Official 2007 Live Draft Thread

[BallHawk]

It's Peterson.

Good.

[Rastak]

Adrian Peterson
RB | (6'1", 217, 4.4) | OKLAHOMA

Scouts Grade: 98



Strengths: Possesses an outstanding combination of size, power and speed. Shows a great deal of competitiveness and toughness as a runner. Extremely instinctive as a runner. Shows excellent vision and patience. Runs with ideal balance and body control. Makes quick cuts and shows very good initial burst off his plant foot. He is an upright runner but he also knows when to lower his shoulder for the most part. Rare in terms of his ability to gain yards after contact. He is a punishing back that will wear a defense down with 25-35 carries, and he seems to improve as the game wears on. He shows the initial burst and speed to consistently turn the corner as an outside runner. He continues to improve as a route runner. He has displayed soft hands as a receiver and has upside in that facet of the game. He also shows the size, strength and competitiveness to develop into a solid pass blocker with improved technique and more attention to detail.

Weaknesses: Durability is the biggest concern. He has been limited by injuries in each of his three collegiate seasons, yet he also has lots of mileage on his legs with 728 carries in the 30 games played to date. He will enter the NFL having already suffered injuries to his shoulder, ankle and collarbone. He is an upright runner that loses some power because he fails to consistently run with good pad-level. He's not overly elusive and won't make many defenders miss in space. He lacks ideal experience in the passing game. Will need polishing as a route runner and as a blocker.

Overall: Peterson started eight of 13 games played as a true freshman in 2004, when he rushed for 1,925 yards and 15 touchdowns on 339 carries. He also caught five passes for 12 yards that season. He was suspended for two days during 2005 spring practice and did not start vs. UCLA because he missed classes. As a sophomore in 2005, Peterson started eight of 11 games played (missed Baylor and parts of three other games with ankle sprain), and finished with 1,108 yards and 14 TD's on 220 carries, and caught nine passes for 50 yards. A broken collarbone (Iowa State 10/14) forced him to miss seven games in 2006. For the season he rushed 188 times for 1,012 yards (5.4 average) and 12 touchdowns and also caught 10 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown, earning him a first team All-Big 12 selection. On a side note: His father was in prison from when Peterson was in middle school until October of 2006.
Durability is the biggest knock on Peterson. Otherwise, he's a complete prospect with special physical skills and competitiveness. When healthy, Peterson displays an outstanding combination of size, vision, instincts, burst and power as a runner. Also, while his receptions were limited in college, he displays soft hands and lots of potential in that department. Overall, Peterson is by far the best running back in the 2007 class and he ranks as one of the top-five prospects regardless of position.



* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.

[swede]

I hope he enjoys many weeks of happiness playing for Minnesota.

[FritzDontBlitz]

the tavaris jackson era continues in minnesota

[BallHawk]

They're gonna be partying on Minnatonka tonight!

[MadtownPacker]

OK, the commish better rebreak AP's collarbone on the podium to get the healing process started!!

[GoPackGo]

peterson is scary when healthy

[Reggie 92]

AP= The enemy

He's delicate and has taken a lot of punishment in college. But an explosive playmaker nonetheless.

[Rastak]

OK, the commish better rebreak AP's collarbone on the podium to get the healing process started!!

He who laughs last laughs best Mad! Let him sit for a year, heal up then kick ass. Chester can carry the load next year in Chilly Kickass offense....


I like the pick.

[Brando19]

Quinn will be a dolphin.

[BallHawk]

Who is it here for Atlanta?

Anderson? Grubbs? Okoye?

[Rastak]

Quinn will be a dolphin.

Yup, and Culpepper will be unemployed.

[GoPackGo]

Quinn will be a dolphin.

thats a good place for him

[ahaha]

Two explosive offensive weapons added to the NFC North. This has me uneasy.

[FritzDontBlitz]

an injury prone rb is drafted by minnesota. i wonder what kind of shelf life he'll have after facing urlacher and aj twice a year?