Minnesota Vikings 2008 Draft coverage and picks. A round by round list of the teams 2008 draft picks and a profile of each player.
Minnesota Vikings 2008 Final Draft order is now as follows:
Round 2, Pick 12 (43) (From Panthers through Eagles)
Round 5, Pick 2 (137) (From Rams through Packers)
Round 5, Pick 17 (152) (From Eagles)
Round 6, Pick 21 (187) (From Buccaneers through Chiefs)
Round 6, Pick 27 (193) (From Jaguars)
Tyrell Johnson | John David Booty | Letroy Guion | John Sullivan | Jaymar Johnson | Undrafted Free Agents
Tyrell Johnson (FS)
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 207
College: Arkansas State
Conference: Sun Belt
Hometown: Rison, AR
High School: Rison
Overview
With a perfect blend of size, strength, speed and field smarts, Marcellus
Tyrell Johnson might not have garnered much media attention, but his numbers
truly stand out against any other safety in the nation. He holds the Sun
Belt Conference career records for most tackles (363) and most interception
return yards (309), as he also established league records for most yards
gained on interception returns in a season (142 in 2007) and most tackles in
a game (25 vs. North Texas, 2005).
Johnson's 92-yard interception return vs. Florida International in 2005 is
the second-longest run back in Sun Belt Conference annals and ranks fourth
in school history. His 28 passes defended (13 interceptions, 15 break-ups)
rank second on the Sun Belt all-time record list, while his 13 interceptions
rank third.
At Rison High School, Johnson earned All-State and All-Conference honors in
2002, despite being hampered all season by a nagging high ankle sprain. He
helped the team to a perfect record as ASU captured the Class 8AA title,
adding All-District accolades in each of his final three seasons. He was a
two-time All-Southeast Arkansas choice and a Marine Scholar. He rushed for
1,085 yards (7.7 avg) and 16 touchdowns, while returning 22 punts for 198
yards as a senior.
Competing as a defensive back and running back, Johnson had 353 career
rushes for 2,725 yards (7.72 avg), including 49 touchdowns. He caught six
passes for 120 yards and had 53 punt returns for 460 yards. He added 18
kickoff returns for 339 yards and one score, had three interceptions
(returned one for score), recorded 20 tackles, forced two fumbles and
recovered two others. He also lettered in basketball and participated in
track and field for three seasons. He started on Rison's 2000 Class AA state
championship hoops team.
Johnson enrolled at Arkansas State in 2003, spending the season adjusting to
playing safety on the scout team. He took over free safety chores in 2004,
earning Freshman All-American and second-team All-Sun Belt Conference
honors. He finished third on the team with 94 tackles (61 solos), as he
caused a fumble and recovered another that he advanced for a touchdown. He
picked off four passes and broke up five others.
As a sophomore, Johnson shifted to strong safety, picking up All-Sun Belt
Conference first-team recognition, as he was twice named the league's Player
of the Week. He led the team with 112 tackles (83 solos), causing and
recovering one fumble. He deflected two passes and had a pair of
interceptions, including a 92-yarder, while averaging 17.0 yards on three
kickoff returns.
In 2006, Johnson again led the team with 63 tackles (43 solos), earning
first-team All-Sun Belt Conference accolades. He picked off a pass, knocked
down four others and had a stop behind the line of scrimmage.
Johnson was a third-team All-American, first-team All-Sun Belt Conference
and league Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. He placed fourth on the
squad with 94 tackles (58 solos), including 4.5 stops for losses and two
forced fumbles. He had four pass break-ups and six interceptions, returning
one for a touchdown from his strong safety position.
In 46 games at Arkansas State, all starts, Johnson registered 363 tackles
(245 solos) with 6.5 stops for losses of 31 yards. He caused four fumbles
and recovered two others, returning one 55 yards for a touchdown. He broke
up 15 passes and intercepted 13 others for 309 yards in returns (23.77 avg.)
and a score. He gained 51 yards on three kickoff returns (17.0 avg.), 2
yards on two carries, 3 yards on a punt return and 3 yards on a reception.
Career Notes
Holds the Sun Belt Conference career record with 363 tackles, topping the
previous mark of 300 by Steve Tookes of Arkansas State (2001-04)...His 363
tackles also rank sixth in school annals behind Jerry Muckensturm (493,
1972-75), Bill Bergey (436, 1965-68), Ron Smith (422, 1976-79), Mike Malham
(370, 1972-75) and Mike Morris (366, 1979-82)...Holds the Sun Belt all-time
record with 309 yards gained on interception returns, topping the previous
mark of 236 yards by Koby McKinnon of Arkansas State (2004-2007)...Only
Terry Whiting (374, 1968-71) had more yards via interception returns in
school history...His 142 yards gained on interception returns in 2007 topped
the previous Sun Belt season record of 138 yards by Chaz Williams of
Louisiana-Monroe in 2005...Johnson's 13 pass thefts rank third in league
annals, surpassed by Chris Harris of Louisiana-Monroe (14, 2001-04) and
Johnathan Burke of Arkansas State (14, 2003-04)...His 28 passes defended (13
interceptions, 15 deflections) rank second in conference history behind
Jonas Buckles of North Texas (30, 18 interceptions, 12 break-ups,
2001-04)...Holds the Sun Belt game record with 25 tackles vs. North Texas in
2005...Only Bergey (33 vs. Eastern Michigan in 1968( had more tackles in a
game in ASU history...His 92-yard interception return vs. Florida
International in 2005 is the second-longest run back in Sun Belt annals,
topped by Maurice Holman of North Texas (99 vs. Middle Tennessee,
9-10-2005).
