Vikings Free Agent Rookie: Ian Johnson

2009 NFL Draft Prospect Scouting Report:
Ian Johnson, RB, Boise St.
The hero of the 2007 Fiesta Bowl game against Oklahoma, Johnson commenced his college career in 2005 when he carried the ball on 119 occasions for 663 yards (5.6 per attempt). He also scored 4 TD. Starting twelve games in 2006, Johnson recorded 277 carriers (6.2) for 1,713 yards and 25 TD. He also rushed for 100 yards on 24 carriers and scored a TD against the vaunted Oklahoma defense in the 2007 Fiesta classic. In 2007 he rushed for 1,041 yards on 207 attempts (5.0) with 16 TD. He has miss some time with nagging injuries.
Johnson is a hard runner with instincts to play the position. A strong leg drive and soft hands, he could develop into a decent pass catching back. A huge heart. A better football player than an athlete. He is on the short side; Needs to add bulk and strength, especially on his upper body. Is slow (4.59). Will not turn the corner in the NFL. Easy to tackle. Has an inflated ego. Injuries are a concern.

Over hyped. Johnson was thrown into the spotlight after an incredible Fiesta Bowl performance, but he is nothing special. He is an average athlete, at best, who will have to drive himself to make an NFL roster. He will be drafted, mainly because of past performances and his immense heart, but he is a long shot to make a major contribution next year, if at all.

Vikings Sign 14 Rookie Free Agents

The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms with 14 rookie free agents.

PLAYER - SCHOOL
S Colt Anderson - Montana
RB Kahlil Bell - UCLA
C Jon Cooper - Oklahoma
LB Robert Francois - Boston College
QB Sean Glennon - Virginia Tech
S Devon Hall - Utah State
DT Antoine Holmes - North Carolina State
RB Ian Johnson - Boise State
DT Tremaine Johnson - LSU
G Andy Kemp - Wisconsin
T Bobby Lepori - Fresno State
WR Nick Moore - Toledo
WR Vinny Perretta - Boise State
TE Nick Walker - Alabama

Vikings Draft Pick 2009: Jamarca Stanford (7th Round)

From Ole Miss Website
Jamarca Stanford FS, Ole Miss


Started all 44 career games in which he played ... As a senior, was the SEC active leader in career tackles ... Accepted invitation to the 2009 Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Challenge following his senior season ... 2008: Started all 13 games at strong safety ... Served as team captain ... Topped the team in solo stops (56) and ranked second in total tackles (82) ... Tied for team lead with two forced fumbles ... Also recorded 4.0 TFLs and two QB hurries ... Helped the Rebel defense rank No. 2 in SEC and No. 4 in the nation in rush defense (85.5 ypg) ... Honored with the 2008 Leadership Award from the Birmingham Alumni Club ... Named Midseason All-SEC third team by Phil Steele ... Earned fourth letter ... vs. Memphis (8/30): Tied a career-high with 13 tackles, including a career-best 11 solos, in start ... at Wake Forest (9/6): Posted eight stops, six solo, a forced fumble and 0.5 a TFL in start ... vs. Samford (9/13): Collected four tackles in start ... vs. Vanderbilt (9/20): Tallied seven tackles (five solo) and one forced fumble in start ... at Florida (9/27): Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week after posting a team-high 11 tackles ... vs. South Carolina (10/4): Tied career-highs with 13 tackles and 11 solo ... at Alabama (10/18): Tallied five stops (four solo) ... at Arkansas (10/25): Finished with three solo tackles ...vs. Auburn (11/1): Collected a career-high 2.0 TFLs and finished with two solo tackles ... vs. ULM (11/15): Posted five tackles and 0.5 QB sacks ... at LSU (11/22): Finished with five tackles (two solo) ... vs. Mississippi State (11/28): Collected four solo tackles, including 1.0 TFL ... Cotton Bowl vs. Texas Tech (1/2): Credited with two solo tackles ... Spring: Received the 2008 Chucky Mullins Courage Award and is wearing a "38" patch on his jersey during his senior season to honor the late Chucky Mullins, whose Ole Miss career as a defensive back came to an end in 1989 when he was paralyzed in a game against Vanderbilt ... Posted a solo tackle in the Red-Blue Game ...

