Thread: PHoD looks back on the 2008 off season (2008 draft results include)!

I'm completely exhausted from reading this impressive effort.
I'll play "draft games" at a later date.

"jkjuggalo" wrote:

Okay, okay...I know the season is not over and all that jazz, but I have an unhealthy addiction to the NFL Draft projections.
I was trying to avoid reading my
chemistry textbook and found that starting this thread would be much more productive.
So here is the format:

1.
Each round has 3 possible picks that you would be happy with.
2.
Do NOT base your picks solely on what you think Brad Childress would do (i.e. not draft 1st rd. QB)
3.
Explain which position the Vikings will be drafting in each round (i.e. pick #3?, #15?, #10-16?, etc.) and be realistic as far as player projections (no 2nd round projections getting picked in the 5th).

So here is my draft day wish list assuming we are drafting in the 10-16 area (player info provided by Walter's Football:

Round One

1.
QB Matt Ryan, Boston College (9/8)
Height: 6-5. Weight: 218.
40 Time: 4.89.
Projected Round: Top 15 Pick.
After going 32-of-52 for 408 yards, five touchdowns and two picks against Wake Forest, Matt Ryan was plagued by dropped passes, finishing 15-of-34 for 141 yards, one score and one interception. Still, the Eagles beat N.C. State, 37-17. Ryan, who sprained his ankle and broke his foot last year, definitely looks like a first-round prospect.

Tough. Played with an injured foot for most of the 2006 season and still threw for 2,942 yards and 15 TDs. Can't wait to see what he does when healthy.

2.
OT Sam Baker, USC
Height: 6-5. Weight: 305.
40 Time: 5.18.
Projected Round: Top 15 Pick.
Sam Baker could have been first on this list if he didn't suffer a knee injury late last season. He had surgery in January but seems to be recovering on schedule.

3.

Kenny Phillips*, FS/SS, Miami
Height: 6-2. Weight: 202.
40 Time: 4.40.
Projected Round: Top 10 Pick.
The top-rated safety eligible for the 2008 Draft, Kenny Phillips missed a portion of the 2006 season with a broken hand. Managed to pick off four passes in nine games. The 4.48 is an old time; I expect Phillips to run a 4.3 at the Combine. Check out NFL Draft Dog's Scouting Report on Phillips.

Round Two

1.
CB Dwight Lowery, San Jose State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 185.
40 Time: 4.38.
Projected Round: 1-2.
An interception machine, Dwight Lowery led the nation with nine picks in 2006 after registering 13 in 15 games at a Junior College.

2.
WR Earl Bennett*, Vanderbilt
Height: 6-0. Weight: 200.
40 Time: 4.46.
Projected Round: 1-2.
Earl Bennett managed 82 receptions and 1,146 yards in 2006. Caught 79 passes a year ago as a freshman.

3. DT
Frank Okam, Texas
Height: 6-5. Weight: 320.
40 Time: 5.00.
Projected Round: 1-2.
Frank Okam's bread and butter is his ability to stop the run, but don't take that to mean he's a one-dimensional defensive tackle.

Round Three

1.

Marcus Griffin, FS, Texas
Height: 6-0. Weight: 202.
40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round: 3.
Twin brother of Tennessee No. 1 pick Michael Griffin. Started 11 games in 2006, recording 86 tackles and a pick.

2. WR
D.J. Hall, Alabama
Height: 6-3. Weight: 190.
40 Time: 4.44.
Projected Round: 2.
Caught 62 passes for 1,056 yards with an inexperienced quarterback throwing to him. If John Parker Wilson improves, Hall's stock will soar.

3.
OG Kirk Elder, Texas A&M
Height: 6-5. Weight: 305.
40 Time: 5.15.
Projected Round: 3.
A player perfect for any zone-blocking scheme. One of the top guards available who fits that system.

Round 4

1.
OT Brandon Rodd, Arizona State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 303.
40 Time: 5.19.
Projected Round: 4-5.
Another candidate for a team utilizing zone blocking. Brandon Rodd can play tackle and guard.

2. TE
Darius Hill*, Ball State
Height: 6-6. Weight: 233.
40 Time: 4.67.
Projected Round: 4.
This is amazing: In just 10 games, Darius Hill caught 42 passes for 741 yards and 10 touchdowns. A product of a weak conference? Think again - he had six receptions for 119 yards at Purdue. Obviously undersized but very quick.

3. QB
Matt Flynn, LSU
Height: 6-3. Weight: 228.
40 Time: 4.62.
Projected Round: 4.
Will have the opportunity to prove himself with JaMarcus Russell out of the picture. Threw 7 TDs and only one pick in 2005. Has the ability to scramble effectively.

Round Five

1.