High School
Attended Rison (Ark.) High School, earning All-State and All-Conference
honors in 2002, despite being hampered all season by a nagging high ankle
sprain...Helped the team to a perfect record as it captured the Class 8AA
title, adding All-District accolades in each of his final three
seasons...Two-time All-Southeast Arkansas choice and a Marine
Scholar...Rushed for 1,085 yards (7.7 avg.) and 16 touchdowns, while
returning 22 punts for 198 yards as a senior...Competing as a defensive back
and running back, Johnson had 353 career rushes for 2,725 yards (7.72 avg.),
including 49 touchdowns...Caught six passes for 120 yards and had 53 punt
returns for 460 yards...Added 18 kickoff returns for 339 yards and one
score, had three interceptions (returned one for score), recorded 20
tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered two others...Also lettered in
basketball and participated in track and field for three seasons...Started
on Rison's 2000 Class AA state championship hoops team.
Analysis
Positives: Has a muscular, cut up upper and lower
body physique with good arm length, large hands, lean waist, muscular legs
and room on his frame to add more bulk without it affecting his overall
timed speed...The most productive player on the team's defense, as offenses
need to game plan for him...Frequently around the ball and has outstanding
awareness, leaping ability and timing to high point the ball, come down with
the interception and then elude opponents for a big return...Has the size
and strength to dominate vs. the outside run, but must improve his
wrap-tackle technique, as receivers have had some success sidestepping his
low shots or when he takes a side (likes to grab or collide vs. his
opponent)...Plays hard every down and takes care of business on and off the
field...Will play hurt and is very accountable...Has the agility, balance
and acceleration to close on plays in front of him (struggles to flip his
hips and get back on the route in man coverage)...Comes up with key plays in
the clutch and has a knack for slipping blocks and making plays in the
box...Not as quick as you would like reading and reacting to the play, but
will show good urgency to close once he locates the ball...Has just an
adequate feel for blocking schemes, but can deliver a strong hand punch to
push the bigger linemen back on their heels...Would like to see him blitz
more often, but he is quick to handle the short area switch-off and keeps
good relationship with tight ends and backs in the underneath passing game,
generating enough force to reroute...Smooth in his pass drops, but must open
his hips quicker when turning...Impact tackler who knows how to attack the
ballcarrier's outside leg to stop forward progress...When he sees the ball
in flight, he gets a quick break on it to get under and make the
interception...Takes good angles in pursuit and has the body adjustment
skills to compete for jump balls in a crowd...Has good top end speed to
close on plays in front and will usually catch any ball that he gets his
hands on...Can pluck and extend for the ball away from his frame and has
very good balance and in-stride moves to accelerate past the opponent on his
interception returns...Not used as a blitzer, but will come up and support
along the line vs. the run...When he keeps his hands active, he is quick to
play off blocks in run containment... Has the athletic agility to run
laterally and clear trash to make tackles along the sidelines...Strong
tackler who comes to balance well, when he doesn't duck his head before
delivering the hit...Gets a handful of forced fumbles with his ability to
collide, stun and wrap up ballcarriers with good explosion behind his
hits...Simply flies down the sidelines as a gunner on the special team units
and has a knack for hurling himself in attempts to break up the wedge.
Negatives: Despite his quickness, he struggles at
times to get a clean break out of his backpedal...Does not have the second
gear to recover when a receiver gets behind him... Appears more comfortable
playing vs. the ball downhill than covering the man on deep routes...Even
though he has piled up a good amount of tackles, he needs to refine his
wrap-up technique, as he tends to collide or drag down the receiver rather
than squaring up to wrap and secure...His weight room strength does not
always translate to the field, as he struggles to shed, especially after
leaving his body exposed for bigger blockers to latch on and control
him...Needs to generate more power behind his hits and while he is good at
avoiding blockers on the move, he doesn't have that strong safety mentality,
where he will sacrifice his body to get to the line and clog the rush lanes
(just six stops behind the line of scrimmage in 46 games)...Needs to make
better decisions working in space, as he fails to follow the ballcarrier to
the cut back lanes at times...Too choppy in his backpedal, taking false
steps in transition and shows some hip tightness on his breaks...Might be a
better fit at free safety, where he can roam the field and attack the ball
(has marginal man coverage skills)...Must be more forceful with his hands
when attempting to reroute in press coverage...Gets caught out of position
when he eyeballs the quarterback too long, biting on pump fakes (lacks good
recovery agility)...Plays with reckless abandon, but considering he lacks
great redirection or plant-and-drive skills, when he over-pursues he is
taken out of the play.
