End of Year Results for Vikings Rookies - According to Madden

from: blog.pier59.com

I love the Vikings. I love Madden. I was extremely bummed when no Vikings players were considered for the Madden 15 Cover Vote. But that's not what this post is about. This post is about how the Vikings rookies ended up after their first year in Madden 25. The rosters were downloaded from the Madden Community, and they include the 2014 draft picks for each team from rounds one through three. I did a little tweaking just because the cornerbacks taken in the first round had abysmal ratings. The tight ends suffered as well (Eric Ebron was behind Joseph Fauria and Brandon Pettigrew? Please). I only altered Teddy Bridgewater slightly, giving his awareness rating a slight bump up to 75.

In the first run-through I simmed the whole season. Teddy Bridgewater got the start at quarterback, Jerrick McKinnon was the backup to AP, Anthony Barr started at the left outside linebacker spot, and Scott Crichton backed up Everson Griffin as the right end. I used the stock Minnesota offensive and defensive playbook, though I did add a few more plays where Barr would be rushing the quarterback.

from: fansided.com

Teddy Bridgewater: 77 overall rating. 2875 yards passing with 15 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He had a 51% completion percentage. He also had 225 rushing yards with 1 touchdown. Let's compare that to the other first round quarterbacks. Johnny Manziel threw for 3568 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. More yards, but the Browns don't have Adrian Peterson. Blake Bortles backed up Chad Henne the whole year, but he did come in for a couple games and threw for 422 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions. Bridgewater definitely needs to get better, but he managed the game like we needed. 

Jerrick McKinnon: 71 overall rating. 749 rushing yards with 7 touchdowns. Peterson went down for a few games, so McKinnon saw a lot of action. He also had 105 receiving yards.

Anthony Barr: 82 overall rating. 58 total tackles, 9 tackles for a loss with 6 sacks. That's compared to Jadeveon Clowney who had 7 sacks and JJ Watt who led the league with 19 sacks. 

In this example, the Vikings went 10-6. We even beat the Packers in the Wildcard round, but then lost to the Seahawks in the Divisional round. I'd say that's a solid year all-around.

In my second example, I tweaked things a bit. I added a few more deep passing routes to the playbook, along with more wide receiver screens. For the defense, I used the Broncos playbook and added a few multiple fronts. I wanted to get Barr more involved rushing the passer, especially since Mike Zimmer has said he wants to use Barr in a similar role to how the Broncos use Von Miller. I simmed this season as well.

Teddy Bridgewater threw for 3,210 yards, with 20 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. 

Jerrick McKinnon got injured for a couple games and only ended with 132 yards and 1 touchdown. 

Anthony Barr had 48 tackles, with 15 for a loss and 14 sacks. He even had a forced fumble. Kind of think this was a bit ridiculous, but Barr gained a ton of experience!

Scott Crichton failed to get even a single tackle. Granted, Everson Griffin played very well, recording 12 sacks. Wasn't on the level of Barr, but if this happens in the upcoming season, it will legitimize the chance the Vikings have given Griffin.

The Vikings went 11-5 this time. We lost in the first round to the Packers.

In my third example, I did my normal tweaking. I used the Colts pass heavy offense with a lot of WR screens thrown in, and even signed T.Y. Hilton when the computer decided to release him from the Colts (yes, the computer does some very stupid things). I completely overhauled the defense. I switched from a 4-3 to a hybrid multiple front, started Linval Joseph at the nose tackle, Everson Griffin as a pass rushing right end, and moved Shariff Floyd over to a run stuffing left end. Barr played a 3-4 outside linebacker, which he is extremely well suited for, Crichton still backed up Griffin, and I shifted Chad Greenway to a middle linebacker. Yea, buddy. Rhodes is going to have to step up big in coverage 'cuz I'm sending the house on lots of plays. 

Teddy threw for 3,914 yards, with 28 touchdowns to only 9 interceptions. He also had a 60% completion percentage. That's the kind of game management we need from him (though if you've read my previous post, I'd prefer we wait a year to get it).

from: maddentips.com

Jerrick McKinnon only had a couple hundred yards with one score, but that's because AP ended with 2,283 yards with 20 touchdowns.

