Henderson, MN Forums General Bleeding Purple Vikings Talk

Almost forgot nickel corner Captain Munnerlynn's exodus to Carolina.

Every year, the percentage of plays where a defense is in nickel goes up. This correlates directly to offenses going to spread formations to try and limit the time their offensive linemen have to pass block. As I spoke of earlier to myself while in the bathroom, the lack of quality collegiate offensive linemen who can pass protect in a pro-style offense gets worse every year, due to college teams running the spread O.

So, to counter the spread offense migrating into the pro game, defenses need 3 capable cornerbacks. Playing nickel back is a different beast, as they line up towards the middle of the field and do not have the luxury of using the out-of-bounds as leverage in coverage. He's gotta be quick as a cat and savvy like an old sailor.

Big shoes to fill there.

39 year old cornerback Terrance Newman (NEWMAN! ©Norton) re-ups with the Vikings.

You can never have enough cornerbacks.

Good stuff here as usual - waiting to hear thoughts on the latest Packer to join the Purple, Datone Jones. Datone? I think we all know how great it works when a Packer comes to the Vikings. I can see Skeddy getting a list together on this.

On another note BNAG - what you thinking with 2nd round pick? Kind of takes the buzz out of the draft - do they have a draft party if they don't have a pick in the first round? I was thinking RB, but then thought, hey, it's going to be McKinnon's year. Then I thought hey, with Courdaroy Patterson going to Oakland maybe a WR, but then remembered how well that WR in the 1st round worked out last year. Then I thought, HEY!, linebacker. With Greenway retiring they should go after a LB in round 2 - worked with Kendricks.

I'll hang up and listen.........................

I think the list of former Packers jumping ship to play for the purple has to be about as lengthy as former Bears. The lists are long and the results are similar. Not good. Burt Farve has a one year exception in 2009. I have cat hair to comb outta the carpet so to take the time to list them counteracts my productivity.

Good news section! Vikes sign Adam "hooked on a" Thielen to a 3 year, $11 million deal. Quite the raise since he could barely afford personalized license plates last year while earning a paltry $600k. Former Raider bullback Latavious Murray also signed. He's 6'3" and 230. Not gonna break a long one but can catch it outta the backfield and occasionally pick up a blitzing linebacker or strong safety. Something we're not accustomed to around here.

I'm holding off securing my tickets to the "Big Game" at US Bank Stadium next year. If the O-Line doesn't improve drastically, it could be much of the same in 2017-18.

Outstanding restaurant-quality question Nort.

It appears to me that with these recent acquisitions, The Rickster is looking at the draft with "position flexibility" in mind. When I say "position flexibility", I punctuate it with Matt Foley motivational speaker arm gestures and a trouser repositioning.

Plenty of tailbacks in the draft, so they could wait til round 3 or 4 on one, depending on draft flow.

Best player available, regardless of position, is my move.

As far as the ThatOne Jones signing.....good depth move. The Packards tried to make him a linebacker in their 3-4 scheme, but he was a liability in coverage. Not many 270 pound linebackers can hang with tight ends and tailbacks in coverage.

Zim Tzu will put him in the rotation at defensive end, and defensive tackle on 3rd and long.

Not sure if Packard fans will have a jersey burning like when Brent Favre decided to wear The Horns.

I'm thinking Guard or Running Back with the Vikings first pick - could be the RB that has some baggage, I'm thinking RB more than G with their first pick today. Wait, that doesn't happen until tomorrow. I might show up at winter park to see if there is a draft party tonight - think about it, what happens if the Vikings trade for a first round pick? Then what? No party? Maybe Skeddy can swing by after work and check it out to see if anyone is there.

Thinking they are already lining up!

http://www.vikings.com/schedule/draft-party.html

My sources are telling me the 2nd round pick will be a LB to replace what's his name - I'm told they have high hopes to add Takkarist McKinley to the fold - yet another UCLA Bruin linebacker.

Seriously? A day 3 draft get together? And 20 clams at that - jeepers!