SB Nation User Blog: vikingfuture8816

Something to think about: The Special Teams

vikingfuture8816 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:25:47 -0000

Last year's special teams was quite a mess. The Vikings allowed 7 touchdowns on special teams. Twice, they gave up two touchdowns in a game on special teams. Two at New Orleans and two at Chicago. I remember hearing that allowing 7 touchdowns on special teams was a record of some kind, but I can't find if it is a team record or an NFL record. Its also possible I heard wrong, but would you be that surprised if it was? For a comparison, the Lions were the only other team in the NFC North to allow a touchdown on special teams, a punt return by Santana Moss. If Detroit, having one of the worst seasons for a franchise ever, only allows one special teams TD to the Viking's 7 and the rest of the North allow none, that its an area that need big improvement.

Luckily, there were only two games that were decided by those special teams touchdowns. Eliminate the punt return at Green Bay and the special teams miscues that occurred at Chicago and the Vikings finish 12-4 instead of 10-6. That would have been the difference in getting a bye week in the playoffs since the Vikings would have had the tie breaker over Carolina having beat them earlier. Of course, this is dealing in hypotheticals, but its easy to see how they impacted the season. It could have been worse, too. I am sure everyone remembers how close Reggie Bush came to winning for the Saints on his punt returns. Green Bay went up in their game at the HHH when they returned a punt and Adrian had to create some magic to pull that win out.

The point I am going for here: The Vikings gave up way too many special teams touchdowns and it affected their overall record. In the past 3 years the Vikings have scored 4 special teams TDs and allowed 12. That is a ratio that needs to change. Hopefully, they do a better job in coverage this year and possibly Harvin can make a difference in returns.

So I am putting the over/under on special teams touchdowns allowed by the Vikings at 3. Think the Vikings can lock it down on special teams with a new coach and new rules (no more 3 man wedges) and stop allowing TDs or will they have the same problems?

Poll

Over/Under at 3 which you taking?

Over

12 votes

Push

20 votes

Under

20 votes

52 votes | Poll has closed

A+

vikingfuture8816 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:24:16 -0000

I don't think the Vikings first day of the draft could have gone any better. Harvin fills a need as an offensive play maker to take attention away from Peterson and Berrian. Just get the ball in the guys hands and he'll find the endzone. If it will help, Viking Vision has a highlight video up top. Some times, because the video quality isn't the best, those blue Gator jerseys look purple and Harvin looks great in purple. If you are worried about his attitude, check out the interview with Harvin right after he was drafted.

Loadholt is a guy that the Vikings have been targeting since the Senior Bowl as far as I can tell. I remember reading on DraftCountdown.com during his coverage of the Senior Bowl that the Vikings showed lots of interest in him. Later, the Vikings showed up at his pro day and invited him to Winter Park. It just all seemed like too much attention to be a smokescreen. You can't coach his size and he has excelled at every level he's played at. I think he can step in at RT right away and he potentially backup McKinnie at LT if he gets hurt/suspended moving Radovich/Hicks/Cook tp playing at RT.

Both picks were of great value to the Vikings an improve the team immediately. Moving on to tomorrows portion, I think a CB should be targeted. Victor "Macho" Harris is still out there are could be there at the bottom of the 3rd. But I think there are lots of big pospects that are falling and could be a great value at the bottom of the 3rd, but not nessecarily a need. Here are a few names:

1. Chase Coffman TE, Mizzou - A fan favorite and another guy who has size (6'6'' 247) and athleticism you can't coach. Great hands and a tall target. Plays more like a WR or NFL Comparision Dallas Clark and is an intriguing pospect this late.

2. Michael Johnson DE, Georgia Tech - Based on his measurables, he would be a top ten pick. The problem is that he has a lack of motivation and takes plays off. That is the kind of thing you can coach out of a guy and having Phat Pat, K Will, and JA pushing you doesn't hurt. Could be worth taking a shot on top ten talent in the late 3rd round.

