Sherrif Floyd, DT[3]

At 6’3, 297 pounds, Floyd will automatically ramp up the Vikings’ defensive game. While the stats themselves are not deal-breakers, his ability to be a factor playing every position along the defensive line is a testament to his hustle and uncharacteristic athleticism. According to a scouting report[4], Floyd possesses a quick and long first step when in pass-rush mode, can swim over his opponent, and can get his hands up into his man’s jersey to push him into the backfield.

During his final college season, Floyd earned third-team All-American honors while driving a top-ranked Florida defense.  His short-area agility gave him access to chase plays across the field, and his long wingspan allows him to wrap his arms completely around carriers.

Although Floyd fell farther in the draft than many NFL critics predicted, the DT feels exhibits a positive attitude about coming to Minnesota.

“What happened, happened,” Floyd commented. “Mock drafts are wrong each year about some positions, and the Minnesota Vikings see me as their top pick. So I was No. 1 in somebody’s book, right?”[5]

In a press conference[6] following Draft Night, Vikings GM Rick Spielman said the following:

I think [Floyd] has the combination not only to play the run, but to rush the passer inside as well and he’s a young player that is only going to get better. He’ll have a great opportunity to come in here and work with or defensive staff and with our defensive line whom we expect a lot of good things from not only next year, but future years as well.

Come regular season, Floyd will be more than ready for his NFL debut.

Xavier Rhodes, CB[7]

The 6’1” cornerback may only be a junior, but Xavier Rhodes spent all three years as a starter at Florida State[8].

‘[Xavier’s] a guy who has great length, he has very good speed, he has some turnover ability as well,’ said Frazier[9]. ‘He’s competed at a high level against some very good competition in the ACC. We feel like he’ll be a guy that will come in and help match-up with some of the receivers in our division and our league as well. He should be able to help us early on. It was an area we needed to address and we were able to get it addressed.’

Rhodes played behind pass rushers like Brandon Jenkins, Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine during his career, which certainly helped him stand out. However, the rushers were equally as thankful to play with a defensive back that refused to get his opposition a sliver of separation. In 2012, Rhodes tallied 39 total tackles, two of which went for a loss. To go along with one forced fumble, Rhodes intercepted three passes on seven pass breakups.

The imposing corner does have some injuries on record—including a 2009 hand injury and a gruesome knee sprain in 2011—that will hopefully not pose detrimental to his professional career.

The 210-pound Rhodes can lay a nasty hit on when needed, and he and Chris Cook will pose a serious threat on Vikings defense. Look for Rhodes to primarily cover the outside and Josh Robinson to fill the nickel cornerback slot.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR[10]

When the Vikings traded top receiver Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks [11]in March, a definite gap remained on the field. Cordarrelle Patterson looks to fill that spot.

How would one describe Patterson in one word?

Explosive. [12]

The receiver started small, playing football at a community college, before moving on to play for Tennessee. During that time he excelled on the field, becoming the first NCAA player in four years to score a touchdown four different ways.

Despite his 6’2”length, Patterson proves agile on his feet. He proves able to find soft areas in zone coverage between corners and safeties, and he turns upfield immediately after the catch – something Vikings receivers have sometimes hesitated on. Patterson stands out with his slants and quick fake-outs. Similar to star receiver Randy Moss, Patterson often hauls in difficult catches with a defensive back draped over him.

One concern surrounding Patterson has been an off-field immaturity and question of character. However, the Vikings seem confident that the young athlete can assimilate into the lineup and transition well under solid coaching and mentorship.

‘It seems with most wide receivers that come into our league, there is a learning curve,’ Frazier stated. ‘Just the route running, trying to get assimilated to a new offense, there is an adjustment. There are very few wide receivers that come in and make an impact, a big impact in their first year. But we’re going to do all we can to get him prepared and get him ready to have an impact on our football team and on this league. We know for a fact that he’s a kick returner—he’ll have a chance to have an impact early, and we’ll bring him along as a wide receiver.’

“My strength is when the ball is in my hands,” Patterson said[13]. “Whether it be on a kick return, on an end around. I feel like when the ball is in my hands, I’m a special player. I’m still working on my route running, learning coverages and stuff.”

The Vikings have made two very different additions to their receiving core this offseason through signing Patterson and acquiring veteran Greg Jennings from Green Bay. Having such a well-established athlete at the position will certainly help grow the No. 29 draft pick.

Though the effects might not be immediate, look for Patterson to strengthen Minny’s receiving game and become a fan favorite before too long.

To former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, retirement doesn’t spell the end to his story; rather, it’s beginning the next chapter.

Leber began his NFL career in 2002 when he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers. Although he wasn’t drafted until the third round, he was an immediate-impact rookie, playing in all 16 games and starting 14 of them. The South Dakota native played four seasons on the West coast before being signed by Minnesota as an unrestricted free agent, and he wore the purple and gold until 2011. He was a fan favorite in Minny, putting up solid numbers each year. After playing a single season in St. Louis, Leber officially announced his retirement on June 8, 2012.

