Posts by Adam Warwas

UDFA Coleman Overcame Adversity On Road To NFL

April 29, 2012, by 11 comments

It never fails, every year somebody is added to this roster that has an incredible story worth telling.

This year, that guy is UCLA’s running back Derrick Coleman who has had to overcome an unusual disability on his way to the NFL.

Coleman, who reportedly signed as an undrafted free agent with the Vikings, has a severe hearing impediment and has to wear hearing aids in order to communicate with teammates on the field.  He has to wear skull caps under his helmet in order to keep the hearing aids dry and properly in place.

It hasn’t always been a disadvantage, though, as Coleman admits that in one particularly loud stadium he simply clicked the hearing aids off.  I bet offensive linemen wish they could do that from time to time to avoid false starts.

The lack of hearing heightens Coleman’s other senses, according to Coleman, who will read the lips of those trying to communicate to him.

“My dad always said: Keep your head on a swivel and be aware of your surroundings,” Coleman said. “So that’s how I am on the field. I always have to know what’s happening everywhere. You should anyway. You’re supposed to know what’s happening.”

“I’m not the type of person who is ever going to blame it on my hearing if I mess up,” he said. “Maybe I have too much pride because even if I don’t hear it, I might just say I got it wrong, rather than blame it on my hearing, you know?”

It sounds like Coleman is a fairly incredible kid worthy of a chance to keep on playing running back.

For more on Coleman’s story, click here for a great write up.

Assessing The Value: Day Three Trades

April 28, 2012, by 1 comment

The Vikings made two trades during the first round of the Draft on Day One.  Then, on Day Two, they didn’t budge.  Now that Day Three came and went, however, we have two more trades to analyze and break down.

Minnesota was rich with draft choices entering the third day of the Draft with nine total.  Fans thought this indicated the team would be willing to package picks together to move up and grab the appropriately coveted players.  This turned out not to be the case, but the team did show a willingness to make an investment in their future by snagging picks for next year’s Draft.

This could be a good approach, as the team is highly unlikely to receive any 2013 compensatory picks because of how free agency played out this year.  We’ll break down each trade from a “point value” standpoint, referencing each against the Jerry Johnson Trade Chart as well as the Harvard Trade Chart, both of which are posted and explained on this page.

Vikings Trade Fifth Rounder (#138) and Seventh Rounder (#223) To Lions for Seventh Rounder (#219) and a 2013 Fourth Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Trade Chart:  This pegs the Vikings fifth rounder as being worth 37 points and the seventh rounder as being worth 3.3 points, for a total worth of 40.3 points.  The future fourth rounder from the Lions can be given an estimated value of about 35 points.  Meanwhile, their seventh rounder carried a value of 4.8 points which puts the total value of their package at 39.8 points.  This means the Lions came out ahead by 0.5 points.  Pretty darn close.

The caveat here, however, is that the value of that fourth rounder received from the Lions will only grow as the 2013 Draft draws nearer.  According to the chart, fourth round selections can be worth anywhere from 112 to 44 points on Draft Day.

Harvard Trade Chart:  The post-CBA chart puts the Vikings fifth rounder at a value of 70.3 points and their seventh rounder at 40.2 points.  Meanwhile, the Lions seventh rounder would carry a point value of 41.8 points and the future fourth rounder would be worth approximately 43.35 points.  That means the Vikings gave up 110.5 points while receiving only 85.15.  That fourth rounder could end up being worth anywhere from 76 to 98 points next offseason, however, all on its own.

Vikings Trade Seventh Rounder (#211) To Titans for a 2013 Sixth Rounder

Jimmy Johnson Trade Chart:  The Vikings pick carried a point value of 8 points.  A sixth rounder would be estimated at a value of 11 points.  The Vikings come out ahead on that trade from a points standpoint.  The value of that sixth rounder would be anywhere from 28 to 15 points by this time next year.

Harvard Trade Chart:  According to this chart, the pick given up by the Vikings was worth about 36.3 points.  The sixth rounder they received was worth an estimated 25.45 points.  Once again, however, that investment is expected to grow and the sixth rounder should end up being worth between 44 and 58 points next year.

Caleb King Arrested For Beating And Bloodying Man

April 28, 2012, by 4 comments

Last night, Vikings running back Caleb King attended a birthday party and apparently a 22 year old man was teasing him, comparing his appearance to that of an unknown celebrity.