2007: Played in and started 10 games at strong safety ... Ranked sixth in the SEC at 8.3 tackles per game ... Finished third on the team in total tackles (83) and fourth in TFLs (5.5) and pass break-ups (4) ... Also forced two fumbles and blocked a punt ... Earned third letter ... at Memphis (9/1): Registered first career punt block, which resulted in a TD by Kendrick Lewis ... Recorded seven tackles, including five solos and 0.5 TFLs ... Also broke up two passes and forced a fumble ... vs. Missouri (9/8): Topped team with a career-high 13 total tackles, including eight solos and a TFL ... at Vanderbilt (9/15): Led the team with a career-high 13 total tackles with seven solos and one TFL ... vs. Florida (9/22): Credited with seven tackles with a pair of solos ... at Georgia (9/29): Posted two pass break-ups and five tackles, including three solos and 0.5 TFLs ... at Auburn (10/27): Notched 11 total stops with seven solos ... vs. Northwestern State (11/3): Tied career-high with 13 stops ... Also recorded 1.5 TFLs and a forced fumble ... vs. LSU (11/17): Team-high 10 tackles (six solo) and 0.5 TFLs ... at Mississippi State (11/23): Totaled four tackles, including three solos and a half TFL ... Preseason: Named 2007 preseason third team All-SEC by Athlon ... Spring: Recorded seven tackles and one interception in the Red-Blue game ...

2006: Appeared in and started 11 games, seven games at strong safety and four at linebacker ... Credited with 64 tackles and 1.5 QB sacks on the season ... Finished fourth on the team in tackles ... Earned his second letter ... vs. Memphis (9/3): Recorded seven total tackles in start ... at Missouri (9/9): Credited with eight stops and recorded a pass break-up in start ... at Kentucky (9/16): Recorded a pass break-up and 0.5 QB sack in a start ... vs. Wake Forest (9/23): Career-high 10 stops in start ... at Alabama (10/14): Tallied five tackles in start ... at Arkansas (10/21): Recorded three tackles in start ... vs. Auburn (10/28): Earned first career start at LB ... Posted six stops ... vs. Northwestern State (11/4): Tallied seven tackles and 0.5 QB sacks in start ... at LSU (11/18): Collected three stops and 0.5 QB sack ... vs. Mississippi State (11/25): Tied his career-high with 10 tackles and a pass defended in the start ...

2005: Named Third Team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News ... Earned First Team Freshman All-SEC honors from the SEC Coaches and The Sporting News ... Played in and started 10 games at strong safety, missing only the Wyoming game (9/24) ... Topped all SEC freshmen in tackles and was 12th among all league DBs at 5.3 stops per game ... Ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 58, including 40 solos ... Tied for sixth in the conference in fumble recoveries with two ... Notched one interception and one pass break-up ... Helped the Rebel defense finish the season 14th in the nation in pass defense, 27th in total defense and 31st in scoring defense ... Earned his first letter ... at Memphis (9/5): Recorded six tackles (five solo) and one TFL in first career start ... Helped the Rebel defense hold All-American RB DeAngelo Williams under 100 yards rushing for only the third time in his previous 23 games ... at Vanderbilt (9/17): Credited with a seven tackles, including six solos, with a TFL ... at Tennessee (10/1): Totaled a career-high eight stops with six solos ... vs. Citadel (10/8): Made two tackles ... Helped contain The Citadel to 81 yards of total offense, the least by a Rebel foe since 1993 ... vs. Alabama (10/15): Posted four tackles (three solo) and a fumble recovery ... Also notched two pass break-ups and a QB hurry ... Helped limit the Crimson Tide to a then season-low 13 points and 121 rushing yards ... vs. Kentucky (10/22): Tallied six stops (five solo) ... Recovered a fumble for the second straight game ... Helped the Rebel defense contain the Wildcats to one score while forcing three turnovers ... at Auburn (10/29): Matched career high with eight total tackles, including one TFL, ... vs. Arkansas (11/12): Registered seven stops (four solo) and a TFL ... Helped shut down the SEC’s top rushing attack, holding the Razorbacks to 89 yards, 163 yards below their then season average ... vs. LSU (11/19): Made three tackles ... at Mississippi State (11/26): Credited with seven stops (five solo) with 1.5 TFLs ... Preseason: Named First Team Preseason Redshirt Freshman All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com. Spring: Started spring drills as a corner before being moved to linebacker for two days ... Was then moved to strong safety and worked his way to the top of the depth chart ... 2004: Did not see action and was redshirted ...

