Monday Night Football: Minnesota Vikings vs New York Giants

 

8:30 PM ET, October 21, 2013

MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ

 

50°

LOW

Mostly Clear

Chance of rain 10%

Wind: SSW at 9 mph

Humidity: 73%

Stats of the Day:

The New York Giants have the same amount of interceptions as Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers combined with 16.

Match Up to Watch:

Josh Freeman vs Struggling Giants defense:

Finally! We get the Josh Freeman era started!!!! It has only taken 1 week but that is how bad the quarterback situation is in Minnesota. It does help when you have the greatest running back in the NFL right now. Adrian Peterson can take so much pressure off Freeman with running ball and also bringing an 8 man box, making it easy to read the defense and make the play. Now two weeks seems a little quick to learn a playbook. Football is a reaction game and not a thinking game but since Freeman still learning the playbook, he will be thinking a lot. The key is don’t make the costly turnover and MANAGE the game. Yes, I said it….be a game manager!

Giants are just terrible in every phase of the game. Offense, defense and special teams. Offense is turning the ball over and defense is not creating any turnovers. No one player can save this team. It has to be collective effort. With the NFC east being so terrible, they still have a shot to win the division…YES WIN THE DIVISION!!!! Crazy thought. Perfect chance against a quarterback who has only been on the team for 2 weeks. If you can’t beat them then you don’t deserve to win any games.

Players to Watch:

Minnesota:

Defensive Tackle- Sharrif Floyd

Cornerback- Xavier Rhodes

Wide Receiver- Cordarrelle Patterson

New York:

Tackle- Justin Pugh

#95 Sharrif Floyd: 6’3 297, Florida

1^st round 23^rd pick, Position- Defensive Tackle

Strength:

+  Very quick off the ball. Really explodes out of his stance.

+  Has a great punch and hits his man in the chest.

+  Good football IQ. Reads the screen play well.

 

Needs Improvement:

–          Needs to learn other moves besides the swim.

–          Learn how to push a lineman down and beat the cut block. Don’t let them go through you.

–          Keep his head up so he can make a play on the ball.

–          If he does not win on first move then he gives up on the play too quick

–          Does not get his knees up because he is on the ground a lot

–          His shed blocking skills are okay. Doesn’t use hands enough, seems like he is attached to the blocker.

–          Poor technique against a double team. Gets driven back to the 2^nd level.

 

#29 Xavier Rhodes: 6’1 210,  Florida State

1^st round 25^th pick, Position- Cornerback

Strength:                             

+  Knows how to use his long arms and play the receiver.

+  Amazing job at high pointing the ball. Great timing and understanding where the ball or shallow route.

+  Has good hands, doesn’t drop a lot of interceptions.

 

Needs Improvement:

–          He is way too high when he tackles, Needs to learn how to break down the ball carrier and make a tackle.

–          Work on his footwork and break on the ball.

–          Lacks great speed so he gets beat a lot on a drag or shallow routes.

–          He is a MAJOR liability in the run game.

 

 

#84 Cordarrelle Patterson: 6’2 216,  Tennessee

1^st round 29^th pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:                             

+  Great at kick returning. Moves away from the wedge to create a hole and breaks arm tackles.

+  He is a play maker. Get the ball in his hands and watch him go to work.

+  Can take on One on One coverage.

+  Even when team is losing by double digits, still goes out there and plays hard.

+  Can Snatch the ball in the air. Uses his hands well.

 

Needs Improvement:

–          Got to work on his route running, relies too much on his speed.

–          Learns when a pass is poorly thrown then he must become a defender and prevent the interceptions.

–          Work on using his body against the defender and don’t use your hands to push off.

–          Show a better effort when he is run blocking

 

 

 

#72 Justin Pugh: 6’4 301, Syracuse

1^st round 19^th pick, Position- Tackle

Strength:

+  Keeps a good solid base. Never is off balance.

+  Fantastic in goal line plays. Stays low and drives the defender back.

+  Good football IQ. Understands blitzes and when to switch.

+  In the early part of the season, he has played very well even when the offense has been so poor.

+  The coaches realize that the right side is strong when he plays RT so they run it to that side.

+  Stays in front of his block really well. Moves his feet well

 

Needs Improvement:

–          Very weak at the second level. Unable to square up the linebacker.

–          Hands tend to slip outside the defender so could be called for holding.

–          Not very athletic and has trouble going out for screen passes.

