From LaDainian Tomlinson to Albert Young to...Darius Reynaud?
by Ted Glover on Apr 2, 2010 2:43 PM CDT
in Minnesota Vikings
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Intrepid Minneapolis Star-Tribune reporter Judd Zulgad has a story out that the Minnesota Vikings, in an effort to solve their depth issue at running back, will move have moved WR Darius Reynaud to RB for the 2010 season. This is an interesting move, in a couple of respects. I’m not sure if it’s a good move, but I can’t classify it as a bad one, either. I mean, it’s not like it’s a WR Robert Tate to cornerback move. Man, was that a disaster. But it’s a curious one, and it’s one that sends a couple of different signals, which I’ll touch on after the jump.
First off, this is the silly season of the NFL. In the weeks leading up to the draft, teams say all kinds of things and let all sorts of information ‘slip’ as to what their intentions are in terms of roster moves—and a good portion of it is complete bunk to mislead the other 31 teams as to what their true draft intentions are. This could very well be one of those times. They might want it known that they’re moving Reynaud to RB because internally they feel there will be a good RB available with the #30 pick, but they think Team X also has an interest in the same guy, and will draft him before the Vikings can. If they get Team X to think the Vikes don’t need a RB because of Reynaud, Team X might feel that that guy will be available in a later round because the Vikes are now out of the running for a RB and pass up on him in the first round, allowing the Vikings to jump on him later.
Another possibility is that they’ve reached out to a veteran RB, and hypothetically speaking, let’s say this veteran RB’s name rhymes with Fryin’ Bestlook. Maybe this RB’s agent has floated a salary number that is just too high for the Vikings to meet, for whatever reason. By putting it out there that the Vikings are perfectly content with Albert Young and Darius Reynaud as the primary backups for The Greatest Running Back in the NFL, they try and make the RB and his representatives think there is no demand for his services in an attempt to get them to come down on their price for said running back.
But there’s also a third possibility—the Vikings are dead serious about this and think it will work. It’s hard to judge Reynaud on offensive statistics; he has no receptions or carries in his first two years as a Viking. The only time he touches the ball is on punt returns, and it became apparent early on last year (San Francisco game, maybe?) that he has that ‘ooh’ potential when he gets the ball in his hands. He made some electrifying punt returns, and I wondered if he was going to get more of a role on offense. However, with the early emergence of Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice, and established receivers like Bernard Berrian and Visanthe Shiancoe (wow, established receiver Visanthe Shiancoe…never thought I’d type those words after his first season in purple) it was tough for Reynaud to get much of a chance. But Brad Childress has always said that he wants his playmakers on the field, and I give him credit for thinking outside the box in how to do just that. Reynaud was a very good running back in high school, and was a very productive offensive player at West Virginia, so it’s not like he’s trying to learn a completely new skill set on the other side of the ball, like the Robert Tate comparison. I think the big thing for him will be picking up the protection schemes when he’s asked to block, and if he can do that, this just might work.
If this were still the Red McCombs ownership era, this would smack of penny pinching and I would be dubious at best about this move. But Mr. Wilf has always agreed to pay for whatever player the Vikings front office and coaching staff has identified as guy they ‘had to have’. So I don’t think this is a cost-cutting, cheapskate move. They went after Tomlinson, and if there was someone else out there they wanted bad enough, they'd make a substantial offer. So this is either pre-draft subterfuge, a negotiating tactic, or the Vikings are serious. I think it's 50-50 between a smokescreen and serious.
If in fact the Vikings are serious, I’m going to keep an open mind. Reynaud has a track record of production in high school and college, and has the ability to make some noise with the football in open space.
Let’s hope he ruptures our eardrums a lot in 2010. Happy Easter, everyone!
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Nickname
He has a cool nickname, D-Rey, so that can’t hurt.
In the preseason game against the Chiefs last year, he caught a long touchdown bomb. He has talent.
Well he has speed
and decent hands, obviously he’s got a solid ability to keep hold of the ball. (we kind of need that..) Question is can he do the other things a third down RB needs to do, or are the Vikes going to start doing more of a RB by comitee aproach. I’m not entirely on board with this move but I can definitely see some intresting screen plays on third and six coming up.