Vikings Draft Pick 2009: Jasper Brinkley (5th Round).....

From FFToolbox.com
2009 NFL Draft Prospect Scouting Report:
Jasper Brinkley, OLB, South Carolina

Brinkley played two seasons at Georgia Military College before transferring to South Carolina, where he was the defensive star when healthy. In 2006 he led the team in total tackles with 107 -- a whopping 85 of which were solo. As a result, Brinkley went into the 2007 season on the Pre-season All-SEC First Team. An ankle injury, however, slowed him in the beginning before torn knee ligaments sidelined him for the year. Because that happened in September, Brinkley received a medical redshirt and returned to Columbia in 2008 for his senior campaign.

Nevertheless, the linebacker was never the same and he recorded just 54 tackles last season. As such, physical concerns are the main red flag surrounding Brinkley among NFL personnel. He is also better against the run, and if he never regains his past speed and athleticism, he won't be much of a factor against the pass. When he is at full speed he can run under 4.7 in the 40, a scary element to go along with being 6'2'' and 270 pounds.

It is definitely not fun for opposing running backs to see Brinkley coming their way. Nor is he fun to see in blitz packages, as Brinkley is great at getting into the backfield and taking care of quarterbacks. His draft stock really hinged on his 2008 performance, and because he was limited, there is almost no way he will go off the board in the first round. Still, some NFL teams are not afraid of a high-risk / high-reward situation and could be willing to snag Brinkley before the end of round two.

Vikings Draft Pick 2009: Asher Allen (3rd Round)...

2009 NFL Draft Prospect Scouting Report:
From FF Toolbox.com:
Asher Allen, CB, Georgia
Allen was one of few Georgia Bulldogs who stayed healthy throughout the 2008 season, and it paid off in the form of a solid junior year. He was a named a semifinalist for the Lott Trophy (defensive impact player of the year) and the Jim Thorpe Award (best cornerback).

The junior also has a propensity for coming up big in clutch situations, having been all over the place in UGA's past two bowl games. Allen had two interceptions in last season's Sugar Bowl victory over Hawaii and he allowed nothing through the air against Michigan State in the Bulldogs' recent Capital One Bowl triumph.

A dynamic athlete, Allen is also a force on special teams. He can run in the low 4.4s in the 40-yard dash and he returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown against Kentucky in 2007. Allen is just a bit undersized (5'10'') but at 198 pounds he is a physical cornerback, unafraid to mix it up with bigger receivers inside the five-yard area. Georgia has a lot of underclassmen who have NFL decisions to make in the upcoming days, and Allen is one of them. If he returns to school, he would probably emerge as a sure-thing first-rounder in 2010. Even now he could be off the board in the second round.

Vikings Draft Pick 2009: Percy Harvin (1st Round)...

