass-rushers.
Scott Linehan doesn't feel like Matthew Stafford is a rookie when he coaches him.
Louis Delmas has already showed off enough skill that he is expected to be a starter.
Yesterday was Landon Cohen's birthday. He is really starting to make a name for himself, from his impressive bench press performance to making plays in practice.
The Lions are expecting Sammie Hill to become NFL-ready pretty quickly.
Offensive line coach George Yarno already seems like an upgrade over Jim Colletto.
Lions linebackers like the 4-3 defense, especially the ones that played in the Tampa-2 under Rod Marinelli.
Jim Schwartz likes to practice different situations rather than just go out there and practice.
Roar of the Lions recapped his visit to practice.
It looks like Vikings receiver Aundrae Allison will soon be on waivers. He is a great returner, and Kevin Seifert wonders if the Lions will claim him.
The Patriots now are reportedly showing interest in Kevin Carter. If they give him an offer, I think we can officially give up any hope of him signing with the Lions.
Don't forget, tomorrow practice opens up to the public for the first time. If you go to Allen Park and check it out, write a FanPost and share your observations with us.

First Day of Vikings Training Camp in the Books

Gonzo — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:37:39 -0000

I have no idea what you're talking about, so here's a Pro Bowl defensive tackle with a bird on his head. (Picture courtesy of Vikings Now, St. Paul Pioneer Press)

View full size photo »

Yes, after a little less than seven months of waiting, the Minnesota Vikings are back on the football field. Even though it's just Blakeslee Field in Mankato and not the raucous confines of the Metrodome, it's just the sign we've been waiting for. We're less than two weeks away from the first exhibition game of 2009, and right around five weeks away from the kickoff of the 2009 regular season.

One of these days, I'm actually going to make it up to training camp and see what it's like to watch these guys do their thing. Not sure when "one of these days" will be, exactly, but it will eventually happen. For now, though, I. . .like 99% of the rest of you. . .am reduced to following the Twitter feeds of roughly every journalist in the Twin Cities area with even a remote connection to the Vikings. (If you're scoring at home, that would be Judd Zulgad, Chip Scoggins, Sean Jensen, Rick Alonzo, and Phil Mackey.)

What, exactly, did our intrepid reporters tell us about today's happenings in Mankato? Well, hit the jump, and I'll give you some of the highlights.

-The big story in training camp is, obviously, the quarterback situation. Tarvaris Jackson started out the day with the first team, but he and Sage Rosenfels split the first-team snaps equally After Day 1, we apparently don't have a winner in the QB derby, which will probably upset some folks. (Yeah, that was sarcasm. . .mostly.)
-By all accounts, however, Jackson looked much better than Rosenfels did during today's drills.
-Jackson threw the best pass of the day, as he connected with Sidney Rice on a 65(!?)-yard pass where Rice had Marcus Walker draped all over him.
-The second-team cornerbacks were Benny Sapp and Marcus McCauley. Sapp, by all accounts, is out there in the role of nickel back.
-The second team defensive tackles are Fred Evans and Letroy Guion. . .we may have to get used to seeing those two in the middle of the line.
-Jaymar Johnson continues to impress, but Aundrae Allison made a couple of nice plays today, too. These two guys probably realize that they're competing for one roster spot, and it might be the most interesting non-QB position battle of camp.
-Karl Paymah is wearing #41. That was Charles Gordon's number last season.
-Tyrell Johnson says that he feels much more comfortable in the defense this year and hopes to be more of a playmaker. Which is nice when you consider he's pretty much the starting strong safety by default this year.
-Glenn Holt managed to drop a pass when there wasn't a defender within five yards of him.

-From our friend Capital J: "Phil Loadholt is the hugest mofo I have ever seen. He makes McKinnie look miniscule. He lined up as the starting RT all practice from what I could see."

We'll be here following tomorrow's Twittering as well. If any of you good folks are at camp or anything like that tomorrow, please take advantage of DN's (fairly) new mobile commenting features and let us know what's going on from your perspective. So, with that, start enjoying your weekend, folks. . .because, by God, it's FOOTBALL SEASON again!

