Minnesota Vikings draft thread. (1 Viewer)

[Tough As Nails]

I agree. But seriously, is Greenway as bad as the latest talk has made him out to be?

No. He's going to be a great NFL linebacker.

I respectfully disagree. He'll be good...he won't be great. He just doesn't shed blockers easily enough and is pretty weak for a linebacker. You can get equal value at the LB spot in the 2nd round. There are many positions where that is not true.

He's a great fit for a Tampa 2, though.I'd rather they went another direction and took Jon Alston in the 2nd.

He's a good fit for the defensive scheme and he's a good player. He's just not an impact-type guy. He's a complimentary guy. He'd have been a rock solid 2nd rounder for a team...but he's not difference maker which is what you want in a 1st round guy. Just my opinion after watcihng the guy play live a dozen times or so.

Not knowing who you are or whether you qualify to judge players or not I think I'll go with this quote till I see differently:

Has rare speed for a linebacker and fine instincts, gives total effort at all times and has exceptional coverage ability. Has the hip flip and movement skills of many safeties after previous experience at that position. A downhill player who is able to makes plays all over the field and does a good job of playing off blockers and getting through traffic.

edit to add link:

Scouting Report

No problem. I've stated my thoughts on him 'round these parts a number of times. I'm not ripping the guy here. I'm just not as high on him as others. I'm just a guy who's a Hawkeye season ticket holder. I love Chad Greenway. I think he's going to be a good pro. I hope he becomes a 12-time Pro Bowler. I just don't think he will, that's all. Good, not great. The Vikings needed a LB and he was the best available. Can't argue too much with that logic.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

No problem. I've stated my thoughts on him 'round these parts a number of times. I'm not ripping the guy here. I'm just not as high on him as others. I'm just a guy who's a Hawkeye season ticket holder. I love Chad Greenway. I think he's going to be a good pro. I hope he becomes a 12-time Pro Bowler. I just don't think he will, that's all. Good, not great.

The Vikings needed a LB and he was the best available. Can't argue too much with that logic.

Oooo. You're a good guy to ask then. WHat would you think if they got Hodge in the 2nd?

 

[Tough As Nails]

No problem. I've stated my thoughts on him 'round these parts a number of times. I'm not ripping the guy here. I'm just not as high on him as others. I'm just a guy who's a Hawkeye season ticket holder. I love Chad Greenway. I think he's going to be a good pro. I hope he becomes a 12-time Pro Bowler. I just don't think he will, that's all. Good, not great.

The Vikings needed a LB and he was the best available. Can't argue too much with that logic.

Oooo. You're a good guy to ask then. WHat would you think if they got Hodge in the 2nd?

I think Hodge is better suited for the pro game than Greenway is. It's hard to compare since they play different positions...but Greenway relied a lot on his speed in college. That worked fine in the Big Ten. But he won't be have a speed advantage on anybody at the pro level. He'll have to contend with more blockers head on and won't be as quick chasing down things from the backside. This was the biggest part of his game. He could avoid blockers and disrupt things by running free and using his instincts. Hodge is more of a blue collar, stick your nose in there and hit somebody in the mouth guy. He's more physcial and a much better run stuffer. He doesn't rely on natural abilities (though he is well built) as much as he relies on determination and fearlessness. They complimented each other very, very well and the pairing could work in the pros as well.Hodge in the 2nd is better value than Greenway at 17 in my opinion.

 

[Hinezer]

I just wonder what LB position Greenway will play.  He could compete with Leber at SLB but I wonder if they will try to make him a MLB.

Leber on one side, Greenway on the other. ILB will most likely be drafted, rumor has it as Nap Harris :X .

Actually in Minicamp, it was Dontarrius Thomas at MLB.

 

[Joe_]

As a Hawkeye fan in Minneapolis, I'm excited for Greenway. Hodge in the 2nd would quite possible be the coolest thing ever.

