The Vikings 2009 draft – one scout's perspective

I was unimpressed with the Vikings draft last week. But I realize I'm just a guy with a blog and some time on his hands. What do I know? So I decided to solicit the opinion of someone who actually knows something about this subject.

Wes Bunting's pre-draft and post-draft stuff at the National Football Post this winter and spring has been informative and entertaining. That's why I wanted to get his take on the Vikings draft last weekend. After a couple of e-mails, Bunting was nice enough to do a phone interview and answer a few of my questions (Hey – actual sports journalism happening here!) about the players the Vikings picked.

Bunting's a interesting story. He's a Raiders fan from Philly who decided to get into scouting in 2002. He made that decision after watching the Raiders select Philip Buchanon and Napoleon Harris – two first round draft picks who would help the Raiders on their run to the ’02 Super Bowl (which they lost). Bunting wondered why every team couldn't be as successful at the draft as the Raiders were that year. Obviously, things have changed a bit in Oakland since then.

Bunting's gone on to be a college scouting expert for NFLSMACKDOWN.com, and NFLDRAFTSCOUT.com. He's worked for Tony Pauline of SI.com and for Scout.com. He scored an internship with the Baltimore Ravens scouting department in 2008 and now he's the National Footbal Post's director of college scouting. He's also been interviewed by the Boston Globe, and on ESPN Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio about the draft.

Bunting's knows college football and he knows college football players. So it was encouraging to hear that he was a lot more jazzed about what the Vikings did at the draft last weekend than I was.

Percy Harvin over Michael Oher – you’re thoughts?

Wes Bunting: Harvin adds such a dynamic to that offence. The Vikings really struggled last year in those awkward situations – those third-and-four, third-and-five, third-and-six situations – because they didn’t have that one guy that could consistently beat press coverage and get initial separation. That’s what I think Harvin is going to do. Plus, he gives them so much versatility. You can line him up in the backfield. You can motion him in the slot. I don’t think he’ll ever be that number one wideout that can go outside and beat press coverage. But he gives Brad Childress and that offence so much versatility. Harvin’s going to have a ton of chances to make a man miss and create a big play after the catch.

(D.C's note: I interviewed Bunting before Harvin was a no-show for the Vikings weekend mini-camp. When I e-mailed him to ask if he wanted to re-consider his assessment of Harvin, this is what he wrote.
"Not going to alter it, the Vikings knew what they were getting into, and if they can keep Harvin on the field, I think he will be dynamic. However, if they didn't do the necessary homework on his background, that's where it could get them in trouble.)

Will Childress know what to do with Harvin?

WB: That’s a bit of a concern, but he’s just too talented. All you’ve got to do is get the ball in his hands. And Childress has got a bit of a bum rap in my opinion. I’m from Philly and when he was with the Eagles, I thought he did a pretty nice job. I think they can use Harvin like the Eagles use Brian Westbrook with some bubble screens. They can split Harvin out wide. He’s a mismatch nightmare. If you think he was fast in the swamp, wait till he hits the turf in the Metrodome. I think he’s going to be a real good player.

Phil Loadholt – slow-footed bust or our starting right tackle for the next decade?

WB: I would have said slow-footed bust after I went down to the Senior Bowl this year and watched him really struggle. But from all the reports and indications I’ve gotten, he’s put a lot of work in – working on his footwork and technique and he lost a little weight. In the Vikings power run scheme he’s an ideal fit. And some of his deficiencies in pass protection can be masked.

He’s a hard-working kid and a pretty smart tackle. He has the body. And he’s not being thrown into a situation where they are expecting him to be a left tackle. He’s a right tackle only prospect. That scares some people when you pick a right tackle only prospect. But he couldn’t have went to a better offence than the Vikings.

Asher Allen – what did the Vikings get here?

WB: What they got is a corner who can play on an island. This guy’s been playing outside of the boundary since his sophomore year. He’s been able to lock down some of the best players in the SEC. He’s comfortable in space, he has good ball skills, he’s fluid, he’s got quick feet and can get in and out of his breaks and click and close on the football. I think since he’s a bit undersized, he’ll struggle in press coverage. But in that Cover Two scheme that the Vikings like to play, where he’s so comfortable in space and has such good ball skills, I think he’s a pretty sound player. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Allen start in a year. He can definitely come in and contribute in nickel and dime situations at the worst.

Jasper Brinkley - you had him as a second or third round talent. The Vikings got him in the fifth round. Did the Vikes get a bit of a steal here?

WB: I like Brinkley. I had him rated a bit higher than most. He’s a big, physical inside linebacker and it’s no secret the Vikings like their linebackers big. I think Brinkley will fit right in. He’s a downhill, attacking guy. He may struggle a bit versus the pass. However, he’s real fluid for a guy his size. He’s a gifted athlete. I think they can work some schemes around him, which, typically, they don’t like to do with rookies. But as he matures in the position, I think they can put him in positions that will enhance his abilities in pass coverage.

But he’s at his best sniffing out plays, attacking downhill and just getting after the ball and shooting gaps. He’s a guy – worst-case scenario – who will help out on special teams this year. But I could definitely see him playing on first and second-down situations, attacking the A-gaps.

What about Jamarca Sanford?

WB: I watched him at the Cotton Bowl versus Texas Tech and this guy takes some of the worst angles of any safety I’ve seen in the entire nation. He completely whiffed on [undrafted Texas Tech quarterback] Graham Harrell in the open field. I mean, give me a break. But he ran a lot better at the Ole’ Miss pro day than expected. He was like a 4.38 guy. So he’s got straight-line speed. But he’s not real instinctive. He is kind of physical when he does makes contact but I can’t see him really contributing.

I think it was his 40 time that intrigued some scouts and got them thinking maybe they can turn him into a player. But instincts are so key in that Cover Two scheme – reading and reacting and closing on the ball. I think that’s where Sanford is going to struggle. I don’t see him consistently making plays against the run or pass. He’ll whiff on guys. Best-case scenario, he’s a special teams guy and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get cut in training camp.

Most draft experts seem unimpressed with the Vikings draft. What’s your call?

WB: I’m never a guy who is going to give out grades before these guys hit training camp or anything. But Harvin, that guy’s a playmaker. He’s going to be a difference-maker in the Vikings offence.

Loadholt – if he pans out and I think he will – that’s a great fit for them at right tackle. You have a starter there. I think Asher Allen can develop into a starter at some point. So that’s three starters in the first three rounds, which is pretty good. Brinkley is a key special teams guy and provides some Mike [middle linebacker] depth. He fits into what Vikings want with that big linebacking corps. He can play strongside or inside as well. He’s a guy who will make the team and give them some nice depth behind what you already have. Seventh round picks – you’re struggling to hit on one of those. That’s a tough thing to do. I don’t think Sanford makes the team.

Were there any guys – besides Oher – that the Vikings had the chance to draft and didn’t and maybe you think they should have?

WB: That’s a tough one. The thing that stood out to me is they needed to find a tackle. William Beatty was on the board. But I don’t think he’s a great fit for the right tackle position. He’s more of a left tackle. He’s a long-armed guy. I gave them Eben Britton [in Bunting's mock drafts] a couple of times. I think he’s going to be a really fine player in Jacksonville. But with a talent like Harvin on the board, Britton is more of a late first round-to-second round guy, which is right where he went. I think the Vikings had Loadholt pegged as their second round guy. They did their homework and that’s who they wanted. Then they got good value in Asher Allen. And I like Jasper Brinkley. I have no qualms with what they did.