Vikings, Draft, Gophers,
Monday, October 13, 2008
I didn't write a post-game review of the Saints game because it was ugly. I didn't write a preview for the Lions game because I didn't think it deserved one. I'm also busy and lazy.
I can't skip this one. Sunday was the Vikings second win in as many games. It was probably the ugliest win I've ever seen. One fluke (I call it fluke because it is the only one we've had this year) long TD catch and run, a stupid safety and a number of blown calls are what it takes to beat the Lions now? At home no less? No matter which way you cut it the Lions are one of the three worst teams in the NFL.
At least they solidly outplayed them this time. If they can just cut down the fumbles (inexcusable) and league worst special teams coverage (even moreso) there could still be some hope.
I'd like to thank Tim Brewster, Erik Decker, Willie Van De Steeg and the rest of the Gophers football team for reminding me what it feels like to cheer on a team as they actually exceed my expectations! And congrats to Van De Steeg on winning a much deserved national defensive player of the week award.
Finally, I just made my second pick in the modern era NFL draft. I had trouble initially zeroing in on a few names, but I was eventually very confident in the guy I selected. My writeup on the pick is below and I've also added some links over on the left to the pick thread, the discussion thread and a spreadsheet with updated results.
Round #2, Pick #59: Will Shields, RG
I wouldn't have guessed that my second overall pick would be a RG, but this feels like a lot of value for the end of the second round. With 11 offensive linemen off the board I'm happy to be able to get the guy who, in my opinion, is the greatest right guard of the era.
Shields was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the draft in 1993. He stepped into his role as RG part way through his first game with the Chiefs and never left. He went on to start the next 223 regular season games for them before retiring in 2007.
In his 14 year career he went to 12 pro-bowls and was named all-pro 9 times (first team twice). In 2003 he won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his work with the Will to Succeed foundation. In 11 of Shields 14 seasons his blocking helped earn a pro-bowl appearance for the Chiefs' running back. One of the other three seasons was 2004 when Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson and Derrick Blaylock ran for a combined 2012 yards rushing and the Chiefs had the #1 offense in the NFL.
Another thing Shields was known for was avoiding penalties. I couldn't find a better reference, but according to this ESPN article, it appears he was only flagged twice (total) over the coarse of his last 3 (I think?) seasons.
Adding that up:
Great blocker
+ never missed a game
+ maintained dominance
+ rarely committed penalties
+ great role model off the field
= my 2nd round selection
I'm choosing Shields at age 31 (2002). Why? Well I don't think it matters too much as long as it is before he was 34 or so. Dr Z named him to his all-pro team (or whatever he calls it) in 2004, his age 33 season. I guess I like that year because the Chiefs run-game was particularly good and he was named first-team all-pro.
Team SL__72
QB: Steve Young
OG: Will Shields
TV On The Radio came out with a new CD a couple of weeks ago and it is very good. Just like their last two CDs were. This song (which you may have heard on Entourage and which I probably have posted before) made me start listening to them and to this day is one of my favorites:
And one off their new CD:
TV On The Radio:
Posted bySL__72 at 11:46 PM
Labels: Minnesota Gophers, Minnesota Vikings, NFL Modern Era Draft, TV On The Radio
dont you mean "a stupid safety" not "an stupid safety" just here to correct your punctuation.
also that draft things is really cool.
which is a great transition into a ? I have. What round are you aiming at landing Tahi as your FB.
Thanks, fixed. I probably changed it from something that started with a vowel to "stupid."
I'm hoping Tahi will be a sleeper but I also thought the two centers who went recently would be sleepers, so idk anymore.
I loved this quote from Football Outsiders commentary on the Vikings/Titans game:
"Minnesota decides that their offensive scheme is going to be built around rookie fullback Naufahu Tahi. The first play, Tahi splits out and picks up a first down on a short out. Second play, Tahi comes out of the backfield and runs a short out the other way and fumbles. I predict this will be the end of the Vikings offense being built around Naufahu Tahi."