In the early hours of the morning, as the party was winding down, King allegedly followed the man out of the residence and punched him in the head several times and threw him head first into the ground.  The man then called 911 from inside a car when King opened the door and ripped him from the vehicle.

The homeowners refused to call 911 for the man and instead offered to drive him home.  When the police showed up, as a result of the initial 911 call being tracked, the homeowners then told him that nothing happened and that nobody needed assistance.

At that time, the man was inside the home.  Later, he received treatment for serious wounds and needed over 50 stitches.  Currently, there are worries that he received brain damage from the incident.

King was arrested but denied assaulting the man.  He claimed that the man simply fell down while the two of them were talking.

Rick Spielman, according to the Washington Post, declined to comment extensively on the situation but did say the team takes these incidents very seriously and will continue to gather the facts.

King went undrafted in the NFL’s Supplemental Draft in 2011 after a failure to appear in court and academic issues saw him get the label “character concern.”  He landed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent, playing fairly well in the preseason, but never appeared in a regular season game.

King figured to be in competition for the Vikings third string running back job this offseason, but this incident will likely see him quickly unemployed.

He will also likely be getting an extended stay behind bars, and if I didn’t know better, I might say that would make him look like a certain celebrity… except without career rushing totals.

Undrafted Free Agent Tracker

April 28, 2012, by 9 comments

Here is what we are hearing so far in regards to undrafted guys signing with the Vikings.  Keep in mind, at this point, is all rumors.

Chase Baker, DT, Boise State

Derrick Coleman, RB, UCLA

Kevin Cyrille, DE, Florida Atlantic

Bobby Felder, DB, Nicholls State

Kamar, Jorden, WR, Bowling Green

Eric Latimore, DE, Penn State

Tyler Nielson, LB, Iowa

Ernest Owusu, DE, California

Corey Paredes, LB, Hawaii

Austin Paztor, G, Virginia

Tydreke Powell, DT, North Carolina

Terrell Resonno, DT, Missouri

Quentin Saulsberry, C, Mississippi State

Darrion Weems, OT, Oregon

C.C. Whitlock, CB, South Carolina

[UPDATE:  Apparently the above list is pretty set.  Been confirmed by the local media.  This will be pending physicals and whatnot.]

Give us your 2012 Draft Grade

April 28, 2012, by 5 comments

NFL Draft Day Three: Live Chat Transcript

April 28, 2012, by No comments yet

Vikings Day Three Haul – Quick Reactions

April 28, 2012, by 14 comments

Here is the rundown so far:

FOURTH ROUND

#118 Jarius Wright, WR, Arkansas: Often compared to Percy Harvin from a skill set standpoint, Wright offers some much needed speed to this offense and could end up being quite the playmaker.  Expect to see him contribute most on special teams as a return man through his rookie season.

#128  Rhett Ellison, FB/TE, USC:  Matt Kalil’s teammate at USC could end up trying to fill Jim Kleinsasser’s shoes as a versatile blocker, rounding out the depth chart at tight end.  This could spell trouble for the many various fullbacks on this roster already.

#134  Greg Childs, WR, Arkansas:  Apparently Rick Spielman was impressed with Arkansas’ receivers this year.  Childs represents a very solid value here and could look to compete for a starting gig from the get-go.  A real Height-Weight-Speed prospect that could end up dominating.

FIFTH ROUND

#139  Robert Blanton, CB/S, Notre Dame:  Probably off the roster right away unless he transitions successfully to safety.  Blanton, a teammate of Harrison Smith, is not going to blow anyone away physically but he has some experience and leadership abilities.  I think this was a reach and he will struggle to find a roster spot as a special teams guy.

SIXTH ROUND

#175  Blair Walsh, K, Georgia:  With Greg Zuerlin going just a few picks ahead of them, this pick smells like panic to me.  Walsh had a horrible senior campaign and while I was a fan of finding a replacement for Ryan Longwell, I don’t have any confidence that Walsh can be that guy.  A huge reach.

SEVENTH ROUND

#210:  Audie Cole, LB, North Carolina Sate:  The Vikings got a lot of value here, as Cole could have gone much higher than this.  He is a talented linebacker that, even from the seventh round, could provide competition with Jasper Brinkley.  He has better range.

#219:  Trevor Guyton, DE, Cal:  It doesn’t seem like Guyton has a super high ceiling, but he could prove to be a solid depth player.  A sure tackler with some burst off the line.