3. DJ Moore CB, Vandy - Proabably the guy they jump on if he is there. He can up to Winter Park with Harvin and Loadholt, so you know they are interested.

4. Rashad Johnson S, Alabama - The Vikings secondary still needs talent and this guy was considered one fo the best S in the draft. Great in coverage, but not afarid to make plays in the run game.

So, drop some knowledge with a poll and comments

Poll

Who would be the best value with the Vikings 3rd round pick?

Chase Coffman, TE

6 votes

Michael Johnson, DE

4 votes

DJ Moore, CB

39 votes

Rashad Johnson, S

1 votes

50 votes | Poll has closed

Conspiracy Trade Theory #1

vikingfuture8816 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:50:56 -0000

Was watching some of the pre-draft coverage, because can you ever really get enough of it, and heard something interesting. Appearently the St. Louis Rams are interested in trading back up into the first round if a LB is still available. So far it seems that Aaron Curry, the 3 USC LBs, and possibly Larunitis are the only LBs to possibly be taken in the 1st. I know MilCardFan has written inthe FanPosts that he believes the Vikings will take a LB, but I think that with the Patriots looking for an LB just after the #22 pick, the Vikings might be able to get a few extra picks to move down to the #34 pick to let the Rams jump up an take an LB. If that is a trade possiblitity, do you like it? Should the Vikings hold pat and take BPA or move down and grab some extra picks?

Why I am not so worried about Sullivan

vikingfuture8816 — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:48:31 -0000

I wish I could find the story on the web, but this information comes from the Insider pages in ESPN the Magazine. You could probably just grab one while in the store and just find to the back of the magazine under the NFL page in the Insider section. At the bottom of the page is a short article about true value and how the top 3 Center FA (Brown, Grove, and Birk) are worth the money they got in FA.

At the very end was a stat I found very interesting. It discussed the percentage of time that each Center went one on one with defenders. Now it doesn't state whether a RB/TE counts as help in a one on one situation, but I think for the sake of argument, we can say one on one means they were on an island without possible help from any other player. Here is how the percentages boiled down:

Grove - 67.5%

Brown - 60.3%

Birk - 39.9%

I was a little shocked at the disparity between Birk and the other two. Birk got assisted on 20% more plays than the next closest guy and almost 30% then the top guy. I would have thought that Birk would have a % much closer to the other two players, but according to this is seems like 60% of the time (it works every time ;) couldn't resist) Birk had one of the two OG's or another player helping him with a block.

If that same scheme is played with Sullivan (where he is one on one 40% of the plays and has help 60%), I am pretty cool with that. Even if it were a 30-70 split or something along those lines, I don't see too bad of a dip in production. Also, if it were some how that, the reason Birk had help on 60% of last years plays, was because he was the one doing the helping, I think Sullivan could do just fine in that role too because if there wasn't much of a need to have Birk going one on one a lot, then there probably won't be a big need to have Sullivan going one on one right away either.

Heyward-Bey to visit

vikingfuture8816 — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:06:11 -0000

http://blogs.startribune.com/vikingsblog/?p=2659

This is the one WR I hoped the Vikings would avoid. Everything about this kid screams Troy Williamson. All speed and combine numbers and none of the production. People try to defend his lack of production by saying he didn't have the QB play and I can understand that, but then why doesn't that extent to other Maryland offensive prospects? For example, Dan Gronkowski is a 6'5'' 255 TE from Maryland who is known for his blocking, but after he put up some decent numbers at the combine (4.7 40, 26 reps, 33'' vert, 10'2'' broad) people knock him for not having big offensive numbers. He had the same QBs as Bey, and if those QBs couldn't get Bey big numbers how are they going to get big numbers for the TE? Maybe I am just missing something, but it seems like everyone wants to give Bey the benefit of the doubt only because he ran a fast 40.

I wouldn't use a 1st rounder on Bey, but I am not the guy behind the wheel. What about the rest of you?