 

[Gopher State]

The Vikings stole Greenway, I would rate him as the second best LB in the draft. Plus growning up in SD and going to Iowa, I don't think your going to have any off field problems with him.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

The Vikings stole Greenway, I would rate him as the second best LB in the draft. Plus growning up in SD and going to Iowa, I don't think your going to have any off field problems with him.

Homer pick. Should have been a second rounder.

 

[Zerp]

The Vikings stole Greenway, I would rate him as the second best LB in the draft. Plus growning up in SD and going to Iowa, I don't think your going to have any off field problems with him.

Homer pick. Should have been a second rounder.

I usually agree with you DD. But c'mon. He went right around here on most draft boards.

 

[RustyFA]

I've seen every game in college that Greenway has played. We got a great pick IMO. While I will agree that he doesn't get through blocks as well as I would like the people who are saying he is slow and weak really don't know what they are talking about. Greenway is the best cover LB I have ever seen. He has great game speed and is all over the field. He had a 4.55 on a slow track at his pro day. He had a bad day at the combine but was great at the senior bowl. He is a leader and isn't going to get in trouble off the field. I think Greenway is going to be a above average starter that could be special. Perhaps he won't be all pro but he is going to be good, not the risks we have taken in the 2nd round lately.

Also he is a WLB and will not play SLB. He could play MLB in some schemes. This is a great coer-2 LB pick!!!!

 

[RustyFA]

Vikes were trying to trade up with Philly to select Greenway. Offering a 4th, Philly wanted a 3rd. Held tight and still got the man.

 

[DoctorDetroit]

The Vikings stole Greenway, I would rate him as the second best LB in the draft.  Plus growning up in SD and going to Iowa, I don't think your going to have any off field problems with him.

Homer pick. Should have been a second rounder.

I usually agree with you DD. But c'mon. He went right around here on most draft boards.

Ok I only did that because the always annoying Gopher State will not stay out of the Seahawks thread. I'm a Michigan fan so I've seen Greenway play. I think he has tremendous skill and awareness for the game. I think he was picked a few picks ahead but the Vikings had to pick him there or he was lost. If I were a Vikes fan I'd be pleased.

 

[FunkyPlutos]

Hodge or Clemens??

 

[datonn]

'Bama QB?!

 

[Donnybrook]

2.16 Cedric Griffin CB, Texas

 

[Woz]

Griffin seems like a solid, standup guy who fits well in the cover 2. While he may not have been the most talented guy out there, he seems to be the type of player Childress wants. I'm happy with the pick.

 

[HeirCoryell]

Clemens is gone now. Nice move to pick an ordinary DB instead of the last decent QB in the draft.

 

[uwillbsoon]

Griffin seems like a solid, standup guy who fits well in the cover 2. While he may not have been the most talented guy out there, he seems to be the type of player Childress wants. I'm happy with the pick.

Little early, wasn't it? If they wanted Clemens as badly as I thought they did, why didn't they take him at 48?Griffin's a good pick, but I think he would have been there at 51.

 

[Woz]

Griffin seems like a solid, standup guy who fits well in the cover 2. While he may not have been the most talented guy out there, he seems to be the type of player Childress wants. I'm happy with the pick.

Little early, wasn't it? If they wanted Clemens as badly as I thought they did, why didn't they take him at 48?Griffin's a good pick, but I think he would have been there at 51.

You're right, I had Clemens higher too and think they could have waited. He was probably just a guy Childress really wanted and will now settle for Hodge or Clemens, I'm guessing and I hope.

 

[Marino13]

Hodge please!

 

[Marino13]

Ryan Cook..... Guard -New Mexico

 

[Donnybrook]

Ryan Cook..... Guard -New Mexico

He is huge. Height: 6-7

Weight: 327

 

[Vikes03]

They miss out on their QB, and then get a center who I have no idea is... went from good to the crapper in about 10 minutes!

 

[HeirCoryell]

This draft is seriously dissapointing for the Vikings so far.

