With the 29th pick, MINN selects - Harrison Smith [S] ND

vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66626

Alan Williams: "[Smith's] a physical ballplayer, he's smart and he does not look like a rookie out there in terms of the plays overwhelming him. He looks like he belongs. It's nice to have a guy out there that settles the defense, settles the secondary. I've played with rookies before. When I was in Indy, Antoine Bethea was a rookie and played every ballgame through the Super Bowl and played great ball. Bob Sanders, when he came in as a rookie, he played when he got healthy he played a ton of ball. That's OK. As long as they're good football players. And Harrison is a good football player."

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/168803196.html
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vikingsrule · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:38 am Post subject:

MN's secondary will be reliant on Smith becoming a good football player from the get go. MN needs the Safety spots solidified.

ArcticNorseman · Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 1431 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

For all the talk about how horrible the Vikes will be this year, I have to laugh -- although I dont' believe the playoffs are likely given the division and the youth of this team.

On a bright note, Harrison Smith getting a $21,000 fine for a hit is a good sign. To me, it shows he's going to put his stamp on this team. I hope it translates to interceptions too. Most really good free safeties get 6 - 8 Int's per year, so after 7 years they're in that 40-ish career interception range . . . enough to be qualified as elite.

I think the Vikes pass rush is a special deal, and it's extremely comforting to know they have Winfield and Cook back at CB with some solid speed and depth behind them. This leads me to ask the following:

Is it possible that the rookie INT record of 14, set in 1952 and currently held by - "Night Train" Lane is in jeapordy -- would you want to see Smith tie or break that record?

vikingsrule · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 11:54 am Post subject:

PurpleMugen · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 6:18 pm Post subject:

[UMN] · Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 11823 Location: Desolation Row

If Smith gets 4 INTs this season I will consider that a major success.
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2013 Adopt-a-Viking: OC Bill Musgrave

ArcticNorseman · Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 1431 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Heckuva nice question to ask, eh?

I don't think anybody regardless of scheme or position is going to get 14 Ints in a year (especially a rookie) . . . even though the league is pass-happy.

I will say this, cover 2 is just the base scheme . . . if this defensive front does what it's capable of, there will be sacks and pressures . . . tipped-balls, telegraphing and hurried throws. Things like that allow a defense to get creative, and a safety with good range and instincts won't have his blinders on -- playmakers make plays.

I also think Alan Williams is smart enough to temper the rigidity everyone thinks must exist in the Tampa 2 scheme. He'll adjust the scheme to the offense they face each week, and good Lord willing, this team will get 2 turnovers per game average.

Smith should be a big part of that . . . maybe 3 ints . . . maybe 9. Time will tell.

vike daddy · Joined: 12 Mar 2005 Posts: 66626

Dear Mr. Smith,

Please knock the snot out of any receiver that comes close to your protection area and is making a play on the ball.

Thank you,

vike daddy
a 43 year long Viking fan
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vikingsrule · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:43 pm Post subject:

Klomp · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 7:45 pm Post subject:

Harrison had 7 interceptions in his Notre Dame career. (all in 2010 as a junior)
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PurpleMugen · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:43 am Post subject:

Klomp · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 2:18 am Post subject:

Here's our TEAM totals the past five years...

2011-8
2010-15
2009-11
2008-12
2007-15

2007 was also the last time any individual had 10 INTs

Night Trains total is not only the rookie leader, but is the most any player has had in a single year.
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SteelKing728 · Joined: 23 Aug 2008 Posts: 10869 Location: Pittsburgh

Lil Uno · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 5273

vikingsrule · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 1:19 pm Post subject:

Last year the Vikes wanted to be a more aggressive but they werent able to since they didnt have a single CB who could be relied on in man coverage once Cook was kicked off the team.

I expect with the addition of Cook, Robinson and Jefferson, three CBs who are ideally built to play man coverage, i think MN will be more aggressive. You can still run an aggressive defense and use the Cover 2 look with the Safetys. You just need a smart MLB, who can excel in coverage. Not sure MN has that yet.