This also could be to give Young some competition for his spot. Johnson doesn’t seem to be showing up for the Vikes so maybe this is the best way they have to put pressue on their up and coming back without having to draft. Either way I see D-Rey fielding punts for us next year so this is a very cheap move and may pay dividends.
It's a lot easier to love the Vikings when they win...
Could
The Vikings be setting up a 2nd RB by committee? Young, Reynaud, and maybe a draftee?
Ski-U-Mah!
The guy can play.
D-Rey, I like the nickname. He has done a great job for us so far. It will be interesting to see come preseason if he gets some touches from the backfield. If this is a smokescreen we will know a lot more after the draft.
Childress loves WRs in the backfield
Even in Philly, he was somewhat anti-pass/anti-WR before T.O. arrived (and left). Then, last year, he couldn’t stop saying how excited he was at the prospect of using Percy Harvin in the backfield. If he could find a legit way of putting 2-3 WRs in the backfield at the same time, he may not feel like he had anything left to prove as a coach. Given that particular quirk of Childress, this could be a real story.
If this is a draft foil, then it’s a dumb one. Team X and however many other teams would still have a shot at drafting said RB before the Vikes. Under no circumstances would Team X rightfully be able to assume that no other team wanted a RB at all for another entire round.
It’s interesting to see how opinions of Albert Young and Ian Johnson shift so much based on news like this (or of established RBs not signing).
Where is Westbrook in all this?
This has been kind of mystifying to me. Does the guy want to play? He said he does.
Why is he not doing pysicals and workouts for teams? He has to know that teams will want to see what he has left.
This being the case and FA’s have been dished out the big money it is a wonder why the Vikings are not trying to see how he would fit in as the #2 back? He certainly won’t take the beating and is a good YAC back. Seems there would be something there.
As for Renard. I saw a lot in him in the pre-season last year and was quite impressed. My concern is when the games count. Unless we could get CJ Spiller ( I know-won’t happen) we should investigate Westbrook and what he is thinking.
I also think Toby Gerhart would be great if we can get him in the 3rd or maybe move up in the 4th. Most mocks have him down there and I think he could do some damage. A 4th round diamond much like Barber was for the Cowboys.
I read somewhere
that the Vikings think he is done. They say the right things in public, but at the combine they made it clear that they weren’t interested in Westbrook.
"We're used to Favre-a-palooza now. We're engulfed in Favre-a-palooza. It's not even Favre-a-palooza anymore. He's family now."
--Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe, on Brett Favre
That and he is one concussion away from retirement.
by Bjorno on Apr 2, 2010 6:38 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Plus, they don't need to look into those scenarios until after the draft
"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula
MilCardFan
I always respect your opinion, but cannot help but notice your homerism when it comes to calling AP The “Greatest Running Back in the NFL”. After watching Chris Johnson rush for over 2000yards and break the yards from scrimage record, in only his second season, AP will have to earn back the title of greatest/best(same difference) RB in the NFL.
I hope at the end of next season you can tell me you were right all along and AP reclaims his throne.
Vikings please trade up to get Earl Thomas.
I'll tell you right now I was right all along, lol
"We're used to Favre-a-palooza now. We're engulfed in Favre-a-palooza. It's not even Favre-a-palooza anymore. He's family now."
--Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe, on Brett Favre
For arguments and reasons that disagree
See Unbanned’s Recd post. Thats all that needs to be said. Adrian Peterson is honestly the BEST runningback in the NFL.
I love Twins Baseball and Minnesota Vikings Football.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Apr 2, 2010 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Where does one find this post?
I almost view this debate as an agnostic. I am totally open to believing that Peterson is the best in the league. But as of now, I do not. If you have any information to help me come to a more definitive conclusion, I’d personally be very thankful.
If we use our top 2 picks on a RB
this guy’s not gonna be very happy. Biggest needs are O-Line and Secondary
That was completely random
Why would we use our 1st and 2nd rounders on runningbacks?
I love Twins Baseball and Minnesota Vikings Football.
by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Apr 2, 2010 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm a Viking fan, and A West Virginia Fan
and I’ll tell you right now, Reynaud is the most athletic player that ever came out of West Virginia. He ran the fastest 40 when players like Pat White, Steve Slaton, and Noel Devine performed. He was always quoted by players as such that he was the most explosive and athletic player. That speaks volumes when you think that Slaton has been fairly productive in the NFL, and although White is fairly fragile for the NFL, he’s super super talented. He can make players miss, and I think Childress and company want to explore what he can do in the backfield. His cuts are precise and his sideline to sideline speed is amazing.