From FF Toolbox.com
2009 NFL Draft Prospect Scouting Report:
Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

In Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin, the National Champion Florida Gators had two dual threats: Tebow as a runner and passer and Harvin as a runner and receiver. They still have Tebow for next season, but Harvin is taking his explosiveness to the next level. As a sophomore in 2007, the speedy wideout caught 59 passes for 858 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground he had 83 carries for 764 yards and six touchdowns.

After two games of this past season, the oft-injured Harvin said he was feeling the best he ever had and as such the Florida coaches were about to "cut him loose." Unfortunately an ankle injury crippled Harvin's second half of his 2008 campaign. After missing the SEC Championship, however, Harvin soared to new heights in the BCS Title game despite not being 100 percent. He rushed nine times for 121 yards and one touchdown, and added 49 receiving yards.

He can run under 4.3 in the 40 and he is just as elusive as he is fast. Anytime he touches the ball he has touchdown potential, regardless of where he is on the football field.

The knock on Harvin, of course, is his size. He stands just 5'11'' and 195 pounds, so it remains to be seen how he will deal with bigger, stronger cornerbacks at the next level. Still, there is no reason to think he can't be lethal on Sundays as a slot receiver. He should be off the board in the first round of this month's NFL Draft.

Last Updated Apr-02-2009 by Ricky Dimon

Vikings Draft Pick 2009: Phil Loadholt (2nd Round)

From FF Toolbox.com

2009 NFL Draft Prospect Scouting Report:
Phil Loadholt, OL, Oklahoma

There are not many tackles as big as Phil Loadholt. At 6-8 and 337 pounds, he is big even for a lineman. His road to Oklahoma went through Garden City Community College where he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons dominating the juco ranks. In 2007, Loadholt stepped into the starting role at left tackle with the Sooners.

His size alone could make him a first round selection, but Loadholt has plenty to prove during the 2008 season. Thus far, his collegiate career has been marred by inconsistency. When Loadholt cannot simply physically have his way with the opposition, he tends to get beat. He has a long way to go in the mental game before he will be a top lineman in the NFL. If he can keep his head in the game and work on his technique, Loadholt will be a great offensive tackle.

If Loadholt's senior season goes well, he will be a first round choice in 2009. If it goes very well and he cuts down on his mistakes, Loadholt could be the first tackle off the board and a top five selection in April. There is a long way to go for Loadholt before he can start thinking about being a top selection, but all the physical tools are there for him to have a solid NFL career.

10/16 Update: Phil Loadholt was having a good season until he went up against Brian Orakpo. The Texas defensive end got the best of Loadholt and that has brought up some questions about the massive 6-8 tackle. Loadholt has to prove that he can deal with quick ends and keep his head in the game.

2/12 Update: Loadholt will still struggle with his lateral movement, but that is not a big surprise for a 6-8, 345 pound tackle. His showing during Senior Week was quite impressive and he was pushing away smaller ends all week long. His foot speed is not going to get much better with time, so NFL teams pretty much know what they are getting and he will make a decent left or right tackle for just about any team.

4/16 Update: There has not been much buzz about Loadholt over the last couple of months, but that is mostly because teams know what they are going to get with him. While other offensive tackles move up or down, Loadholt has been sitting steady as a probable late second rounder. He will need to do some work before he is a dominating tackle, but he could be starting on the right side for a few teams this year.

Last Updated Apr-16-2009 by Joel Welser

Draft Day 09: Mookie's Favorites, 4th Annual Draft Wish List

This is a quick list of my favorite choices for this year's draft. This the 4th Annual Draft Wish List...
For what it's worth, some my past choices have done quite well in the NFL: Jammal Brown, Antrelle Rolle, Anthony Gonzalez, Mike Nugent... Every so often the Vikes actually grab one of my picks (Chad Greenway & Adrian Peterson) so I keep posting the list of favorites. As I always say, give me three or four of the following players, and it's "see you at the Super Bowl!"

