Wed. Afternoon Notes

The Vikings schedule for this year comes out today.

Seems not that bad at the start. They face two teams they should be better than at home. With a medicore Cincy team at home sandwiched in between. They then play at Atlanta in their first real tough game. Then a trip to Chicago. This is followed by home games versus Green Bay and Detroit with a road trip to Carolina sandwiched in between. Followed by a couple of road games in tough places versus Green Bay and versus the Giants. The last six games shouldn't be as difficult. With home games against STL, PIT, CLEV, and Chi with road games at Det, and Bal. There is nothing really bad on this schedule. In fact they have the a chance to get out of the gate, and end strong, so it is alright in those regards.



Vikings sign Aaron Kampmannto an offer-sheet. If the Packers don't match, Green Bay gets a fifth-round pick.

Scouts INC. gives the following Scouting Report


Comment:
Kampman is an overachiever that makes up for his lack of natural tools with tenacity and hard work. He generally plays with sound technique and is a versatile defensive lineman capable of providing depth across the board. Has good size, is aggressive at the point of attack and shows the ability to hold up against the run when he plays with leverage. Does a nice job using his hands to disengage blocks, keeps his feet moving and can be very physical at times. However, while Kampman made some strides in '03, he still lacks ideal speed for an end and is undersized as a tackle. Lacks great burst as a pass rusher off the edge and does not turn the corner consistently enough. Doesn't always play with good leverage, will lose his base against the run and lets offensive lineman get into his body too often. Overall, Kampman has good versatility, and has proven capable of filling in over a short period of time.

Kampmann had more tackles than anyone on the Packers D-line last year with 77. This is a good number for a Defensive End. Basically they either sign him and cost the Packers a Defensive lineman or they screw up the Packers Cap. I don't see him as a player of need, due to his primary position being Left End, where the Vikings have a developing Darrion Scott who will be backed up by Kenny Mixon, who took one for the team in having his pay cut. Basically a no lose move. It could also maybe give the Vikings a player in Darrion Scott who could be of intrigue to a team like the Browns, who plan to play a 3-4, if the Vikings try to move up in the draft.


Scouts, INC breaks down the Vikings draft strategy as such on ESPN Insider

Minnesota Vikings | Top 5 needs

Few NFL teams have upgraded their roster as much as the Vikings have during the 2005 free-agency period. Despite several off-the-field distractions and a changing of the guard in ownership, Rob Brzezinski (VP of football operations), Scott Studwell (director of college scouting), and Mike Tice (head coach) have been able to keep their focus.

For the second consecutive season in 2004, the Vikings collapsed down the stretch, largely because of a defense (28th in the NFL) that couldn't keep up with the offense (4th in the NFL). So the front office decided to take initiative by signing five potential new starters: NT Pat Williams, OLB Napoleon Harris, ILB Sam Cowart, DC Fred Smoot and DS Darren Sharper.

There's no denying WR Randy Moss' (Raiders) talent. However, by trading Moss the team rids itself of its most disruptive individual, while strengthening its defense with the addition of Harris and acquiring a second first-round pick in the upcoming draft. The Vikings will unquestionably miss Moss' rare playmaking abilities, but they do have good depth at wide receiver with Nate Burleson, Marcus Robinson and newly signed Travis Taylor to go along with a deep stable of running backs and one of the league's best quarterbacks in Daunte Culpepper. Furthermore, by acquiring the seventh overall pick from the Raiders in the Moss deal, the Vikes are in position to draft one of this year's elite wide receiver prospects  Michigan's Braylon Edwards or USC's Mike Williams.

The only potential kink in the armor is if Edwards and Williams fly off the board in the first five picks, which seems to be about a 50-50 proposition. One possibility is for the Vikings to package a pick in a later round to move up two or three spots to secure Edwards or Williams.

Otherwise, Minnesota could look to move down a few spots to acquire an extra day-one pick, while still being in position to draft a vertical threat in South Carolina's Troy Williamson or an explosive pass-rushing prospect such as Maryland's Shawne Merriman, who would serve as an excellent complement opposite last year's top pick, DE Kenechi Udeze. Regardless, we expect the Vikings to come out of the first round with top prospects at the wide receiver and defensive end positions.

Perhaps the team's biggest need is at offensive guard, where it currently is without a legitimate starter on the left side. Tice is an offensive line guru who made his name in this league molding late-round and free-agent players into solid NFL starters. However, with such a glaring need at the LOG position, it wouldn't surprise us if the team used one of its picks in the second (49) or third round (80) on one of the elite guard prospects in this year's class, which include Virginia's Elton Brown, Fresno State's Logan Mankins, Utah's Chris Kemoeatu and Alabama's Evan Mathis.

What makes the Vikings day-one draft situation interesting is that they have one of the bigger needs for a starting place-kicker. There's only one can't-miss prospect in this year's group, Ohio State's Mike Nugent, and he might cost a second-round pick. If the Vikings are willing to make the move, they'll have to put their guard need on hold until the third round.

As far as day two is concerned, the Vikings have a pick near the middle in each of the final four rounds. At that point, look for the team to spend the majority of its focus on finding depth at defensive tackle, a backup for Matt Birk at center and a developmental quarterback to push Shaun Hill as the No. 3.

Grading the past

Three-year tally
Year	'02	'03	'04
Total picks	7	7	8
Starters	2	4	2
Backups	2	2	5
Other team	2	0	0
Out of NFL	1	1	1
Grade: B+

Minnesota has hit on all of its last three first-round picks. While LOT Bryant McKinnie ('02) doesn't always dominate the point of attack, he has been a starter since his rookie season and should only continue to get better with added experience.

DT Kevin Williams ('04) is close to impossible to block with one man and DE Kenechi Udeze ('04) started 13 games last year. The Vikings also have had success finding playmakers such as WR Nate Burleson ('03) and RB Onterrio Smith ('03) in the middle rounds.

Also Don Banks has a new mock up http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/don_banks/04/13/banks.mock.draft.4.part1/index.html

I don't think people would be too disappointed when they see who has them picking.