OT Duane Brown, Virginia Tech
Height: 6-5. Weight: 290.
40 Time: 4.99.
Projected Round: 4.
Perfect for any zone-blocking scheme. Can also play special teams.

2.
MLB Jeremy Leman, Illinois
Height: 6-2. Weight: 240.
40 Time: 4.77.
Projected Round: 4.
The greatest linebacker to play at Illinois in more than a decade, Jeremy Leman recorded 152 tackles (19 for a loss) in 2006. Coming off ankle surgery.

3. WR
Jordy Nelson, Kansas State
Height: 6-3. Weight: 217.
40 Time: 4.54.
Projected Round: 5.
Jordy Nelson needs to get his 40 time down, but he has certainly established himself as a talent wide out in 2007. He registered three straight 10-plus-catch performances, all for at least 116 yards and a touchdown against Missouri State, Texas and Kansas. Nelson's worst outing, as of Oct. 6, is a 82-yard day against San Jose State.

Round Six

1. OLB
Sir Darean Adams, Michigan State
Height: 6-0. Weight: 226.
40 Time: 4.58.
Projected Round: 6-7.
A tweener; too small for an outside linebacker, too slow for a safety. However, Sir Darean Adams is a tremendous leader and I'd gladly take him with a second-day selection if I were an NFL GM.

2.
C Jordan Lipsey, Virginia
Height: 6-3. Weight: 280.
40 Time: 4.98.
Projected Round: 6-7.
One of the few offensive linemen who can run a sub-5.0, Lipsey would be perfect in a zone-blocking system.

3. QB
Paul Smith, Tulsa (9/27)


Height: 6-2. Weight: 193.
40 Time: 4.85.
Projected Round: 5.
A bit small, but Paul Smith gets it done on the football field. A week after shredding BYU's secondary for 454 yards and five touchdowns, Smith was 22-of-32, 350 yards, two scores and two picks against Oklahoma.

Round Seven

1. CB
Al Phillips, Wagner
Height: 5-11. Weight: 195.
40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round: 7.
Level of competition is obviously an issue, but no one can ignore nine interceptions the past two seasons.

2.
Joe Fields, FS, Syracuse
Height: 6-1. Weight: 210.
40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round: 6-7.
Started all 12 games last year and intercepted four passes.

3. K
Jeremy Ito, Rutgers
Height: 5-11. Weight: 190.
Projected Round: 6-7.
Rutgers' all-time leader in field goals made. Was 22-of-29 with 2-of-3 coming from beyond 50 in 2006.

Well, that went well.
Now its time to go to class.
Feel free to dissect and pick apart my selections.
I have not seen a lot of these lower round picks play, but I like what I have read about them on different sites.
Can't wait to see what you all come up with.

Juggy

Nice post. I am like you addicted to NFL draft predictions. I am not one of the people that are in favor of us spending a first round pick on a QB. I dont think any of the QB's in this years draft class are going to be "stud" pros so.... I think we should wait a few more years and see if Tarvaris develops and pick Matthew Stafford QB Georiga who I think is going to be a really good player.

Another sleeper for next year or two years from now is Rhett Bomar QB Sam Houston St. He is a guy that was the #1 QB coming out of HS but got into some legal trouble with Oklahoma and got kicked off the team. He still has potential

"UffDaVikes" wrote:

"jkjuggalo" wrote:

If we have five wins or less, I'll eat my hat!

I am with you 100% on that. If we only win 5 games or less you can eat my hat too. ;D

i guess ill eat my hat too... :'(

i hope you dont puke, from what ive heard - a hat is not good for your stomach.

Posted by: skum
i hope you dont puke, from what ive heard - a hat is not good for your stomach.

Quite the contrary skum...hats are full of fiber and essential nutrients.


The taste is not so great though.

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Yeah, I've seen Leman play a few times, and he always catches my eye.
He is always in the play and reminds me of a Thomas or Urlacher type of LBer.

"MN" wrote:

IF this did happen then this is what i would like to see.

With the 6th pick of the 2008 NFL Draft the Minnesota Vikings select

Desean Jackson WR Cal

T-Jack to D-Jack Baby ;D

maybe its not the 6th pick but we could possibly be seeing T-Jack to D-Jack

"DustinDupont" wrote:

"UffDaVikes" wrote:

"jkjuggalo" wrote:

If we have five wins or less, I'll eat my hat!

I am with you 100% on that. If we only win 5 games or less you can eat my hat too. ;D

i guess ill eat my hat too... :'(

I'm glad we didn't have to eat our hats...but dag gummit, the playoff would have been sweet!

I was just reading my first early draft analyses, and boy has it changed now.
It will probably continue to change right up until the week of the draft anyway.