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Minnesota held onto reliable guard Luke Ridnour, which will definitely pay off. Although he’s not the typical superstar, Ridnour brings a sense of consistency and leadership that would have been missed had he been used as a bargaining tool.

In addition to Ridnour returning, big men Love and Pekovic will continue to deliver huge rebounding numbers for Minny.

Extending Love’s contract proved a major success for Minnesota, but the All-Star forward hasn’t been shy about his goals and desires for the team—and his impatience if that doesn’t happen. Love made it clear that he won’t wait around the Twin Cities forever in hopes of a postseason presence.

(credit: CBS.com)

Whether taking Love’s “threats” to heart or possibly being concerned about his own job security, David Kahn spent an incredibly productive offseason bringing in what he could. Granted, the Wolves don’t hold much weight in attracting a top free-agent or large-market player, but snagging Brandon Roy, Chase Budinger and Andrei Kirilenko will certainly benefit the young team.

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“What?! What is David Kahn thinking?!

(Photo Courtesy of sportsillustrated.com)

Leave it to Minnesota to trade our only first-round pick for a mediocre forward!”

A bit of tongue in cheek: Admit it, Timberwolves fans. Kahn has let us down in the past, and we were all prepared to be up in arms about the soft-spoken GM’s latest decision. We’re accustomed to getting defensive, and we aren’t always “Minnesota nice” when it comes to deals that we’re certain we could have executed more efficiently.

After I had time to let the shock sink in and actually think about the trade from the franchise’s position, I’m actually incredibly excited about Budinger headed to Minnesota.

(Click here to read the entire article on TCHuddle.com)

Today, a source tells us Harvin is requesting a trade from Minnesota.

Tuesday marked the first day of minicamp, and Harvin vocalized heavy discontentment with his current situation.

“I just put it this way, there’s a lot of different things that have to be sorted out,” Harvin said. “Just haven’t been really happy lately. We’ve got a couple of things to work on. I’m here in the classroom. We’ll go from there.”

The source of Harvin’s request is remaining anonymous because of the sensitivity of the situation. Although the WR is declining to comment on whether or not the discrepancy is contract-related, he did assert that he wanted to the issues resolved before full training camp kicks off in July. Harvin has two years remaining on his deal and is due $915,000 this season and $1.55 million in 2013.

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When he takes a football field? He’s impossible to ignore.

At 6’3”, 265 pounds, Robison is entering his sixth season for Minnesota. He delivered a breakout season in 2011, recording 27 solo tackles, 17 assists and eight sacks, and his 54 pressures ranked him No. 11 overall among 4-3 defensive ends.

According to the Daily Norseman blog, “In 385 snaps run defending, Robison missed just a pair of tackles, posted very similar numbers to Allen, and earned a positive PFF grade over the season, despite the Vikings’ defense feeling the loss of Pat Williams in the interior.”

Growing up in the football state of Texas, Robison doesn’t remember a time when he wasn’t playing the sport. “I’ve been playing football since I was probably four years old,” he said, smiling. “Full contact—it was what we did.”

(Click here to read the whole story on TCHuddle.com).

When it comes to all-around players in the NBA‘s Western Conference, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love takes the cake.

He may play for a team with a losing record.

He may no longer be in contention for the 2012 MVP award.

He may even need to bolster his defense a bit.

However, Love still comes out as the most complete player in the Western Conference, and there are a few categories with which to measure this claim.

Point Totals

Love averages 26 PPG.

Certainly, there are players who have a higher shooting percentage than the fourth-year forward out of UCLA. However, when evaluating the package as a whole, Love proves to be more consistent.

Love connects on 45 percent of his shot attempts, not too shabby in itself. The number is more impressive, though, when considering that he ranks No. 2 in minutes per game at 39. Love entered this season 25 pounds lighter and more quick on his feet. He’s able to play almost the entire 48 minutes and keep his percentage stable.

Points win games, and Love definitely doesn’t disappoint in this area.

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Free-Throw Line

Love proves reliable for Minnesota at the free-throw line, landing an impressive 83 percent of his attempts.

Even some All-Stars who make the highlight reel week after week—ahem, Blake Griffin—perpetually struggle at the line.

Love shoots incredibly well for a big man, and the Wolves can count on him to make those crucial free throws during crunch time.

Three-Point Line

Most people wouldn’t expect a player of Love’s build and position to excel from downtown, but he knocks them down with regularity.

Not to mention, the former Bruins star took home the trophy for the three-point competition over the 2012 NBA All-Star weekend.

Rebounds

It’s no secret Love currently ranks No. 1 in the league in double-doubles, and his rebounding, especially, holds the record strong at 48 games (five ahead of Orlando‘s Dwight Howard).