Anthony Barr ended with 71 total tackles, 13 sacks, and 1 interception. Again, a very good showing for him. Clowney beat him out for defensive rookie of the year, however, with 15 sacks. Combined with J.J. Watt's 24 sacks, the Texan's defense was crazy (their offense still struggled mightily, though). 

Scott Crichton only ended up with 5 tackles, but he did back up Everson Griffin who ended with 17 sacks on the year.

The Vikings went 14-2, but lost in the divisional round of the playoffs (I simmed it), so all in all, it was a very successful year. 

In conclusion, my Madden seasons have never been an accurate prediction of real life. When I'm controlling the offense, the Vikings are guaranteed at least 13 wins (and I'm not even that good. The all-madden difficulty just needs a lot of work, which supposedly is coming in Madden 15). Even simming the seasons didn't turn out very realistic. I honestly believe we can expect an 8-8 season, 9-7 at the best. But I don't play Madden to predict the upcoming or current season; I play Madden to control my favorite team and see how far and how well I can utilize those pixilated characters run by a somewhat vast ratings system that can be tweaked to my hearts content. 

Vikings Starting Quarterback

Teddy Bridgewater is the future. We all know that. Unless he gets into a freak accident that ends his football career, or four years down the road he is just utterly terrible, we have our starting quarterback. But who should start this year?

from: q.usatoday.com

Lots of people have said they want Bridgewater to start right away. He's the new, exciting addition, and all the analysts have said he's the most NFL ready quarterback that came out of the draft. From Facebook to Twitter, I've read lots of posts bashing Cassel and saying it's a no-brainer to start Bridgewater. Christian Ponder, sadly for him, is practically nonexistent in these discussions.

I completely disagree with that. Cassel wasn't anywhere close to terrible last year. No, he didn't get us to the playoffs. He went 4-3 as the starter (though he didn't really start in one of those, but played most of the game). That's much better when compared to Ponder's 1-6-1 record. Oh, and don't forget about Josh Freeman's abysmal outing against the Giants. I take that back; please forget about Freeman's abysmal outing against the Giants.

Cassel threw for a bit more than 1,800 yards with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Given a full season, I could see 4,000, 20 and 14. Those aren't great numbers and won't guarantee the playoffs, but that will give Bridgewater a whole year plus another offseason to learn the playbook and watch games and film. Bridgewater is not Andrew Luck, nor is he Robert Griffin. He won't step in right away and do amazing things for us. But give him a year, and I think we will all be pleasantly surprised.

from: cbssports.com

The best example I can think of is probably not the greatest example, but I'm going to put it out there anyway. I don't think Aaron Rodgers would have been very good if he'd been thrown in right away. Because he got four years to sit behind Favre (granted, Favre was a better quarterback than Cassel), he was ready to go and could start producing at high level. Bridgewater will only get a year at the most to sit, but ideally he will also have Adrian Peterson for the first couple years. Having the best running back in the game goes a long way in improving the passing game.

from: startribune.com

I want Cassel to start and play the whole year. Mike Zimmer has expectedly not named a starter yet, though, and I agree with that. He's said that the best player will start, and that could easily be Bridgewater. I do hope it's really close, but Zimmer and Speilman end up going with Cassel. 2014-15 may not be a great year, but I honestly believe Bridgewater will provide a solid level of quarterback play for many years to come that will get us back into contention for the NFC North title and multiple trips to the playoffs. Bold prediction here, but I predict we win our first Superbowl with Bridgewater at quarterback.

5th Round Draft Analysis - David Yankey

The Vikings finally took a guard in the fifth round. I would have preferred the position be addressed earlier, but there were so many positions the Vikings needed to address that one position had to fall through the cracks. But David Yankey continued to fall and the Vikings were glad to snag him. 

David Yankey, G Stanford:

from: guardianlv.com

At 6'5" and 315 lbs, Yankey played left tackle in college but projects as a prototypical offensive guard. He's tough, something Spielman apparently likes in his offensive lineman (who doesn't?). Let's go to the chart.

from: bleacherreport.com

This chart was obviously made by someone else. But it provides a good jumping off point to talk about the different strengths and weaknesses of Yankey's game. Size and feet don't need much attention here. He's obviously a great size and his feet are probably proportional to his body. All seems good to me there.