Poll

Would you use the Vikings 1st round pick on Darrius Heyward-Bey?

Yes

12 votes

No

93 votes

105 votes | Poll has closed

Harvin vs Nicks

vikingfuture8816 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:05:09 -0000

A quick look at some fanposts will show you that there are 2 WRs in the late 1st round that people seem to like, Harvin and Nicks. So lets take a look at the two of them.

Percy Harvin Hakeem Nicks

5' 11 1/8'' Height 6' 0 3/4''

192 Weight 212

4.41 40 Time 4.5

9 3/8in Hand Size 10 1/2in

19 Bench Press DNP

IMO, there isn't a big difference between them when you look at these numbers. Not quite 2in difference in height, .1 sec difference in the 40, barley an inch difference in hand size, and 20 lbs difference in weight. All of these seem pretty negligible. Even the highlight reels, there isn't much difference. However, there are a couple of things that stand out to me:

Harvin Highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE-4-bzH9WI

Nicks Highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_aMQ2R7dYQ

- with Harvin's injury history, I thought he would be the type to shy away from hits. Not so. He lowers his sholders and delivers hits at full speed. Most seem so shocked that he hit them, that they forget to tackle him and Harvin just pulls away.

- I will admit that a lot of the Harvin highlights show him taking a hand off or pitch from the QB, but there are quite a bit of him catching the ball and making plays down the field. More consistently than Nicks, Harvin seems to outrun the people on the field.

- Hicks has amazing hands. He looks really good plucking the ball out of the air and getting extra yards after the catch.

- Hicks is tough to bring down too. He tends to get caught from behind (even saw linebackers catching up to and trying to tackle him), but it isn't easy to drop him on the first hit.

- Each guy has a highlight from games against South Carolina, the main difference in the highlights, Harvin takes his to the house in traffic and Hicks gets caught.

I would be happy if either were picked up by the Vikings, but I am going to go with Harvin. Nicks is great, but his tape looks just like Sidney Rice and there is no one on the roster that compares to Harvin. Rice didn't get to play much last year, but he is still young and has shown that he can be a big target and possession WR when healthy. Rice is also 4" taller than Nicks, but again, they seem to have the same abilities and Harvin would add something new.

Poll

Harvin or Nicks?

Harvin

54 votes

Nicks

25 votes

79 votes | Poll has closed

Proposed draft trade

vikingfuture8816 — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:31:19 -0000

Hey Patriots Fans, I had an idea for a draft trade proposal that I wanted your opinions on. As you can probably tell by the name I am a Vikings fan and I think they are in a position where they might trade down in the draft. I don't know how much you covet your 3 2nd round draft picks, but according to this chart the 34th(560pts) and 58th(320pts) picks that NE currently holds would be 100pts(560+320=880) more than the Vikings 22nd pick(780pts) which would be just before NE 1st round pick. The trade proposal goes like this:

NE gets:

1st round, 22nd pick over all

Vikings get:

2nd round 34th and 58th overall

NE would have 2 consecutive 1st round picks and still have the 2nd rounder from San Diego (47th overall). From what I understand, the Patriots would have the cap room for something like this and could get a top notch CB/LB with the first two picks and still get a good OL with the 2nd rounder.

At 22, the Vikings would have to reach for a C and the 1st round graded OT will most likely be gone by then. With the early 2nd rounder they could get a Mack or Unger and still get a good CB and OT with their other 2nd round picks.

Seems advantagous to both sides, but what do you think? Is that a move that your organization would make? Is it something the fans would go along with? Is there any animosity towards the Vikings that I am not aware of where there could never be a trade?

Poll

NE gets consecutive picks in the 1st and the Vikings get NE's first and third 2nd round picks. Fair trade?