Compares To: ANTOINE BETHEA-Indianapolis...Like Bethea,
Johnson is a bit of a 'tweener, as he lacks the bulk and size you look for
in a strong safety and does not show the man coverage skills to play free
safety. He is a good fit for a Cover-2 scheme, as he is more comfortable
playing downhill than when parked in the deep third of the zone. He is a
superb pass thief and plays with reckless abandon, especially on special
teams. He does bite a lot on activity in the backfield and is slow to see
the play develop, but does close with good urgency when he locates the ball.
Look for Johnson's athletic ability, natural hands and timed speed to
impress a team more than his lack of instincts and poor man coverage skills
that could scare off a few other organizations.
Injury Report
2002: Bothered most of his high school senior year with a high ankle sprain.
2006: Sat out the Louisiana-Monroe contest (10/07) with an ankle sprain.
2007: Could not complete agility tests at the Combine due to right hamstring
cramps.
John David Booty (QB)
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 213
College: Southern Cal
Conference: Pac 10
Hometown: Shreveport, LA
High School: Evangel Christian
Overview
Having produced Heisman Trophy quarterbacks in recent years with Carson
Palmer and Matt Leinart, the Trojans coaching staff felt it had the perfect
candidate for the award in 2007.
But Booty didn't strike Heisman gold with injury and inconsistency setting
him back.
Booty comes from a family rich in football tradition, which made his journey
out West something that the youngster felt he needed to do to establish his
own identity. John David's brother, Josh, was a quarterback for the
Cleveland Browns who played at LSU for two seasons (1999-2000) following a
five-year (1994-98) baseball career as an infielder in the Florida Marlins
organization (including 13 games in the majors).
Another brother, Abram, was a wide receiver at LSU (1997-1999) and Valdosta
State (2001). His father, Johnny, played quarterback at Arkansas, Louisiana
Tech and Mississippi State, then, coached football at Evangel Christian,
where John David Booty rose to national prominence as one of the top prep
quarterbacks.
At Evangel Christian Academy, Booty earned Student Sports Underclass
All-American and Class 5A All-State honors as a sophomore and junior. In
2002, he led his team to the Class 5A state title while throwing for 4,144
yards and 38 touchdowns. He also led the squad to the Class 5A state title
as a 2001 sophomore, passing for 4,330 yards and 50 scores.
During his freshman campaign, Booty completed 9-of-11 passes. In his career,
he threw for 8,474 yards on 555-of-864 passing (64.2%) with 88 touchdowns
and 26 interceptions. Because Louisiana rules allow junior high students to
compete on high school teams if the school is a K-12 school, he actually
played varsity football for Evangel Christian since the seventh grade.
Prior to his senior year, Booty's father was fired a the team's quarterbacks
coach at the Academy and the youngster decided to bypass football that
season, opting for early enrollment at Southern California. Asked why he
skipped his senior year of high school, the quarterback replied, "Because my
dad was fired as our quarterbacks coach, I felt like it was time for me to
move on. I felt like I was standing up for my dad and for what I want."
Booty did not see action during the first five games of his 2003 freshman
season with the Trojans. Booty eventually saw limited mop-up action in five
games in '03, finishing with 90 yards on 7-of-14 passes (50.0%), but lost 10
yards on a rushing attempt, as he missed the final two contests with a left
wrist fracture suffered in the UCLA game. Listed third on the depth chart in
2004, a badly bruised elbow in fall camp forced the coaching staff to grant
Booty a medical hardship.
With Matt Leinart having won the 2004 Heisman Trophy, Booty anticipated
taking over quarterback duties in '05 at USC, but Leinart opted to return
for his senior year, relegating the youngster to second on the QB depth
chart.
For the 2005 campaign, Booty appeared briefly in 10 games. He threw for 327
yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 27-of-42 attempts (64.3%)
and amassed 316 yards in total offense. On his way to the NFL, Leinart had a
few thoughts about his successor, saying,
With Leinart gone, the 2006 season was Booty's "coming out party," but he
was limited in spring camp with a herniated disc in his back that required
surgery in late March. He returned to the field fully recovered by fall
drills, where he executed the offensive game plan flawlessly.
Late 2006 season struggles, especially in upset losses to Oregon State and
UCLA left his junior season unfulfilled, but Booty still ranked first in the
Pac-10 Conference in pass efficiency (144.0 rating), total offense (253.38
yards per game), points responsible for (13.85 points per game), passing
yards (3,347), passing yards per game (257.46 ypg) and pass completions
(20.69).
For the campaign, he connected on 269-of-436 passes (61.7%) for 3,347 yards,
29 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. He also piled up 3,294 yards in
total offense and came up with one solo tackle. His accuracy impressed USC
offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian, who said, "Booty
is like Greg Maddux in the way he can put the ball in the spot it needs to
be."
Booty continued his slow improvement in 2007. During the early stages of his
final season, the Trojans relied more on the running game. He then suffered
a middle finger fracture on his throwing hand after suffering four
interceptions in an upset loss to Stanford. The injury would sideline him
for the Arizona, Notre Dame and Oregon losses. He played with renewed vigor
upon his return, throwing just two more interceptions while connecting on 11
touchdown passes in his five contests.
