Grading The Vikings 2015 Draft

[Cliff]

So hes a Robison, without the experience.

Sure, you can phrase it that way. Or you could say "So he's a Robison that isn't 32 years old". That wouldn't be a horrible thing in my opinion.

[Vikings28]

Here's some more optimism:

http://www.foxsports.com/watch/fox-spor ... 8964803577

Joel Klatt gives the Vikings an A+ and says they had the best draft in the entire NFL. Peter Schrager gives them an A-.

Klatt doubled down and took it a step further by saying Kendricks will be the best player on the team. Not sure about that but hey, I'll take it. I'm a big Kendricks fan and I'm expecting big things from him as early as this upcoming season.

[Mothman]

I think it goes both ways, Hunter for example fits our scheme really well but he fell to the 3rd round because he isn't a flashy sack specialist which is what most teams are after at defensive end. In this case, the player fitting our scheme (and not fitting most other schemes) benefits us.

... and that's an example of another way to look at the draft 1 day after it's completed. You answered your own question. Well, it wasn't really a question but I assume you know what I mean. Fit is one of several factors that can matter as much as the comparative perceived value between players.

Anyway, I understand why you view it as you do and as i said, that's one of the interesting things about the draft: it's very subjective and fans sometimes look at it in very different ways.

[TEDBROWN23]

Overall I liked the draft. The last four picks were "meh" in my opinion, but they landed two immediate starters that will really , really help us.

Seemed to add way more "promise and potential" as well. Lots to work with for the coaching staff..

[mondry]

... and that's an example of another way to look at the draft 1 day after it's completed. You answered your own question. Well, it wasn't really a question but I assume you know what I mean. Fit is one of several factors that can matter as much as the comparative perceived value between players.

Anyway, I understand why you view it as you do and as i said, that's one of the interesting things about the draft: it's very subjective and fans sometimes look at it in very different ways.

The Patriots are a team that draft in a way that's most inline with your view (correct me if I'm wrong) in that they don't really care where a player is ranked or rated, if they analyze the player and determine he can do what they need him to do in their scheme they'll draft him. (within reason of course) It was funny on NFLN because they could never guess who the pick was going to be. Obviously Belichick is a very smart coach who understands his system and what he needs so it clearly works for them. But you're right, it is interesting to see the different view points and perspectives on it.

[The Breeze]

This is an angle I'm keen on. Once you have proven your scheme works and have the players in place to keep it rolling along, the way you pick new parts becomes way more nuanced.

I really hope this coaching regime can find that kind of stability. The way Spielman is drafting suggests that he completely trusts his coaches, which is 180 degrees from the Fraizer/Spielman era, IMO.

[chicagopurple]

Realistically, I don't believe we can grade this till we give it a year. Especially, with WR/Secondary players, it takes a while to get a real sense of whether a player will pan out. All this grading of drafts is just media people trying to act like they know better. Overall, I think we can all agree that the Vikes picked players that fill needs on the team. They avoided drafting anyone higher then necessary and so, are unlikely to overpay. They didnt give up AP for peanuts. Now we have a team that was on the rise last year, will have AP back, and what looks like an improved defense and OL (somewhat). An optimistic start is the best you can say. I will take that.

[TeddyBaller]

C


they didnt do enough to help teddy on the offensive side of the ball

mike wallace and cordelle patterson are athletic sure, but they cant run routes and have terrible hands... teddy might have more picks this year

[dead_poet]

C


they didnt do enough to help teddy on the offensive side of the ball

mike wallace and cordelle patterson are athletic sure, but they cant run routes and have terrible hands... teddy might have more picks this year

Wallace had 4 drops last year. Patterson had two. Dez Bryant and Julio Jones had more (granted on more targets) http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/drops/2014/

Wallace's routes aren't poor. I'm not sure where you get that from. Patterson's routes and the o-line worries are valid concerns.

[The Breeze]

That's like the 3rd time I've seen the "Wallace has bad hands" comment...I don't buy it.

[DK Sweets]

I want to know where the "Wallace has bad hands" thing is coming from.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Stole this from another board but thought it was fairly interesting.....

Well we all know how a lot of members feel about Pro Football Focus but there is also College Football Focus (CFF) and these were a few tidbits regarding some of the guys we got.....

(Austin Shepherd) Graded better than Erick Flowers overall, a player who went in the first round.

Heinicke was the fourth graded quarterback at CFF, third if you remove Auburn’s Nick Marshall who is now a cornerback.

(Anthony Harris) Only five players had a better coverage grade over the season at CFF, thanks to some impressive plays covering the slot or playing deep for the Cavaliers.

[Demi]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... a-vikings/

Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

Grade: D

Seen as the consensus top cornerback prospect by many, but not by College Football Focus, the only people that watched and graded every snap he played in 2014 along, with those of every other cornerback in the FBS. Waynes has elite speed, but that speed doesn’t always translate. Was beaten for 14.9 yards per reception (78th among CBs), was our 44th-graded cornerback overall, and 40th in terms of completion percentage allowed on passes into his coverage this year. We did not have him ranked in the Top 5 of our corner prospects coming in to this draft, and think he was drafted a clear round higher than he should have been given his tape.

Eric Kendricks, LB, UCLA

Grade: A

Kendricks may be the best coverage linebacker in the draft this year. Whether you think the Vikings had players on the roster that could start, or not (in Hodges and Cole), adding a true three-down player in Kendricks, should make the linebacker unit much better, and allow them to transition away from Chad Greenway, who has become a liability on the field. Topped the CFF coverage rankings for inside linebackers, despite being targeted a FBS-high 69 times over the season.

If Pruitt sticks around will be nice to have a legitimate threat in the passing game if Rudolph isn't on the field.

[808vikingsfan]

With that write up, maybe he should've not been drafted in the first place!

[dead_poet]

2015 Draft in Review: Minnesota Vikings
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... a-vikings/

Round 3: Danielle Hunter, ED, LSU

Grade: C+

A player that could perhaps be best described as a blank canvas, especially as a pass-rusher, Hunter has a lot of physical tools but was not very productive in 2014. He graded poorly as a pass-rusher, notching just 14 total pressures despite 700 snaps of play (Markus Golden from Mizzouri for example notched 61 on just 53 more snaps). Was a very strong run defender, which Mike Zimmer likes from his defensive ends. Only Utah’s Nate Orchard tallied more defensive stops than Hunter’s 50.

Depth Chart Fit: Would be a shock to see him start early, but could find himself in a two-down rotation at DLE with Brian Robison while the team tries to develop his pass-rush.