He's a great run blocker. The chart rates his ability in that aspect at an 8.5. From the analyses I've read about him, that's about right. That toughness I mentioned above comes into play heavily in the run game. Bleacher Report says he has a 'desire to hit somebody'. That's something I would think of more in a defensive player, yet it's actually a positive in an offensive lineman as well. Yankey also plays with a low center of gravity and his head up, keeping him in great position throughout the play. He also uses his hands well in tight spaces, great for keeping defensive tackles and blitzing linebackers away from the ball carrier. 

from: college-football.si.com

The chart gives him an 8 in quickness and for his motor. Those are great to have in combination. I feel like everyone I look closely into is lauded for the quick first step. Someone's step has to be quicker than someone else's. Anyway, Yankey keeps going, especially when run blocking.

Now for the negatives. I feel like this chart rates Yankey better than he really is. If these numbers are correct, Yankey should have gone before the 5th round. His pass blocking was rated at a 7.5, but that's one of his weakest abilities. When pass blocking, he tends to drop his head which allows the defensive player to get a better move on him. He also seems to struggle in one on one assignments. His initial hit is strong, but he struggles with his footwork and often allows the defender past him, especially to the outside.

Another knock on him is his athletic ability. Yankey ran the 4th slowest time of all offensive lineman that tested at the combine. He also ran the 5th slowest short shuttle time. He's not fast and he's not agile. For a guard, that isn't a huge downer, but it does mean he may never become an elite guard. Even for the maulers on the inside, a little wiggle is always a good thing.

from: espn.go.com

Bleacher Report projected him to go somewhere in the 2nd round. Nfl.com projected round 2 to round 3. That obviously didn't happen, and his poor combine numbers were part of the reason he dropped so far. He also didn't have a great 2013 season. But in his senior year of high school, Yankey was only 240 lbs. He's grown a bunch every year and was forced to learn how to adapt to his body. With 34" arms, you would think he's done growing and can now settle in to learning how to use his body. Yankey will see playing time this year, but he most likely isn't going to beat Charlie Johnson out for the starting left guard spot. The Stanford product will need to show improvement in the areas outlined above before he can become a starter. Give him a year, though, and he'll be a great addition to a line that focuses heavily on the run.

My Opinion of the Vikings Draft

I am no football genius. I do not spend hours watching film of prospects so I know exactly what their strengths and weaknesses are. I also am not an expert on the type of schemes the Vikings run, especially since both sides of the ball should look different this year. I am, however, a crazy fan of the Vikings and know just enough that I feel like my opinions are justified (ha ha). So here's my analysis of the Vikings 2014 NFL draft.

Overall grade: B+

The first round selections of Anthony Barr and Teddy Bridgewater are amazing. My grade for the first round would be an A+. We need linebackers, and Barr provides the pass rushing outside linebacker that Zimmer wanted for his 4-3 scheme. A consistent pass rush from somebody other than our front four is a very welcome addition. An article on ESPN I read said linebackers in our old Cover 2 scheme blitzed on passing downs 11% of the time. Expect that to triple this year, especially for Barr. He's only played on the defensive side of the ball for two years, so he'll need to learn a lot, but he played so well and even improved during those years that he shouldn't take long to grasp what Zimmer and defensive coordinator George Edwards throw at him. Barr has kind of disappeared from the spotlight with the Bridgewater pick, but the UCLA linebacker is a lock for a starting position, while Bridgewater will most likely sit for the whole year.

from: watercoolersports.com

Teddy Bridgewater had dropped a lot since he declared for the draft, but that turned out to be extremely beneficial for the Vikings. I had preferred to wait on a quarterback until at least the third round, but I'm happy with how this turned out. I've read a lot more on Bridgewater (for more details, see my profile of him), and I think he's a great fit for the Vikings. As long as we have AP (which may not be too many more years if you've read the rumors) we just need Bridgewater to be a game manager. Ponder threw too many interceptions and struggled to keep the chains moving when we needed him to. Bridgewater could start immediately and take care of the ball, or he could come in a year after he's learned from Cassel. Also, if the dreaded day when we don't have AP should come, I think Bridgewater has all the tools necessary to be an amazing quarterback in the league. I think Spielman got this quarterback right, and he didn't have to give up much for it.

