The so-called Kick-Butt Offense got a Kick in the Butt

"The most dynamic offensive player in this draft. With the ball inhis hands, he's downright scary. He's a big reason they're wearingchampionship rings in Gainesville."
Former Bucs coach Jon Gruden on Vikings WR Percy Harvin
The designated Vikings representative at Radio City Music Hall in New York did his best Carl Lewis impression when their selection arrived. Never before can I remember them getting their pick in that quickly.

TheNFL Network set was unanimous in their opinion - the Vikings hit a homerun with the #22 pick in Saturday's draft. I feel the same way. Now,the hope lies with Brad Childress that he can figure out how to properly useHarvin. Don't be upset that they didn't take Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher. This draft is deep at that position, or if they don't get a tackle by the end of tomorrow, they could sign a free agent like Jon Runyan or Mark Tauscher before training camp.

Below is my blog entry from a week ago, prior to the newscoming out that Childress personally went to Gainesville to visit withHarvin. Clearly, that conversation went well. Thankfully!

"I know it's a kick-ass offense when it's executed properly. It's been done with all different levels of people and personnel."
Brad Childress, Vikings Head Coach, Dec. 2006

A former co-worker of mine has a saying, "You're either on somethingor onto something." Childress, entering his fourth season, is onsomething with the above quote. In 2008, his team finished 25th inpassing and failed to score at least 21 points in nine games. The yearprevious, Chilly's kick-ass offense finished 28th in throwing the ball.There's a reason why they went hard after free-agent T.J.Houshmandzadeh, who eventually signed with Seattle. The offense needs akick in the ass!

It's hard to know with the triangle of authority (Childress, RickSpielman, and Rob Brzezinski) who exactly is calling the shots, butlet's not kid ourselves - Childress has plenty of power. His powerrivals any coach in the league except for New England's Bill Belichick.

That's why I'm frightened as an observer with a vested interestbased on what local draft expert Shawn Zobel told me on Saturday.Zobel, of draftheadquarters.com, spends more time breaking downa prospect's bubble butt than he does looking at the bubble butts ofwomen. This college freshman knows his stuff. He has many acquaintancesassociated with the league, from his time spent at the Senior Bowl andthe scouting combine, thus has good sources.

Britton wouldn't be a terrible pick. He would start from day one atright tackle, a position of need. But what they really need is aninflux of talent at the skill positions, namely receiver.

That's where Harvin fits in.

His NFL comparision is New Orleans' Reggie Bush or Philadelphia'sDeSean Jackson, the latter from an excitement standpoint. Harvin islightning fast and strong. He can catch and run, a trait that'sextremely beneficial in Chilly's West Coast Offense. He can also lineup in the backfield which would create nightmares for opposing teams.In his Florida career, he rushed for 13 touchdowns and had an averageof 9.55 yards per carry.

He never returned a punt or kick while in Gainesville, but thereis an expectation that his skills also translate to that area. An areain which the Vikings also need all sorts of help.

Harvin isn't without flaws. He reportedly tested positive formarijuana at the combine. Additionally, he reportedly scored just a 12out of 50 on the Wonderlic test. It is alarming that he knew a test wascoming in February and failed it anyway. That's why he's an option latein the first round. On talent alone, he would be a top-15 pick.

It's no secret that Childress is under pressure. Expectations thisyear are sky-high. If he doesn't win at least one playoff game, wecould see him on ESPN this time next year....as an analyst, not a guest(ok, bad example, but you get what I mean). They still lack competentplay out of the quarterback position, so the way to cover for that isto surround Tarvaris Jackson/Sage Rosenfels with more players capableof making plays. With Harvin and Adrian Peterson on the field, BernardBerrian would presumably see lots of single coverage on the outside.That's assuming Childress and Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevellcould devise the right game plan, which is still a mystery. It'sbaffles me that Peterson and Chester Taylor aren't on the fieldtogether more. But the more options, the better.

They can find a starting right tackle later in the draft. Zobel, and others, say this draft is deep at that position.