“Have You Seen Their Cornerbacks?”
April 16th, 2012
Joe’s got a lot of respect of longtime NFL reporter and analyst Howard Balzer, who joined Bobby Fenton this morning on WDAE-AM 620.
Like Joe, Balzer is hardly sold on the alleged given that the Vikings will select offensive tackle Matt Kalil with the third overall pick, if they can’t trade down.
“Have you seen their cornerbacks?” Balzer asked rhetorically.
The more Joe listens to SiriusXM NFL Radio, the more Joe also thinks the Vikings might not take Kalil as many think. Bill Polian loves to talk about how every OT struggles in his first year, no matter how great.
Sure, the Vikings could use a stud left tackle prospect, but they also need another playmaker on defense — for their defensive head coach, a former cornerback himself, who’s trying to save his job.
Joe might just weep if the Bucs can’t draft Morris Claiborne.
April 16th, 2012 at 9:21 am
would love a Claiborne and Zach Brown draft but a Kuechly and Zach Brown would be good too!
April 16th, 2012 at 9:28 am
“joe might just weep if the Bucs can’t draft Morris Claiborne.” Well then rejoice when the bucs draft Stephon Gilmore.
April 16th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Claiborne!!!
April 16th, 2012 at 9:37 am
It looks to me that Claiborne and Richardson may be gone by the 5th pick overall. Some team might panic and move up to grab Tannehill but they don’t need to move up to 3rd , 4th or 5th overall. Tannehill can be had at #7.
Matt Kalil at #1, Janoris Jenkins with #2, LaMichael James at #3. I wish Hightower could drop into the 2nd round but I sincerely doubt that.
April 16th, 2012 at 9:43 am
I may shed a tear as well if we miss out on Claiborne. If we do miss out, hopefully we could trade down, grab some more pic’s and possibly steal Asante from the Iggles
April 16th, 2012 at 9:50 am
If Mo C is not there we need to drum up as much interest in the number 5 spot as possible. Maybe the Eagles….Bills….or Miami. Pit them all against each other. Two of the three would be interested in Tannehill or Kalil. We can get our stud MLB and picks to build depth or jump back into the first round to pick up a certain stud safety or cb from Alabama.
April 16th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Draft Kalil if he’s there and then trade him for a 1st and what ever else can be had.
April 16th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Sorry, but I have no confidence Dominik will play this out well.
April 16th, 2012 at 9:58 am
As long as we don’t trade…..UP!
The best player available at 5 will be a damn good pick.
A trade down will bring more picks.
I’m not worried, just full of anticipation.
April 16th, 2012 at 9:59 am
What would drafting Kalil mean for Donald Penn? That he moves to the opposite tackle? If so, then I could understand. But if this is to replace him…….why?!? With all the holes this team has, and how our defense is, u want to replace a PRO BOWLER??
April 16th, 2012 at 10:08 am
You either draft Khalil (and end up trading later probably) or trade the pick for a crap load of goodies. It would suck to see Mo off the board but If Dom doesn’t think it’s a possibility we won’t need to speculate because he will be fired pretty quick.
I think there would be a pretty serious bidding war if Khalil is still available.
April 16th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Patrick- exactly! And Penn won’t just ” move over” to a spot that pays significantly less. He will” sit out” demand a trade. Get one.
Then we are stuck with s kid on a 4 year learning curve. In 4 years- IF we are lucky! He might be as good as DONALD PENN
It’s a really dumb idea to think about a LT
Joe, save some crying towels for me, if we miss out on the best CB in 5 years.
I’ll be crying Too!
At that point, Blackmon is the only option if we stay. Then we have our two top Wrs.
Trading back fer Luke is a better idea.
April 16th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Lots of you are so funny … Any news that leaks out before the draft has to be true right ???
“Its starting to look like they will be gone” HAHA
Do you really think GMs have tipped their hand ?? Or is it media opinion and GMs leaking what they WANT you to believe ?? ?
Im sure this isnt the first time some of you have been through a draft ??