from: seahawks.com

The third round is where things get real shaky. We took Scott Crichton, a defensive end from Oregon State, and Jerrick McKinnon, a running back from Georgia Southern. Both of these picks confuse me. Crichton looks to be a decent pickup, but we're okay at end. Brian Robison and Everson Griffen are set to start, and we signed Corey Wootten in free agency who will be a solid backup. I'd have liked to go guard here, with Spencer Long and Chris Watt both still available. Either of those would have gotten great playing time and could even have challenged Charlie Johnson for the starting left guard spot. Crichton must have been higher on the Vikings' draft board, otherwise this pick doesn't make sense.

from: atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com

Jerrick McKinnon is even more of a head scratcher. I'm cool with project players. I feel like we have a great staff to mold players into the best they can be, but McKinnon is going to need more molding than a lot of others. His athletic ability is through the roof (see my profile on him for more info), which is most likely why he was picked. We did need a back that could give AP a breather now and then and preferably one that could do more than pound a hole for a few yards. But McKinnon played cornerback for the first couple years of his career, then shifted to a quarterback in a triple option system. I think he started at running back only half of his senior season. See what I'm getting at? He has very little experience at the position we drafted him for. Also, the triple option system he ran was way different from the pro style offense he'll be in with the Vikings. As far as a learning curve, McKinnon's will be one of the steepest for any of the prospects. I would have preferred we take a defensive back here (I was super angry that we didn't take Pierre Desir), but if the Vikings had to go running back, why not go De'Anthony Thomas or Ka'Deem Carey? They have more experience positionally and in the scheme they've run. They also both would fit the type of receiving back that Turner has liked to have, especially Thomas. McKinnon's athletic ability must have stuck out enough for the Vikings to pass on everyone else.


The Vikings did take a guard, David Yankey, in the 5th. This isn't a flashy pick but neither is it a terrible pick. He'll be a solid backup for a few years and then may be able to push for a starting spot. He's smart and has brawler tendencies, but experts say his ceiling isn't very high due to limited athletic ability.

Two cornerbacks were taken in the 6th round, Antone Exum from Virginia Tech, and Kendall James from Maine. I really like the Exum pick. Before he hurt his knees, he looked like a great corner. He only played in three games last year and wasn't nearly as good. If he can get back to a similar form as he was in 2012, he will be a great addition, especially since it looks like he'll be better at safety than corner, standing 6' tall and around 215 lbs. James is small at 5'10" and 180 lbs, but at the very least he will provide good competition at the corner spot.

Antone Exum; from: cypheravenue.com

In the 7th round, the Vikings drafted defensive tackle Shamar Stephen, outside linebacker Brandon Watts, and cornerback Jabari Price. Stephen has a shot to make the roster as a backup at the nose tackle position if the Vikings decide to keep five tackles on the roster. Watts is a bit undersized at 225 lbs, but he's fast. Like Larry Dean, Watts could find a spot on the roster by providing a spark in the return game. Price will probably fill the same role as Kendall James, just to provide more competition in the backfield.

from: yellowjackedup.com

The first round was amazing! The 5th through the 7th wasn't flashy, but we got some solid picks that will either provide good backup minutes or push our current players to a higher level of competition. The reason my overall grade for the draft is a B+ is solely because of that 3rd round. I really wanted De'Anthony Thomas and Pierre Desir, and I think they both would have been locks to make the roster. Thomas would have been a reach in the 3rd, so I am fine that we didn't get him. But Desir was still there at the end of the 3rd. Picking him would have shifted my criticism of the Crichton pick to a glowing commendation. We would definitely have still gone after a running back, but there were plenty left. Storm Johnson from UCF wasn't taken until the 7th by the Jaguars. That's a steal. Nfl.com listed him as a late 4th or early 5th. 