Pick the Stat Lines: Receivers

Anthony21 — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:49:39 -0000

I've locked in my predictions for the stats I expect the Vikings quarterbacks and running backs to put up this season, so it's time to move on to the receivers. As usual, we're disregarding the possibility of injury and projecting these numbers over the course of a complete 16-game season -- and we're also assuming Favre's the starting quarterback.

I pegged Favre's numbers as: 3,700 passing yards, 26 TDs, 18 INTs, 65% completion. Now, I'll go ahead and try to predict how those stats will be distributed among the main factors in the team's receiving corps:

Berrian: 65 receptions, 1,100 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns

Harvin: 50 receptions, 700 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns

Rice: 35 receptions, 350 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns

Wade: 40 receptions, 400 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns

Shiancoe: 50 receptions, 650 receiving yards, 6 touchdowns

Taylor: 50 receptions, 400 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns

Harvin's obviously the wild card in this bunch -- but with the stats I predicted, he'd be averaging roughly three receptions and 41 receiving yards per game. He'll get more touches on the ground, as he caught 133 passes and carried the ball 194 times during his three seasons with the Gators.

I see Berrian breaking the 1,000-yard mark quite comfortably with Favre at the helm -- it certainly wouldn't be surprising to see him become a top-10 or top-15 receiver, yardage wise. Of all the receivers, he'll be a big winner with the switch to Favre. I'm also predicting Taylor's receiving numbers to stay more or less consistent with last season's, but I see Wade's numbers dipping a bit and I'm reluctant to predict a huge comeback effort for Rice. I'm expecting a modest bump in receiving yards for Shiancoe, who noted that Favre does indeed love throwing the ball to the tight end.

And on a final note, it's entirely possible I lowballed Favre when I predicted his numbers, as I ended up with just 100 yards to spare for Adrian Peterson, Jimmy Kleinsasser, Aundrae Allison, etc. after making my predictions for the six receivers above. I also failed to account for one-yard dump-offs to Tahi.

So these certainly aren't perfect predictions, but they're roughly what I'm expecting to see from the receiving corps this season. Feel free to make your own predictions in the comments.

The Value-Vs.-Need Discussion: 2007 Draft Edition

Andersklasen — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:52:07 -0000

When it comes to the NFL Draft, every team wants to "win." They want to hit a homerun with a player that most teams will overlook and reap the rewards on the field. Easier said than done...

One of the most discussed quandaries the "big chesses" of NFL franchies have is whether to draft for value or for need. To help them out, let's take a look at the 2007 Draft.

More after the jump.

1st Round, 7th Overall - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma

This pick is recognized as the best thing to happen to Vikings fans in a long time. It's one of those times where you remember where you were. (I was listening on the radio in the backyard while working on a To-Do list. My reaction was mostly positive, but I would've liked to grab Quinn before he fell any further. I think I've changed my mind.)

With the seventh pick, the Vikings were sitting at the crossroads between 'elite' picks and 'top-tier' picks. With an epically bad secondary the year before, safety LaRon Landry would have been an ideal pick. Ted Ginn Jr. would fill a need, but was he worth the 7th pick?

As we all know, the Vikings couldn't pass up on a talent like Peterson - even though a talent like Quinn was still on the board. The Vikings clearly drafted Peterson as a value pick, and it's worked out fairly well, wouldn't you say?

2nd Round, 44th Overall - Sidney Rice, WR, South Carolina

This pick is a rarity in the NFL, and what every coach dreams of: a talented player who fills a need and isn't a reach. Rice, according to some draft experts, would have been a top-15 selection had he returned for his senior season in South Carolina.

The Vikings needed speed in their receiving corps, and Rice provided/is providing that. Rice hasn't played a full season yet, nor are his stats mindblowing, but he has shown glimpses of potential and should emerge as a very good receiver in the NFL. After all, he is only 22 years old.

3rd Round, 72nd Overall - Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State

At the time, this pick was viewed as one of the best of the draft. McCauley was held in high regard among draft experts, and the fact that he filled a need on the Minnesota roster only added icing to the cake.

