Formo
  • Formo
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
ESPN.com's blog - NFC North draft analysis 


Riskiest move

Minnesota has sentenced itself to at least one more year of long-term uncertainty at the most important position in sports. This might not have been the best quarterback class of all time, but as we discussed earlier this month, you can't get a hit if you won't take the bat off your shoulder. At some point, you've got to take a cut.

(And I'm sorry. Taking UAB quarterback Joe Webb at the bottom of the sixth round doesn't count. Webb is probably going to be moved to receiver. That's more like having a wild pitch hit your bat in self-defense: There's no intent. OK, enough baseball references for one day.)

We're expecting Brett Favre to return in 2010. And even if he retires, I doubt the Vikings would have replaced him with a rookie quarterback this season. But the two quarterbacks on the roster, Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, looked unprepared for the job in training camp before Favre signed last summer. It's hard to believe that either player projects as the Vikings' long-term starter.

It takes some time to develop a young starter, and the Vikings keep pushing back their timetable. They've been patching the position together for five years, dating to the career-alerting injury Daunte Culpepper suffered in 2005.

I guess there's always next year.

"Kevin Seifert" wrote:



Ugh. Here we go..

The biggest problem I have with this post (BTW, I didn't quote the entire article, just one part of it) is how he said that neither T-Jack or Sage looked prepared for the job in training camp last year. Really? You really believe that, Kevin?! Because, what I saw was T-Jack having his BEST training camp (and to add to that, he also had his best preseason, too). Looked to me he was more than ready to take the starting position prior to the Favre signing. I'm not saying he would have had a great or even a good year. I'm saying he looked prepared.

Also, I love how he ignored the Vikings press conference after the draft where they said Joe Webb was going to be switching to the WR spot. Uhh.. Yeah Kevin, the Viking's plans for Webb is NOT as a QB project.

What people need to understand is that if the Vikings don't have a feel for the QBs available to them in the draft, chances are they aren't going to draft them. Even if it's a position of need. Yeah, they let the bat sit on their shoulder, but it's pretty stupid to swing when you don't see the ball. From what I gathered, the Vikings weren't even remotely interested in Clausen. I don't know why, and time will tell if they were justified in the uninterest. Besides, I was under the impression that the QB draft class this year was pretty mediocre. Next year is supposed to be far superior, according to the scouting geeks. We'll see.
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Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!
dfosterf
14 years ago
I agree.

I have heard that many felt that Sage had a better camp than T-Jack, but T-Jack was kept ahead of him due to wanting to "shop" him, but I don't know that...


Personally, this QB class looked below average. I did like that kid from Fordham, but certainly am not calling him an answer...just someone worth a pick and a shot. Other than that, I got no beef with the Vikes not taking one in this draft.

Besides, I hear a former number 1 pick is soon to hit the market, and he would LOVE to be in Minnesota---He hears you guys have a unique philosophy on work ethic needed for the position. :tongue3:

OK, kidding---I look at it this way... The Vikes will probably wind up taking a different path than the usual for their next QB--- So what? The traditional way isn't all that hot... You might have to pay a little more, but chances are decent you will have a whole lot better idea on whether the prospect sucks or not, and it will probably be on someone else's nickel in the sense that they developed the kid.

I wouldn't say the Vikes have given up on Tavaris, either. The fact that we know of no "takers" doesn't really mean much in a time and place when a McNabb commands a 2nd rounder. Now THAT is a different argument--You could have had him, and I still think that the Vikes should have got him.

Edit- The kid from Fordham that I liked in this draft (I think Non mentioned him also)


Scouting Report:
John Skelton: Fordham, QB, 6-5, 244

Skelton is a tall, strong-armed quarterback prospect who showcases the ability to spin the ball downfield and make all the throws needed at the next level. He gets the ball out of his hands quickly and showcases good zip when asked to throw outside the numbers. He generates some natural power from his lower half on his throws and can drive the ball downfield when exploding off his back foot. He needs to clean up his footwork a bit. Skelton looks balanced in his drop but has a tendency to rush his footwork into throws in the face of pressure and can get spotty with his accuracy. But he showcases good overall balance for his size and has the ability to move around the pocket, keep his eyes downfield, set his feet and stride into throws. He displays good touch downfield on his deep ball and does a nice job allowing receivers to run under his passes. But he needs to do a better job underneath.

Skelton doesn't throw the most catchable ball in the short passing game and needs to learn to take a little velocity off his short ball. He showcases the mental ability to manipulate defenses but always has his first or second read in mind. He can decipher the defense but hasn't been asked to find his second/third read on a consistent basis. Overall, he's one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects in this year's draft and has a lot of upside to his game. He will need time to develop, but the skill set and intelligence are there.