Overall though, I am pleased. Obviously, at this time of year everyone is going to say their team got better. Some teams will get better, but some will get worse. That's what happens. If the Vikings are one of those teams that gets worse, I believe we're at least on the right track. We have some pieces that may need a year or two to begin paying dividends, but those should be great. I hate to say it, but I don't see us making the playoffs this year. However, in two or three years, I see us making the playoffs fairly regularly. We've got a great staff and great players, younger and not as young, that will make us a force to be reckoned with. 

3rd Round Draft Analysis - Scott Crichton and Jerrick McKinnon

The Vikings traded their second round pick-and fourth-to move up to the end of the 1st round. They grabbed Teddy Bridgewater with that pick, so I am extremely happy. But they still had two 3rd round picks. I'm not going to convey my opinions on these picks (I'll do that later); I am simply going to take a closer look at the prospects. 

Scott Crichton, DE Oregon State:

from: cbssports.com

A third round pick always has a chance of starting. However, the Vikings are set with their starters at defensive end in Brian Robison and Everson Griffin. They also picked up Corey Wootten in free agency, who should provide good rotational minutes. After that, though, we don't have much. Scott Crichton will fill a backup role immediately and should do a good job. 

from: bleacherreport.com

As you can see from the chart, he's no Jadeveon Clowney. But he's not expected to be. Crichton's weakest skill (other than flexibility) is his pass rushing ability. He stands too tall, and other than his initial burst, he doesn't have great speed. He also doesn't turn the corner when rushing the passer well, struggling to get the bend necessary to beat the tackle around the outside. He's much better when lined up directly on the tackle, allowing him to power through blocks.

The other major negative of Crichton's game is his lack of athleticism. Keep in mind this is coming from the experts. Every single person in the draft and free agency is twice the athlete I'll ever be. Crichton has good size at 6'3" and 273 lbs, but he won't wow anyone with speed, his pass rushing moves, or really anything at all that you'd see from the best athletes.

from: bleacherreport.com

That being said, Crichton is great in run support. The chart from Bleacher Report gave him a rating of 8. This portion of his game will actually come in handy. From what I've read, Mike Zimmer wants his ends to be able to play the run first and pass second. Besides, the combination of our two current ends, Shariff Floyd, and 1st round addition Anthony Barr will give us plenty of pass rushing ability. Crichton has a great first hit that has stunned tackles in the past, giving him enough time to dissect the play accurately and be in great position to make a play on the ball. Even though he only did 24 reps of 225 lbs at the combine, Crichton is strong for his position as a 4-3 defensive end. He'll need a lot of work if he is ever going to assume a starting role, but at least for the next couple years he should be a very valuable backup.

Jerrick McKinnon, RB Georgia Southern:

from: atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com

What exactly are we getting from a player who started as a corner, was converted to a quarterback in a triple option system, and finally played the position he was drafted for in his senior year? I typically like to start with the negatives, but I think one of the positives needs to come first. McKinnon did 32 reps of 225 lbs. 32! That's 8 more than Scott Crichton did. Only 10 other players at the combine put up more reps, and other than one tight end, they were all offensive and defensive lineman. He actually tied with Ra'Shede Hageman. Yeah, you know him. The defensive tackle that was just glowing with strength. A 5'9" 209 pound running back put up as much as him. That's nuts.

Let's go to the chart again.

from: bleacherreport.com

As you can see right away, there are plenty of areas McKinnon could improve in. To start with, let's look at McKinnon's ability to break tackles. By look at it, I mean he isn't going to do it often. Even with the 32 reps, he runs too tall to break many tackles. I think Maurice Jones-Drew when I see his size, but Jones-Drew could bust through tackles if the defender only got an arm on him. McKinnon isn't going to that. Not right from the start. 

The two other aspects of McKinnon's game that are lacking are his receiving ability and his pass blocking. But not because he struggles with these. McKinnon was rarely asked to catch passes out of the backfield or stay back and block. Georgia Southern ran a very run heavy offense (they ran a triple option). I have to think he'll be fine in pass coverage when he gets the practice. Combined with his strength, he should be set there. The same with his receiving ability. He was never asked to catch the ball much. Give him some time in Norv Tuner's system and his rating may turn out to be much better.

from: bleacherreport.com

He had a very good combine which displayed how athletic he is. Not only did he bench a lot, but he ran a 4.41 forty yard dash. His agility drills were great as well, leading me to wonder if he may be a bit shiftier than most experts predict. With all that speed, some backs rely solely on their speed and pick a hole as soon as they get the ball. Decent defenses will usually gobble them up quickly. McKinnon lets his blocks develop before exploding through the hold with that great speed. He also has tremendous acceleration, so when that block develops or that hole finally opens up, it takes him no time at all to burst into the opening.