 

[uwillbsoon]

Ryan Cook..... Guard -New Mexico

Don't like it. Sounds like he can play all the line positions, which is nice. But I'd rather have Hodge. Or I would have taken Clemens at 48 and then Griffin at 51 so we're filling a need.

 

[Hov34]

:whoosh:

 

[Andy Dufresne]

They miss out on their QB, and then get a center who I have no idea is... went from good to the crapper in about 10 minutes!

He's the 2nd (maybe even 1st) best center in the draft. He can play guard for the next year or two and learn the center position from Birk.It's not a sexy pick and I didn't like it at first, but now I love it as I was hoping they'd take Jean-Gilles with the pick, but this gives them more flexibility on the line.

 

[Woz]

Not sure I like this one. Birk is supposedly healthy and happy now so we have one of the best centers in the league. Hodge would have been nice here so we'd have plenty of mediorce LB choices. Two picks here and I hoped for Hodge or Clemens and got neither and I'm a bit confused as to why.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Jon Alston!

C'monC'monC'monC'monC'monC'monC'monC'monC'monC'mon.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Not sure I like this one. Birk is supposedly healthy and happy now so we have one of the best centers in the league. Hodge would have been nice here so we'd have plenty of mediorce LB choices. Two picks here and I hoped for Hodge or Clemens and got neither and I'm a bit confused as to why.

He'll play guard. Johnson moves to RT. Then there's a bit of talent on the left side.Looking good!

 

[uwillbsoon]

They miss out on their QB, and then get a center who I have no idea is... went from good to the crapper in about 10 minutes!

He's the 2nd (maybe even 1st) best center in the draft. He can play guard for the next year or two and learn the center position from Birk.It's not a sexy pick and I didn't like it at first, but now I love it as I was hoping they'd take Jean-Gilles with the pick, but this gives them more flexibility on the line.

He's a center, though. When did we get Birk? 6th round? He better be a perennial Pro Bowler if you're taking him in the second round. Sporting News had him as a second day talent and third-best center in the draft. Not that that means anything, but still seemed early.

They had Griffin as a third rounder. But I think he was a good pick - he's going to be a good cover 2 corner.

 

[RustyFA]

I would have been a lot happier with Marcus McNiel and Ashton Youboty.

Ryan Cook, who?

The Griffin pick looks decent but we had better do well in the 3rd round!

3rd-Croyle

3rd-Rodrique Wright

 

[TheRegulator]

Well I was hoping for Clemens, but at least we didn't pick Croyle....When are we going to address the long-term QB problem. I don't even want two see BJ for next year, but I am starting to wonder what this coaching staff is thinking for the future. I sure hope they weren't playing russian roulette for Clemens, because as somebody else mentioned Griffith wasn't worth it.

 

[JAA]

2 51 Cook, Ryan C 6-7 327 New Mexicowow

that dude is NOT small

 

[Donnybrook]

They had Griffin as a third rounder. But I think he was a good pick - he's going to be a good cover 2 corner.

I won't be surprise if they make him a safety. He has the size and he has played safety for Texas.

 

[TeamDingo]

help me with the math Duante Culpepper = Cedric Griffin (Ryan Cook my bad)

was happy (it was who I picked/expected) with Greenway in 1st, but second round seems really disapointing. which is still better than last year when the first round was really disapointing I guess.

 

[vikingdave]

help me with the math Duante Culpepper = Cedric Griffin

was happy (it was who I picked/expected) with Greenway in 1st, but second round seems really disapointing. which is still better than last year when the first round was really disapointing I guess.

Actually Daunts Culpepper = Ryan Cook

 

[trader jake]

and the vikings QB of the future is...

Tarvaris Jackson from Alabama State?

he has a cannon, but besides that

 

[TeamDingo]

help me with the math Duante Culpepper = Cedric Griffin

was happy (it was who I picked/expected) with Greenway in 1st, but second round seems really disapointing. which is still better than last year when the first round was really disapointing I guess.

