Nickels and Dimes,. Who will round out the Viking cornerback corps.

By garym  |   Thursday, July 23, 2009  |  Comments( 2 )

Minnesota Vikings
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So who will back up Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin? If Charles Gordon is healthy, he and 3rd round pick Asher Allen should be locks. That will leave one spot open for Marcus McCauley, Benny Sapp, Karl Paymah, and just maybe Marcus Walker to fight over. Derrick Roberson is a non-factor for the 53 man roster. Paymah looks like this year`s Derrick Pope. A free agent signee who won`t make the final cut. Walker seems headed for another start on the practice squad. The battle between McCauley and Sapp could be the place to watch. Unrealized upside vs shaky experience.

McCauley enters his 3rd NFL season still unproven after being a highly touted 3rd rounder out of Fresno State. He would likely have been a 1st round pick had he entered the draft after his junior year. He was considered by many as a solid 1st rounder going into the 2006 season before being rocked by a concussion at midseason. His play changed after the injury and he ended up being benched. He was given a 1st round rating by Pro Football Weekly in their 2007 Draft Guide. He is probably the most physically gifted of the team cornerbacks. There just has to be some upside left in this kid. Who knows if he will ever overcome his hesitations and return to early 2006 form.

Sapp`s most memorable Viking moment came last November 30th against Chicago in the most important game of the season. The Vikings were down 7-3 with 7:30 left in the 2nd quarter. The Bears gave the ball to Matt Forte on 3rd and 4 from the Viking 40. After Kevin Williams stuffed Forte for a 2 yard loss, the Metrodome exultation was quashed when Sapp slapped the cap of a Bear receiver at the conclusion of a useless shoving match. The profoundly stupid unnecessary roughness penalty cost the Vikes the ball and gave Chicago a 1st down on the Minnesota 27. Forte ran 26 yards on the next play, giving the Bears a 1st and goal from the Viking 1. After an incomplete pass on 1st down, the Bears ran unsuccessfully on the next three plays, turning the ball over to a recharged Minnesota team, and a delirious Metrodome crowd. Benny Sapp looked like he had been reborn. Delerium turned into Nirvana on the next play when Gus Frerotte spotted broken coverage by Charles Tillman and hooked up with Bernard Berrian on a 99 yard TD pass. What should have been a 14-3 deficit quickly turned into a 10-7 Minnesota lead. The Vikings never looked back on their way to a 34-14 win. Here you have a happy example of one of the mistakes Sapp to often commits. Yet he continues to find work because he is by and large a solid cornerback. As he has matured as a player, Sapp`s mishaps relapse less often. His experience is a valuable asset that shouldn`t be overlooked.

With Winfield about to extend his contract, there is no need discuss the possibility of a new starter in 2010.

Size could be worthy of `short`consideration. Gordon is about average at 5`11”, 180°, Allen comes in at 5’9”, 194°, approximately equal to Sapp. McCauley is 6’1”, 203°, approximately the size of Griffin. Paymah is 6´, 195°. So if a range of size is important, McCauley and Paymah bring height to the table, while Sapp, with Winfield and Allen would leave the team with three of their five CB´s at 5´9”. This really isn´t a major issue, nor a particular rarity in the NFL. But it is a minor plus in the McCauley column.

As for Paymah, he didn´t do squat in Denver. He says he signed with Minnesota because he wants to be a starter, and he believes Leslie Frazier will provide him with the competent coaching that he didn´t receive with the Broncos. Good luck, Karl.

So, after much thought, I give a quivering vote of confidence to Benny Sapp over Marcus McCauley. If the latter has been unable to find his head, pun intended, after two years, I don´t see him seeing the light in 2009. At least not with Minnesota. Maybe a change of scenery. I expect Gordon to see the most nickel action, with Allen and Sapp vying for dime time.

Sapp now has another year of experience and maturity under his belt.That can only help a guy with his temperament. I say he will win the 5th spot unless a special player becomes available on waivers.

But we all need to remember Gordon´s ankle injury. It wouldn´t surprise me to see him start the season on the Physically Unable to Play (PUP) list. In that case, the Vikes either give McCauley a reprieve, pick up a prospect on waivers, or give practice squad veteran Marcus Walker a crack at earning his salt on special teams while getting a little experience at cornerback.

Whatever evolves before September, I think the team will field the strongest group of cornerbacks since the 70’s.

That is all.
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