Everybody always talks about intangibles with prospects. Awareness is one of those, but McKinnon has little actual experience at the position the Vikings will be playing him at. However, he has a great work ethic. Not only does he work hard in practice and off the field, he displays a lot of effort in everything he does. The skills are there; now he just needs the time with our coaching staff, and a little help from AP, and things could go very well for him.

First Round Analysis - Teddy Bridgewater

Yes, the Bills moving up to 4 to grab Sammy Watkins was a great trade (even though they had to give up a lot), but I don't think it was as great as the Vikings moving back up to the tail end of the 1st to grab Teddy Bridgewater (I may be a bit biased, but it was still a great move). We pretty much swapped our second round pick for their first, then also gave them our fourth. That's a great deal as we stole Bridgewater before the Texans could pick at the top of the second. Granted, I don't have a clue who the Texans would have taken, but Bridgewater was the most likely candidate. We needed a quarterback, and we easily got the most NFL ready one in the draft. This was a steal at the 32nd pick.

I've done some research on Blake Bortles, as I really thought that's who the Vikings would take at 8, but other than comparing his stats to Bridgewater, I haven't really looked at the Louisville quarterback in depth. Time to change that.

Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville:

from: bostonherald.com

There were and still are many knocks on Teddy Bridgewater. He dropped from the projected 1st overall pick all the way down to the second round on most mock drafts. His pro day is what most people point to, as he had an average showing, overthrowing receivers on a couple throws and just flat out missing them on a few more. That was enough to turn some people off, as they wondered how he could be effective in a game situation if he couldn't make the throws in shorts and a t-shirt with no pressure in his face. To disprove that, you only have to look at his tape. While he does show some errant passes every once in a while (what quarterback doesn't throw the occasional dud?), his larger body of work shows very good accuracy. He also threw without a glove at his pro day, while he played with one for every game of the 2013 season. He said he'd been training without one and was confident he could throw without it. After his pro day, he said he should have stuck with what worked for him; you can bet he'll be throwing with the glove come training camp.

The next biggest fault rolling around the media is his size. Teddy is 6'2" and about 214 lbs. They say he's too skinny, that he'll get hurt a lot unless he bulks up. The best refutation of that claim is when comparing him to other quarterbacks in the draft. Did anyone hear any critiques of Derek Carr's size? No, they didn't. People only talk about his arm strength. Carr just happens to be 6'2" and 214 lbs as well. So there.

I absolutely love Bleacher Report. Again, I'll be leaning heavily on their analysis of Bridgewater and include a chart listing his ratings in different aspects of his position.

from: bleacherreport.com

His arm strength has been picked at a bit, as he struggles on deep passes occasionally because he doesn't get that extra oomph that prospects like Mettenberger and Carr get. But Bridgewater has plenty of arm strength to succeed in the NFL. The chart shows him at an 8 for arm strength. That's plenty. Christian Ponder doesn't have great arm strength, and even though he didn't pan out, I don't remember thinking that that portion of his game needed work.

His accuracy is probably his most talked about feature. I know I mentioned above how he lets the occasional throw get away from him, but the other 97% of throws he's spot on. He's got the touch to throw a receiver open that could have taken a while to teach, and he can fit it into tight windows with a bullet if he needs to. His mechanics go a long way towards his accuracy as well. Blake Bortles, Derek Carr, and even Johnny Manziel may need some work on their throwing motion. Bortles's pro day form looked better, but he and Carr both had issues throwing with their arm instead of incorporating their legs as well. I think I've mentioned before that I don't have much experience in football other than what I've watched and listened to, but take a look at the picture below. To me, that is a great example of form when throwing. He's planted his back leg and is using it to drive forward, increasing the spin and power of his arm motion. His accuracy and mechanics, meshed with his decision making-rated a 9 like his accuracy-is a combination that fits the exact mold of what we need in a quarterback. With Adrian Peterson, we don't need a quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. We need someone who can move the ball down the field when it's needed, but most of all, to not turn the ball over. Last year, Bridgewater had a 71% completion percentage and threw 31 touchdowns compared to only 4 interceptions. That is fantastic and is exactly the type of passer the Vikings need.