The team captain and All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention finished his
senior season by completing 215 of 340 attempts for 2,361 yards (63.2%), 23
touchdowns and ten interceptions. He scored once on the ground and gained
2,255 yards in total offense, san average of 225.5 yards per game in the ten
contests he appeared in.
In 38 games at Southern California, Booty started 23 times. He threw for
6,125 yards on 518-of-832 passes (62.3%), with 55 touchdowns and 21
interceptions. He rushed 61 times for losses totaling 180 yards
(minus-3.0-yard average), scoring twice on the ground. In 893 plays, he
totaled 5,945 yards, averaging 156.45 yards in total offense per game.
Career Notes
Booty ranks eighth in school history with 893 offensive plays from
quarterback, as his 5,945 yards in total offense ranks sixth in USC annals
behind Carson Palmer (11,621 yards, 1998-2002), Matt Leinart (10,623 yards
(2002-05), Rodney Peete (8,640 yards (1985-88), Rob Johnson (7,896 yards,
1991-94) and Charles White (6,240 yards, 1976-79)...His 3,294 yards in total
offense in 2006 rank fifth on the school's all-time list, topped by Matt
Leinart (3,851 in 2005 and 3,494 in 2003), Carson Palmer (3,820 in 2002) and
Rob Johnson (3,425 in 1993)...Booty threw for 6,125 yards as a Trojan,
ranking fifth in school history behind Carson Palmer (11,818), Matt Leinart
(10,693), Rob Johnson (8,472) and Rodney Peete (8,225)...Only Peete (630),
Johnson (676), Leinart (807) and Palmer (927) had more pass completions at
USC than Booty's 518...His 55 touchdown passes placed him fourth in Trojans
annals behind Palmer (72), Leinart (99) and Johnson (58)...His pass
completion percentage of .623 rank third on the school's career-record list
behind Leinart (.648) and Johnson (.646)...Threw at least one touchdown in
26 games and had multiple touchdown passes in 17 contests...Passed for over
200 yards in a game 19 times during his career...Booty's 436 pass attempts
in 2006 rank third on the school record list behind Carson Palmer (489 in
2002) and Rob Johnson (449 in 1993)...His 29 touchdown passes in 2006 tied
Johnson for fourth on USC's annual record chart, surpassed only my Carson
Palmer (33 in 2002) and Matt Leinart (33 in 2004, 38 in 2003)...His 269 pass
completions in 2006 tied Matt Leinart (2003) for fourth-best in a season by
a Trojans quarterback, as only Palmer (309 in 2002), Rob Johnson (308 in
1993) and Leinart (283 in 2005) had more successful passes in a season at
USC...His 3,347 yards passing in 2006 rank fifth on the school's
single-season list behind Palmer (3,942 in 2002), Johnson (3,630 in 1993)
and Matt Leinart (3,815 in 2005 and 3,556 in 2003).
High School
Attended Evangel (Shreveport, La.) Academy...Earned Student Sports
Underclass All-American and Class 5A All-State honors as a sophomore and
junior...In 2002, he led his team to the Class 5A state title while throwing
for 4,144 yards and 38 touchdowns...Also led the squad to the Class 5A state
title as a 2001 sophomore, passing for 4,330 yards and 50 scores...During
his freshman campaign, Booty completed 9-of-11 passes...During his career,
he threw for 8,474 yards on 555-of-864 passing (64.2%) with 88 touchdowns
and 26 interceptions...Because Louisiana rules allow junior high students to
compete on high school teams if the school is a K-12 school, he actually
played some varsity football for Evangel Christian as a
seventh-grader...Prior to his senior year, his father was fired as the
quarterbacks coach at the Academy and Booty decided to bypass football that
season.
Analysis
Positives: Has a linear build with adequate muscle
thickness and good size for his position...Shows good acceleration on the
move and runs with a normal stride...Has the balance and agility to step up
and avoid pressure and enough functional hip swerve to slide in the
pocket...Has a business-like approach to the game and has been well tutored
on how to run an offense, thanks to his family's deep football
tradition...Shows the confidence in his arm strength to air the ball out and
make all of the throws...Does a decent job of adjusting to game action on
the field, but must be quicker in making those decisions at times (will look
a bit confused when forced out of the pocket)...Has enough strength to step
up and absorb the hit when the pocket collapses...Has the body control to
drop back quickly from center to his throwing point, but is best when
throwing from the pocket...Throws with zip, but must do it with better
consistency...Generally makes good decisions, except when pressured...Has
adequate toughness in the pocket and will deliver the ball on time when
given proper protection...Has a take-charge attitude in the huddle and the
players all respect his leadership ability...Might be a better fit for a
short-to-intermediate or West Coast passing attack, as he shows much better
accuracy and timing when he sets his feet properly and puts zip on the ball
to connect with his targets coming out of their breaks (has a better feel
for taking something off the ball working underneath on his short throws and
has better accuracy working in this area)...Has adequate slide agility
trying to escape from the rush (lacks foot quickness), but will buy time
with his strength absorbing hits in the pocket...Once he locates the blitz,
he is very efficient at getting the ball out quickly to connect with his
target in stride...Showed vast improvement in 2007 in attempts to scan the
field and locate his secondary targets (would like on to his primary
receiver too much in 2006), showing good accuracy on crossing routes...Has
decent awareness to blitzes and stunts, doing a nice job of making
adjustments during the pre-snap (has become a much better progression
reader) or when reading coverage as he is dropping back to his throw point,
demonstrating the ability to check down quickly...Has much better timing
throwing over the middle than when firing along the sidelines...Better when
throwing from the right hash, but is more comfortable when he steps up in
the pocket, as he works well when given time to scan the field and find
where his receivers should be than throwing on the move (has better velocity
throwing from the right than at the left hash).