Remember when Mike WIlliams was a lock to Tampa after the big dinner ?? Remember when the Bucs were going to trade up for Alex Smith ??
Only thing to realize come draft day is nobody knows anything and expect the unexpected!! One trade changes EVERYTHING!!
April 16th, 2012 at 10:13 am
If Kalil does fall to us … 1st I will laugh at the Vikings if Ponder is hurt by week 3 .. Not at him getting hurt … But by how dumb the Vikes would be to pass on a LT when you actually dont have one.
2nd .. Kalil may have actually give us trade value at 5 to a team like Buffalo as the gap between Kalil and Reiff is somewhat like a canyon.
April 16th, 2012 at 10:13 am
So Balzer is trying to tell us that:
1) The Vikes want another year of Charlie Johnson at LT (Who?)
2) Pass on a guy who plays arguably the 2nd most important position in football and is tied for the 2nd best rated prospect in this draft…
3) To draft a defensive skill position at #4 overall in a draft with a deep corner class and a top heavy OT class?
I call BS, smokescreen, agent-driven drivel, Draft Silly Season, etc., etc.
April 16th, 2012 at 10:19 am
@ Capt. Tim
Justin Blackmon? NOOOOOOO!!!! We already have Justin Blackmon. His name is Mike Williams:
Mike Will: 6’2″ 221 lbs. 4.53 40, 4.19 Shuttle, 6.90 3 Cone
Blackmon: 6’1″ 207 lbs. 4.46 40, 4.38 Shuttle, 7.13 3 Cone
April 16th, 2012 at 10:26 am
@ Capt. TIM – HAHAHAHA “Best CB in 5 years”. Really? That’s a reach.
Don’t weep Joe, we will get a great player at 5the or trade down and get more picks.
April 16th, 2012 at 10:34 am
You’ll get over it, Joe.
April 16th, 2012 at 10:44 am
No need to cry until the season starts…….
April 16th, 2012 at 10:47 am
I don’t follow the Vikes at all but I can’t see them passing over a guy who is a lock to be very good at a huge demand position. Do they think that they might have a chance to be in the playoff picture if they draft a corner instead? The only way this makes sense is if they think that the window on AP is very short. They might try to make an improbable run for their division.
They should however take the realistic approach. We have a rookie QB and yes it’s going to take a year for this LT to develop but are we really in a big rush with the development of this offense. I would say they’re not even close. Favre was your chance. That didn’t work out so rebuild that offense.
It is the Vikes so anything is possible but do they really suffer the crazies that much up there?
April 16th, 2012 at 11:00 am
Claiborne probably takes even longer to develop than Kalil IMO
Some corners dont get it atleast until the 3rd season.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:20 am
Not sure why Kalil potentially struggling his rookie year matters for the Vikings. They are rebuilding, if they want Kalil that shouldn’t deter them. Not to mention most players struggle their rookie year so it is kind of pointless to even bring up.
It seems like there are going to be a lot of disappointed Bucs fans since a lot of you are locked into one player at 5 and then a certain player or position in the 2nd round. The Draft is too unpredictable for that. I want Kalil, Richardson, Claiborne or a trade down in the first. Not even going to guess the 2nd as too many guys will go higher or lower than expected. I just hope they take whoever they deem as BPA.
@raphael Zach Brown is basically Quincy Black, great athlete that’s afraid of contact. I really do not want to think about the Bucs starting two Quincy Blacks on defense.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:28 am
If that happens, take Kalil and trade Trueblood for a second rounder.
Problem solved.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:30 am
Bacause having Kalil would give us the number one offensive line in the league…we would become the Broncos of old.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:34 am
LOL what Pete? I hope you’re kidding. Trueblood wouldn’t net us anything in a trade.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:37 am
princespanky Says:
April 16th, 2012 at 10:47 am
I don’t follow the Vikes at all but I can’t see them passing over a guy who is a lock to be very good at a huge demand position.
.