from: hereisthecity.com

The aspect of Bridgewater's game that is the least talked about and is probably his greatest strength is his pocket presence. The chart from Bleacher Report gives him a 10 in this category. Take a look at this video posted by Deverell King:

He has an uncanny ability to get away from rushers and stay within the pocket until he makes a clean throw. That's what the Vikings need. Our line is very good, even if Charlie Johnson stays at left guard (he's good in pass coverage, right?). We don't need a Johnny Manziel who is going to roll all the way out to one side if he senses pressure. We need a guy who moves with the pocket until he can make the correct throw. Norv Turner's Air Coryell system (as long as that's what he decides to implement) is founded on deeper routes that take a bit longer to run than those of most West Coast offenses. The few extra tenths of seconds Bridgewater can buy us will be vital to completing that pass to Patterson running a fifteen yard in route.

I'm not quite sure if this fits in with intangibles, but Bridgewater ran a pro style offense. By 'ran a pro style offense' I mean he actually ran it. Unlike most quarterbacks in this draft, Bridgewater took a few moments at the line of scrimmage to scan the defense. If he saw something he didn't like, he was allowed to change the play. Check out this article on Bridgewater on MMQB: The Skinny on Teddy. He apparently devoured the play book and progression system that Louisville ran (read the article for more information). The best part of the article is that he created the offensive playbook Louisville ran and defensive playbooks he'd be up against on an Xbox game (has to be NCAA or Madden), and played it to get a better feel for the progression reads. Apparently he's only lost once, ever. Seriously Vikings fans, after you read this article, if you were a Manziel supporter, you'll forget about him. If you were already a Bridgewater supporter, you'll go nuts.

from: atlanticcoastconvos.com

His potential is the last thing I want to look at. The Bleacher Report chart gives him a 9, which if that holds true we are set for at least the next ten years (barring serious injury, of course). But we have a couple options with Bridgewater. I know most people are going to want him to start. I kind of do, too. I know he will be better than Christian Ponder; he has to be. I bet if he starts for us we have a good chance of going 8-8. On the flip side, Matt Cassell will probably play decent for us as well, and Bridgewater may benefit from spending a year as a backup. I understand Adrian Peterson isn't getting younger, but the man is ridiculous. Sure, his production is likely to take a dip with age, but that dip in production will only make him five steps better than all the other backs in the league, as opposed to six steps. I am not a coach, nor do I have any real personal experience with football (I did play in middle school), but I say start Cassell for the year. When the 2015-2016 season rolls around, we could start Bridgewater and actually have a balanced offense. The last time I felt like we had that was in the 2009-2010 season, the first year we had Brett Favre. That took us all the way to the NFC Championship. 

Even if things should go drastically wrong next year and we end up with the 1st or 2nd pick, I'd recommend trading out or taking someone other than Marcus Mariota. And I love Mariota. Like, a lot. But I am that high on Teddy Bridgewater. He's going to be great for us. Props to the Vikings and everyone that helped make this pick happen; they did a great job. 

First Round Analysis - Anthony Barr

For the third year in a row, the Vikings have at least two first round picks. That's pretty great, considering the talent we've gotten. In 2012 we got Matt Kalil and Harrison Smith, both who should be starting and performing at a very high level for us for years to come. Last year we got Xavier Rhodes, Shariff Floyd, and Cordarrelle Patterson. Patterson burst onto the scene in all three aspects of the offensive game-passing, running, and returning kickoffs-and Norv Turner's offense is going to feature him a lot more this year. Floyd and Rhodes are both going to be assuming starting roles and look to be in good shape to do so. After trading down one spot with the Browns and getting an additional 5th round pick, the Vikings drafted Anthony Barr.