Negatives: Has good balance, but lacks the speed
to gain valid yardage with his feet or the cutback agility to redirect when
the rushing lanes are clogged...Has decent size, but must improve his
overall strength to absorb pocket pressure (has had some durability issues
with his back, right elbow and left wrist)...Will step up in the pocket
under pressure, but lacks elusiveness in attempts to avoid the rush...Is
usually cool under pressure, but is prone to poor decision-making and will
force the ball into traffic at times rather than throw passes away...Smart
player, but needs more than a few reps to retain plays...Demonstrates
inconsistent velocity when airing the ball out, lacking that explosive
release to consistently get the ball deep into the seams...Struggles at
times to generate a fluid delivery when forced to throw on the move...Even
though he has a decent release, he throws from a three-quarters delivery and
will drop the ball down to wind up and release, causing his velocity to
suffer...Has trouble following through when throwing under duress...Must
throw the deep ball with better touch, as he does not always generate the
arm strength needed when attacking the deep third of the secondary, causing
the ball to float (has the distance, but must be more consistent with the
zip behind his throws) or remain too high for his receivers to run under it
without having to break off their routes...Will get brave and loft the ball
up or force it into a crowd...Looks confused, holding the ball too long
while failing to locate the open target...Is more of a functional passer who
lacks creativity and will struggle with his touch for long stretches...Must
scan the field better when attacking the deep zone, as he tends to just
hoist the ball up rather than feather the ball over the defender to the
outside shoulder of the receiver...Does not have the foot quickness to step
away from pressure, roll out and adjust...Will go through stretches where he
would lock on to his primary target and fail to scan the field for safer
options to get the ball to...Lacks sudden moves when the pocket collapses
and is a bit of a liability when forced to throw from the left hash.
Compares To: PATRICK RAMSEY-Broncos...Booty is not the next
"great" quarterback to be produced by the Trojans' factory, but is an
efficient passer with good accuracy when operating in the
short-to-intermediate passing range. Like Ramsey, Booty won't ever be a
threat with his feet and is better served throwing from the pocket than when
on the move. He is quick in his ability to get to his throwing point, but
does struggle to be fluid in his delivery. He has made progress in locating
his secondary targets, but when he starts getting confused and locking on to
the receiver, bad things happen, as he tends to hold the ball too long,
resulting in a costly sack or having to fire it into a crowd. There is
enough athletic talent to earn him a roster spot and he could eventually
become a starter, but there are just too many holes in his game right now to
ever consider him a franchise-type quarterback.
Injury Report
2003: Suffered a left wrist fracture vs. UCLA (11/22), missing the final two
contests vs. Oregon State and Michigan (Rose Bowl).
2004: Was granted a medical hardship after he sustained a badly bruised
right elbow in fall drills.
2006: Underwent surgery in late March to repair a herniated disc in his
back.
2007: Suffered a broken middle finger on his throwing hand (right) vs.
Stanford (10/06), sitting out the Arizona (10/13), Notre Dame (10/20) and
Oregon (10/27) games.
Letroy Guion (DT)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 303
College: Florida State
Conference: ACC
Hometown: Starke, FL
High School: Bradford HS
Overview
After starting just 14 games during his three years with the Seminoles, it
was a great surprise to FSU coaches when Guion announced after the Motor
City Bowl that he would bypass his senior season and declare for the 2008
NFL Draft. He was part of the school's academic cheating scandal that saw 36
football players ruled ineligible for postseason action. With just 66
tackles to his credit over 32 games, his resume does not give professional
teams much to base their evaluation on.
Considering his pedestrian performance at the NFL Combine, Guion might have
been better served returning to school in 2008. If he had returned to the
team, he was expected to fill the leadership void on the defensive front
seven caused by the graduation of fellow defensive tackle Andre Fluellen.
Guion attended Bradford High School, lettering four times in football, as he
helped lead his team to the state semifinals in each of his last three
years. He was named the Gainesville Sun Player of the Year as a senior,
adding All-State first-team and All-Area honors following his junior and
senior seasons.
Guion participated in the Cali-Florida Bowl with several members of Florida
State's 2005 signing class. He was the Class 2A Mr. Football runner-up as a
senior, when he totaled 131 tackles, 21 stops for minus yardage, 12 sacks
and forced 11 fumbles.