Preview of Preseason game Minnesota Vikings vs San Francisco 49ers

Minnesota Vikings Rookie Scouting Report:

#29 Xavier Rhodes: 6’1 210, Florida State

1^st round 25^th pick, Position- Cornerback

Strength:

+ Knows how to use his long arms and play the receiver.

+ Amazing job at high pointing the ball. Great timing and understanding where the ball or shallow route.

+ Has good hands, doesn’t drop a lot of interceptions.

Needs Improvement:

– He is way too high when he tackles, Needs to learn how to break down the ball carrier and make a tackle.

– Work on his footwork and break on the ball.

– Lacks great speed so he gets beat a lot on a drag or shallow routes.

– He is a MAJOR liability in the run game.

What to Watch for:

1. Does his long arm cause problems for the receivers???
2. Did he play on first team defense???
3. How well did he do in man coverage???

#84 Cordarrelle Patterson: 6’2 216, Tennessee

1^st round 29^th pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:

+ Great at kick returning. Moves away from the wedge to create a hole and breaks arm tackles.

+ He is a play maker. Get the ball in his hands and watch him go to work.

+ Can take on One on One coverage.

+ Even when team is losing by double digits, still goes out there and plays hard.

+ Can Snatch the ball in the air. Uses his hands well.

Needs Improvement:

– Got to work on his route running, relies too much on his speed.

– Learns when a pass is poorly thrown then he must become a defender and prevent the interceptions.

– Work on using his body against the defender and don’t use your hands to push off.

What to Watch for:

1. How much of an Impact he makes in the Return game???
2. Did he get many targets in the game???
3. Was he able to take on press man coverage???

San Francisco 49ers Rookie Scouting Report:

#35 Eric Reid: 6’1 213, LSU

1st round 18th pick, Position- Safety

Strength:

+ Knows how to break on the ball.

+ If he is part of a gang tackle then he will rip the ball out.

+ Really knows how to set the edge.

Needs Improvement:

– Takes bad angles on tackles so he will miss out on some plays.

– Does not have good football IQ and will get beat down the field.

– Doesn’t wrap up when he tackles. He is always trying to go for the big hit.

What to Watch for:

1. Did he play strong safety or free safety
2. Can he cover the Tight end in the game
3. Does he fill the shoes of Ghoston or is he overwhelmed

#11Quinton Patton: 6’0 204, Louisiana Tech

4th round 128th pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:

+ Amazing in the open field. Can make a small play into a big one.

+ Have great hands. Catches everything that comes his way.

+ Can win any one on one battle. He is great for a guy his size.

Needs Improvement:

– Did play in a offense that was simple and no route progression.

– Got to add some bulk so he can absorb contact

– His blocking has to get better if he wants to help the run game.

What to Watch for:

1. Crabtree is hurt, can he step up
2. Where do the 49ers play him, slot or flank
3. Was he asked to return kicks

Preview of Preseason game Minnesota Vikings vs Buffalo Bills

Minnesota Vikings Rookie Scouting Report:

Sharrif Floyd: 6’3 297, #95, Florida

1^st round 23^rd pick, Position- Defensive Tackle

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Very quick off the ball. Really          – Needs to learn other moves besides

explodes out of his stance.                 the swim move.

+ Has a great punch and hits them.        – Work on winning one one one battles. 
                                             

+ Good Football IQ and knows             – Is on the ground too much and needs 

how to read the screen pass                 to pick up his knees.     

Xavier Rhodes: 6’1 210, #29, Florida State

1^st round 25^th pick, Position- Cornerback

Strength:                                 Needs Improvement:

+ Knows how to use his long                      -Is way too high when he tackles. Needs to learn

arms and play the receiver.                       how to break down the ball carrier and make the tackle.

+ Amazing job at high pointing                  – Work on his footwork and break on the ball better.

the ball. Great timing and                      – Lacks great speed so he gets beat a lot on the drag

understanding where the ball                      or shallow route.

is.                                             – He is a MAJOR liability in the run game. Won’t

+ Has good hands, doesn’t drop take on blocks.

a lot of interceptions                          – Gets beat way too many times when he is press.

Cordarrelle Patterson: 6’2 216, #84, Tennessee

1^st round 29^th pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:                                 Needs Improvement:

+ Great at kick returning. Moves              – Got to work on his route running.

away from the wedge to create a                 Relies too much on his speed.

hole and breaks arm tackles.                  – Learns when a pass is poorly

+ He is a play maker. Get the ball in           thrown then become a defender

his hands and watch him go to work.             and don’t allow the interceptions.

