Tag: irv smith jr.

Vikings tight ends ranked seventh as a unit by Pro Football Focus

Kyle Rudolph, Irv Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin make up the seventh-best tight end position group in the NFL, says PFF.

The Vikings have a veteran presence in Kyle Rudolph at the tight end position. The team also has Irv Smith Jr., a tight end who is coming off a promising rookie season in 2019.

Those two and Tyler Conklin help make up the seventh-best tight end position group in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Here’s what the outlet said about the Vikings tight end unit:

“Rudolph has a huge frame, and while there always feels like there should be more production in there, he’s had a solid nine-year career for the Vikings. Last season, Rudolph had the No. 13 receiving grade during the regular season (76.9), though his run blocking has tapered off in recent years, given that he has graded in the 50s in this department for four consecutive seasons.

Smith brings a different skill set to the unit as more of an oversized receiver who can line up in the slot and make plays in space. He caught 39 passes for 350 yards as a rookie to go with a solid run-blocking grade of 65.4. Then there is 2018 fifth-rounder Tyler Conklin — and his 14 career catches — who will add depth to the group.”

PFF went on to say that due to question marks surrounding the Minnesota receiving position on the team, Rudolph and Smith Jr. could both see an uptick in production.

PFF thinks Irv Smith Jr. is a breakout TE candidate for 2020

As a rookie, Smith finished with 36 catches for 311 yards and two touchdowns.

The Vikings drafted Irv Smith Jr. in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

While the team already had Kyle Rudolph, Smith is a more dynamic pass catcher than Rudolph and it would seem he has a higher ceiling.

With Rudolph getting older, there’s a good chance we’ll see more of Smith in a pass-catching role with the Vikings in 2020.

Andrew Erickson over at Pro Football Focus thinks Smith can be a fantasy football breakout star in 2020.

Here’s a bit of what Erickson wrote about Smith:

Irv Smith Jr. is entering his second year in the NFL after an encouraging rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings. The former second-round pick from Alabama was the highest-graded tight end (65.0) among the 2019 tight end draft class who saw at least 40 targets. Smith also owned the sixth-best catch rate (78.3%) among all qualifying tight ends.

As a rookie, Smith finished with 36 catches for 311 yards and two touchdowns. I would expect those numbers to increase quite a bit in 2020.

Three Vikings that will make the loss of Stefon Diggs easier 

For the Vikings, it’s not going to be easy to replace wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Here are three Minnesota players who can help.

The  Vikings will be entering training camp in a few weeks with quite a few new faces.

The team has started to lose several players since its run to an NFC Championship game in the 2017 season, with the wide receiver responsible for the Minneapolis Miracle being one of those departures. 

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs was a focal point for opposing defenses in 2019 but that is going to change with him now playing in Buffalo. Though Vikings coach Mike Zimmer stated earlier this summer that they had no intentions of trading Diggs, the deal that Buffalo offered was too good to pass up. 

Diggs has been labeled as one of the craftiest wide receivers in the league. He leaves some big shoes to fill in the Vikings offense come 2020. Last season, he hauled in 63 catches for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns, leading the Vikings in all three categories. 

Although it might be difficult to replace the leading receiver from last season, the Vikings are in good shape moving forward. Here are three players currently on the roster that will help ease the transition away from the hero of the Minneapolis Miracle:

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Where does the NFC North rank in league tight end rankings?

The NFC North is strong in a lot of areas, but not at tight end.

When you think of the NFC North, you probably don’t think of it because of the tight end play.

The best tight end in the division is probably Minnesota’s Kyle Rudolph. Other names include Detroit’s T.J. Hockenson, Chicago’s Jimmy Graham and Green Bay’s Jace Sternberger, although the Packers could be in talks for an upgrade.

I honestly forgot Jimmy Graham was in the league before writing this.

In his divisional tight end rankings, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports has the NFC North ranked seventh, ahead of only the AFC East.

Here’s a bit of what Benjamin wrote about the NFC North:

If this were 2016, the North might be near the top of the list, but Rudolph and Graham — once among the league’s best — are both at different stages in their careers. Graham still has the body to be an impact red-zone target but really fell off in Green Bay, while Rudolph remains trusty but is unlikely to regularly eclipse 500 yards if Smith Jr. and new WR Justin Jefferson step up. In Detroit, Hockenson and James should be a solid duo if healthy. But Chicago is a grab-bag of middling or unproven talent, and the Packers are putting a lot of stock in Sternberger, who missed all of 2019, or a 36-year-old Marcedes Lewis to replace Graham.

As far as the Vikings are concerned, I would imagine this will be the season in which we’ll see less of Rudolph and more of Irv Smith Jr., although with Gary Kubiak’s offensive scheme, we’ll likely see plenty of both of them.

You can check out Benjamin’s full rankings here.

Three Vikings players who could change roles

These Vikings players could be in a different situation come 2020.

Minnesota has taken an interesting approach to this offseason.

The Vikings have seen talented veterans leave, but have replaced them with younger players.

The team’s general manager, Rick Spielman told the Star Tribune: “Even though we have some young guys coming in we still have a core part of our defense together with Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith, we have [Eric] Kendricks and [Anthony] Barr at linebacker, Danielle Hunter.”

Now, some players on the Vikings’ young core might have to adjust to new talent coming in. Whether that’s switching alignments, roles or positions all together.

