Good read as always - I have to imagine next up is Future of the Vikings - Part 8, the Specialists. Can't wait to hear about the Long Snappers and Aussie Hybrids that have a chance to fall to when the Vikings pick on day 3!
Another enjoyable read with some helpful perspective on not expecting too much from rookies and some hope in that year one doesn't dictate future performance (Gladney), but concern as you've said on several podcasts that it's still unsettled next year. Dantzler's much better than Hughes, but being out so much his rookie season is Hughes-like. The idea that a guy nicknamed "The Needle" can put on weight as Zimmer throws out seems unrealistic.
Interesting point on only 3 Safeties in top 50. On the bright side, Dane Brugler of The Athletic has 7 in the top 100, and The Draft Network has 9 in the top 100.
I didn't want Gladney last year because he was same size, type as Hughes. I wanted a bigger, Rhodes-like CB. Good news is this year there are plenty of those in top 100, with 6'1" and above players like Farley and Surtain, plus Horn, Stokes, Newsome II, Adebo, Campbell, Melifonwu, and Mukuamu all in that top 100 range. Even Ambry Thomas is 6'.
Writing this makes me ask again that you run a draft scenario with multiple trade backs early for five top 100 picks (I know you want to) in a Monty Pythonesque Draft of Difficult Names. That means DT Levi Onwuzurike, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, S Talanoa Hufanga (or Hamsah Nasirildeen), and WR Dyami Brown. Ok, that last one is not a fit name-wise, but as of now, that would be one helluva draft. In the Boring Names division you'd have Nixon, Jones II, Thomas, Grant, and retain Brown (also a nice draft on paper).
Thanks Rob. CBS has eight in the top 100 so there's probably going to be guys there in the third round... but are you drafting a 3rd round safety to start? A veteran still needed there probably. I'm always going to be for the trade back scenario with the vikings sitting in their current situation of needing so many positions filled. But this also isn't a draft for a ton of projects. If somehow they could get into the second and pick a few times in the third, there's a lot of top 100 talent to be had.
Oh, I agree with you that it would be better to get some veterans to help in the secondary given how difficult it is for rookie DBs, especially in Zimmer's defense, but given the holes and the cap situation they're going to be in the same box as this year to some extent and it's likely that a third rounder will be starting somewhere for them. Whether that's a DB like Dantzler this year or a DT or a Guard I can't say, but if I'm in a Write That Down segment I'm saying a third round pick starts more than 10 games for this team in 2021. Also, like Smith Jr. for Rudolph and Cleveland for Reiff, you'd think they have to start thinking ahead and draft someone who can compliment the great Harrison Smith now, but take over leading the Safety group 3-4 years from now.
I think we're in violent agreement on the approach to the picks and trying to get as many of the prospects in the top 100 as possible. I don't think anyone I mentioned is slated to go in the first round as of current projections so my list is essentially players between 33 and 100 with several of them in the top 50 and most from major programs, not Northern Montana Southern State Academy.
I'm not interested in Rick taking 10 lottery picks in rounds 5 through 7 this year, especially when 2020 was a redshirt season for most of last year's draft class. I've posted in the past on how good Spielman's drafting has been in the 2nd round and to a lesser extent the third, and how it falls off a cliff in the 4th and after. The idea that Zimmer and his coaches are great developers of late round talent could be dispelled in the first 60 seconds of a Mythbusters episode. Get five guys in the top 100 with a degree of genuine talent and ability to work with and give yourself a chance. If you don't do that this year you may not get another try next year.
Good read as always - I have to imagine next up is Future of the Vikings - Part 8, the Specialists. Can't wait to hear about the Long Snappers and Aussie Hybrids that have a chance to fall to when the Vikings pick on day 3!
Matthew, not sure on how to comment on your podcasts, so will do it here. Can you get Leroy Hoard weekly too? Great show, he is very fun to listen to.
Can’t believe he missed a 4th and one in high school, since
“Coach, if you need one yard, I'll get you three yards. If you need five yards, I'll get you three yards.”
Love your work. Keeps me entertained at lunch.
Thank you...
Hey, thanks so much... glad you enjoyed it. He was so jacked up to talk football, exactly how I imagined LeRoy Hoard being haha
Another enjoyable read with some helpful perspective on not expecting too much from rookies and some hope in that year one doesn't dictate future performance (Gladney), but concern as you've said on several podcasts that it's still unsettled next year. Dantzler's much better than Hughes, but being out so much his rookie season is Hughes-like. The idea that a guy nicknamed "The Needle" can put on weight as Zimmer throws out seems unrealistic.
Interesting point on only 3 Safeties in top 50. On the bright side, Dane Brugler of The Athletic has 7 in the top 100, and The Draft Network has 9 in the top 100.
I didn't want Gladney last year because he was same size, type as Hughes. I wanted a bigger, Rhodes-like CB. Good news is this year there are plenty of those in top 100, with 6'1" and above players like Farley and Surtain, plus Horn, Stokes, Newsome II, Adebo, Campbell, Melifonwu, and Mukuamu all in that top 100 range. Even Ambry Thomas is 6'.
Writing this makes me ask again that you run a draft scenario with multiple trade backs early for five top 100 picks (I know you want to) in a Monty Pythonesque Draft of Difficult Names. That means DT Levi Onwuzurike, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, S Talanoa Hufanga (or Hamsah Nasirildeen), and WR Dyami Brown. Ok, that last one is not a fit name-wise, but as of now, that would be one helluva draft. In the Boring Names division you'd have Nixon, Jones II, Thomas, Grant, and retain Brown (also a nice draft on paper).
Thanks Rob. CBS has eight in the top 100 so there's probably going to be guys there in the third round... but are you drafting a 3rd round safety to start? A veteran still needed there probably. I'm always going to be for the trade back scenario with the vikings sitting in their current situation of needing so many positions filled. But this also isn't a draft for a ton of projects. If somehow they could get into the second and pick a few times in the third, there's a lot of top 100 talent to be had.
Oh, I agree with you that it would be better to get some veterans to help in the secondary given how difficult it is for rookie DBs, especially in Zimmer's defense, but given the holes and the cap situation they're going to be in the same box as this year to some extent and it's likely that a third rounder will be starting somewhere for them. Whether that's a DB like Dantzler this year or a DT or a Guard I can't say, but if I'm in a Write That Down segment I'm saying a third round pick starts more than 10 games for this team in 2021. Also, like Smith Jr. for Rudolph and Cleveland for Reiff, you'd think they have to start thinking ahead and draft someone who can compliment the great Harrison Smith now, but take over leading the Safety group 3-4 years from now.
I think we're in violent agreement on the approach to the picks and trying to get as many of the prospects in the top 100 as possible. I don't think anyone I mentioned is slated to go in the first round as of current projections so my list is essentially players between 33 and 100 with several of them in the top 50 and most from major programs, not Northern Montana Southern State Academy.
I'm not interested in Rick taking 10 lottery picks in rounds 5 through 7 this year, especially when 2020 was a redshirt season for most of last year's draft class. I've posted in the past on how good Spielman's drafting has been in the 2nd round and to a lesser extent the third, and how it falls off a cliff in the 4th and after. The idea that Zimmer and his coaches are great developers of late round talent could be dispelled in the first 60 seconds of a Mythbusters episode. Get five guys in the top 100 with a degree of genuine talent and ability to work with and give yourself a chance. If you don't do that this year you may not get another try next year.