Comments on: Vikings choosing between Blackmon, Claiborne and Kalil with third pick

By: oldlineman

oldlineman — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:16:36 +0000

Vikings were not happy with their LT last year, talk is sliding him inside at LG. They also did not address the LT position in free-agency. Is there anyone who could come in and start at LT in the draft? Vikes want to trade-down, next LT is Martan after Kalil. Reiff looks to me as a RT or Guard. Draft Kalil.

By: vikings101

vikings101 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:02:14 +0000

KALIL!!! doi, yea he won’t put butts in the stadium but he will keep ponder off his! And to produce in the NFC north it’s either eat or be eaten! Kalil isnt Joe Thomas but anybody is better then Charlie Johnson! If u want talent draft defense! Morris Claiborne can start day one in minny! But if we are to trade with Miami for 8th overall it may be a reach but how about LB Luke kuechley? WR Micheal Floyd? We are in a great position this year! And I just can’t wait to see who we snag! Skol vikings

By: jwreck

jwreck — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:07:54 +0000

rooski443 says: Apr 19, 2012 7:43 PM

kalil is not putting asses into the seats. Trade down, get more picks. Draft Floyd, and in the 2nd round either harrison(safety) or Hill (WR). Having good Wr’s will slow the pass rush making all of the OL better. Oh, no more 9 in the box…
___________
“Kalil is not putting asses in seats”

Fair. It’s never fun to watch your team use a super-high draft pick to shore up the offensive line rather than draft some human highlight-reel of a skill position player. However, you know what does put asses in seats? Ponder to Harvin for a 70 yard TD, AP setting a new rushing record, Ponder developing into a pro-bowl quarterback he instead of turning into David Carr. All these things are possible through the magic of really good offensive linemen.

Also receivers don’t really help protect the quarterback unless it’s a very good slot receiver in a fast paced west coast offense. Hill and Floyd are both big, athletic downfield threats in the vein of Fitzgerald and Megatron. Ponder would need more time in the pocket in order to maximize their potential.

Additionally the Vikes need to keep Ponder from getting knocked on his ass with five in the box before drafting receiving threats to prevent him from having to deal with nine in the box.

By: raiderkilla0

raiderkilla0 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:23:58 +0000

I think they should draft Trent Richardson and then Ponder would never have to throw.

By: vikemike257

vikemike257 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:39:19 +0000

All this talk about trading down is absurd, so pass on an elite talent to get an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick would not be wise for a team that lacks elite talent. This is going to be a 2 year project, they cannot and will not fill all their holes in this draft. So collect the most talented guys you can. Quality not Quanity

By: boobsmcgoo

boobsmcgoo — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:35:40 +0000

Vikings will skip the pick, let two teams jump ahead of them, then blame the mistake on their alleged trade partner…….again!

By: keeley2

keeley2 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:30:22 +0000

realdealsteel: Vikings are ran stupidly.

No further comment is needed.

By: stellarperformance

stellarperformance — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:49:27 +0000

Isn’t this a little bit like wondering which deck chairs to purchase for the Titanic?

By: bozosforall

bozosforall — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:58:11 +0000

bobnelsonjr says:
Apr 19, 2012 6:22 PM
Never underestimate bobnelsonjr’s ability to screw sheep.

__
Fixed it for you.

By: glenne81

glenne81 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:56:36 +0000

slide down and draft Reiff pick up another very high 2nd round pick and dont look back. its a win. simple.

By: jamesnieman

jamesnieman — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:51:18 +0000

If I’m the Vikings I offer this to the Browns.
Swap 1st round picks for their 3rd and 4th rd picks. This allows the Browns to get the player of their choice without having to give up their other 1st rd or 2nd rd picks.

Trade the 4th overall to either the Buccaneers, Rams, Dolphins, or Bills. Buccaneers. And Rams give up a 2nd rd or Dolphins and Bills give up 2nd and 3rd picks.

If they traded back to 6, then either Kalil, Blackmon, or Claiborne will Still be on the board. If they trade all the way back to 10 they could get Floyd or Reiff, and have two 2nd and two 3rd rd picks which could be used to move back into the 1st round or select players like Smith, Jeffery, Randle, David, Denard

By: tweeter75

tweeter75 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:38:31 +0000

I say take Kalil. Then he can start looking for a house in Los Angeles.

By: purplecrowe

purplecrowe — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:08:01 +0000

All this talk about not drafting Claiborne because of the Vikes scheme is ridiculous. Pick him, line him up across Megatron, Jennings, Marshall, etc and be happy. You can leave him on the “island” and still employ cover-2 schemes elsewhere…

All this talk comparing Kalil to Thomas and other greats is ridiculous. just because you are the best left tackle in the draft (also debatable, the tackle from Iowa grades out almost as well) doesn’t make you a generational LT…

The best bet would be to trade down, get some picks and still get a comparable pick later in the round (Reiff at LT, Floyd at WR, etc…) I just don’t think there will be any takers. Why? Because although each are good players, none of them are transformational players you’d traditionally like to get at #3. Of all the years to lock in at #3, this wasn’t the year…

By: cpo187

cpo187 — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:04:58 +0000

Kalil could be the LT in MN for the next 10-15 years. Building a strong OL and DL is the first step in rebuilding a successful team. WR’s are plug and play. You can get a couple good FA WR’s every year. A trade for Asante Samuel would fill the CB void for the year. CB’s are very hit or miss and Claiborne isn’t worth the gamble.

