Nov 1 Trade Deadline

[Cliff]

I don't understand how some think a 5'9 RB can do a better job out there than Peterson. Once again he's top 5 in the NFL in rushing yards. Is anyone going to sit there and say McKinnon would be better than that? I sure hope not.

And he's not what he use to be? Based off what? Him getting tackled in the backfield the second he gets the ball? Even at age 25, he couldn't make plays out of that. Our run blocking was much better then that it is now. Mainly due to Clemmings. Loadholt has been hands down our best run blocker over the years and I imagine Sully does a better job than Berger. So you can put 2 and 2 together.

I honestly can't even believe people are discussing this.

I think McKinnon is more "shifty" than Peterson and that helps him run out of the shotgun. Peterson is best when he can build up a little speed and lean more on his power.

That said, Peterson is 4th in the NFL in rushing yards and 2 of the people in front of him haven't had a bye yet ...

[losperros]

The most likely candidate for trade is Cordarrelle Patterson. He's a first-round draft choice who is basically last on the WR depth chart. Trade him to Oakland. They always think they can resurrect other teams' castoffs. But don't trade him to New England ... because they routinely DO fix other teams' castoffs.

LOL! I hear you about the Pats.

I honestly think that both Oakland and New England would be great places for Patterson. The Raiders have Musgrave as their OC, and he knows how to use Patterson.

As for New England, I think they would creatively make Patterson a TD machine.

[Mothman]

Careful with the hyperbole. McKinnon ran for 538 yards and a 4.8 average last year before he got hurt (which is MY biggest worry with McKinnon ... he's so small). He had two 100+-yard games, and a slew of nice runs. Obviously AP is better, but it's not like McKinnon is terrible. And it's not like AP has a 2012-like list of highlight runs this year.

He's building one. He already has 4 plays of 40+ yards *he's tied for the league lead in rushing plays over 40 yards) and he's tied for third in the league in running plays of 20+ yards.

Nobody's trading Adrian Peterson. He's still really good. But I also understand (and share) the frustration of AP not being able to run out of the gun. This is a team game, and the Vikings as a team are more effective in the passing game out of the gun. With defenses poised to stop Peterson, it's almost fruitless to try and run him, especially when AP lines up 7 yards deep in the I-formation. Everybody knows what's coming, and the Vikes struggle with play-action because the line doesn't give Teddy enough time.

I don't know what the answer is, but it's clear the Vikings can't win by simply handing the ball to AP 25 times, the way we did in 2012.

Perhaps not but they're 2-0 this year when handing him the ball 25+ times and 3-0 in games where he's had 20 or more carries (he only had 19 against the Lions so that win doesn't quite make the cut). They were blown out in the game in which he was least involved and they lost at Denver when he only had 16 carries 9even though one of them went for a long TD).

[Pondering Her Percy]

I think McKinnon is more "shifty" than Peterson and that helps him run out of the shotgun. Peterson is best when he can build up a little speed and lean more on his power.

That said, Peterson is 4th in the NFL in rushing yards and 2 of the people in front of him haven't had a bye yet ...

Well yeah most 5'9 RBs will be more shifty than a 6'1 back. And yes good point on the rushing yards. So in a way, he's 2nd right now

[chicagopurple]

the ONLY guy on the team that I wouldnt trade is Teddy. Even AP is tradable, the RB position is not so critical in todays NFL and HE would likely be able to bring in a handfull of starters and a Pro Bowl OL or so......we need a real Ol....until we have that we wont ever make it to the top.

[DK Sweets]

This "size" thing that keeps getting brought up about McKinnon...

Compare his size to guys like Walter Payton, Ladainian Tomlinson, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Marshawn Lynch, Jamaal Charles, etc.

Look at both height and weight. Then, if you're really feeling spunky, look at combine numbers.

I made a post in the offseason and he compares favorably to every player on that list.

[J. Kapp 11]

He's building one. He already has 4 plays of 40+ yards *he's tied for the league lead in rushing plays over 40 yards) and he's tied for third in the league in running plays of 20+ yards.
Perhaps not but they're 2-0 this year when handing him the ball 25+ times and 3-0 in games where he's had 20 or more carries (he only had 19 against the Lions so that win doesn't quite make the cut). They were blown out in the game in which he was least involved and they lost at Denver when he only had 16 carries 9even though one of them went for a long TD).

Not really disagreeing, Jim. AP has been my favorite Viking since we drafted him.

I'm just saying that Jerick McKinnon is a pretty good player. Not AP good, but good. I also question McKinnon's durability at 5-9, 209 ... probably a generous listing of the weight. I don't see how he could take the pounding of 20 carries a game. But he is a good player with plenty of ability, and may actually be more suited for a Norv Turner offense than AP.

Of course, maybe the best scenario would have Norv Turner doing a better job of using AP.

[J. Kapp 11]

This "size" thing that keeps getting brought up about McKinnon...

Compare his size to guys like Walter Payton, Ladainian Tomlinson, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Marshawn Lynch, Jamaal Charles, etc.

Look at both height and weight. Then, if you're really feeling spunky, look at combine numbers.

I made a post in the offseason and he compares favorably to every player on that list.

Maybe by the numbers. But I question the numbers. I mean, LOOK at Jerick McKinnon.

If Jerick McKinnon weighs 209 pounds, then I'm running a solid 4.4 in the 40 (given that I'm 57 and fat, with one good knee ... prolly not). And sorry, but Marshawn Lynch is no 215 except maybe on the moon. Payton and Sanders played in completely different eras (Payton played against guys like Alan Page, who went 240 max as a DT), and Jamaal Charles just suffered his second ACL injury.

