Rastak
04-30-2006, 09:02 AM
Round 1/17 Chad Greenway, LB Complete Bio Page
HT WT College 2005 Stats
6-3 243 Iowa
GP Tk Ast Sacks FR-FF TD Int
12 156 61 2-6 0-0 0 1-16-0
Scouting Report: With the recent success by Brian Urlacher and Chicago's daunting defense, some NFL teams will be clamoring the next Urlacher. Greenway isn't exactly that, but he's close. A little lighter than the Big Bear and not quite the same pass rusher, Greenway is nonetheless cut from a similar linebacking cloth. He has fantastic athleticism and quickness, superb instincts, and a tough, vocal leadership quality that should make him successful early in his NFL career. Greenway overcame major reconstructive knee surgery in 2002 to post excellent numbers his next three seasons, a testament to his heart and will. He's still a little bit light to dominate in the midfield but his rangy frame is still filling out. He's a ball hound who loves to hit, piling up 156 tackles this year. If he can stay healthy he should be a can't-miss prospect.
Impact: If the draft had been held a few months ago, this pick might have been more obvious. At this point it really isn't, since Greenway's stock had by all accounts been nosediving for months after sub-par workouts and worries about his injury history. To be fair to the Vikes they do need depth at linebacker, but whether they'll get it from Greenway is debatable. The recent loss of Sam Cowart probably made this a bit of a pressing requirement for the Vikings, who likely see the glass half full when looking at Greenway. He may indeed turn out to be a great NFL linebacker, but he has as many questions surrounding him as almost any top prospect in the draft.
Round 2/48 Cedric Griffin, CB Complete Bio Page
HT WT College 2005 Stats
6-0 198 Texas
GP Tk Ast Sacks FR-FF TD Int
13 86 38 0-0 1-2 0 0-0-0
Scouting Report: Overlooked a little because he played with a great defense at Texas, Griffin is a versatile and talented defender who could excel at either cornerback or safety in the NFL. He was a four-year starter and named all-Big 12, so he wasn't exactly a forgotten man but he might have been seen as more of a star on a different team. Above all Griffin is a big hitter, a guy who can stay with most plays and then explode to the ball and take out the receiver. While he could potentially be a better man-to-man cover guy, Griffin is more of a zone defender who likes to poach and pick his spots. He needs to work on his straight-up skills for the next level, but is underrated and should be a very good pro.
Impact: While not an ideal pick for the Vikings, Griffin could nevertheless be a very good addition for the club. Their defense in general was a big disappointment in 2005 and Griffin isn't the type to fall flat. He's a very well-rounded and physical player, and judging by the Vikes' first pick (of linebacker Chad Greenway), they're looking for a more physical type of player. He may not be a starter right away but Griffin has the character and skills to be a contributor on special teams at least, and the Vikings are looking for character players after last season's Love Boat fiasco. A solid selection.
Round 2/51 Ryan Cook, C Complete Bio Page
HT WT College 2005 Stats
6-7 327 New Mexico
GP
11
Scouting Report: Few centers in the draft were more decorated than Cook was during his college career at New Mexico. He was a consistently dominant for the past three years, earning all-MWC first-team nods in all three of the years. Cook is also one of the strongest players in the draft, a guy who won't be overwhelmed by anyone at the NFL level. He also has enough agility and quickness to make the transition to the pro game without too much trouble. The only question mark with Cook is his lack of elite speed. He's relatively slow, which means he'll need to keep developing his technique and positioning to keep improving. Yet he's a good bet to continue to develop, as he was a walk-on at New Mexico who proved he's willing to do what it takes to be great. His long arms and frame also suggest he could add even more muscle, making him a player who still may have major upside despite his already impressive accomplishments.
Impact: Last season, one of the biggest problems for the Vikings was their O-line. Now that Steve Hutchinson has arrived with his Pro Bowl credentials at guard, the needs are less worrisome. Seth McKinney is a solid prospect himself but Cook may have more upside, and he's accomplished enough that he might be able to join Hutchinson in beefing up the Viking protection unit. He'll also learn a lot from Hutchinson, making this pick that much more cagey for a Viking team that seems intent on building some offensive stability in the wake of the Daunte Culpepper trade.
Round 2/64 Tarvaris Jackson, QB Complete Bio Page
HT WT College 2005 Stats
6-2 225 Alabama State
GP Att Comp Yds Avg TD Int
11 320 195 2940 9.2 29 5
Scouting Report: In many ways, Tarvaris Jackson is the Vince Young of Division I-AA. A big, mobile guy with a fantastic arm, Jackson was very successful at Alabama State. He was prolific in his time there, piling up both passing and rushing yards. Jackson also showed steady improvement over his years as a Hornet and cut down on his interceptions his final two years. He has legitimate size and athleticism for the quarterback position in the NFL, but there are questions if he overachieved in a less-than-elite league. He is a project at this point, but has had enough success that his development could be relatively quick in the right system.
Impact: With the Daunte Culpepper saga behind them now, the Vikings have handed the reins to Brad Johnson for the next year or two. That means they need to start looking for a replacement, and Jackson may be their man. He's not very polished but does have some excellent gifts to work with, and he'll have a very good tutor in Johnson. This pick was probably too high for Jackson, but the Vikings obviously see something in him to warrant a selection in the second round. Jackson isn't really close to being a contributor but he does have intriguing athleticism, and that could conceivably lead to a position change in the pros. Regardless, this pick may look better a couple of years down the road.
