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PacificNorseWest wrote:Everyone at CBS as Minnesota taking Aaron Donald. Interesting.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock-draft
Here's where we find out if expectation meets reality. Quarterback has been the easy connection for Minnesota throughout the evaluation period and a popular position for the mock drafts -- even though Spielman said the mock drafts are missing some names for the Vikings at No. 8. Count that as pre-draft subterfuge. Minnesota's likely selection is likely to come from names we've heard all along.
Quarterback is certainly a need and Spielman has openly said the team will draft a quarterback at some point this week. Bortles has a high upside and here's to the belief he is probably the highest-rated quarterback on Spielman's board. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner is essentially the driving influence on the quarterback pick. He was tasked with meeting and evaluating all the quarterbacks. And if Turner's history is any indication, he likes a big, strong quarterback who's accurate and able to drive the ball down the field.
Bortles' arm strength doesn't quite match the hype yet. It's strong and accurate, but could even become better as he improves his footwork and mechanics. He also is a very good athlete and can make plays with his feet.
Bortles doesn't have the uncanny playmaking ability of Manziel and isn't as polished as Teddy Bridgewater. But he does have all the tools NFL teams look for and room to grow. He could sit for at least one season and learn while Matt Cassel guides the Vikings' offense.
We'll leave you with this quote from Turner last week:
"The number one thing that I look at as an evaluation is where they can be in two or three years," Turner said. "There's a lot of guys that are polished and have been extremely well-coached and they're ready to go and you may not see a big upside. What you're look for, to me, is guys that in two or three years can be a Pro Bowl-type . . . player."
If you look closely you'll see that two of them actually have the Vikings trading down to #16 with the Cowboys. Then the cowboys pick up Aaron Donald instead. The two analysts who predict that case think we'll pick up Mosley/Bortles.Mothman wrote:
LOL! Spielman has them right where he wants them...
Either that, or someone in the Vikings really let their plans slip out this week.
Wouldn't that be something? I agree with the point you made elsewhere or in this thread earlier (I can't find it, but I think we misunderstood one another on Spielman's odd explicit mention of Donald in an interview recently), that generally Spielman is great at concealing his intentions.Mothman wrote:
LOL! Spielman has them right where he wants them...
Either that, or someone in the Vikings really let their plans slip out this week.
I think it would be a sensible pick if you think about it. We can always use help on the defensive line, and we can always trade him to another team if the player we want in 2nd round is taken before we go.NextQuestion wrote:I will be so mad if we draft Donald. NOOOOOOO
When was the last time this happened?720pete wrote: we can always trade him to another team if the player we want in 2nd round is taken before we go.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10901866@BobHoltzmanESPN: Vikings GM will tell his staff tomorrow who he's pinpointing at #8, but one coach just told me "it's highly unlikely we take a quarterback"
I don't buy the assumption that Manziel can't fit in Norv's system. He's not a Tebow where you have to scheme to a degree where he can't function in a traditional offense. He can play from the pocket. He's got a strong enough arm to push the ball downfield. If anything, it'd be closer to what Washington did with RGIII, which wasn't overly dramatic. For all we know Turner would be excited to get a player with Manziel's traits. He's only been able to work with what he's been given.KSViking wrote:One thing I listened to today that just made me believe we won't go with Manziel is this. They talk about Norv and his system, is he willing to change and adjust it for Manziel. And as I thought about it, I could see someone changing the offense around to fit a player, but if they plan on cassel being the guy for a year or 2, then switching the system for Manziel.. and then would they have to swap the whole system around again in case of injury, or would be make sure our backup players also fit into Norv's new scheme when it comes around. Cassel and his lack of mobility certainly would not match up well with a system designed around Manziel.
Its all speculation, but to me, at Norv's age, and how much work it would be to get a scheme set for this year, then turn around next year, or the year after and totally revamp it around Manziel, and have to find parts to compliment that style. I just think its more than a guy in his 60s would want to plan for. Just my take
ESPN's Bob Holtzman mentioned Anthony Barr as "one of a handful of defensive players" the #Vikings "have targeted" in the 1st round.
More polished as a DE? I'm not sure about that one. He's pretty raw. He was originally a running back that converted to outside linebacker two years ago. He has 0 defensive end experience from what I understand and, again, only two years playing as a linebacker. I don't know how you could make a case he's "polished" at any position.fiestavike wrote: I actually like Barr. Not as athletic as Clowney but more polished as a DE.
dead_poet wrote:Methinks the BS is getting deep around here.
Johnny Manziel - QB - Player
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports Johnny Manziel is in play for the Vikings at No. 8, and that owner Zygi Wilf's brain trust is flying in for a Thursday afternoon meeting where the "call will be made."
It's notable because it suggests Wilf might overrule his football people. There have been signs the Vikes are leaning defense at No. 8, but ESPN's Adam Schefter has also listed them as a possibility for Manziel. We'd be far from surprised if Wilf took the unwise step of inserting himself in the team's draft process.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