McCauley hasn't exactly panned out as Vikings fans would have liked. In 2008, he started one game and totaled three tackles. Uh.. redo? Names like Trent Edwards or LaRon McLain - both of whom were drafted after McCauley - sound more appealing than McCauley.

Based on what you remember of the 2007 draft, what is the answer to my question? As a general rule, which is more important - drafting for value or drafting for need?

Minnesota Vikings Player Power Rankings: 2008 Final Edition

Gonzo — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:06:32 -0000

Back at the halfway point of the season, I put forth a set of Player Power Rankings for everyone's viewing pleasure. Now that the season is over and we've had a chance to see some of our players grow and mature while some others fell off the map, it's time to take a look at how those have changed since late October. The table comes after the jump. Remember, these are strictly my opinions, and are certainly open for discussion. . .in fact, discussion is encouraged, as I'm sure there will be some disagreements.

Player Power Rankings
Rank	Player	Mid-Season Rank	Change	Comment
1	Jared Allen, DE	4	+3	When you're made the highest-paid defensive player in the National Football League, you'd better be prepared to go out and prove why that was. Jared Allen did that this season, and then some. 14.5 sacks and three forced fumbles during the regular season, followed up by two sacks and a forced fumble in the playoff loss to the Eagles, showed the world what Jared Allen was brought here for. He's clean, he's tough, and he's the best pass-rushing DE in football. Oh, and he turns 27 in April.
2	Adrian Peterson, RB	2	0	I know he's getting the ball, you know he's getting the ball, the guys in the booth know he's getting the ball, everyone in the stands knows he's getting the ball, everyone on the other team knows he's getting the ball. . .and he led the NFL in rushing anyway. Sure, he had a case of the yips toward the end of the season. . .but is there a running back in the National Football League that you'd trade him for right now? Yeah, I didn't think so.
3	Kevin Williams, DT	1	-2	Tailed off a little bit at the end of the season, certainly, but still finished with 8.5 sacks and was his usual tremendous self against the run. Albert Haynesworth is going to end up getting paid more than #93 this off-season. . .but given the choice, I wouldn't trade Kevin Williams for him. In my opinion, Kevin Williams is still the best all-around defensive tackle in the NFL.
4	Pat Williams, DT	7	+3	The game against the Giants at the end of the year showed us what a valuable asset Pat Williams is to the Minnesota defense. As a run-stuffer, he's absolutely without peer, and was a huge part of the reason why the Vikings' defense was #1 against the run for the third consecutive year. One has to wonder how many more years we can get out of the big man, but if Ted Washington played at a fairly high level until he was 85 years old, I think Pat Williams can do the same.
5	Antoine Winfield, CB	5	0	The biggest little man in the NFL has finally been rewarded for his high level of play with his first trip to Honolulu for the Pro Bowl. Everyone knows about his ability against the run, but this year the Vikings' pass defense was 5th in the NFL in DVOA against #1 wide receivers, and the #1 guy on the other team almost always lined up against #26. It's about time he got the recognition that he deserves.
6	Steve Hutchinson, G	5	-1	Having the best guard in the NFL this far down on the list isn't so much about how he played in 2008. . .it's more about the high level that the five guys in front of him performed at. He's blocked for a 1,000 yard rusher every year he's been in the NFL, and as long as Adrian Peterson is in Minnesota, that streak should continue for a few more seasons, at least.
7	Ryan Longwell, K	8	+1	Tremendously consistent, and in fact might be getting better with age. He was 6-for-6 from 50+ yards this season, including the kick that put the Vikings into the post-season. Why? Because that's what Ryan Longwell does.
8	Chad Greenway, LB	17	+9	One of the big risers on the list, Greenway was an absolute monster over the second half of the season, despite the absence of fellow LB E.J. Henderson. He led the Vikings in tackles with 115, managed to throw in 5.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and got markedly better in coverage as the season went on.