Here are some candidates on the Vikings who might have to do just that in 2020:

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The Vikings need to utilize Irv Smith Jr. more frequently in 2020 

It’s been a long time since the Vikings have had someone as athletic as Irv Smith Jr. at the tight end position.

In 2019, the Vikings had only one pass catcher go for over 600 yards and he is no longer with the team. Stefon Diggs hauled in 63 catches for 1,130 yards and the next closest was Dalvin Cook with 519 yards. 

This is a big reason as to why PFF ranked the Vikings receiving corps 24th overall in their 2020 rankings. The Diggs departure makes the receiving room even thinner than it was originally heading into 2020.

Here are the reasons the Vikings need to use Irv Smith Jr. more:

Too many unproven wide receivers

Wide receiver Adam Thielen was hurt last year, so he only played in 10 regular season games. As of now, there is just too much unproven talent behind Thielen at wide receiver.

The Vikings used their 22nd overall pick that they received in the Diggs trade on Justin Jefferson, but it’s never easy to speculate how a rookie will produce in his first season. Jefferson was productive during his time at LSU, has great analytical metrics and a ton of upside, but that doesn’t always translate over to the next level right away. 

Bisi Johnson showed flashes in 2019 of being a good receiver, but it is still unproven that he can be anything more than a wide receiver three. Tajae Sharpe was also added in free agency, but was never overly productive in his time in Tennessee.  

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Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr.: My tattoo artist stayed with me for like a month

Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. has been getting some ink done this offseason.

Irv Smith Jr. has been working out preparing for the upcoming season, but he’s also been keeping busy with other parts of his life.

For instance, Smith Jr. routed Cardinals’ Byron Murphy Jr. in NBA 2K20, which was streamed live on Twitch.

He also has added some tattoos, a feat he was able to accomplish because his tattoo artist had been staying with him.

“He actually stayed with me for like a month,” Smith Jr. told Gabe Henderson of Vikings.com. “We were just getting to it. It was awesome having that opportunity, cause usually I wouldn’t have the time to do that.”

Asked about how he’s holding up amid the coronavirus pandemic, Smith Jr. said it’s been crazy, but you have to try and be positive.

“I get to work out more, just taking care of my body, little things like that,” Smith Jr. told Henderson. “It’s not as smooth, but it’s definitely something we’re all getting used to.”

PFF looks back on Vikings’ 2019 draft grade

A year later, the site isn’t so optimistic about the Vikings’ 2019 draft class.

Most experts agree that the Vikings did a great job in the 2020 NFL Draft, netting 15 picks including four who could contribute right away.

Michael Renner over at Pro Football Focus took a look at the team’s 2019 NFL Draft, about a year after the fact.

Renner has the Vikings ranked in the ‘below average’ category.

After the draft, Vikings fans were happy with picking center Garrett Bradbury with the 18th overall pick, but he probably underformed as a rookie.

Both tight end Irv Smith Jr. and running back Alexander Mattison looked and still look like solid picks in the second and third round, respectively.

After that, there was no real breakthrough player. Wide receiver Bisi Johnson was a nice surprise in the seventh round, and it looks like Kris Boyd is going to contribute at corner in 2020.

To round out the NFC North, the Packers ranked as above average, the Bears were average, while the Lions were also below average.

As with any draft, we’ll have a much better idea about all of this in a few years.

Who have been the last 10 players drafted 50th overall?

Looking at the previous players that have been taken 50th overall, there are some encouraging picks but more that didn’t exactly pan out.

The Chicago Bears are without a first-round pick for the second straight season, but they do own a pair of second round picks at No. 43 and No. 50.

When considering the previous players that have been taken at 50th overall, there are some encouraging picks but more that didn’t exactly pan out.

Let’s take a look at the last 10 picks at No. 50.

2019: TE Irv Smith Jr., Vikings

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Following a solid preseason, rookie Irv Smith Jr. was gradually worked into Minnesota’s offense. In 2019, Smith had 36 receptions for 311 yards and two touchdowns, which was more than any Bears tight end last season. The Vikings already have a really good tight end in Kyle Rudolph, so there hasn’t really been a rush with Smith. But with the loss of Stefan Diggs, Smith is expected to get more opportunities in Minnesota’s offense in 2020.

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Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr., representing Timberwolves, routs Cardinals’ Byron Murphy Jr. in NBA 2K20

Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr got the win while representing the Timberwolves in NBA 2K20.

Professional sports have been shut down across the country, but athletes are still finding ways to compete against each other.

For instance, Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. competed against Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. in NBA 2K20, which was streamed live on Twitch.

Unfortunately, fans watching the live stream didn’t get much of a game. Smith Jr.’s Timberwolves routed Murphy Jr.’s Suns 104-62.

Smith Jr. scored 41 points with D’Angelo Russell. He also had 20 with Karl-Anthony Towns.

The virtual game wasn’t very close, but the two still exchanged plenty of funny moments when they were playing against each other.

“What’s the score, 24-7?” Murphy Jr. asked, when that was the score of the game at the time.

“A lot to a little,” Smith Jr. said in response.

Though he did say he’d see Smith Jr. again, Murphy Jr. didn’t seem too excited about playing another streamed game of 2K20.

“I’m never doing that again, though, I can tell you that.”

Smith Jr, however, seems ready for the next challenge.