Actually, Claiborne is a lock as well. So are Richardson and Blackmon as well. Really, if the Bucs stand pat, they can’t go wrong with any of these guys:
Claiborne
Kalil
Richardson
Blackmon
No matter what, we’ll have a choice from at least two of those guys. Unless the Bucs dumbly trade down. I say dumbly because by standing pat, we get a sure winner, by trading down, the odds drop as well.
This isn’t always the case…most of the time the top five is as much a crap shoot as any other pick, but this year, since QBs are going with pick 1 & 2, it leaves the cream for the next 3 teams.
Picks 3-5 are going to be sure successes. You don’t pass on that opportunity, especially with the limited success the Bucs have had in the first round over the last 10 years.
We have the rare opportunity to not actually have to “gamble” this year.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:39 am
BonesMahoney Says:
April 16th, 2012 at 11:34 am
LOL what Pete? I hope you’re kidding. Trueblood wouldn’t net us anything in a trade.
.
Gaines Adams got us a 2nd. Trueblood is a much better player. Trueblood isn’t a beast, but he’s very solid. There are a number of teams that have much worse…they’ll give a 2nd without hesitation.
Mind you, I’m not saying Trueblood is “great”, I’m saying he’s “solid”. Kalil would be great.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:43 am
No Pete, Trueblood would not net us a 2nd rounder. Gaines Adams was a 25 year old DE in his 3rd year with a ton of potential. Trueblood is average at best in the prime of his career. He is also a RT only which teams do not like. We would be lucky to get a 6th or 7th rounder.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:54 am
@Pete
I don’t think Blackmon is in the same category as the other 3. I’m pretty sure I am not alone. The guy is pretty good at everything but not outstanding at anything. Khalil is an elite protection guy, TRich is a grinding every down back and Mo is a dominant cover guy.
What does Blackmon give a team that he is supremely talented at? He’s no burner and doesn’t have freakish size or hands…. Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t see it.
April 16th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Sensibuc- ah, no.
I like Mike Williams. Think he will play in this league a long time. But no one, ever, believes he has the skills of Mr. Blackmon- the most underrated kid in this draft.
Williams may become a “2”.
Vincent Jackson and Justin Blackmon are #1 Wrs. They would be murder on a defense.
Blackmon is the best non Qb offensive player in this draft, and would solidify both WR spots.
Williams, Benn, and Briscoe could fight for time. Which is still good, considering where they were drafted.- still getting money’s worth.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
princespanky
I can’t disagree with that logic.
Wide Recievers can be a little bit of a risk at times.
BonesMahoney
We’ll agree to disagree 😉
April 16th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Blackmon would be the dumbest pick we could possibly make
April 16th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
We must take Kuechly! He will be the next Ray Lewis! Would rather trade down but if not i would take him at 5
April 16th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
@ Capt. Tim
“Blackmon is the best non Qb offensive player in this draft, and would solidify both WR spots.”
WHAT?!?!?!? Put the sauce down Cap. Put it down right now.
A 6 foot 200 pound with above average speed who put up numbers in a gimmick offense in arguably the WEAKEST defensive conference in the Nation is the BEST non-QB in the Draft?
Better than T-Rich or Kalil? C’mon man you don’t believe that.
April 16th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Buc’s will trade up to #3 and take T____ R________.-
April 16th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
@Pete Dutcher- No one is trading a 2nd rounder for Jeremy Trueblood.
Maybe a 6th rounder. In all likelihood, he would still be kept for depth. His contract is cheap.
But dont worry, we are not taking Kalil. I guarantee that. Our line looks good, and we need to put our money elsewhere. We’ve already spent a ton on our line.
April 16th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
If I were a new Head coach with a 5 year contract, I would draft Kalil, who might be the best OT in Buc history. This would give us the best OL in the NFL. Dominant. What a luxury. Keep Trueblood for depth. Top tier FA running backs would be begging us to let them run behind this line especially on grass.
What a sharp contrast to the other teams in our division that have heavily invested in QB’s and wide receivers. Our best defense would be to grind the clock and keep their high powered offenses on the bench.
Janoris Jenkins will be there at the 2nd pick and LaMichael James in the 3rd. That addresses everything we need for the future except linebacker and we might get lucky with that spot.