That report doesn't come out and say it, but my understanding is that he has the "cannon for an arm".
Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago
Yes, I had a hardon for Skelton. He is reported to have the strongest arm in the draft, but he is raw and unpolished. Sadly, the Cards snapped him up late.
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Dulak
14 years ago
Im still pretty surprised the pack didnt pick up any QBs to train up. And we had the opportunity - only 2 spots Ill give them for not picking a QB was the 1st round with bulaga and the 3rd with burnett - the rest could of still been taken later IMO or replaced with a QB.

but back to the viks - I find writers somewhat funny. They spout things like they are fact just so they can make their story stand out more. IMO presenting facts like this should be counted as slander.

And as you mentioned formo - the viks 2 backup QBs are decent. IMO much better then flynn.

and the thing about the QB you guys drafted being a WR ... similar to how it 'came out' raji failed his drug test last year when it was just made up.
Zero2Cool
14 years ago
I'll take Flynn over Sage any day. And on most days over Tavaris Jackson too.
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Dulak
14 years ago

I'll take Flynn over Sage any day. And on most days over Tavaris Jackson too.

"Zero2Cool" wrote:



hmmm maybe you right about the sage thing - was just thinking about that. I do like jackson better thou.

was almost hoping wed pick him up in a trade or something ... (last year)
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Zero2Cool (12h) : Tua’s old DC won a Super Bowl Year 1 with Tua’s former backup
Mucky Tundra (13h) : *winning MVP
Mucky Tundra (14h) : Funny observation I've heard: Carson Wentz was on the sideline for both Eagles Super Bowl wins w/guys supposed to be his back up winning
Zero2Cool (20h) : NFL thought it would get more attention week preceding Super Bowl.
Zero2Cool (20h) : Yes, the Pro Bowl. It was played Sunday before Super Bowl from 2010-2022
packerfanoutwest (20h) : pro bowl
Zero2Cool (20h) : From 2010 to 2022, it was played on the Sunday before the Super Bowl
Zero2Cool (20h) : They moved it to the BYE week before Super Bowl several years ago.
packerfanoutwest (20h) : it was always after the SB.....
beast (10-Feb) : Though I stop following pro bowl years ago
beast (10-Feb) : I thought the pro game was before the Super Bowl?
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : ok now for the Pro Bowl Game in Hawaii
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : If I was Philly I would try to end it instead of punting it
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : VICTORY! We have (moral) victory!
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Hey they mentioned that we 3-peted
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : seems to me the 49ers should have traded Aiyuk when they had the chance
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : if the Eagles get it down to the 1, do they Tush Push or give it to Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : 49ers have a money problem if they want to sign their QB
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Wait for real? Didn't he just get an extension two years ago?
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : 49ers gonna trade Deebo. Interesting
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Replays always never seem to show the holdings
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Great throw by Hurts
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Where Carter falls prey to bad off the field influences (to be clear, not saying he'd clip someone though)
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Had Carter not gone to Philly were they already had a lot of old college friends, he ends up in a similar spot to Aaron Hernandez
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : I think some of his coaches told scouts to stay away
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : the street racing incident+conditioning and motivation problems
beast (10-Feb) : Then Carter was street racing, where the other car crashed and people died... and other teams were scared to pick Carter for some reason
beast (10-Feb) : I think the Saints traded up, giving their next year 1st to the Eagles, and then they sucked and Eagles got the 10th overall pick
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : wtf Barkley?
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Getting Carter and Nolan Smith in the first round in 2023 was pretty darn good
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : for some reason i'm thinking of a draft where the Eagles where in the mid 20s and a top player fell all the way to them
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think so. I would need to look it up. Think it may have been Carolina's pick.
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : i'm not sure who i'm thinking of now
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : oh fuck me i messed that up
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Jordan Davis was 13th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Carter was 9th overall
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles had 15th and 10th selections, moved to 13 and 9 to get Davis and Carter back to back
Zero2Cool (10-Feb) : Eagles traded up for Carter, didn't they?
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Obviously he was a huge risk but getting a top 5 talent on the dline in the mid 20s is fortuitous
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : Jalen Carter falling into their lap certainly helps
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : And we could only wish to have this type of D
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : It's not like Philly has had low draft picks, but has managed to get themselves a top notch pass rush. We spend so much draft capital of D
packerfanoutwest (10-Feb) : another crap halftime show
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : I think it is over, but then I think of Atlanta and want Philly to go in with the same intensity in the second half
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : And with a Pass Rush that might as well be on a milk cartoon and no Jaire
Martha Careful (10-Feb) : I cant help but feel good about how well the Packers D played in Philly during the playoffs
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : this game is over
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : This might be the kill shot here
Mucky Tundra (10-Feb) : oh that's such a bad penalty for KC after getting the 3rd down stop
TheKanataThrilla (10-Feb) : Philly DL has come to play
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