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Frank Costello
Joined: 01 Mar 2009
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Location: in 2009, Vikings>Saints
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 Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | As Rick Spielman immerses himself this week in the final stages of planning for his first draft as Vikings general manager, he’ll have his hands full with the prioritization of the wish list. With 10 draft picks overall, including the No. 3 selection and six more in the top 140, Spielman will have a chance to scour the draft market for potential difference makers to help on both sides of the ball.
At No. 3? Spielman has said since the first week he took over at GM that he would consider trade offers. The chance to accumulate multiple first-round selections in exchange for the No. 3 pick would certainly be intriguing. Yet if the Vikings stay put? The consensus seems to be that they’ll make the surest selection out there for them, scooping up Southern Cal left tackle Matt Kalil.
But what if the Vikings wanted to really add some firepower to their offense? Wouldn’t drafting Justin Blackmon with their top pick and pairing him with young quarterback Christian Ponder be an ideal formula to energize the passing attack for years to come?
Last month, I spoke with NFL Network analyst and former perennial Pro Bowl receiver Torry Holt and asked him to dissect Blackmon’s game and the challenges that come with emerging as a reliable playmaker on the next level. Here are four notable things Holt had to say.
1) Blackmon’s physicality is impressive. Pair that with his aggressive mentality to make plays after the catch and he has a chance to make a major impact early in his career.
Holt spoke recently with Steve Keim, Arizona’s director of player personnel, and the two came to an agreement. Blackmon, they believe, seems to be a cross between Terrell Owens and Anquan Boldin in a lot of ways.
“There were some questions about his speed,” Holt said. “But I think he put that to rest at his pro day at Oklahoma State. And personally I was never concerned with that. What I always take a look at is how fast does a kid play at game time. Jerry Rice wasn’t a 4.2 or 4.3 guy in the 40. But he played at a speed that no other guy could play at for four quarters. And if Justin Blackmon can play at the speed I’ve seen this kid play at for four quarters, it’s going to be a problem. He’s going to be an instant asset to some organization right now.” |
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/146667255.html?uccb=1334016940782&cr=1
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Frank Costello
Joined: 01 Mar 2009
Posts: 8817
Location: in 2009, Vikings>Saints
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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So if you read that article, you will see that Holt is very high on Blackmon. Holt was drafted into a similar situation at 6, to the 4-12 Rams. They went on to do some wonderful things with Holt and Bruce. They also had Orlando Pace, that helped. 
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shah8
Joined: 06 Jan 2010
Posts: 848
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| Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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Man, I remember when Orlando Pace was young, and hungry.
Kalil or Claiborne, though, here. |
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Kellerman
Joined: 16 May 2010
Posts: 3222
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 6:01 am Post subject: |
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| Frank Costello wrote: | | Quote: | As Rick Spielman immerses himself this week in the final stages of planning for his first draft as Vikings general manager, he’ll have his hands full with the prioritization of the wish list. With 10 draft picks overall, including the No. 3 selection and six more in the top 140, Spielman will have a chance to scour the draft market for potential difference makers to help on both sides of the ball.
At No. 3? Spielman has said since the first week he took over at GM that he would consider trade offers. The chance to accumulate multiple first-round selections in exchange for the No. 3 pick would certainly be intriguing. Yet if the Vikings stay put? The consensus seems to be that they’ll make the surest selection out there for them, scooping up Southern Cal left tackle Matt Kalil.
But what if the Vikings wanted to really add some firepower to their offense? Wouldn’t drafting Justin Blackmon with their top pick and pairing him with young quarterback Christian Ponder be an ideal formula to energize the passing attack for years to come?
Last month, I spoke with NFL Network analyst and former perennial Pro Bowl receiver Torry Holt and asked him to dissect Blackmon’s game and the challenges that come with emerging as a reliable playmaker on the next level. Here are four notable things Holt had to say.
1) Blackmon’s physicality is impressive. Pair that with his aggressive mentality to make plays after the catch and he has a chance to make a major impact early in his career.
Holt spoke recently with Steve Keim, Arizona’s director of player personnel, and the two came to an agreement. Blackmon, they believe, seems to be a cross between Terrell Owens and Anquan Boldin in a lot of ways.
“There were some questions about his speed,” Holt said. “But I think he put that to rest at his pro day at Oklahoma State. And personally I was never concerned with that. What I always take a look at is how fast does a kid play at game time. Jerry Rice wasn’t a 4.2 or 4.3 guy in the 40. But he played at a speed that no other guy could play at for four quarters. And if Justin Blackmon can play at the speed I’ve seen this kid play at for four quarters, it’s going to be a problem. He’s going to be an instant asset to some organization right now.” |
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/146667255.html?uccb=1334016940782&cr=1 |
To me his physical talent was never the issue. Last season I believe I had the only mock that picked Blackmon in the 1st.
