By guest writer El Matteo:
With the 21st pick in Joker's Mock Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select...Captain Stubing!!!! Looove, exciting and new, come aboard, we're expecting yoooooooooooooou...
Ah, you get the point. It wasn't long ago that the Vikings were a mess. Meathead Tice was busy looking for his pencil. Daunte Culpepper was setting world turnover records, Fred Smoot was covering the Earth, and the rest of the Vikings were throwing one hell of a party on a big ol' party barge.
Zygi Wilf (gotta be the coolest owner's name in sports, right?) decided z'nuff was z'nuff and he got rid of them all. He hired hard, mean, boring Brad Childress and told him to clean up the ship. (Plus, he wants the public to fund a new stadium, so it wouldn't hurt to play nice.) Then, they up and draft Adrian Peterson and the rest is history. The Vikes are as hot as anyone not playing in Gillette Stadium and are making a hard charge for the playoffs. When you consider that Tarvaris Jackson is their QB, then you can't help but be impressed. (Zygi? Tarvaris? In my best Nicholson voice, I have to ask, "Where do they get those wonderful names!?") I mean, this dude played for Alabama State. There are high school teams that could probably beat ASU, or at least give them a run for their money.
A lot is working for the Vikings right now. Time to find where they can most effectively improve via the draft. Let's check the key stats: 11th Total O (30th passing, 1st rushing), 20th Total D (32nd passing, 1st rushing).
Sheesh. Those are some interesting stats, for sure. They are going to run on you, and you aren't going to run on them, but good lord, why run when you can sling the rock all over the place?
As I have previously said, defense wins championships. Plus, they Vikes are young at RB, QB and WR. You gotta figure they'll improve a little. Like Ron Jaworski pointed out Monday night, Jackson has only started 12 games in his career. As long as Peterson keeps doin' what he do, Jackson is going to have time to mature.
So, we gotta fix the D. You stop the pass with a combination of a fierce pass rush and great coverage. It is starting to get difficult to identify top level talent at this point in the draft. The Vikes already have already used three high picks on LB's, so they probably won't do that again. Joker may disagree, but the secondary isn't terrible. Sharper is old, but can still play. Winfield ain't terrible. Smith and Griffin aren't terrible. Udezi and Edwards are still young and there is time for them to improve. Both positions seem to be pretty picked over at this point. I just have to go with my gut and hope it works.
With the 21st pick, the Vikings select Antoine Cason, CB, the University of the Second Stoops.
He's scrappy and confident. Plus, maybe he can give them a shot in the arm on special teams. Hopefully, Udezi, Edwards, and either a free agent or later pick shore up the pass rush and Cason is a nice addition to the secondary.
From September 7th, Joker's Report:
"It's clear Mr. Cason is one of the top corners in the nation. I especially like his size at 6'1" and a big 185, and his intelligence is clear in the film room and on the fly on the field. His quickness and speed are excellent, and he seems comfortable at any position in the secondary, as he lined up in many areas. Excellent and effective blitzer with a knack for forcing turnovers. Was not tested very much in man coverage situations. A willing and sure tackler in run support. Needs to work on shoring up his stance, backpedal technique, and shedding blocks in open field. Excellent game, as he's out there working with minimal safety help. All-around skills at corner makes him a first round playmaker."
(When in doubt, blow smoke up the editor's ass.)
There isn't a glaring "value" pick at this point. There's no Randy Moss sitting here that may not be a need position, but he's just too good to pass up. That being the case, I think they have to go either DE or CB at this point.
There's no need to repeat it when you can scroll down a few picks and see it already written. With my unofficial pick, I'm going with one of Joker's previous selection, Derrick Harvey, DE, University of Tebow. He'll bring athleticism and a winning pedigree to the DL and, at this point of the draft, is as solid a pick as you can hope to get.
Not much I can add to that.
Back to you, El Jokero...
Joker Report Official Mock Draft
1. MIA - Glenn Dorsey, DT (LSU)
2. STL - Jake Long, OT (Michigan)
3. NYJ - Darren McFadden, RB (Arkansas)
4. N.E. (via S.F.) - Chris Long, DE (Virginia)
5. ATL - Brian Brohm, QB (Louisville)
6. OAK - Calais Campbell, DE (Miami)
7. BAL - Matt Ryan, QB (Boston College)
8. K.C. - Sam Baker, OT (USC)
9. CIN - Vernon Gholston, DE (Ohio State)
10. CHI - Andre Woodson, QB (Kentucky)
11. PHI - James Laurinaitis, MLB (Ohio State)
12. CAR - Sedrick Ellis, DT (USC)
13. WAS - Kenny Phillips, S (Miami)
14. N.O. - Mike Jenkins, CB (USF)
15. HOU - Malcolm Jenkins, CB (Ohio State)
16. T.B. (via DEN) - Malcolm Kelly, WR (Oklahoma)
17. DET - Jeff Otah, OT (Pittsburgh)
18. ARI - Derrick Harvey, DE (Florida)
19. BUF - Ali Highsmith, OLB (LSU)
20. TEN - DeSean Jackson, WR (California)
21. MIN - Antoine Cason, CB (Arizona)
Joker's (and slightly El Matteo's) Unofficial Mock Draft
1. NYJ - Glenn Dorsey, DT (LSU)
2. HOU - Darren McFadden, RB (Arkansas)
3. MIA - Jake Long, OT (Michigan)
4. N.E. - Chris Long, DE (Virginia)
5. ATL - Brian Brohm, QB (Louisville)
6. OAK - Sedrick Ellis, DT (USC)
7. BAL - Matt Ryan, QB (Boston College)
8. K.C. - Malcolm Jenkins, CB (Ohio State)
9. CIN - Vernon Gholston, DE (Ohio State)
10. CHI - Kenny Phillips, S (Miami)
11. PHI - Jonathan Stewart, RB (Oregon)
12. CAR - DeSean Jackson, WR (California)
13. WAS - James Laurinaitis, ILB (Ohio State)
14. N.O. - Ali Highsmith, OLB (LSU)
15. HOU - Felix Jones, RB (Arkansas)
16. DEN - Kentwan Balmer, DT (North Carolina)
17. DET - Jeff Otah, OT (Pittsburgh)
18. ARI - Calais Campbell, DE (Miami)
19. BUF - Malcolm Kelly, WR (Oklahoma)
20. TEN - Dan Connor, ILB (Penn State)
21. MIN - Derrick Harvey, DE (Florida)
Officially Denver is now on the clock, unofficially Tampa Bay is up.
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