Look, I love Jerick McKinnon. He's a super-stud athlete and FAST, and I love his patience as a runner. I just don't think he can take the pounding of an every-down back. I WOULD like to see the Vikings use him more.

[dead_poet]

Maybe by the numbers. But I question the numbers. I mean, LOOK at Jerick McKinnon.

If Jerick McKinnon weighs 209 pounds, then I'm running a solid 4.4 in the 40 (given that I'm 57 and fat, with one good knee ... prolly not). And sorry, but Marshawn Lynch is no 215 except maybe on the moon. Payton and Sanders played in completely different eras (Payton played against guys like Alan Page, who went 240 max as a DT), and Jamaal Charles just suffered his second ACL injury.

Look, I love Jerick McKinnon. He's a super-stud athlete and FAST, and I love his patience as a runner. I just don't think he can take the pounding of an every-down back. I WOULD like to see the Vikings use him more.

He's actually listed at 216 this season and I know I read a couple of articles this offseason that said he wanted to put on between 5-10 pounds. I dunno. I buy he's 205+. He's a rock of muscle in the Doug Martin mold.

[PurpleKoolaid]

We wouldnt get value for AD in a trade now, just like we wouldnt have before. It would be nice to get a Gurley for him thugh, if there are any RB's out there this year like him. We are going to be seeing a lot of him in a few weeks, thats going to be a good test for the D. Maybe we can get a few fast TD's and turnovers earlt, so they dont use him as much later on.

As much as I think Norv has screwed Patterson this year, I would consider a lot of trade for CP. I took think his style of running looks tentative, still, and maybe overthinking his protection, which returning kicks. But KRs atr kind of a thing of the past with the new kickoff spot. They did NOT use him properly yet this year, and thats on Norv.

[fiestavike]

We wouldnt get value for AD in a trade now, just like we wouldnt have before. It would be nice to get a Gurley for him thugh, if there are any RB's out there this year like him. We are going to be seeing a lot of him in a few weeks, thats going to be a good test for the D. Maybe we can get a few fast TD's and turnovers earlt, so they dont use him as much later on.

As much as I think Norv has screwed Patterson this year, I would consider a lot of trade for CP. I took think his style of running looks tentative, still, and maybe overthinking his protection, which returning kicks. But KRs atr kind of a thing of the past with the new kickoff spot. They did NOT use him properly yet this year, and thats on Norv.

I like what I have seen of Elliot, Cook and Fournette. Not sure if all three are eligible to come out this year but it has the makings of a strong RB class.

[DK Sweets]

Maybe by the numbers. But I question the numbers. I mean, LOOK at Jerick McKinnon.

If Jerick McKinnon weighs 209 pounds, then I'm running a solid 4.4 in the 40 (given that I'm 57 and fat, with one good knee ... prolly not). And sorry, but Marshawn Lynch is no 215 except maybe on the moon.

Well, they weigh players at the combine and that's what the scale said...so I guess all I know to say now is congrats on your 40 time.

Seriously though, I wouldn't be surprised if Marshawn has put on a little weight, but if you search images of him when he was in Buffalo he looks the same weight to me.

As for your assertion that we should just look at the players: Mckinnon vs Marshawn

I'm not seeing the discrepancy that you are.

Payton and Sanders played in completely different eras (Payton played against guys like Alan Page, who went 240 max as a DT), and Jamaal Charles just suffered his second ACL injury.

If you want to take Walter Payton out of the equation, fine, but let's not act like Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders weren't playing with some huge men.

As far as Charles goes, it doesn't matter if you're Rob Gronkowski, Adrian Peterson, Thomas Davis, or Tom Brady. You can blow out your knee at any size. Charles has actually been much less prone to injuries to the rest of his body than Peterson was at Oklahoma or Arian Foster is in Houston. I understand why you bring up Charles' knee, I just don't think it's a fair application of injuries.

Additionally, Jerick's back injury came while he was lifting - not playing - and its the same type of injury that Marshawn Lynch has been dealing with for years.

Look, I love Jerick McKinnon. He's a super-stud athlete and FAST, and I love his patience as a runner. I just don't think he can take the pounding of an every-down back. I WOULD like to see the Vikings use him more.

I would like to see him used more too. I think he's going to have to work on his pass blocking first, though, because right now Adrian is the better runner and Asiata is the better blocker (and an underrated runner to boot).

[PurpleKoolaid]

Asiata isnt an underrated running imo. I think he's an underrated receiver. I wish we did more screen type passes to him. Other teams do it and seem to have success, but we get blown up. Same as the 3 WR set, where 2 blcok, and the quick pass to the other. Has that ever worked for us?

[dead_poet]

I like what I have seen of Elliot, Cook and Fournette. Not sure if all three are eligible to come out this year but it has the makings of a strong RB class.

Fournette and Cook aren't eligible. Elliot can be an NFL starter for sure. Also keep in mind: Derrick Henry, Kareem Hunt and Paul Perkins

[fiestavike]

Fournette and Cook aren't eligible. Elliot can be an NFL starter for sure. Also keep in mind: Derrick Henry, Kareem Hunt and Paul Perkins

Thanks DP. Whenever I see that you have posted in a thread, I'm always excited to see some official, actual news or update. I enjoy your opinions as well, but your role as newshound is much appreciated. Thanks for the info!