Viking 2013 Draft Recap

It's very interesting to look back at the last two drafts and see the impact of having a true GM position. The Spielman strategy is: 1.) Go into the Draft overloaded with picks. 2.) Not afraid to trade up to get what he wants. 3.) Make bold mid-round selections that are clearly intended to replace veteran players.

They don't call Penn State "Linebacker U" for nothing, so Michael Mauti will be joining his college teammate Gerald Hodges on the Vikings.

Vikings 2013 Draft Recap:

23 - Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida
25 - Xavier Rhodes, DB, Florida State
29 - Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee
120 - Gerald Hodges, LB, Penn State
155 - Jeff Locke, P, UCLA
196 - Jeff Baca, G, UCLA
213 - Michael Mauti, LB, Penn State
214 - Tarvis Bond, G, North Carolina
229 - Everrett Dawkins, DT, Florida State.

Undrafted Picks:

The Vikings have signed QB James Vandenberg (Iowa), RB Zach Line (SMU), WR Rodney Smith (Fla State), and LB Nate Williams (Ohio St).

The team controls who they drafted and how they develop the players in the short run, the players control how hard they work and how they act both on and off the field, and other teams control how they exploit the weaknesses that they find.

Draft is over, I'm ready for SOME FOOTBALL!!

- O'neika "The Touring Empress"

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A Tale of Two Rivals: Eagles Beat the Giants – Bow to the Steelers

You win some; you lose some. For the Philadelphia Eagles last two games, they could have gone either way, been two wins, or two losses. The additional storyline in these almost identical, close contests is the strong rivalries with New York, their division neighbor and foe, and with Pittsburgh, who retained the gridiron bragging rights for the state of Pennsylvania. Both of these face-offs came down to the final seconds and the skill of their opponents’ kickers, leaving the Eagles fate in someone else's foot.

The 2012 Superbowl champion Giants took the trip down the NJ Turnpike for an all-out Sunday night brawl in Philly. The G-men impressed many in their last game against the Panthers. They displayed plenty confidence, despite the fact that Philly had won seven of the last eight match-ups. In all frankness based on what I’d seen of the Eagles’ play this season, (although I would never admit this in a court of law) I expected a far tougher fight to keep their division rival out of the win column, especially since it’s no secret that the Birds have not been playing their best football.

Philly’s offense took the field with the intent to protect the ball and play a focused game. Eagles’ fans exhaled a little as QB Michael Vick managed to hold onto the ball for entire game. It was great to finally see them play a turnover free game! It was also refreshing to see plenty of play from RB LeSean McCoy – thanks Andy. However, this game belonged to the defense. The defense for both teams meant business in this low scoring thriller that had an outcome about as fluky as the flip of a coin. After a string of penalties on the final drive from both teams, it came down to an expiring clock and the Giants’ kicker to decide the game. Luck was with the Eagles as the Giants got two attempts at the kick, since Reid called a time out and iced their kicker. By some magnificent miracle, the kick was short and the Eagles won it 19-17.

Ironically, the game against Pittsburgh was like déjà vu. This time it was the Eagles turn on the PA Turnpike. Again, another defensively dominated game, a close final score with another kick at the end to determine the winner; except this time it was not a clean game nor did it end in the Eagles favor. There were so many similarities between this game and the one against the Giants that it was almost eerie. The biggest difference was the Eagles return to Turnover City.  Vick was a hot mess. He fumbled the ball on the one-yard-line keeping the Birds from putting their first points on the board. Instead it was a recovery for the Steelers and a preview of what was to come. In all, Vick turned the ball over four times before it came down to a field goal to determine the winner. This time there were no time-outs left for Reid to use to shake the Steelers’ kicker. There were no penalties to back him up for a nearly impossible kick. No, all the opportunities for them to pull this one out were squandered earlier in the game. Steelers won it 16-14.

Being the eternal optimist and die-hard Eagles fan that I am, I still see that sterling lining. Philadelphia leads the NFC East and no one is seriously threatening that reign right now. However, I am extremely concerned about the state of the Eagles offensive line and Mike Vick’s turnover issues. I’m hoping they have it together against the desperate Detroit Lions, who are next on the schedule. But at the end of the day, I still believe in Green.

Helen “Love My Eagles” Little

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W is the new Ugly: Eagles start the Season 2-0

A win is a win. But when a win is as ugly as the first two games of the Philadelphia Eagles’ season, it gives cause for concern. In two gut wrenching games, they almost lost to the Cleveland Browns in week one and just squeezed out a win against the Baltimore Ravens this past week. As the 2012 season got underway, sports pundits spewed that grand expectations were in the cards for the Birds. But that’s every year for the most part from the Philadelphia fan base. We still long for our first Superbowl win. Prior to the first game there was a lot of talk that the Eagles just might make it there this year. That was before they took one regular season snap. Now that we’ve seen a couple of games, the thought process is a tad bit different. 

 

I still believe the Eagles are good team. However, they’ve clearly shown at this point that they aren’t playing like a great team. Many have likened both wins to luck as they pulled out fourth quarter victories by the pigskin of their teeth in their first two games. I attribute it more to a late game focus, with them taking three and a half quarters to get it together on offense. QB Michael Vick has been like a one man turnover machine plagued with interceptionitis. With four picks in the first game against Cleveland and another two against Baltimore, it’s bred a cause for concern. But that’s not where it ends. His ability to stay healthy throughout the entire season is a genuine concern as well. It may help to run the ball more which was a mystery in the Cleveland game. We’ve got one of the premier running backs in the league with RB LeSean McCoy, yet he barely touched the ball in the Browns game. There was a bit more balance in the Raven’s game but their defense did a better job of containing the run.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all doom and gloom so far this season. The Eagles defense is definitely much more improved. The addition of LB DeMeco Ryans has helped considerably. He netted the only interception in week two against the Ravens. Overall the defense looks, more cohesive, fiercer and more determined than they did most of last season. DE Kurt Coleman was one of the heroes in the Cleveland game with two interceptions against a shaken rookie quarterback. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also picked two in the Browns game. And despite turning the ball over, Mike Vick has a few pretty impressive tackles on defense, taking down big Ray Lewis in the Baltimore game after he threw a pick.

Despite the way the Eagles have gotten to 2-0, they are coming off an undefeated preseason with four wins in a row. Plus they ended the 2011 season winning their last four games in a row. So it could be noted that they are on a ten game win streak. But there is no way that I believe they can continue to win with such sloppy play and poor game planning. Before they head across country to Phoenix, lots of corrections need to be made. Simple corrections, like protecting the football and having a solid balance between the run and pass plays. They also need to find ways to use all of their weapons on offense. For example, it was good to see TE Brent Celek back in the mix. Right now he’s their leading receiver and proved that he can be another one of the go-to-guys on this team.

The Arizona Cardinals are next on the schedule for the Philadelphia Eagles. They are fresh off a win in Boston against the Patriots who haven’t lost a home opener since 2001. They smell blood in the water after that feat. And with Kevin Kolb starting at quarterback after their starter John Skelton got injured before the end of the first game of the season, there is surely an Eagles ax to grind. The Cards defense looks like an elite unit and would love to exploit our turnover prone weakness. That habit has to be eliminated immediately if the Eagles plan on being 3-0. It will be challenging enough to travel out west and play a tough team with a former team member who probably doesn’t have the fondest of memories of being an Eagle, leading your opponent. This will surely be a show and prove match up, one I can’t wait for.

I will see you on the sidelines!

Helen “Love my Eagles” Little

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