9	Visanthe Shiancoe, TE	11	+2	Shank has developed into a serious threat at the TE position, particularly over the second part of this season. He was in the top 10 in receiving yards at the tight end position, and averaged 14.2 yards/reception. The only two TEs in the NFL that had more touchdowns than he did are a couple of guys that you might have heard of. . .Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates. Finally appears to be worth the money that was spent on him in 2006.
10	Bernard Berrian, WR	6	-4	Berrian certainly did what he was asked to do when the Vikings signed him away from the Chicago Bears. Minnesota wanted him to come in and stretch the field, and his 20.1 yards/reception says that he did just that. But he did have a couple of games where he completely disappeared, and is probably more suited to be a #2 guy than a true #1. Hopefully we can find that true #1 here very soon and let Berrian do what he does best.
11	Madieu Williams, S	NR	NA	After he finally got himself healthy, he got on the field and was pretty effective for the most part. With the likely departure of Darren Sharper this off-season, Williams will likely move into more of a free safety/center fielder type of position, with Tyrell Johnson moving into the strong safety spot.
12	Matt Birk, C	9	-3	Another player that has, more than likely, played his last game for the Vikings. While still one of the best at his position, it certainly appears that he's lost a little bit. He'll turn 33 in July. . .he's the last holdover from the 1998 squad. . .and it probably won't be cost-efficient to bring him back at this point. Stranger things have happened, though.
13	Bobby Wade, WR	18	+5	The Vikings caught a lot of flack for signing this guy after the 2006 season, but you know something? This guy can play on my team any time. He led the Vikings in receptions again this season, he makes tough catches, he gets first downs, and he knows what his role in the offense is. I'm quite happy to have him here for another couple of years.
14	Ben Leber, LB	10	-4	Leber was his usual understated self in 2008. He goes out there every week and does his job in a solid, but not spectacular, fashion. He might be someone that the Vikings need to look at replacing in the near future, as he'll turn 31 this season, but he's still a good veteran leader and an asset to the defense at this point.
15	Cedric Griffin, CB	25	+10	Another big riser here, Griffin looked like a completely different player in the second half of the season. It appears that the coaching staff finally realized that Griffin isn't a "lay back and play zone" cornerback. He needs to be allowed to get up in people's faces and be physical. With Antoine Winfield getting up in age, Griffin will probably face more of a burden in the near future. . .oh, and he has a contract year coming this next season, too.
16	Artis Hicks, OL	15	-1	Played well in Bryant McKinnie's stead when he was called upon to do so, and filled in on other spots in the line as well. His versatility makes him a valuable part of the roster, but injuries clearly hampered him down the stretch, causing him to miss some time.
17	Gus Frerotte, QB	12	-5	Gus was brought here to be the backup, and he performed the way a backup quarterback would be expected to. He had some moments of brilliance, coupled with some throws that make you wonder how the heck he's lasted in the league as long as he has. His comments after the Eagles' game were particularly grating, since I really don't think he would have given us any more of a chance than Tarvaris Jackson.
18	Tarvaris Jackson, QB	28	+10	In the last 4 1/2 games of the season, we caught a glimpse of both what's so intriguing about Tarvaris Jackson, and what absolutely drives us crazy about him. Again, he's got all the physical ability in the world, but at this point, I don't think he's going to be able to put it all together as a consistent NFL QB. He gets bumped up the list, though, based on his performance at the end of the regular season when the Vikings were fighting for a division title.
19	Darren Sharper, S	14	-5	The greatest safety in Green Bay Packer history has probably played his last game in purple. As the season progressed, Sharper looked older and slower than he has at any point in his career, and started taking bad angles to the football. He's given us a few great seasons as a member of our secondary, but it doesn't look like he can get it done any more. If Sharper does prove me wrong, he'll more than likely have to do it in another uniform.
20	Chester Taylor, RB	23	+3	He didn't get nearly the number of touches that he got over the past couple of seasons, but Taylor proved why he and Adrian Peterson are still the best 1-2 running back punch in the National Football League. One of the best pass-catching backs in the league and a vital asset on third downs, he's approaching that 30-year old point where running backs tend to start declining, but he hasn't had a lot of carries over his career for the most part. We'll have to keep an eye on him.
