| Another year, another defensive draft for the
Vikings. That’s the pattern the Purple and Gold will fall into if its attempts to
build a steady defense continue to fail. The 2001 NFL draft marks yet another of these
efforts.
Last year the Vikings spent five of their first six draft picks on defensive players.
Two of them — DT Chris Hovan and FS Tyrone Carter — became starters, while the
others barely contributed.
Minnesota could follow a similar plan this year, but more starters might be needed. DLs
John Randle and Tony Williams are gone, LB Dwayne Rudd is gone and the CB position is in
dire need of an upgrade.
Head coach/vice president of football operations Dennis Green has made no secret of his
intent to focus on defense, though he’s been careful to add, "But you never
know." The effectiveness of the smokescreen will likely be minimal, given the
defense’s condition.
Last season the Vikings ranked 28th in overall defense and 28th
against the pass. They ranked in the lower third of the league in sacks with 31 and had a
league-low eight interceptions. They also allowed the third-most first downs (344) and had
the second-worst third-down defense (45.5 percent failure rate).
Think they need help?
According to PFW personnel expert Joel Buchsbaum’s most recently published mock
draft, the Vikings will select Wisconsin CB Jamar Fletcher in Round One. (CBs Nate
Clements, Fred Smoot and Will Allen are projected to be off the board by Minnesota’s
No. 27 selection). Makes sense. Fletcher could start right away and provide the INT threat
that has been missing from the Vikings’ defense for years.
Fletcher has great instincts, a great sense of timing and very quick hands. The
downside is his size — 5-foot-9, 179 pounds. But he’s tougher and more physical
than he seems, and he would surely benefit from the teachings of new DB coach Willie Shaw.
In three college seasons, Fletcher intercepted 20 passes, five of which he returned for
touchdowns. Last season he won the Jim Thorpe award as the best defensive back in the
country, and he won Defensive Player of the Year in the Big Ten. He showed great character
late in the year, playing through a painful left-shoulder injury in the Sun Bowl.
Good pass coverage conceivably could help the pass rush. The longer Fletcher sticks
with his man, the more time the defensive front has to reach the quarterback. And Fletcher
can stick. He loses almost nothing in transition or in his breaks, and he has terrific
anticipation. A true Big Ten corner, he’ll also support the run — and hit, a
quality Green values.
There are other ways the Vikings could go. Considering the depth of this draft class,
later-round picks could be used as ammunition to move up. With three fourth-round picks in
their pocket, perhaps Minnesota could swing a deal to move up a bit in Round One and
select a top pass rusher. In Buchsbaum’s mock, Florida State DE Jamal Reynolds and
California DE Andre Carter would be available in the second half of the first round.
The Vikings also could deal out of the first round and stockpile picks, a practice that
several of the higher-picking teams are trying to follow. Minnesota’s first-round
pick appears to have some value. In Buchsbaum’s mock, players such as TEs Todd Heap
and Alge Crumpler and WRs Quincy Morgan and Chris Chambers would be available after the
Vikings’ selection.
Though they’ll probably draft a running back at some point (Buchsbaum has the team
taking Maryland RB LaMont Jordan in Round Two), the Vikings will pay more attention to
their defensive draft board. With some kinks beginning to form in their offensive armor,
the Vikings better make their selections count. Otherwise, they could be stuck in an
endless pursuit of defensive talent. |