First Round
Michael Oher- T Mississippi. I read the book, The Blind Side by Michael Lewis which chronicled his life story as part of the evolution of the Left Tackle as the key position in the NFL. The book is fantastic, and I feel like I know Oher. It's great story.

Percy Harvin- WR Florida... I don't care about the testing positive for Mary Jane. He might be dumb for doing it, but I never UNDERESTIMATE the pedigree of proven CHAMPION gamer. They are gold. If he is available, at 22 I would grab him and hope for "Moss in a bottle"

Brian Robiske- WR Ohio State. I watch alot of Big 10 games, and I know he will go late in the first round or early in the second. This is the kind of player who will make the big catch for you in big games. He is rich man's version of Chris Walsh, and that is valuable to what the Vikings are trying to do on offense.

Others: (Rounds are irrelevant, grab em if you can)

WR
Ramses Barden, WR Cal Poly 6'6

Quan Cosby, Texas- Hookem Horns

C
Alex Mack, California

A.Q. Shipley, Penn State

G
Herman Johnson, LSU 6'7 355

T
Eben Britton, Arizona 6'6 310

Troy Kropog, Tulane 6'5 309

CB
D.J Moore Illinois (Brother is Vernon Davis, San Fran 49ers TE)

Asher Allen, Georgia- This is a great Viking Name... Nate Allen anyone?

2009 Schedule: Roadtrip Options?

The Vikings release their 2009 schedule and it looks promising for roadtrip potential. The first choice would obviously be Carolina on December 20th. We have never taken the goalposts to that state, nor I have ever visited that area. That would be a good place to go. The obvious day trips are November 1st at Lambeau (Halloween in Green Bay anyone?) and Monday Night December 28th at Chicago. But, we could always consider a fly in to Pittsburgh on October 25th or repeat a GREAT tailgating trip to Arizona in early December. So many choices.

The Full Schedule:
Preseason

Week 1 at Indianapolis Colts
Friday Aug 14th

Preseason Week 2 vs Kansas City Chiefs,
Friday Aug 21th

Preseason
Week 3 at Houston Texans,
Monday Augus 31sth

Preseason Week 4 vs Dallas Cowboys,
Sept 3rd or 4th

Regular Season

Week 1 Sep. 13 at Cleveland Browns,

Week 2 Sep. 20 at Detroit Lions

Week 3 Sep. 27 vs San Francisco 49ers

Week 4 Oct. 5th vs Green Bay Packers,
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Roadtrip?)

Week 5 Oct. 11th at St. Louis Rams,

Week 6 Oct. 18th vs Baltimore Ravens

Week 7 Oct. 25th at Pittsburgh Steelers,
(Roadtrip?)

Week 8 Nov. 1st at Green Bay Packers,
(Roadtrip?)

Week 9 Nov. 8th BYE

Week 10 Nov. 15th vs Detroit

Week 11 Nov. 22nd vs. Seattle

Week 12 Nov. 29 vs Chicago Bears

Week 13 Dec 6th at Arizona,
(Roadtrip?)

Week 14 Dec 13th vs. Cincinnati Bengals,

Week 15 Dec. 20th at Carolina Panthers
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Roadtrip?)

Week 16 Dec. 28 at Chicago Bears,
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (Roadtrip?)

Week 17 Jan. 3rd vs. New York Giants,

Cutler to Bears- So What?

What did we expect? There was no way the Vikings were going after Jay Cutler, no way. Afterall he is Gunslinger, and we don't want that here. Nope, not the Vikings. We want someone who can run a very boring offense to level of Trent Dilfer.

We want predictable, and precise for our kick ass offense. We don't need no renegades like Brad Johnson, Kelly Holcomb, or Brooks Bollinger in here. We got John David Booty waiting in the wings. We have Travaris Jackson, a proven starter (at times) and yes, Sage Rosenfels, a career back -up who now gets his chance to compete for a starting position.

Well, I can't for the season to start. Hee Haw... Go Vikes.