Anthony Barr, OLB UCLA:

from: nfl.si.com

There were rumors floating around about the Vikings being interested in Barr, but I honestly didn't think it would happen. At nearly 6'5" and 255 lbs, he's a bit big for the prototypical 4-3 linebacker size, and he's a bit small for a 4-3 defensive end. He'd been repeatedly mocked to the Titans, who will be running a 3-4 this year, as he is seen as a pass rushing outside linebacker. 

But Barr has all the athletic tools to succeed in any system. While he's only played on the defensive side of the ball for two years, his production during those two years is a good indicator that Barr can grasp a defensive scheme and handle his assignments well. If we're just looking at projection, who knows how high his ceiling could be? He hasn't been playing defense for long. He ran a 4.66 forty yard dash at the combine, which is good, but then he ran a 4.45 at his pro day, which is astounding. He has the sideline to sideline speed that you always hear about that teams covet. 

I'm going to analyze Barr in relation to the different assignments he'll be asked to play. I'm getting most of this information from the scouting report posted on bleacherreport.com. I'm going to start with a graph rating different aspects of Barr's game.

from:bleacherreport.com

Pass Rushing: This is the skill that made him stand out and pushed him into the conversation for a top first round pick. He has a very quick first step (what everyone says about why Jadeveon Clowney will be so good), and then he follows that with tremendous speed. Hence the 8 he scores for initial quickness. He also has a great counter, as in when he gets the tackle to commit to the outside speed rush he cuts underneath to the inside. His crazy agility allows him to pull off those stunts. Yet according to the graph, Barr only registers a 7 overall for pass rushing. That's because he still has plenty to work on. His power moves need the most work. But that can be taught, and I don't have any doubts that we have the right coaches to help with that. A little more strength will help as well (he didn't put up awesome bench numbers), and that's a weight room assignment that he will have many chances to rectify.

from: all22breakdown.com

Run Support: This needs some work. At a 5, the only ranking lower is his strength, which would help immensely in run support. He doesn't shed blocks well, and once a lineman has engaged him he's pretty much out of the play. Most of his power comes from his legs, so once he gets his upper body stronger he should be able to push off easier. He has the awareness-he knows where he needs to be-he just needs more practice and experience. Working against someone like Matt Kalil and learning from Everson Griffin and Brian Robison will benefit him tremendously. Chad Greenway will also be great at showing him the ropes, as Barr will most likely play the opposite linebacker spot. One thing Barr does extremely well in run support is chase the ball carrier from behind, especially when the play is going away from him. It's all about speed and athleticism in those situations, and Barr already has that.

from: nfl.com

Pass Coverage: A prospect scouted as a pass rushing 3-4 outside linebacker probably isn't good in coverage, right? Most of the time, yeah, but that's not the case with Barr. He doesn't have the awareness and experience yet, but he has the speed and agility necessary to play well in space, especially in the zone that I think the Vikings will be running with their linebackers most of the time. At the point he's at now, he gets a rating of 7 for zone coverage, and 6 for man coverage. That's good for a linebacker who will probably be used to rush the passer on most downs. He picked up his role on defense quickly at UCLA, so I don't expect him to struggle for long when learning what his role in Zimmer's 4-3 defense will be. 

I personally do not know what Zimmer's defense is going to look like. The question right now, when discussing Barr, is how often are they going to blitz more than four players. In the past, the Vikings have been all about rushing only their four down lineman. With Barr though, you have to think Zimmer will be sending him at the passer, at least on obvious passing downs. Xavier Rhodes should take a step forward in his ability to cover, and Munnerlyn will help a lot on the back end. The Vikings will still draft a safety yet to hopefully start next to Harrison Smith or to provide valuable rotation minutes, and I still think they take another linebacker who excels in coverage, like Telvin Smith from Florida State or Christian Kirksey from Iowa. Better coverage means we can afford to send another guy to harass the quarterback. I'm exited to see what Barr can do when combined with Robison, Griffin, and Floyd against the NFC North's quarterbacks. A few more plays with Aaron Rodgers on his backside, or watching Cutler and Stafford try to scramble away from pressure, will always be welcome.