That kinda puts me at ease when the #3 pick rolls around, because I'm comfortable with Blackmon, Kalil and Claiborne as our first pick.
My personal preference is Kalil, yours is Blackmon, and that's fine. What's exciting is that the Vikings are going into a pretty decent draft with great ammo, and a shot at three good players in the 1st.
It's not going to decide the draft, the #3 pick, even a total non-expert couldn't screw up that pick when choosing between Kalil, Claiborne and Blackmon. That 2nd round, 3rd round, 4th round, etc, those are going to be the deciding factor this year.
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wcblack34
Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 4021
Location: Anywhere but Wisconsin.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:36 am Post subject: |
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| Kellerman wrote: | To me his physical talent was never the issue. Last season I believe I had the only mock that picked Blackmon in the 1st.
That kinda puts me at ease when the #3 pick rolls around, because I'm comfortable with Blackmon, Kalil and Claiborne as our first pick.
My personal preference is Kalil, yours is Blackmon, and that's fine. What's exciting is that the Vikings are going into a pretty decent draft with great ammo, and a shot at three good players in the 1st.
It's not going to decide the draft, the #3 pick, even a total non-expert couldn't screw up that pick when choosing between Kalil, Claiborne and Blackmon. That 2nd round, 3rd round, 4th round, etc, those are going to be the deciding factor this year. |
I did a mock with Blackmon at #12 before he went back to school too 
It this point, I'll really only be disappointed if we either A) Reach for some player we could have if we traded back several spots or B) Trade so far back that we miss out on Kalil, Blackmon, Floyd, or Claiborne, while not getting appropriate value for doing so.
We're truly in a great position to get a player who will help us out tremendously somewhere on the field. Like Kellerman said, it comes down to preferences, and it will be Rounds 2-7 that determine what kind of draft this becomes. |
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Frank Costello
Joined: 01 Mar 2009
Posts: 8817
Location: in 2009, Vikings>Saints
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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I started a thread which indicates another reason why I think we will draft Blackmon, or another WR in a trade down. Please check out and comment.
http://www.footballsfuture.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=487228
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Frank Costello
Joined: 01 Mar 2009
Posts: 8817
Location: in 2009, Vikings>Saints
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | With the third pick in the Rant Sports 2012 NFL Mock Draft, the Minnesota Vikings select Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon. The Vikings certainly don’t need another Randy Moss, but they could definitely use another wide receiver with his level of talent.
Blackmon is fairly big for a wide out, standing 6’1 and weighing 207 lbs. During his career at Oklahoma State, he totaled 252 Rec, 3564 Yds, 14.1 Avg, and 40 TD’s. He was an All-American in 2010 and 2011, while winning the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s top receiver.
During Oklahoma State’s pro day, Blackmon ran the 40 yard dash in 4.46. In the eyes of most draft analysts, Blackmon is the best overall wide receiver available in this year’s class.
His strengths will be his size and ability to adjust to balls that aren’t necessarily on target, and to go up and get them. Draft analysts expect Blackmon to reek havoc on defenses while he is in the slot position. |
http://www.rantsports.com/minnesota-vikings/2012/04/09/minnesota-vikings-select-justin-blackmon-in-rant-sports-2012-nfl-mock-draft/
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vike daddy
Joined: 12 Mar 2005
Posts: 66831
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Frank Costello wrote: | | Quote: | | Draft analysts expect Blackmon to reek havoc on defenses while he is in the slot position. |
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so called "journalists..."
reek: to smell strongly and unpleasantly.
wreak: to inflict or execute (punishment, vengeance)
Dictionary.com
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sparkyjoe1
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 1063
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Frank Costello wrote: | | Quote: | | reek havoc on defenses while he is in the slot position. |
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Percy is at his best in the slot. If Blackmon is best suited for the slot, wouldn't it push one of them outside where they not the most effective?  |
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Frank Costello
Joined: 01 Mar 2009
Posts: 8817
Location: in 2009, Vikings>Saints
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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Check out my video I made for Blackmon guys. Hope you like it.
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LoverInTheCold
Joined: 27 Feb 2005
Posts: 1587
Location: Piscataway, NJ
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| sparkyjoe1 wrote: | | Frank Costello wrote: | | Quote: | | reek havoc on defenses while he is in the slot position. |
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Percy is at his best in the slot. If Blackmon is best suited for the slot, wouldn't it push one of them outside where they not the most effective? |
Neither Harvin or Blackmon are solely slot types. While it's true that either can do a lot of damage in that role, they both have the ability to line up outside when needed. It's their versatility that makes them both so dangerous.
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