By: rooski443

rooski443 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:43:37 +0000

By: skylander14

skylander14 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:41:30 +0000

You don’t say?

By: lostsok

lostsok — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:22:10 +0000

I believe the phrase that best describes what Minnehaha is doing is “getting cute.”

My advice: don’t.

By: taintedsaints2009

taintedsaints2009 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:35:34 +0000

Kalil may as well rent an apartment in MN for his rookie year, because he’ll be back at USC in less than a year.

By: bobnelsonjr

bobnelsonjr — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:22:28 +0000

Never underestimate the vikings ability to screw up.

By: reppster

reppster — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:20:43 +0000

Anyone but Kalil would be stupid, they need to get protection for Ponder, Claiborne scored awful at the practice days and Blackmon may have a slight attitude problem.

By: 69jaredallen69

69jaredallen69 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:11:35 +0000

billjaehne says:

trade the 3rd pick and a 2nd and 4th to bengals for both of there first round picks

The 2 first rd picks are not enough to even get the #3 pick…why would the Vikings give up more picks? Bengals Fan???

By: flannlv

flannlv — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:11:04 +0000

With the 3rd pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Minnesota* Vikings select: The LA Coliseum

By: calbsure

calbsure — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:09:37 +0000

He will not go Claiborne, he signed to many CB’s in FA, Cook is coming back and Cover 2 doesn’t require shut down type corners even though it would be a plus. He will not go Blackmon, they have repeatedly said they need to have someone stretch the field, although Blackmon is a excellent prospect, he doesn’t have the elite speed. This leaves Kalil or a trade down. Kalil improves the OL , run game, passing game and safest choice for Spielmen’s rebuilding project and job security. Unless, he gets a Redskin type offer and there isn’t any Snyder ran teams left out there.

By: jsrdc

jsrdc — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:07:33 +0000

What a problem to have. Choosing between three very talented players. I think it does boil down to Kalil and Claiborne. Blackmon is good, but he doesn’t get picked at three, IMO. Claiborne and Kalil are easily the best at their respective positions. It is debatable with regards to Blackmon.

By: theytukrjobs

theytukrjobs — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:05:05 +0000

Anyone who dismisses Blackmon obviously didn’t spend much time watching college football. He’s really, really good. He plays fast and is a beast to tackle. He makes cuts before catching the ball and at times seems on another level. He was so amazing in their bowl game even though he was playing hobbled.

Vikings would get absolutely ripped on if they took Blackmon, but it isn’t that bad of a pick. Kalil is the best available and they could use a good tackle but the best teams in the NFL don’t draft tackles in the lottery, and speilman has to know that.

By: fkajames

fkajames — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:04:17 +0000

If the Vikings continue to play Cover-2, they don’t need Claiborne. I agree with the poster that says LTs don’t have to be elite, but because of the new rookie salary structure, you’re not paying them elite dollars like you did in the past. Take Kalil, sign him for 5, then give him big $ for the next 5 and you don’t have a LT problem until 2022 (barring injury).

By: jwreck

jwreck — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:03:32 +0000

purplecrowe says: Apr 19, 2012 5:29 PM

The best player of the three is easily Claiborne, he should be the pick. I like Blackmon and Kalil, but neither are anywhere near #3 worthy…
________________

Are you joking? Claiborne is a once a year player. He’s going to be very good, but he will not be special. He’s not even the best cornerback to come out of LSU in the last two years. Patrick Peterson was a much better prospect, will make a much better player once he develops, and he was drafted at number five overall for a reason.

A cornerback hasn’t been drafted with the third pick in the draft since 1997, and while Shawn Springs was a very good player, I don’t think anyone who was in the Seahawks front office back then would regard using the number three pick on a defensive back as a great move.

Matt Kalil, on the other hand, is one of the best left tackles to enter the NFL draft in years. If there were no major quarterback needs in the league this year, Kalil would be the easy, consensus choice for whichever team held the number one pick. Kalil has been described as the best left tackle to enter the draft since Joe Thomas, who was drafted at number 3 overall, so yeah, I don’t think it would be a stretch to describe him as “near #3 worthy…”

By: vikemike257

vikemike257 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:00:20 +0000

They must take Kalil, Claiborne is an elite talent, but when you run a cover 2 scheme, you don’t draft CBs at #3, and Blackmon is a smaller version or Anquan Boldin (good but not top 5 good)

By: billhicks666

billhicks666 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:59:28 +0000

purplecrowe says:

“The best player of the three is easily Claiborne, he should be the pick….”

Whether Claiborne is the best player of the three or not is irrelevant. Minnesota runs a Cover-2 defense, and Claiborne is not the kind of corner you want in a Cover-2. Because of this, I think Minnesota would be best off taking Kalil and providing Ponder with a blind-side protector for at least the next five years or so.

By: garyman1

garyman1 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:49:26 +0000

Am a big believer in building up both your offensive and defensive lines. They are the guys that dictate how tough your team is and you can never have enough studs there.
Take Kalil (Which would also help protect your number one pick from last year)