The defensive tackle chose Florida State over scholarship offers from
Georgia, Tennessee, Iowa and Florida. He appeared in eight games on defense
and two more on special teams as a true freshman in 2005, earning his first
career start vs. The Citadel at left defensive tackle. He went on to post 10
tackles (3 solos) with a pair of stops for losses.
Guion appeared in 12 games in 2006, seeing limited action early in the
season before taking over left defensive tackle chores for the Seminoles'
final five games. He posted 25 tackles (10 solos) and assisted on a sack
while producing four stops for losses and a forced fumble.
As a junior, Guion earned eight midseason starting assignments at left
tackle, replacing an injured Fluellen in the lineup. He finished ninth on
the team with 31 tackles (17 solos), including a sack and 6.5 stops behind
the line of scrimmage. He also broke up one pass and recovered two fumbles.
Career Notes
A late signee by Florida State in 2005, Guion would go on to start 14 of 32
games he appeared in, recording 66 tackles (30 solos) with 1.5 sacks for
minus-5 yards and 12.5 stops for losses of 35 yards...Registered two
quarterback pressures with a pair of fumble recoveries, one forced fumble
and a pass deflection.
High School
Attended Bradford (Fla.) High School, lettering four times in football, as
he helped lead his team to the state semifinals in each of his last three
years...Named the Gainesville Sun Player of the Year as a senior, adding
All-State first-team and All-Area honors following his junior and senior
seasons...Participated in the Cali-Florida Bowl with several members of
Florida State's 2005 signing class...Was the Class 2A Mr. Football runner-up
as a senior, when he totaled 131 tackles, 21 stops for minus yardage, 12
sacks and forced 11 fumbles.
Analysis
Positives: Has a thick lower body with very long
arms to neutralize reach blocks (fails to use it to protect his body,
though)...Hard worker in the training room, earning the team's 2007 Big Otis
Award (given to the player most committed to physical development)...Has
very good power numbers, but has yet to translate them to the football field
on a steady basis...Shows that he can come off the ball with quickness to
shoot the gaps, but must do it more consistently...Has enough strength to
hold his ground vs. one-on-one blocks, but when he short arms, he gets
washed out by double team activity...Shows the long reach and quick hands to
get them on blockers, but does not do this often enough...When he keeps his
pads down, he is effective at slipping past blockers or getting an edge on
the lineman...Has enough hand strength to lock on and drag the ballcarrier
down, but would be more effective as a wrap-up tackler, if he gets good
position to make the hit (tends to lunge or take a side)...When he stays up
and plays the game on his feet, he can move through traffic with ease (tends
to get too tall and narrow in his base, though)...Has the quick first step
to get into the inside gap to engage the lead blocker in attempts to clog
the rush lane...Decent bull rusher when he plants his foot in the ground and
fires off the snap with hands active...His best asset is his strength, but
it is only effective when he uses his hands and flips his hips to counter
the blocker's moves...Gets good pocket pressure when he fires low off the
snap, as he has the short-area burst and acceleration to close.
Negatives: Has a smaller than ideal frame that
could use additional bulk, but when adding weight in the past he affected
his overall quickness...Has enough short-area explosion off the ball, but
too often doesn't use it...Can play with leverage, but gets lazy with his
hand placement, leaving his chest exposed to body blocks...Because he
short-arms often, he struggles to shed vs. double teams...Will close on the
ball when he locates it, but is very inconsistent reading keys...Must
demonstrate better consistency using his hands to jolt the offensive linemen
coming off the snap...Marginal pass rusher with poor hand placement
technique, a lack of moves and an inability to sink his pad level (plays too
tall and has a narrow base)...Needs to do a better job of squaring up to
make the tackle (will duck his head or take a side rather than face
up)...Lacks a feel for blocking schemes, getting cut often by angle blocks,
as he fails to use his hands to protect his feet...Has a decent spin move,
but for a player with his girth, you would hope that he would engage
blockers with better aggression rather than try to execute a speed move to
elude (does not have the quickness to surprise a blocker)...Bites on pump
fakes and misdirection too much to impact the pocket and will generally be
late to recognize screens and sweeps...Best when playing in run containment,
as he shows marginal balance when having to chase down the ball...Gets too
reckless in attempts to penetrate, often over-pursuing the ball or failing
to locate it...Has some character issues (involved in the academic cheating
scandal and was not enrolled in school after the Music City Bowl)...Takes
long stretches off on the field and seems to lack urgency in his play (feels
his athletic skills are enough to get the job done).
Compares To: TANK TYLER-Kansas City...Potential is nice,
but Guion has failed to show even glimpses that he will develop any
consistency in his game. He was not as fast or as strong as touted, exposed
at the NFL Combine and his Pro Day for being an athlete with a lot of holes
in his game. He needs to gain more confidence in using his hands to stave
off blockers. Yes, he does have a decent initial burst off the line, but you
expect your interior lineman to dominate vs. the run and opponents averaged
5.68 yards per carry in plays directed at him last year. Selecting him
anywhere before the end of the draft could prove to be a wasted pick.
