Massive Humans

JR44 wrote:

The size is impressive, but the fact that two guys that big had so little production in college is concerning. A lot of red flags. Not sure how either player is suddenly going to flip a switch and become more of a factor than they were in college.

What about Danielle Hunter? John Randle? Stefon Diggs? Adam Theilen? Tom Brady? Richard Sherman? And the list goes on...

I get everyones got a take on the draft, but It's not a stretch to believe players come to the pros, get stronger, better coaching and improve on their college production.

Draft is all about traits and prognostication. Much as I wish it was a science, it's ultimately not.

Vikings definitely took a gamble on Banks, fingers crossed it turns out.

purplefaithful wrote:

What about Danielle Hunter? John Randle? Stefon Diggs? Adam Theilen? Tom Brady? Terrell Davis? Antonio Gates? Richard Sherman? And the list goes on...
I get everyones got a take on the draft, but It's not a stretch to believe players come to the pros, get stronger, better coaching and improve on their college production.
Draft is all about traits and prognostication. Much as I wish it was a science, it's ultimately not.
Vikings definitely took a gamble on Banks, fingers crossed it turns out.

Hunter - 3rd, Randle - UDFA, Diggs - 5th, Theilen - UDFA, Brady - 6th, Davis - 6th, Gates - UDFA, Sherman - 5th. The later rounds is where you take a shot on guys like this, not with the 18th pick of the draft. Taking Banks in the 2nd where he was projected to go, would have made more senses, but I do not believe you can draft guys on potential in the 1st. We did exactly what Brez said we were not going to do.

JR44 wrote:

The size is impressive, but the fact that two guys that big had so little production in college is concerning. A lot of red flags. Not sure how either player is suddenly going to flip a switch and become more of a factor than they were in college.

Cyclone homer here, and was hoping we would draft the Big Citrus. He played under DC Jon Heacock in a 3-3-5 defense, his job was to plug the center and he did his job. Came in at 350 as a freshman with 20 snap endurance and by senior year he was 325 and could play all game long. I think he has big upside under BFlo's defense and should contribute quickly. He's a good interview calm and direct, not a lot of cliche responses with a good sense of humor.

JR44 wrote:

Hunter - 3rd, Randle - UDFA, Diggs - 5th, Theilen - UDFA, Brady - 6th, Davis - 6th, Gates - UDFA, Sherman - 5th. The later rounds is where you take a shot on guys like this, not with the 18th pick of the draft. Taking Banks in the 2nd where he was projected to go, would have made more senses, but I do not believe you can draft guys on potential in the 1st. We did exactly what Brez said we were not going to do.

I was responding to "Not sure how either player is suddenly going to flip a switch and become more of a factor than they were in college."

In reality history is loaded with great examples and it's not out of the realm of reality it happens here again.

No doubt Banks at 18 is a gamble though.

purplefaithful wrote:

What about Danielle Hunter? John Randle? Stefon Diggs? Adam Theilen? Tom Brady? Richard Sherman? And the list goes on...
I get everyones got a take on the draft, but It's not a stretch to believe players come to the pros, get stronger, better coaching and improve on their college production.
Draft is all about traits and prognostication. Much as I wish it was a science, it's ultimately not.
Vikings definitely took a gamble on Banks, fingers crossed it turns out.

I agree 100%! Looking at our draft this year, leadership and football smarts seems to be a theme. I don't know much, but it seemed like several of the players we drafted, (including at least one UDFA) were captains on their teams or noted to be "leaders" in the locker room. Look at the best players and all seem to have those same things in common.

MaroonBells wrote:

Massive men who can rush the passer are extremely rare.  This is an enormous human with 35-inch arms. He didn’t have the greatest end to his college career, with just 3.5 sacks his final two seasons. He was then hurt at the combine, where he ran a 5.05 with a 1.76 spit. He was taken in the late teens in the draft. ESPN, PFF and USA Today called him a reach. Oh wait…that’s Dexter Lawrence. Caleb Banks ran a 5.04 with a 1.76 split and had 4.5 sacks his final two seasons. Btw, both Lawrence and Banks did 36 reps with 35 inch arms. That's impressive.

These massive humans that move like much smaller men just baffle me. I a smaller human that moves with the grace of a 300 #er.

Lawrence, linval, Phat Pat. Freak athletes in a massive frame.

BigAl99 wrote:

Cyclone homer here, and was hoping we would draft the Big Citrus. He played under DC Jon Heacock in a 3-3-5 defense, his job was to plug the center and he did his job. Came in at 350 as a freshman with 20 snap endurance and by senior year he was 325 and could play all game long. I think he has big upside under BFlo's defense and should contribute quickly. He's a good interview calm and direct, not a lot of cliche responses with a good sense of humor.

^ This

Orange was used as a run stuffer, plug the gaps NT. We let that go when Phillips left, so are back to plugging the middle with Orange taking on double teams too. Banks is versatile and that will be huge in Flo's defense. I'm sure Flo is salivating now just scheming up plays for this fall.

WE HAVE THE MEATS!

I miss the likes of Phat Pat and Henry Thomas. I'm tired of watching the interior of the D line pushed back on short yardage situations.

When you draft a player in the first round the expectation is he will be a day one starter and contributor. Given the fact that the prognosis for internal fixation of a 4th metatarsal fracture is generally excellent, I expect to see that happen. Then we will find out if Banks was a reach. I'm a build from the lines out believer and am stoked to have drafted Orange as well.

JR44 wrote:

The size is impressive, but the fact that two guys that big had so little production in college is concerning. A lot of red flags. Not sure how either player is suddenly going to flip a switch and become more of a factor than they were in college.

That's the whole point of a Draft. NFL coaching, maturation (both mentally/physically), weight training, scheme fit, the pro game, etc. all offer ways to improve and it happens every year all over the place to many drafted players. I mean, is that a serious comment lol? The example list is loooong.

purplefaithful wrote:

I was responding to "Not sure how either player is suddenly going to flip a switch and become more of a factor than they were in college."
In reality history is loaded with great examples and it's not out of the realm of reality it happens here again.
No doubt Banks at 18 is a gamble though.

Agree. Plenty of examples of guys who became better pros than college players. Josh Allen. Mahomes was 13-19 as a starter at Texas Tech, Tom Brady was a backup. So was Brad Johnson. Just not sure why we're talking about the college "stats" of a nose tackle and a guy who played three games last year.