Yes

33 votes

No

47 votes

80 votes | Poll has closed

The Vikings RB situation

vikingfuture8816 — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:33:28 -0000

I know this isn't the highest of priorities, but just about every other subject has been talked up on more than one occasion/post. The RB situation sometimes reminds me of how you can put things off like going to the doctor. "Oh its just headaches, I can take it", "Its an old injury that keeps bugging me, no big deal.", "Its just a rash, it will go away.", etc. Then, everything keeps piling up and you can only hope the doctor can find out whats wrong and do something about it before its too late.

Chester Taylor is more valuable to the Vikings then they would ever get in a trade. He is an intagral part of how the offense runs. He is a great 3rd down back, but has the talent to carry the load if AP can't play. But in a trade what would the Vikings really get for him on the market? Very fews teams have a one back system anymore so it is doubtful that you could get anything better than a 3rd round draft pick in exchange and he is worth more to the team then that.

According to this USA TODAY chart, Taylor is a $3,750,360 cap liability (RBs with similar cap #s - Westbrook $3,783,813 and Micheal Turner $3,753,840). I don't know how bonuses affect the cap number so lets try to keep this easy by just sticking with the cap number. Current esitimates of the Vikings cap room are around $17mil (with the $3/yr projection for Sage). Taylors $3.7mil is already a part of the salary, so only the increase in pay of resigning him would count toward the est. $17mil. Since he is already making starting money to play a back up role, I don't think it would take much more to keep him around. If the Vikings gave him a pay increase to $4.5 mil (just a ahead of current highest paid NFC North RB, Ryan Grant) and only increase the cap # by less than $1mil ($749,640) which would leave plenty of money for free agents and resigning Peterson in the near future.

Peterson is currently $2,426,320 cap number and if the Vikings want to sign him before any possible uncapped season they would probably have to give him something close to LT money ($7,817,386. A $5,391,066 difference). I realize all these cap numbers are an over simplification, but the Vikings could potentially resign both backs (Peterson to an LT type deal and a pay increase for Taylor) this off season to new deals to lock them up for years to come without to harsh a cap hit. Using the numbers above it would total $6,140,706 against the cap leaving around $10mil for resigning other vets, FAs, and this years draft class.

Or, they can not deal with either situation and get nothing from Taylor if he leaves in FA next year and Peterson leaves when his contract comes up in an uncapped season and is bought up by another team.

So here is everyones favorite part: What do the Vikings do?

Poll

What should the Vikings do about their RBs?

Resign them this offseason to new deals

66 votes

Trade Taylor, resign Peterson

40 votes

Let Taylor leave, resign Peterson

7 votes

Let them both go. Once we get the franchise QB who needs them?

5 votes

118 votes | Poll has closed

Offseason Moves and Polls v.2

vikingfuture8816 — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:56:01 -0000

Welcome back all! The combine is coming up, so its time for the last pre-combine mock. Should be interesting to see how far opinions swing once the combine is over. I am going to keep this one fairly conservative, but I still think more offensive playmakers should be targeted in the early rounds than not because outside of a more steady QB, the Vikings need another playmaker or two. Added bonus: How all the NFC North teams are looking in the 1st round.

Resign U/RFA - Thanks to Capital J's Corner for the list of all U/RFA.

http://www.capitaljscorner.com/2009/02/examining-vikings-pending-free-agents.html

Heath Farwell - LB

Nap Harris - LB

Jimmy Kennedy - DT

Jim Kleinsasser - TE

Fred Evans- DT (Yes, resign both DTs. They need to protect themselves if the Williams Wall ends up getting suspended. Better to play safe and keep your talent then sorry)

Charles Gordon - CB

Jayme Mitchell - DE

FA Signings - With all the U/RFA to sign back to the team (I'd bet none of them get more than 3 years, majority of them on 1 year contracts) I don't see as many FA signings as last year. For now, I only see one.