Actually Daunts Culpepper = Ryan Cook

you are right, my bad.that actually makes me feel worse.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Those second round picks are awful.

They could have been had at LEAST a round later in the case of the first two, tomorrow on the last one.

Terrible.

 

[Troutfarmer]

Am i reading this right????!!??

Did the Vikes trade both their 3rd rounders to Pittsburgh, or is CBS Sportsline being the suckwagon website I know it is?? (Actually from NFL.com.)

http://nfl.com/draft/drafttracker/round/round3

WTF?

Updated: April 29, 2006, 8:25 PM ET

Vikings trade up, take Alabama St QB Jackson 64th

SportsTicker

National Football League News Wire

NEW YORK -- The Minnesota Vikings traded up to take Alabama State quarterback Tarvaris Jackson with the 64th pick in Saturday's NFL draft.

The Vikings sent the Pittsburgh Steelers the 83rd and 95th picks overall for the right to take Jackson.

Minnesota took Iowa linebacker Chad Greenway in the first round and used its three second-round picks on Texas cornerback Cedric Griffin, New Mexico center Ryan Cook and Jackson.

New coach Brad Childress will groom Jackson as perhaps the quarterback of the future. Brad Johnson turns 38 in September and Mike McMahon is the backup.

The 6-2, 225-pound Jackson completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,940 yards and 29 touchdowns with five interceptions last season.

Originally attended Arkansas before transferring to Alabama State in 2003.

 

[Troutfarmer]

NFL.com's analysis of Jackson:

"Jackson is a very intriguing prospect who has enough size, a strong arm and the ability to be an accurate passer, but needs to throw with better technique more consistently in order to develop. He is definitely somewhat raw and will not be able to be as consistently productive in the pros as he was in college until he becomes much more consistent using good footwork. He sees the entire field well, goes through his progressions and can still pick up for making small errors. He deals with deep safeties very well -- he looks them off and does a good job of going back to them at the last minute to make strong and accuracy throws. Teams will be cautious to draft him because, until his footwork and throwing motion improve, he is going to have trouble becoming a consistent passer in the NFL. He would be a great pick towards the end of the draft and will need to spend a few seasons developing before he is ready to legitimately compete for a starting job."

 

[slatercove1]

Am i reading this right????!!??

Did the Vikes trade both their 3rd rounders to Pittsburgh, or is CBS Sportsline being the suckwagon wesite I know it is??

http://nfl.com/draft/drafttracker/round/round3

New coach Brad Childress will groom Jackson as perhaps the quarterback of the future. Brad Johnson turns 38 in September and Mike McMahon is the backup.

Just terrible. 38 year old QB and you pick a complete project as your QB of the future. Instead of wasting this pick, they may as well of packaged it with the 1st for Schaub.

 

[FunkyPlutos]

NFL.com's analysis of Jackson:

"Jackson is a very intriguing prospect who has enough size, a strong arm and the ability to be an accurate passer, but needs to throw with better technique more consistently in order to develop. He is definitely somewhat raw and will not be able to be as consistently productive in the pros as he was in college until he becomes much more consistent using good footwork. He sees the entire field well, goes through his progressions and can still pick up for making small errors. He deals with deep safeties very well -- he looks them off and does a good job of going back to them at the last minute to make strong and accuracy throws. Teams will be cautious to draft him because, until his footwork and throwing motion improve, he is going to have trouble becoming a consistent passer in the NFL. He would be a great pick towards the end of the draft and will need to spend a few seasons developing before he is ready to legitimately compete for a starting job."

For some reason they traded up to get him, so they see something that they like.

