Linda » Kirk Cousins‘ first season in Minnesota was a letdown

EAGAN Elgton Jenkins Jersey , Minn. (AP) — for a Vikings‘ team full of Super Bowl aspirations, mainly because the offense underwhelmed and couldn’t support another top-five defense.Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman set out to help Cousins — the $84 million franchise quarterback — and the offense in this year’s draft, continuing an offensive-heavy approach as Day 3 wrapped up on Saturday.After taking first-round center Garrett Bradbury, second-round tight end Irv Smith and third-round running back Alexander Mattison, the Vikings started the final day by drafting Oklahoma offensive lineman Dru Samia in the fourth round after trading up to the 114th pick with Seattle.“Offense was kind of a point of emphasis, and we were never going to pass up a defensive guy if he’s sticking that high on our board, and one of those guys would have fell,” Spielman said after the draft.“We were never going to not take the best player. But as we went down through the draft, I thought it fell very well for us on the players that we did get on the offensive side.”It’s the first time Minnesota has used its first four picks in a draft on offense since 1965. In all, the Vikings used seven of their 12 selections to address the offensive side.Minnesota finished 20th in yards and 19th in points last season. Meanwhile, it was 30th in the league in rushing despite the presence of Dalvin Cook.“We need to run the ball http://www.packersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-jace-sternberger-jersey ,” Spielman said. “We need to be better on offense, and that’s where we needed the help. … we don’t have a lot of defensive needs from a starter position.”Remaking the line was a necessity and the Vikings should have two new starters. Bradbury could figure in at center and Samia will join the competition at guard where free-agent signee Josh Kline is considered to be the lead option at right guard.“He was an unbelievable interview at the combine, maybe one of the toughest competitors we’ve seen on tape on how he finishes,” Spielman said of Samia. “He fits the zone scheme very well. He has a few technical flaws to clean up, but we think that is correctable with coaching.”WHO THEY GOTAfter trading up for Samia in the fourth round, Spielman still had a slew of later picks after a series of trades. Minnesota traded down four times in the third round on Friday and had seven picks in the final two rounds.The 12 selections were the most for the organization since the seven-round draft format began in 1994. Linebacker Cameron Smith from USC was the first defensive pick for Minnesota at No. 162 in the fifth round.Arkansas defensive tackle Armon Watts was selected 190th overall, starting a span of three picks in four spots in the sixth round for Minnesota. Wyoming safety Marcus Epps and Elon offensive tackle Olisaemeka Udoh followed.The seventh round brought Texas cornerback Kris Boyd, Oregon receiver Dillon Mitchell, Colorado State receiver Olabisi Johnson and Air Force long snapper Austin Cutting.LIKE A FINE WINESmith comes to Minnesota after leading USC in tackles for three straight seasons, the first Trojans linebacker to do so since Dennis Johnson from 1977-79. But it’s his off-field interest that really makes Smith unique.The 6-foot-2, 250-pound linebacker has an interest in winemaking and interned at the Melville Winery in California in 2017. He said he appreciates the science of winemaking and is fascinated by the agriculture and farming aspect.“I still feel like most people look at me like I am going to be a big body heavy cabernet Dexter Williams Jersey ,” Smith said of his preferences. “I just like the lighter, prettier looking pinot noirs that taste really good to me. That whole cluster that adds just a little more veggie to it that I think tastes great. It’s something that it’s always important to have a life outside of football and be ready for whatever happens.”HOW THEY DIDMinnesota paid attention to its offensive needs, particularly along the line. The biggest remaining needs are depth at cornerback, receiver and defensive line.WHAT’S NEXT?Perhaps the biggest lingering question is at tight end, where longtime standout Kyle Rudolph is a $7.625 million cap hit for a team close to the salary cap and Minnesota added Smith.Boyd was the only cornerback drafted in a spot where Minnesota has last year’s first-round pick, Mike Hughes, still rehabbing from knee surgery and Holton Hill suspended for the first four games. Two seventh-round receivers likely won’t be ready to step in where former first-rounder Laquon Treadwell has been a disappointment. When Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore finished reviewing game video of the latest performance by New Orleans’ defense, he came away unimpressed, but not discouraged.

”We didn’t get up for that game and that’s on us. We know we’ve got to step it up,” Lattimore said after practice Wednesday, as the Saints prepared for their postseason clash on Sunday with Carolina. ”It’s the playoffs Max Scharping Jersey , so that’s in the past. We’re going to get the job done. We didn’t lose our confidence at all. We’re good. We’re going to get up for this game for sure.”

Lattimore and fellow Saints defenders not only have to address their recent back-sliding as a unit, but also for the presence of star Carolina tight end Greg Olsen, who didn’t play in either of these teams’ previous two meetings this season.

”You’re talking about one of the better tight ends in the game. Not having him is significant and having him is huge,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. ”He’s smart. He’s tough. He blocks for the run. He enjoys competing and quite honestly, he does so many little things well in regards to zone or man, that third down or red zone – pick a situation – it’s just significant.”

Olsen missed nine games with a foot injury this season. He played in Carolina’s last four regular season games, with as many as nine receptions in one game.

”We do some things with Greg that we didn’t get a chance to do when he wasn’t with us,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. ”Gregg’s a pass-catching threat, a good route runner, got good hands.”

He has just 17 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown this season, and had only one reception in Carolina’s loss to Atlanta last week.

Still http://www.texansauthorizedshops.com/authentic-kahale-warring-jersey , Saints defenders expect Olsen to be a factor in a win-or-go-home playoff game.

”Him and Cam have timing together, chemistry,” Saints safety Vonn Bell said. ”He knows the offense. He’s a (former) Pro Bowler. He knows how to use his body” to keep defenders from getting to the ball in flight.

”We just know he’s a passing threat,” Bell added.

The Saints improved from 27th defensively overall to 15th this season. They also enjoyed considerable increases in sacks, from 30 to 42, and interceptions, from 9 to 20.

Yet a 31-24 loss at Tampa Bay in the regular season finale ”left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth,” Payton said.

The Saints’ defense gave up 455 total yards in Tampa Bay. The Bucs converted 13 of 18 third downs and their lone fourth-down attempt. If not for three interceptions – one by linebacker Craig Robertson and two by rookie safety Marcus Williams, the Saints might have struggled just to keep it close.

”We’ve got a fire lit up under us to come out here and play the way we know we’re capable of playing,” defensive tackle Tyeler Davison said. ”Our details weren’t exactly on point like they need to be that last game.”

The Bucs gained 110 yards rushing and had two receivers go over 100 yards, including Chris Godwin Cullen Gillaspia Jersey , who caught a go-ahead, 39-yard touchdown pass with 9 seconds left.

”Definitely sour to end it with not our best performance of the year by far,” Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said. ”But the beauty of this is we get another shot, and this time it really means something.”

Notes: LT Terron Armstead (thigh), DE Trey Hendrickson (ankle) and TE Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion) all practiced on a limited basis on Wednesday after not playing in Tampa Bay last Sunday. … Several other regulars practiced on a limited basis, including leading receiver Michael Thomas (hamstring), guard Senio Kelemete (knee), tight end Josh Hill (shoulder) and special teams regular Justin Hardee.

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