Injury Report
2008: A right quadriceps muscle strain prevented him from completing agility
tests at the NFL Combine.
John Sullivan (C)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 301
College: Notre Dame
Conference: IA Independents
Hometown: Old Greenwich, CT
High School: Greenwich
Overview
A bad season for the Irish soon became worse for Sullivan, who was forced to
sit out the team's final two games with a right knee sprain that he
originally injured in preseason drills.
Sullivan attended Greenwich High School, where he was a Parade and Super
Prep All-American first-team selection, adding USA Today and ESPN.com
second-team honors as a senior. The Gatorade Player of the Year in
Connecticut was rated 61st on the ESPN list of the nation's top 100 prep
players and rated 14th among offensive linemen nationally by
CBSSportsLine.com. He also played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San
Antonio.
A starter at center the final three seasons, Sullivan also played nose guard
on defense. He was named offensive MVP by the Connecticut Post, as he helped
lead his team to a 12-1-1 mark in 2002, including a league title and a spot
in the Connecticut Class LL title game. That year, he recorded 20 tackles
for loss and 12 sacks.
Sullivan also lettered in wrestling, achieving a 138-6 record in the
heavyweight division. He went on to win the state championship as a
sophomore, junior and senior. He finished seventh and earned All-American
honors at the 2003 national wrestling meet. He was also a standout water
polo player who lettered on the school's rugby team.
Sullivan enrolled at Notre Dame in 2003 and spent that season competing on
the scout team. He stepped into the starting lineup at center the following
year and did a stellar job of making the line calls. The Irish averaged
477.3 yards per game in total offense in 2005, as their center was named
Connecticut College Player of the Year by the Walter Camp Football
Foundation. He started eight games that season, paving the way for the
offense to average 477.3 yards per game, as part of an offensive line that
allowed only 21 quarterback sacks.
In 2006, Sullivan started all 13 games, part of a Notre Dame offense that
eclipsed 30 points in eight games and surpassed 400 total yards six times.
He cleared the way for tailback Darius Walker, who became the fourth player
in school history to have back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Sullivan started the first 10 games of the 2007 campaign before his right
knee injury sidelined him for the final two contests. After the offense
generated 5,728 yards during his sophomore year, it fell off to a total of
2,907 yards during his senior season. Poor quarterbacking was a big culprit
to Notre Dame's troubles, but the offensive line allowed 58 sacks, seven
more than they gave up in the previous two seasons combined.
Career Notes
Sullivan started 43 games on the Irish offensive line, seeing a string of 31
consecutive starts snapped, when he missed the 2007 Duke contest with a
right knee sprain.
High School
Attended Greenwich (Ct.) High School, playing football for head coach Rich
Albonizio...Parade and Super Prep All-American first-team selection, adding
USA Today and ESPN second-team honors as a senior...The Gatorade Player of
the Year in Connecticut was rated 61st on the ESPN list of the nation's top
100 prep players and rated 14th among offensive linemen nationally by
CBSSportsLine.com...Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San
Antonio...A starter at center the final three seasons, Sullivan also played
nose guard on defense...Named offensive MVP by the Connecticut Post, as he
helped lead his team to a 12-1-1 mark in 2002, including a league title and
a spot in the Connecticut Class LL title game...That year, he recorded 20
tackles for loss and 12 sacks...Also lettered in wrestling, achieving a
138-6 record in the heavyweight division... Went on to win the state
championship as a sophomore, junior and senior...Finished seventh and earned
All-American honors at the 2003 national wrestling meet...Standout water
polo player who lettered on the school's rugby team...From the same high
school that produced former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young.
Analysis
Positives: Has a wide body with a firm chest,
broad shoulders, wide waist and hips and good thigh and calf
thickness...Tough, aggressive drive blocker with good field smarts and
vision, as he is alert to coverage and does a good job combating twists and
games...Tenacious blocker who works to finish, showing good urgency to get
in front on pulls and traps...When he plays flat-footed (must do this with
better consistency), he is able to anchor vs. the bull rush, but does have
balance issues due to his waist-bending when playing in space...Not a
classic technical blocker, but it is rare to see him take plays off...Very
capable of making all the line calls and blocking adjustments and has a good
feel for the flow of the game...Will easily handle a complicated playbook at
the next level due to his intelligence...Not sudden out of his stance, but
when he keeps his base (will overextend), he is capable of scooping and
making reach blocks...Not the type than can snap and step into his man with
a fluid motion, but if he shoots his hands properly, he can shock his
opponent in attempts to gain movement...More of a position-type blocker
(doesn't consistently snap his hips), but he has the lower-body power to
anchor and hold off the blitz, when he keeps his pads down...Works his feet
to sustain, but would be even more effective if he learns how to swing his
hips...Has good body control but gets in trouble on the move, losing
balance...Works well with his guards on combo blocks in attempts to widen
the rush lanes and, while he hits higher than you would like, he has the
feet and lower-body strength to hold his ground at the point of attack
(except when he gets tall in his stance, as bull rushers can then push him
back into the pocket)...Good on short pulls (lacks speed and balance for
long runs), as he works hard to occupy defenders and maintain the
holes...Can land with good force on the move, but needs to finish better in
space (rarely cuts)...One of his better assets is his heavy anchor in pass
protection (best when stationary rather than on the move)...Can dig in and
stop the push up the middle when he plants his foot into the ground
...Showed improvement in using his hands to lock on and slide his feet to
mirror before he was injured in 2007.
