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Draft Predictions2007 NFL
Draft Predictions for Minnesota
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2008 Minnesota Vikings
NFL predictions & season preview!
Minnesota got off to a hot start last season, only to lose 8 out of their
last 10 games to finish up with a 6-10 record. They obviously have many areas in
need of improvement starting with the 2007 NFL Draft. The Vikings inability to
move the ball on offense leaves much to be desired, and the defensive unit took
a hit when Defensive Coordinator Mike Tomlin left in the offseason to replace
Bill Cowher as the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach.
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The Vikings set a modern-day team low with just 13 touchdown
passes last season. Even worse is the fact that two of those tosses were
from non-quarterbacks in kicker, Ryan Longwell and running back, Mewelde
Moore. Minnesota also ranked 26th out of 32 teams in scoring offense with
17.6 points per game. Heading into the 2007 season, the Vikings' main
concern is at quarterback.
Rookie Tarvaris Jackson started Minnesota's final two games, but didn't fare
well throwing four interceptions to just two touchdowns. A bad as
Minnesota's play from the play-calling position was, the wide receivers
didn't prove to be promising either. No wide receiver finished with more
than 660 yards receiving. Worse was the fact the Marcus Robinson, the team's
leading touchdown catcher, was cut by the team with one game remaining after
questioning Childress' communication with players. He was hands down their
best receiver.
Minnesota has the seventh overall selection, and will likely take a wide
receiver as their first choice. Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson will probably
be gone, leaving Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. or USC's Dwayne Jarrett as
front-runners. Ginn would also provide an explosive return man, an area that
the Vikings lacked in 2006. Of course, the Vikings may be reluctant to draft
a receiver as their first-round pick. They took Troy Williamson with the No.
7 overall pick two seasons ago and he has been a disappointment thus far. He
only has 827 yards receiving to go along with 2 touchdowns in two seasons of
work.
If a receiver isn't chosen as a first-round pick, it may be used for a
defensive end, a position that has given the Vikings troubles in recent
years. The team lost Erasmus James to a season-ending knee injury in just
the second game last season, while third-year pro Kenechi Udeze hit bottom
in 2006 by recording no sacks and just 29 tackles in 15 starts. Those are
about the worst numbers you will see in this league. Someone like Florida's
Jarvis Moss or Georgia's Charles Johnson would fit well with the
inside-tandem of tackles in Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, both of whom
are coming off Pro Bowl seasons.
Steve Hutchinson was worth every bit of his $49 million free-agent contract
to help the offensive line last season. But Minnesota still has numerous
injuries on the right side of the line and problems blocking and
pass-protecting their quarterback. The Vikings will look to add players on
the offensive line to strengthen the interior in the later rounds. Wide
receiver will be the initial choice most likely, so look for the Vikings to
improve at this position via the 2007 NFL Draft.
Updated April 27th, 2007
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