21	Bryant McKinnie, OT	16	-5	Paid like an elite LT. Not an elite LT. Not to mention one stupid, drunken incident away from taking a year's vacation from the NFL. There are few players on the Vikings' roster as disappointing as Bryant McKinnie. Need more proof? I listed three other offensive linemen, one of whom is a backup, before I got to him.
22	Brian Robison, DE	29	+7	An interesting study. . .he played well this season, largely when spelling Pat Williams at DT on obvious passing downs. He also played pretty well when called upon against the Eagles as well. If nobody else is brought in this off-season, I firmly believe that he should be starting opposite Jared Allen at DE in 2009, but we'll have to see.
23	Tyrell Johnson, S	13	-10	His drop isn't because he played horribly or anything. . .but with Madieu Williams insertion into the lineup, he simply didn't get to contribute in the same way he did during the early part of the season. I think he's still got some promise as an in-the-box type of safety, and he's likely going to be a starter in 2009.
24	Anthony Herrera, G	19	-5	Still solid against the run, but his pass protection seemed to slip a bit in the later stages of the season. It seemed that whenever the quarterback had pressure on him, it was generally coming from his right. . .although I'm not sure how much of this is a function of Herrera's play as much as the play of someone we'll get to here in a while.
25	Ray Edwards, DE	21	-4	Talked a lot in the pre-season about Michael Strahan's single-season sack record. Came up roughly 17 sacks short of that mark. He's solid at DE, but with the talent that he's playing next to, he should be significantly better. The competition between him and Brian Robison in training camp in 2009 should be interesting.
26	Fred Evans, DT	24	-2	Again, solid, but not spectacular. At least he managed not to get tasered this season, which is always a plus. He is a pretty valuable backup, however, all joking aside.
27	Jim Kleinsasser, TE	27	0	How much fun was it watching ol' Jimmy K rumble downfield with that little slip screen in the Eagles' game? But his purpose here isn't to catch passes, it's to crush people as a blocker, something he still does tremendously well. Hopefully he'll be back next season.
28	Naufahu Tahi, FB	22	-6	I've said it before, and I'll say it again. . .good blocker, but for the love of God, STOP THROWING HIM THE FOOTBALL!
29	Napoleon Harris, LB	NR	NA	Same Napoleon Harris we saw the first time he was in Minnesota. . .solid against the run, can't blitz, can't cover. Good depth, but I really hope we don't have to rely on him to start for any length of time.
30	Charles Gordon, CB	31	+1	Showed some real juice as a punt returner, and was starting to improve as a cornerback as well. . .up until he got his ankle mangled against the Packers. His comeback from that injury is going to be interesting to watch. He really gives us a solid nickel option if he can come back.
31	Cullen Loeffler, LS	35	+4	Hey, let's give the guy some more props. . .again, I ask, when was the last time we saw a bad snap on either a field goal or a punt? It was before Cullen Loeffler came along, that's for sure.
32	Marcus Johnson, OL	30	-2	Played well in the early part of the season, particularly against Indianapolis, when he was asked to play LT (a position he had no experience at). Just didn't get a lot of chances as the season wore on. Still, he's the only member of Minnesota's 2005 draft class that has any chance of being worth anything in the NFL.
33	Benny Sapp, CB	41	+8	He committed some dumb penalties, to be sure, but overall wasn't completely awful or anything like that. He should be back competing for a spot next season.
34	Ryan Cook, OT	20	-14	By far the weakest link on the offensive line. Seems to be good for at least one drive-killing false start penalty a game, and gets beaten far more often than a third-year guy should be getting beaten. He probably won't be starting in 2009, and it wouldn't surprise me if he was off the roster all together.
35	Chris Kluwe, P	26	-9	A very disappointing season for Kluwe, to say the least. After the Eagles' game, DeSean Jackson came right out and basically said, "Man, that guy outkicks his coverage on almost every play." And you know what? He's right. Part of the Vikings' punt-return woes this year came from lack of special teams discipline, but a lot of it came from opposing returners having a lot of space to work with after they catch the ball, too.