+ Can take on One on One coverage.            – Work on using his body on the

+ Even when team is losing by double            defender….not his hands.

digits, still goes out there and plays hard.

+ Can Snatch the ball in the air. Uses his

hands well.

Buffalo Bills Rookie Scouting Report:

E.J. Manuel: 6’5 237, #3, Florida State

1^st round 16^th pick, Position- Quarterback

Strength:                       Needs Improvement:

+ Knows when to stay                        – Very loose with the ball.

In the pocket or run out.                     Holds it away from his

Nice pocket awareness.                        body.

+ Does not take unnecessary                 – Goes to the check down

hits. Knows when to slide.                    too quick. Reads one route

+ Has great touch on the                      then dumps it off.

Ball and can put it over                    – Crosses his feet when he

the defense.                                  drops back.

What to Watch for:

1. Can he drive his      offense down the field
2. How is his      footwork when he drops back
3. Does he go      through his progression

Robert Woods: 6’0 201, #10, USC

2nd round 41st pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:                                 Needs Improvement:

+ Biggest strength is in                           – Blocking skills are below average.

his crossing or shallow                              Needs to show better effort.

routes.                                            – Seems to lose his cool on the

+ Playmaking skills are                              field and will get into fights

really good. He can do                            – Not the best at securing the

a lot in the open field.                            football. Too many fumbles.

+ Not afraid to go over

the middle and take a

hit.

What to Watch for:

1. Where do the      Bills play him? At slot or flank
2. How many screen      plays do they run for him
3. Was he effective      in the red zone

Kiko Alonso: 6’3 238, #50 Oregon

2^nd round 46^th pick, Position- Linebacker

Strength:                                 Needs Improvement:

+ A Troy Polamalu at the                                      – Takes poor angles on tackles.

linebacker position.                                          – Head will be down at times

+ He is lighting off the snap                                   and cause him to whiff at

and gets into the backfield.                                    tackles.

+ A playmaker on defense.                                   – Got to put himself in better

Creates turnovers, fumbles,                                   position when he tackles

interceptions and sacks.

 

What to Watch for:

1. How much better is his tackling skills
2. Did he make an  impact on special teams
3. How many times  was he in the backfield

Cordarrelle Patterson #29 pick to the Minnesota Vikings

Position: Wide Receiver

Height: 6’2 Weight: 200 Arms: 31 Hands: 9 40 time: 4.42

This is the most interesting player i have in encounter in awhile. Either you like him: You tell everyone to watch the tape and see his play making skills. Or you hate him: He is raw and has no experience. Both points are valid. Thank god for Twitter though because someone can just call you “stupid” if they don’t agree with you. “HEY!! Kiper!!!! I know you have been doing this for 30 years but I’m just going write on this social media thing so you can’t confront me or know who I am and just call you STUPID! Yeah, I did that buddy.” Ahhhhh our generation.

He has played one year of FBS college football and then played two years in JUCO ranks. If you asked anyone before this season, “who will be the best Wide Receiver for the Tennessee Vols?” of course, everyone would say “Justin Hunter!” Here we are a year later and we are talking about Cordarrelle Patterson as a top wide receiver in the 2013 NFL draft. It is amazing how much a year makes a difference.

Strength:

+ Great at kick returning. Moves away from the wedge to create a hole and breaks arm tackles

+ He is a play maker. Get the ball in his hands and watch him go to work.

+ Can take on One on One Coverage.

+ Even when team is losing by double digits, still goes out there and plays hard.

+ Can Snatch the ball in the air. Uses his hands well.

+ Accountable. Will take the blame when he makes a mistake.

Needs Improvement:

– To work on route running. Takes a lazy route.

– Learn when a ball is poorly thrown, change into a defender. Do not let the secondary have an easy interception.

– Work on using his body on the defender, not his hands.

Summary:

Yes, he is raw and needs to be more polish but he has the skills sets that can not be taught. Everything that needs improvement can be coached. He is not a #1 WR like a Calvin Johnson or Brandon Marshall but he is a very good #2 WR who can give you a lot of production. Give him the right coaching and he can produce for many years to come. I think he went to the right team though. He can mature under Greg Jennings and understand how to play the game right. Is he going to replace Percy Harvin? No but he can offer some of those playmaking skills. Patterson was the #1 receiver on my board since November and the Vikings got a steal late in the round.