Jeff Garcia QB - My favorite QB FA already signed with his old team (Carr) and while I would like the Vikings to get a younger vet, there isn't a lot out there (Chris Simms maybe, but don't really know what you are getting with him). Garcia doesn't seem to have much leverage after getting benched in Tampa, but I bet he would be happy to sign on with a playoff team that would let him compete to start (and he probably would win the starting job all things equal).

Now is the time on Sprockets when we show our Vikings draft picks...

1st - D.J. Moore CB 5'10'' 183 - Anyone know when the last time the Vikings used a first round pick on a CB or S? In 1994, the Vikings picked DB DeWayne Washington with a pick they got from Denver (the other 1st round pick that year was Todd Steussie). Its about time they used the first round to get some talent in the secondary. Moore is one of 3 first round talents at CB and whose skill set is considered perfect for the cover 2 scheme. He is very good playmaker that IMO compares favorably to Winfield. Could also help with the KR/PR duties. If Maclin/Harvin are still here, I will have my fingers crossed for one of them, but I would be just as happy with Moore.

2nd - Phil Loadholt OT 6'8'' 343 - While he doesn't have the upside that the other 2nd round OTs (Britton/Beatty) have, he does have the talent to be pluged into RT and play right away. Huge in the run game, but needs some work on his pass pro. You won't, however, see him get pushed around in pass pro like Cook.

3rd - Ramses Barden WR 6'6'' 227 - My favorite. I am a huge fan of this guy and think he would be a fantastic red zone/possesion WR. i liken him to a D2 version of Calvin Johnson. He isn't running a 4.3 40, but he isn't slow. Uses his body very well to shield the ball from defenders and uses his hands instead of his chest to catch the football. May not crack the starting line up right away, but will be great as a situational player and give him a chance to develop a little more.

4th - Bear Pascoe TE 6'5'' 260 - Big time blocker that would benifit learning from Jimmy. Has a decent recieving game, but isn't as fast as Shanko. Another good red zone/possesion reciever to help move chains and in the run game.

5th - Sammie Lee Hill DT 6'4'' 330 - A developing prospect to replace Phat Pat when he retires. I know they took Guion around this spot last year, but i see Guion as a guy that would play in Kevin's spot and not Pat's.

7th - Quinn Johnson FB 6' 251LBS - A big body for short yardage/goal line situations. Is pretty good with the football in his hands too.

7th (2) - James Holt OLB 6'3'' 226 - Led the Big XII in TFL with 19.5. He finished the year with 105 tackles, 10 sacks and six forced fumbles. Sounds worth a look in the 7th.

Around the NFC North -

#1 - Lions - Andre Smith OT - Everyone and their mother might have them taking Stafford, but Stafford isn't the best overall player in the draft. When you get the 1st overall pick. You take the best overall player. Period. Think Houston wishes it took Bush over Mario Williams? I don't either.

#9 - packers - Brian Orakpo, 3-4 OLB - GB needs some players made for their new defensive scheme. I would think that means taking at least 2 OLB that can rush the QB at some point in the draft. He has the production in school and will put up big numbers at the combine

#18 - Bears - Michael Johnson DE - The Bears need a WR, but the WRs worth a 1st rounder are basically Hester clones and they have enough trouble getting him the ball. I think if the Bears want to get back to where they were a couple of years ago, they need to get their pash rush on track. It was pretty ineffective this past year.

#20 - Lions - Josh Freeman QB - See? They don't need to take a QB #1 overall. Freeman has upside and I think Lineahan will fall for this kids upside. Will remind him of the last QB he had success with. Would also be a good reason to keep 'Pepper on their roster. They can then pick up a DT like Ron Brace out of BC at the top of the first.

Poll

Which position do you want to see the Vikings draft in the 1st round?

QB

2 votes

CB

12 votes

OT

40 votes

WR

7 votes

TE

2 votes

C

5 votes

LB

1 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed

Offseason Moves and Polls v.1

vikingfuture8816 — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:44:54 -0000

With the Senior Bowl coming up this Saturday, I wanted to re-do my previous draft so that it actually has player that can be drafted and see who some of the UFAs that are out there. Still plenty of time for all of this to change, but it is fun to play GM.