HT WT College 2005 Stats
6-3 243 Iowa
GP Tk Ast Sacks FR-FF TD Int
12 156 61 2-6 0-0 0 1-16-0
Scouting Report: With the recent success by Brian Urlacher and Chicago's daunting defense, some NFL teams will be clamoring the next Urlacher. Greenway isn't exactly that, but he's close. A little lighter than the Big Bear and not quite the same pass rusher, Greenway is nonetheless cut from a similar linebacking cloth. He has fantastic athleticism and quickness, superb instincts, and a tough, vocal leadership quality that should make him successful early in his NFL career. Greenway overcame major reconstructive knee surgery in 2002 to post excellent numbers his next three seasons, a testament to his heart and will. He's still a little bit light to dominate in the midfield but his rangy frame is still filling out. He's a ball hound who loves to hit, piling up 156 tackles this year. If he can stay healthy he should be a can't-miss prospect.
Impact: If the draft had been held a few months ago, this pick might have been more obvious. At this point it really isn't, since Greenway's stock had by all accounts been nosediving for months after sub-par workouts and worries about his injury history. To be fair to the Vikes they do need depth at linebacker, but whether they'll get it from Greenway is debatable. The recent loss of Sam Cowart probably made this a bit of a pressing requirement for the Vikings, who likely see the glass half full when looking at Greenway. He may indeed turn out to be a great NFL linebacker, but he has as many questions surrounding him as almost any top prospect in the draft.
Round 2/48 Cedric Griffin, CB Complete Bio Page
HT WT College 2005 Stats
6-0 198 Texas
GP Tk Ast Sacks FR-FF TD Int
13 86 38 0-0 1-2 0 0-0-0
Scouting Report: Overlooked a little because he played with a great defense at Texas, Griffin is a versatile and talented defender who could excel at either cornerback or safety in the NFL. He was a four-year starter and named all-Big 12, so he wasn't exactly a forgotten man but he might have been seen as more of a star on a different team. Above all Griffin is a big hitter, a guy who can stay with most plays and then explode to the ball and take out the receiver. While he could potentially be a better man-to-man cover guy, Griffin is more of a zone defender who likes to poach and pick his spots. He needs to work on his straight-up skills for the next level, but is underrated and should be a very good pro.
Impact: While not an ideal pick for the Vikings, Griffin could nevertheless be a very good addition for the club. Their defense in general was a big disappointment in 2005 and Griffin isn't the type to fall flat. He's a very well-rounded and physical player, and judging by the Vikes' first pick (of linebacker Chad Greenway), they're looking for a more physical type of player. He may not be a starter right away but Griffin has the character and skills to be a contributor on special teams at least, and the Vikings are looking for character players after last season's Love Boat fiasco. A solid selection.
Round 2/51 Ryan Cook, C Complete Bio Page
HT WT College 2005 Stats
6-7 327 New Mexico
GP
11
Scouting Report: Few centers in the draft were more decorated than Cook was during his college career at New Mexico. He was a consistently dominant for the past three years, earning all-MWC first-team nods in all three of the years. Cook is also one of the strongest players in the draft, a guy who won't be overwhelmed by anyone at the NFL level. He also has enough agility and quickness to make the transition to the pro game without too much trouble. The only question mark with Cook is his lack of elite speed. He's relatively slow, which means he'll need to keep developing his technique and positioning to keep improving. Yet he's a good bet to continue to develop, as he was a walk-on at New Mexico who proved he's willing to do what it takes to be great. His long arms and frame also suggest he could add even more muscle, making him a player who still may have major upside despite his already impressive accomplishments.
Impact: Last season, one of the biggest problems for the Vikings was their O-line. Now that Steve Hutchinson has arrived with his Pro Bowl credentials at guard, the needs are less worrisome. Seth McKinney is a solid prospect himself but Cook may have more upside, and he's accomplished enough that he might be able to join Hutchinson in beefing up the Viking protection unit. He'll also learn a lot from Hutchinson, making this pick that much more cagey for a Viking team that seems intent on building some offensive stability in the wake of the Daunte Culpepper trade.
Round 2/64 Tarvaris Jackson, QB Complete Bio Page
HT WT College 2005 Stats
6-2 225 Alabama State
GP Att Comp Yds Avg TD Int
11 320 195 2940 9.2 29 5
Scouting Report: In many ways, Tarvaris Jackson is the Vince Young of Division I-AA. A big, mobile guy with a fantastic arm, Jackson was very successful at Alabama State. He was prolific in his time there, piling up both passing and rushing yards. Jackson also showed steady improvement over his years as a Hornet and cut down on his interceptions his final two years. He has legitimate size and athleticism for the quarterback position in the NFL, but there are questions if he overachieved in a less-than-elite league. He is a project at this point, but has had enough success that his development could be relatively quick in the right system.
Impact: With the Daunte Culpepper saga behind them now, the Vikings have handed the reins to Brad Johnson for the next year or two. That means they need to start looking for a replacement, and Jackson may be their man. He's not very polished but does have some excellent gifts to work with, and he'll have a very good tutor in Johnson. This pick was probably too high for Jackson, but the Vikings obviously see something in him to warrant a selection in the second round. Jackson isn't really close to being a contributor but he does have intriguing athleticism, and that could conceivably lead to a position change in the pros. Regardless, this pick may look better a couple of years down the road.