I believe what he does lack, or what I havn’t seen much of, is the north and south power running. He is a smaller guy, but if we’re only asking the guy to get enough for first downs on third downs, then I’d say he’d be a good fit. I don’t see him being a great blocker against huge linebackers and DE’s.
I know its weird that i’m a die hard Viking fan and Mountaineer fan, but my dad graduated from West Virginia and he grew up around Steeler fans, who at the time were seeing the Vikings in the superbowl. He hated the steelers because of the fact that his brother and father loved the steelers. So as a child he rooted for whoever was against them. He grew on the purple people eaters ( loved great defenses) and thats how it all got started. I began my passion when Cris Carter and Anthony Carter ran the show, with my first game attended when the Vikings KILLED the steelers at pittsburgh in the infamous game that Robert Smith ran for a touchdown after his shoe was taken off, and ran 60+ yards with his sock flopping as he still blew defenders out of the water. He was one of my favorite running backs, he was a Eienstein in a running back form. Jake Reed was also a great player I enjoyed. I want to thank Sattelite, because it was a drag keeping up with the games on channel 20 (weather channel) the only channel that told you who had the ball, how much time was left, and of course the score.
SKOL
Wow, didn't know that about him
Thanks for the input. Maybe the Vikes are serious about this, and Reynaud can become a poor man’s Percy Harvin.
Or if it works out really well, Harvin can become a poor man’s Darius Reynaud. :)
"We're used to Favre-a-palooza now. We're engulfed in Favre-a-palooza. It's not even Favre-a-palooza anymore. He's family now."
--Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe, on Brett Favre
Why then did he go undrafted?
I know not everybody with talent gets drafted. But if he really was a special as you say he was, how could 32 teams each decide to pass on him 7 times (or more)? Doesn’t it seem like somebody would have noticed his explosiveness and playmaking? I mean, hell, Troy Williamson had nothing but a decent clocked 40 time and he was taken at the top of the first round. I’m just saying, players that slip ALL the way through the draft have major, major flaws.
Just for kicks I looked at a couple of old draft guides.
One had him as the 17th rated wide receiver and the other rated him 27th. A third did not have him in their top 30. He was also rated by draft position as a third round, sixth round, and UDFA respectively. The main knock on him in all cases was his 5’9 stature. Basically, each scouting report liked his talent but thought he could only fit as a slot receiver or return man in the NFL so his value was downgraded to that of a specialist role player.
by CanadianViking on Apr 3, 2010 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions
With only 7 rounds
Guys like Karl Mecklenberg, Brad Johnson, Mark Schlereth would all have been undrafted by today’s standards.
"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula
Me too
I am also a WVU and Vikings fan, I was also at the Vikings game vs Steelers when Robert Smith ran out of his shoe for TD.. Reynauld was great athlete, but WVU had other great backs and Reynauld was moved to WR to keep his talent on field
On Westbrook
I think he wants to go back to Philly but come May he will have to make other considerations . This controversy helps the draft strategy . I still believe a return specialist will be found in the first three rounds.
On the Rey talk . A few carries in specific situations would be nice.
I would like to see the Ruffin kid a DE out of UNI in Iowa who is from the Minniapolis area walk on as a UFA similar to how we aquired Rey…….
The Price of Poker is Going Up
To steal a metaphor from Neil DeGrasse Tyson, the part about poker which those extraterrestrials now sitting at their telescopes somewhere in space (who are currently watching nineteenth century cowboys play that game) is why some guy who is holding cards of assorted suits, with no muliples of cards of the same rank, and no complete five-card sequences, occasionally walks away with a very big pot, and yet no one at the table tries to jump up and shoot the guy.
Two hundred years from now, they’ll be equally as puzzled by news stories regarding the NFL draft as we are today.
Thanks, MilCardFan, for pointing out the seemingly dumb but crazy-like-a-fox things that are said during the twilight zone period, just before the NFL draft.
Sometimes people know things about what is going on, but would have to shoot you if they told you.
Now, I’ll have to worry about my Darius Reynaud jersey having an outdated number.
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