Cowart's effect on the draft....

The Gnat · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 34118 Location: Minneapolis

Now that we have gotten Cowart do we need to draft, or even think about Derrick Johnson. Wouldn't it make more sense now to either take on WR, Braylon or Williams, or Shawne Merriman, since he is a DE also. And then try and draft Thomas Davis with the 18th over all pick. Because one young LB won't really hurt us much at all especially since EJ and Dontarious have a ton of upsided.

missingmoss · Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 213 Location: Chaska

I don't think this has any impact. They need to pick the best player. This fills another hole and allows them to pick the top player whether it's Merriman, Johnson, or a WR.

BigRich3113 · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 1861

Yea I think we might actually trade down the 7th pick now if we can't get Williams or Edwards...... or possibly trade up to get them.......who knows our team is looking pretty diesel. I still think we should draft Thomas Davis as a hard hitting saftey. Myabe we go line now for depth since DD has only a couple more years left...... i don't even know anymore

mr.knowitall · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:45 pm Post subject:

Cowart's effect is that they will not take D.Johnson even if he falls. The LB Corp is going to look like this OLB Harris MLB Henderson OLB Cowart. They may take Merriman at DE but they will definately take a WR with #7 if Edwards or Williams is Available at #7 if not they will take Merriman at #7 then the next best WR at #18. Im excited.
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POINT PROVEN!!!!

chivato · Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 18

.....they already said he is going to start at middle linebacker, and that Ej is going to back up and be on special teams.......Draft Mike Williams, or Edwards, or draft DJ and go to a 3-4 ....then take davis or a DE with 18 and Nuge with our 2nd Rd, and Matt Jones with our 3rd.
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....the 1st one that smelt it, ...dealt it. ChivatO :/

vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66626

mr knowitall has pretty good instincts, i think:

They may take Merriman at DE but they will definately take a WR with #7 if Edwards or Williams is Available at #7. If not they will take Merriman at #7 then the next best WR at #18. Im excited.

sounds very plausible.

but from what i read about cowart, he is an exceptional team leader and motivator. hmmm, so maybe the front office has someone in mind for him to mentor....

tdub · Joined: 05 Mar 2005 Posts: 14802 Location: Buckhead, GA

i like that last one sorta....either williams or merriman with the 7th...take the opposite side of the ball with the other pick...(if williams, take D) then take nuge 2nd m jones 3rd...then a RB and some o line help to round out the draft
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Helter · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 8550 Location: Delaware

we just need to take the best player .
and if the best player available at the time isn't what we could use trade down and collect more picks to go for depth

Ares Caesar · Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 1565

I dont think trading for Cowart will change much of anything in terms of the "expected Vikings draft"

I'd say the Vikings draft board has looked this way for some time,

1) Mike Williams
2) Braylon Edwards
3) Derrick Johnson
4) Shawne Merriman

But you ask...

Why did they sign Travis Taylor if they'll draft a WR? -- because they have no idea if either WR will be there at #7, and Travis Taylor while isnt #1 reciever, is a gamble that could easily payoff greatly (cheap price, and decent reciever who just hasnt been in a great system in Baltimore) Its insurance.

Why did they sign Cowart if they'll draft DJ? -- because AGAIN its insurance, people have been predicting DJ to be a top 5 draft pick for a while, and its just too risky to assume he'll be there... besides Cowart is only replacing EJ henderson, DJ would be replacing EJ, or Thomas... and while Thomas and EJ are young and "decent" DJ is not just "decent" DJ is physically gifted at his position almost like Randy Moss is at WR. With all these defensive signings dont you get the feeling that the Vikings are looking to improve EVERYWHERE??? I mean they're not looking to just be a "good defense" they appear to want to be a "GREAT defense"... and Thomas and EJ are still weaker links, and DJ would be an automatic upgrade at the OLB position.

All in all, Williams or Edwards are still the most likely #7 picks, but dont think DJ is out of the picture.
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Sean Taylor-Forever 'Canes-

vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66626

hail caesar!

we've been yacking for awhile that the vikes might prefer merriman over dj if they had the choice of either.

Ares Caesar · Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 1565

common cents · Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 1862 Location: Minneapolis, MN

merriman isn't so much of a hybrid he just has the size and talent to be a stud at either position. so me myself am refusing to look at him as a tweener.

draft him as a olb in the base and a de in nickel and i garuntee he wont disappoint...

Serick · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 175 Location: Minnesota

Doesn't Merriman's size scare you guys off as a weakside linebacker? The Vikes' problem at LB seems to be that they're all behemoths. Sure, they're all fast for their size, but they lack the quickness and lateral speed that smaller OLBs possess.

I realize that Merriman is an uber athlete, but at 250 - 270 lbs, I just don't see him having the lateral quickness to disrupt the short passing game - a la the current crop of Vikes' lbs.

Can anyone explain the flaw in my reasoning?

common cents · Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 1862 Location: Minneapolis, MN

size scare me...no it truly intrigues me...he'd be the biggest lb in the game.

yep he's fast as hell for his size 4.6, and you would think because of his size he'd lack lateral quickness but, that where merriman is different he has unbelievable lateral quickness and thats why hes going to be picked 7 overall. seriously he ran a 4.2 short shuttle which is faster than most safety prospect coupled with the fact that scouts said he just looked fast in his cuts not just on the watch...he wasn't a robot just seemed fluid through the hips.

Helter · Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 8550 Location: Delaware

he's like a culpepper of Qb's
big quick agile and gets the job done the more I look at this guy the more I like him and while breaking him in at the pro level and the occational 3-4 defence to muck with the offenses ... this could be like the new version of LB's (like the new version of safeties-shaun tatlor-redskins)
it would put the fear in TE wanting to work the middle