 

[TeamDingo]

NFL.com's analysis of Jackson:

"Jackson is a very intriguing prospect who has enough size, a strong arm and the ability to be an accurate passer, but needs to throw with better technique more consistently in order to develop. He is definitely somewhat raw and will not be able to be as consistently productive in the pros as he was in college until he becomes much more consistent using good footwork. He sees the entire field well, goes through his progressions and can still pick up for making small errors. He deals with deep safeties very well -- he looks them off and does a good job of going back to them at the last minute to make strong and accuracy throws. Teams will be cautious to draft him because, until his footwork and throwing motion improve, he is going to have trouble becoming a consistent passer in the NFL. He would be a great pick towards the end of the draft and will need to spend a few seasons developing before he is ready to legitimately compete for a starting job."

really needed to trade up to get him in 2nd?

 

[Hov34]

I waited 4 ####in' months for this bull####.

#### you TOA.

 

[PeaceBringer]

help me with the math Duante Culpepper = Cedric Griffin

was happy (it was who I picked/expected) with Greenway in 1st, but second round seems really disapointing. which is still better than last year when the first round was really disapointing I guess.

no it is duante culpepper= Ryan CookI am going to be sick

 

[Pipes]

No problem. I've stated my thoughts on him 'round these parts a number of times. I'm not ripping the guy here. I'm just not as high on him as others. I'm just a guy who's a Hawkeye season ticket holder. I love Chad Greenway. I think he's going to be a good pro. I hope he becomes a 12-time Pro Bowler. I just don't think he will, that's all. Good, not great.

The Vikings needed a LB and he was the best available. Can't argue too much with that logic.

Oooo. You're a good guy to ask then. WHat would you think if they got Hodge in the 2nd?

I think Hodge is better suited for the pro game than Greenway is. It's hard to compare since they play different positions...but Greenway relied a lot on his speed in college. That worked fine in the Big Ten. But he won't be have a speed advantage on anybody at the pro level. He'll have to contend with more blockers head on and won't be as quick chasing down things from the backside. This was the biggest part of his game. He could avoid blockers and disrupt things by running free and using his instincts. Hodge is more of a blue collar, stick your nose in there and hit somebody in the mouth guy. He's more physcial and a much better run stuffer. He doesn't rely on natural abilities (though he is well built) as much as he relies on determination and fearlessness. They complimented each other very, very well and the pairing could work in the pros as well.Hodge in the 2nd is better value than Greenway at 17 in my opinion.

And an even better value in the 3rd.

 

[PeaceBringer]

I waited 4 ####in' months for this bull####.

#### you TOA.

Well said.For me TOA now = triangle of arrogance.

Taking reaches in bottom of 2nd and trading 2 3rd round picks for a 2nd day QB who is major QB and has all the weaknesses you could find in Duante but not as talented.

Good lord.

 

[PeaceBringer]

No problem. I've stated my thoughts on him 'round these parts a number of times. I'm not ripping the guy here. I'm just not as high on him as others. I'm just a guy who's a Hawkeye season ticket holder. I love Chad Greenway. I think he's going to be a good pro. I hope he becomes a 12-time Pro Bowler. I just don't think he will, that's all. Good, not great.

The Vikings needed a LB and he was the best available. Can't argue too much with that logic.

Oooo. You're a good guy to ask then. WHat would you think if they got Hodge in the 2nd?

I think Hodge is better suited for the pro game than Greenway is. It's hard to compare since they play different positions...but Greenway relied a lot on his speed in college. That worked fine in the Big Ten. But he won't be have a speed advantage on anybody at the pro level. He'll have to contend with more blockers head on and won't be as quick chasing down things from the backside. This was the biggest part of his game. He could avoid blockers and disrupt things by running free and using his instincts. Hodge is more of a blue collar, stick your nose in there and hit somebody in the mouth guy. He's more physcial and a much better run stuffer. He doesn't rely on natural abilities (though he is well built) as much as he relies on determination and fearlessness. They complimented each other very, very well and the pairing could work in the pros as well.Hodge in the 2nd is better value than Greenway at 17 in my opinion.

And an even better value in the 3rd.

for whom, not the vikes.

 

[Hov34]

Max Jean-Gilles sitting right there....

Where is our extra 3rd round pick?

RIP Nate Burleson