Love cleans the boards with efficiency, averaging 14 rebounds a night.

Love ranks No. 2 in the league for rebounds—behind Howard with 15—and Griffin comes in at No. 6.

Conclusion

A lot of people criticize Love’s defensive play, and that argument may be valid—to a certain extent. At 6’10″, the forward/center should be expected to get more blocks than he does. Though he’s improved this season, he needs to be more aggressive in the post.

On the other hand, Love makes his defensive presence known by grabbing 9.2 defensive rebounds per night to add to his four offensive rebounds.

His low block totals are the only fault I find against the Minnesota forward, and these four categories he thrives in make him the most well-rounded player in the West.

Here are Minnesota’s six best and worst moments from the month of March.

BEST Moment No. 1: 3-Game Win Streak, Mar 3-7

Minnesota started out the month of March the right way, winning three games in a row. The Wolves beat the Portland Trailblazers in two consecutive matchups—Mar. 3 and Mar. 7—and came out on top of Blake Griffin and the L.A. Clippers at the Target Center Mar. 5.

The Timberwolves are 3-0 this season against the 27-21 Clippers, and each game has played to the nail-biting finish.

Everyone on the Minnesota roster was at the top of his game on this stretch, as the Wolves scored a total of 323 points over the three contests.

BEST Moment No. 2: David Kahn NOT Making a Trade Before Mar. 15 Deadline

Prior to the Mar. 15 trade deadline, it was speculated that the Timberwolves would engage in a three-way trade with L.A. and Portland that would essentially ship out Michael Beasley—and perhaps Luke Ridnour—and bring in Jamal Crawford.

After the deadline came and went without any action on Minnesota’s part, CBS Sports senior blogger Matt Moore weighed in:

There were trades to be made. Kahn’s got the Wolves in a position to compete for the postseason. He could’ve gone after Jamal Crawford, he could’ve sold off Michael Beasley, he could’ve tried to bring in point guard help. He could’ve done something dramatic like deal Derrick Williams for a bigger name player. But he didn’t. He stood pat. For once, he stopped and believed in his process.

Granted, Kahn’s move—or lack thereof—was probably due in part to L.A. bringing in Ramon Sessions and altering the potential for the three-way deal. Regardless of the reasons behind it, however, his stance will prove positive for Minnesota in the long run.

Royce Young said, “Instead of being shortsighted about scrambling for the eight-seed [in the playoffs], Kahn stuck to the plan and kept his assets in his pockets.”

BEST Moment No. 3: Kevin Love Scores Franchise-High 51 Points Against OKC

(photo credit: welcometoloudcity.com)

In an exciting game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Mar. 23, All-Star Kevin Love set a franchise record when he scored an incredible 51 points for the evening.

Love went 7-of-11 from downtown, and he shot 16-of-27 from the field. The fourth-year forward snapped the previous record—set by Kevin Garnett—of 47 points, knocking down the last-second three pointer to tie the game at 116 and head into overtime.

Love added 14 rebounds to his stat line as well, being the first one to tally such a combination since Dirk Nowitzki did it in 2004-2005.

WORST Moment No. 1: Ricky Rubio Tears ACL, out for Season

Two of the biggest Vikings players entering free agency this year are brothers E.J. and Erin Henderson. Both linebackers, the 25 year old and 31 year old, respectively, are each coming to the end of their Minnesota contracts.

The question is, who will stay?

Both?

Neither?

Will one even consider taking the field without the other? The two played high school, college and now professional football side-by-side. It’s a family affair.

According to online sources, Minnesota plans to try keeping Erin around. ESPN1500’s Tom Pelissero said, “the Vikings have made it clear that they intend to have a contract in place for Henderson before free agency begins on March 13. The two sides have reportedly made progress on a ‘bridge’ deal that could keep Henderson in Minnesota for another two or three seasons.”

I’m calling this good news. Having as many free agents as the Vikings do—we have 20, 11 of which are fairly significant names—means lots of decision making for the franchise. For 2012-2013, Minnesota finds itself in the rebuilding stage—the question is, which of these players are necessary for entering this next era?

…

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Last season, Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic averaged five points and three rebounds per game. Over the last eight games, the big man has averaged 17 PPG and 10.5 RPG. When struggling starting center Darko Milicic found himself sidelined in late January due to illness, Pekovic stepped in—and he hasn’t looked back.

A couple weeks ago, head coach Rick Adelman responded to questions about altering his starting rotation in a game against New Jersey. “Someone has to separate themselves to change things up,” Adelman said. “A guy does great one night and the next night he doesn’t. Once you start making changes and it goes the other direction, then where do you go with that?”

Pekovic couldn’t be more clear to Timberwolves fans and basketball critics everywhere—2012 is his year. He’s separating himself from the crowd.

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