Negatives: Teams were looking to bulk him up to
325 from his college playing weight of 303, but he participated at the
Senior Bowl weighing 284 pounds (though teams still want him to bulk up, he
showed much better lateral range and kick slide playing at this weight
during Senior Bowl practices)...Has just adequate quickness getting out of
his stance and could be surprised by a quick bull rush...More of a
position-type blocker, lacing the ideal explosiveness to come off the ball
and engage defenders instantly...Struggles taking angles and maintaining
balance when needed to work into the second level (not quick at locating
linebackers to neutralize)...Has good upper-body strength to stonewall a
defender, but after his initial punch, he prefers a finesse style rather
than mauling his opponent...Has good balance in his kick slide, but is slow
to recoil his hands vs. counter moves and is late picking up
exchanges...Gets by a lot on "field smarts," rather than raw
strength...Lacks the loose hips to recover and redirect when trying to
protect the pocket and will lose the battle vs. defenders with an array of
moves (keeps his hands inside too much to latch on and control)...Has a bit
of "tunnel vision," as he does not consistently play off his initial block
to locate another target...Needs to stop bending at the waist and show
better flat feet when operating in space...When he short arms his blocks, he
tries to compensate by mirroring, causing him to overextend and then getting
jerked off balance...Good face-up blocker, but his lack of loose hips
prevents him from lowering his pads and executing proper cut blocks.
Compares To: CHRIS MYERS-Denver...Like Myers, Sullivan
relies more on gaining position and using his field smarts to "out-finesse"
the defensive linemen. He has good strength to stonewall the defender, but
must be more active with his hands, as he is more a one-punch type than one
that will maul his opponent. He struggles getting out and blocking in space
and lacks the foot speed in his kick slide to protect the pocket. He also
struggles with the shotgun snap and would be a liability in that system at
the next level. He is a smart player who gives a blue-collar effort, but you
will need to have active guards alongside him. He won't be exposed when
executing combo blocks rather than going one-on-one. Simply put, late in the
draft, he has value and adds depth, but if a team drafts him early, it will
be because they have other linemen to work around him to cover his
deficiencies.
Injury Report
2005: Suffered a right shoulder strain early in August camp (8/08) that
would prevent him from starting the team's first four games vs. Pittsburgh,
Michigan, Michigan State and Washington.
2007: Suffered a right knee medial collateral ligament sprain and a high
ankle sprain during April camp (4/22)...Sat out the team's final two games
vs. Duke (11/17) and Stanford (11/24) with a right knee sprain.
Jaymar Johnson (WR)
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 176
College: Jackson State
Conference: SWAC
Hometown: Gary, IN
High School: William A. Wirt
Overview
One of the quickest receivers in this year's class, Johnson is explosive as
a receiver and return man. He caught 66 balls for 1,140 yards (17.3 per) and
nine touchdowns and averaged 10.9 on 43 punt returns (with two scores) in
his last two seasons. He couldn't crack the All-SWAC teams, but Johnson will
have a great chance at achieving two other goals: being an NFL draft pick
and making a NFL roster.
High School
Was named all-state, all-area and all-conference as a senior in high school
... had 50 catches 896 yards and 20 touchdowns in 8 games as a senior.
Analysis
Positives: Extreme quickness and deep speed. ...
Very quick into and out of routes, sinking hips and exploding out. ... Able
to snatch the ball out of the air on shallow crosses and deep seam and
sideline routes. ... Can line up in the slot or outside. ... Excellent
acceleration after catching a punt. ... Willing to block on the edge to
spring his back for a big gain.
Negatives: Adequate height but thin and wiry. ...
Lacks strength to get off the line of scrimmage or run through initial
contact on receptions and returns. ... Does not make moves in the open field
to elude tacklers, relying instead on his speed. ... Needs to prove he can
handle a higher level of competition.
Here is a list of undrafted rookie free agents with whom the Vikings
agreed to terms after Sunday’s draft. Included on this list is Maryland
linebacker Erin Henderson, the brother of Vikings middle linebacker E.J.
Henderson.
Husain Abdullah S Washington State
Martail Burnett DE Utah
Leger Douzable DT Central Florida
Marcus Griffin S Texas
Steven Hauschka K NC State
Erin Henderson LB Maryland
Nate Jones WR Texas
Travis Key CB Michigan State
Jeremy “J” Leman LB Illinois
Tim Mattran C Stanford
Drew Radovich T USC
Darius Reynaud WR West Virginia
Brandon Sumrall CB S Mississippi
Marcus Walker CB Oklahoma
Kyle Wright QB Miami (Fla.)
Albert Young RB Iowa
Matt Roan C Southern Utah University
Brandon Joyce OT Illinois State
A.J. Raebel LB Wisconsin-Whitewater