36	Husain Abdullah, S	37	+1	Minnesota's leading special teams tackler in 2008. Given the state of the Minnesota special teams, I'll let you decide whether that's good or bad.
37	Vinny Ciurciu, LB	32	-5	This guy, on the other hand, was brought in a few years ago to be almost exclusively a special teamer, and he hasn't been up to snuff. Should be fighting for his job this coming training camp.
38	Marcus McCauley	42	+4	Actually wasn't all that bad when he got on the field. . .but for someone that was a third-round pick and showed a lot of promise a year ago, he should be getting on the field more frequently than he is.
39	Eric Frampton, S	38	-1	Another guy whose main job is to bolster the special teams. Have you noticed that a lot of these "special teams" types are going to be fighting for their jobs next season? Curious, that.
40	Ellis Wyms, DT	48	+8	Hey, at least I noticed he was on the field in the later part of the season. . .that's more than I can say for him over the first half.
41	David Herron, LB	33	-8	Played well in place of E.J. Henderson until Napoleon Harris was brought in. Then we really didn't hear from him much.
42	John Sullivan, C	47	+5	Barring a change via the draft or free agency, this is probably our starting center in 2009. Didn't do much this year.
43	Sidney Rice, WR	36	-7	Like I said on the mid-season list, it absolutely kills me to put Sid the Kid this low, but he had a terrible season. Injured for most of it, and when he did play, he didn't perform terribly well. . .and the route he ran on the play against the Eagles that wound up being a pick-6 was as horribly lazy a route as you're ever going to see. I don't know how much of that was the lingering effects of his knee injury, but he's on the verge of being a bust here.
44	Maurice Hicks, RB	43	-1	I expected nothing, and he delivered. Bravo, Maurice.
45	Otis Grigsby, DE	39	-6	Was actually hoping for big things out of Grigsby this season, but with the way the line rotation set up, he just didn't get a lot of chances.
46	Jeff Dugan, TE	45	-1	Probably should be a little bit higher, but I'm not sure where else I'd slot him at this point.
47	Erin Henderson, LB	44	-3	Has the potential to be more than "E.J's little brother," but didn't get a lot of opportunities to show it this season. He's one to watch for the future, though.
48	Aundrae Allison, WR	34	-14	Another guy that had huge expectations going into the season, and had next to nothing in production. There were questions about his work ethic when he came out of college, and it appears that it might be catching up to him once again. I hope he snaps out of it here soon, or he might find himself without a job.
49	Garrett Mills, TE	40	-9	Again. . .3 catches for 49 yards in the season opener. 2 catches for 16 yards the rest of the way, and spent most of the second half inactive.
50	Letroy Guion, DT	NR	NA	Was expected to be a project, and spent most of the year inactive.
Non-Ranked Players/Incomplete Grades
Rank	Player	Comment
NA	E.J. Henderson, LB	The Minnesota defense was #6 in the NFL in total yardage, #1 against the run, one of the best in terms of DVOA for the season. . .and they played without this guy from Week 5 onwards. I can't wait to see him back next season.
NA	Heath Farwell, LB	Based on the performance of the Vikings' coverage units this year, Heath Farwell may be the greatest special teams player in the history of the universe. Hopefully he'll be back healthy in 2009.
NA	Dontarrious Thomas, LB	He was here. I don't know how many games he was active for, but he was here.
NA	Drew Radovich, OL	Future prospect. Went on IR with a "shoulder injury" early in the year. Should compete for a spot in training camp.
NA	John David Booty, QB	Didn't see the field after the pre-season finale. Thank goodness.
NA	Robert Ferguson, WR	"Veteran leadership" and "downfield blocking" will only get you so far in this league.
NA	Jayme Mitchell, DE	It would have been nice to have him around to work into the line rotation.
NA	Michael Boulware, S	IR'd in pre-season. Hasn't seen the field as a Viking.
NA	Kenderick Allen, DT	IR'd in pre-season. Hasn't seen the field as a Viking.
NA	Thomas Tapeh, FB	Epic fail. What else can be said, really?
NA	Jimmy Kennedy, DT	Interesting signing, I think. . .brought in late in the year as Pat Williams insurance. Was a first-round pick a few years ago, so he's got some talent. I think he might stick. . .because, hey, if anybody can tap into the talent that he has, it would be Karl Dunbar. Keep an eye on him this off-season.