*Using the list at http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/fa.php for who is a FA

Quarterback is IMO, the biggest position the Vikings will go after in the next couple of months. Charlie Batch, David Carr, Jeff Garcia, Byron Leftwich, and JP Losman are the best names that shouldn't be resigned. Batch and Leftwich are both on the Steelers and I think they only keep one of them so it is kind of an either or. I wouldn't complain if any of these guys were picked up, but my choice would be Carr. He is a former number one overall pick, so he has some talent and I think he did quite well when he had a Oline and a running game in NY. Didn't have those things in Houston and the year he was in Carolina. He has lots of experience, but is still young and could play for a few more years. Has better shot of starting here then just about anywhere else if he comes in and competes.

I would say RT would be the next position to look for in FA, but after looking at the list, there isn't really a guy there that could sign and start right away. They are either really old or unimpressive. I think that since he is one of Chillis guys, Hicks will get his chance to start and a draft pick will be used to get a little younger. Could also be Drew Radovich who was getting some praise in the preseason before going on IR just before the season started.

The CB free agent class is much like the OL, not much there. Of course I would jump at the chance to sign Nnamdi Asomugha, I just don't see it happening and everyone else worth it is already signed up.

As for the Vikigns own FA, I think Jimmy is bad for sure, but they don't seem too concerned with Birk or Sharper leaving. Sullivan and Cook would be the centers left to compete and make no mistake, it is a step down to both of them, but I think the Oline will survive with one of them in there for Birk. Tyrell Johnson played very well when asked to start and when pushed back to BU status. Again, a step down, but as he plays he should get better and the Vikings will be better off with him then an aging Sharper.

As for the draft, The Vikings need to get some playmakers on offense and some promising depth on D. Here is how I see it going down (from about 3 months out)...

1. Percy Harvin WR/KR/PR 5'11'' 196 - So many mocks have this guy going well after the Vikings pick because, I assume, he has had some injury problems. He looked pretty damn good in the BCS championship game coming off the last injury and I think he would be very dangerous on the Vikings. Has immediate value as a KR/PR and we have seen first hand what a great KR/PR can do in the NFC Norse. He wouldn't really develop into a #1 WR, but he is someone else the defense has to respect because of his speed on reverses, screens, and deep bombs.

2. Alphonso Smith CB 5'9'' 191 - Always seems to be around the ball. 40 PBU and 21 INTs (ACC record) for a career. A little on the short side, but that doesn't seem to stop Winfield, who would be a great mentor to this guy.

3. Rames Barden WR 6'6'' 227 - I know that Harvin plays WR too, but I really love this guy. He has the production at a lower level school, but he has the ability to come into the league and be a Brandon Marshall or Marques Colston kind of player. Just a really great player who will get knocked bcause he doesn't run a 4.2 40 or play at a BCS school.

4. Augustus Parrish OT 6'5'' 305 - A former TE with a lot of athletic ability. Might need some help in the run game, but has the quick feet and low center of gravity to take pas rushers right past the pocket.

5. Bear Pascoe TE 6'5'' 260 - Not the most athletic TE, but is a great blocker and has the hands to make catches in traffic over the middle. Could be a nice big target in the red zone as well

7a. Brett Helms C/OG 6'2'' 283 - Started 13 games at center for LSU, but can play all the interior line postions.

7b. Rodney Furguson RB 6'0'' 237 - a big bruiser that could help out in short yardage, replacing Hicks, and keeping Peterson from getting too close to the 370 carries mark.

Poll time! Where does everyone else think the Vikings should focus their energy during free agency

Poll

What position needs the most attention in Free Agency?

Quarterback

49 votes

Right Tackle

16 votes

Cornerback

4 votes

Center

0 votes

Safety

0 votes

Tight End

0 votes

69 votes | Poll has closed