Vikings

2017 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings Select Miami OG Danny Isidora

The Minnesota Vikings selected Miami (Fla.) guard Danny Isidora with the 180th pick in the NFL Draft. The Vikings have been sorely lacking in offensive line depth, and while there’s little chance Isidora will earn a starting spot in 2017, he could provide valuable insurance for the team.

Isidora has long been regarded as a reliable presence for an otherwise volatile Miami team, and graduates with a criminology degree after a stint as a team captain.

Ranking as the 140th-best player on the consensus big board, he qualifies as a high-value pick, but will have some questions to answer about his technical ability at the next level.

From a production perspective, he has done well — giving up nine pressures (four of them sacks) in 440 pass blocking snaps. After adjusting for the fact that his offense was a little more difficult to block for, one could argue his production ranks among the top guards in the draft.

He can be an explosive player, and his position-fastest ten-yard split at the combine (1.72 seconds) is indicative of that capability. Isidora demonstrates quickness to get to the second-level and excellent aiming capability. He demonstrates awareness against stunts and blitzes and finds himself winning when he locks on to defenders.

On the other hand, Isidora is a smaller player for a guard at 306 pounds and loses the leverage game often. Not only that, he has significant issues aiming his punches, finding himself hugging defenders more than punching them. That catching problem negates many of his positives and will need to be coached out of him before he can see the field.

For those that recall our Senior Bowl coverage, this may sound familiar.

As much as the tackles’ general improvement may be worth optimism, the guards yesterday drew resignation. Danny Isidora and Jesseman Dunker could never keep their hands inside, bear-hugging a defensive tackle group that didn’t want to reciprocate the offers of friendship. Without interior hand-placement, the DTs controlled the interaction in both run-blocking and pass-blocking. Between those two, Isidora was clearly better, but it may not be meaningful.

Smaller guards are typically thought of as zone-blocking mavens, but Isidora’s overall play with his assignments in zone schemes may suggest otherwise. He did a terrible job in zone-blocking runs at Miami, and couldn’t secure the backside of those runs.

That’s a significant problem, as Miami was primarily a zone running team. On those occasions he had man-blocking assignments, he performed at a higher quality of play, but not well.

Further, he plays with too wide a base and is far too aggressive with his footwork, which moots his physical advantage as an explosive player who can uncoil into contact.

He might deserve more credit than I give him. Though he had a poor showing over the course of one practice week, he has excellent production and is well-regarded by those who contributed to the Consensus Big Board and he may surprise.

Vikings
Finalizing the Roster: New Signings, Contracts, and Draft Day Rumors
By Matt Johnson - Mar 28, 2024
Vikings
Did the Vikings Ultimately Come Out Ahead In Free Agency?
By Arif Hasan - Mar 28, 2024
Vikings

There's Joy To Be Found In This Tumultuous Transition Period In Vikings History

Going into this offseason, we knew that the Minnesota Vikings would face several decisions that would significantly impact the franchise’s direction. They could re-sign the core of […]

Continue Reading