The Minnesota Vikings took some hits in the 2010 NFL Draft from different analysts as far as taking some reaches. You can debate as far to whether or not the Minnesota Vikings ended up selecting the first inside linebacker or not. Did someone like Ryan D’Imperio play with top level competition during his time at Rutgers in the Big East for example? D’Imperio played linebacker in college, but will be tried out at fullback in camp as noted by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
That is a reasonable question to ask. I was particularly impressed with the Minnesota Vikings pick in the 2010 NFL Draft of Mickey Shuler at number 214. as noted by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The fact that the Minnesota Vikings selected a tight end proves to the Minnesota Vikings fans that the organization realizes that a guy in the halfback position like Jim Kleinsasser is not going to be around forever,
Visante Shinacoe certainly can’t do it all so we will be looking for some help from a guy like Mickey Schuler and the Minnesota Vikings. He will have to greatly upgrade his blocking skills if he wants to make it on an NFL roster long term.
They filled the need on the offensive line in Wake Forest’s Chris DeGeare as noted by Winston Salem. This should help if people like Anthony Herrara for example struggles on the offensive line. It is important also to wonder what kind of level Joe Webb out of UAB will be able to perform at..
Everson Griffen who they took at the beginning of the day is another defensive end that the Minnesota Vikings drafted out of USC. It’s hard to say how much of a scouting report Pete Carroll was able to give teams like the Vikings in order to help his former USC Trojans-given that he wanted to focus on what the Seattle Seahawks were doing in the NFL Draft.
Some analysts questioned whether Griffen played with the same level of motivation on a week basis while he was with the USC Trojans. This is one of the questions that may have Everson Griffen to slide in the NFL Draft as noted by the Associated Press. Griffen genuinely thought he would be a first round pick. Griffen can come in and push a couple of guys on the defensive line to keep their motors going.
The Minnesota Vikings drafted a guy a number of years ago out of USC by the name of Kenechi Udeze on the defensive line. Mr. Udeze wanted to have plenty of success, but his career has been derailed by cancer. Everson may be able to fill the hole left by Udeze. Some people were not happy with Kenechi’s production in the NFL, regardless Minnesota Vikings fans and people all over the world wish him the best in retirement.
We know that the Vikings selection of inside linebacker Nate Triplett is a nice home state story. We know the kid can play at a high level and he gives some great effort, but the question is whether or not that is an NFL Draft 2010 level or a UFL type free agent signing. I wish the Big Ten Conference kid the best with the Minnesota Vikings and hope he has a long NFL career regardless. There are a lot of people who tend to look at those hometown type selections with a skeptical eye.
Sources:
Zulgad, Jeff.; “Vikings select Penn State tight end”; Minneapolis Star Tribune.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/92013329.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UHDaaDyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
Krawcynzinski, Jon; “Vikings draft Southern Cal defensive end Griffen in fourth round”; Associated Press.
http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2010/04/24/vikings-draft-southern-cal-defensive-end-everson-griffen-in-4th-round-96374/
Scoggins, Chip; “Meet the Vikings draft picks”; Minneapolis Star Tribune.
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/92016074.html
Formica, Brian; “Vikings draft Wake Forest’s Chris DeGeare”; Winston Salem News.
http://www.digtriad.com/sports/article.aspx?storyid=141008&catid=13
