Too Early

It's way too early to be thinking about the 2014 NFL Draft. The 2013 NFL season is entering week 9. Even at 1-6, the Minnesota Vikings aren't out of postseason play. They made the playoffs last year, that seems like such a long time ago, with a 10-6 record. They squeaked in with a 10-6 record. So, they still have a shot at matching that. They just have to win the rest of their games. No problem. There's a chance. It's too soon to be thinking about next May's draft (May!?!). Then I look at the Vikings injury report. No Harrison Smith. No Jamarca Sanford. No Chris Cook. Three-quarters of a starting defensive backfield, that really wasn't stopping much when healthy, is out. They are out for tomorrow's game against the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo. Romo might have passing issues in some big games but he showed up for a showdown with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos earlier this season. Besides, tomorrow's game likely isn't considered a big game. It's just considered another game and he's facing second-year sieve Josh Robinson and rookie Xavier Rhodes at corner. If anything came out of the Vikings pathetic defense against the Green Bay Packers last week, Robinson was much closer to the receivers he's supposed to cover than he's ever been. And, he's fast. I think that Rhodes is going to be a terrific football player but he's still a rookie. Safeties Andrew Sendejo and Mistral Raymond round out a backfield that has to contain Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Oh my. Maybe, that's why I find my thoughts drifting to that May draft (May!).

It's too early for the supposed media draft experts to be thinking about the draft. The 2012 NFL Draft will always be remembered for the two quarterbacks at the top of it, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Luck was going to be ranked at the top of whatever draft he entered. I remember checking a Cal message board the summer before Luck's first year of college. A poster had the opportunity to watch the young quarterback at a passing camp. He returned with the warning, "we're in trouble."  Everyone knew that Luck was a dream quarterback from the day he left Houston for Stanford. Griffin was another matter but he shouldn't have been. He was an excellent quarterback throughout his time at Baylor. His only setback was a knee injury that cost him a season. He never showed anything but the ability to play football at a high level. He even showed the ability to rebound superbly from an injury. The media didn't pick up on his football skills until well into his final college season. A draft ranking of quarterbacks in the middle of that season had Landry Jones and Matt Barkley between Luck and Griffin. That's inconceivable! It's way too early to rank players. It's always too early as the draft is all about projections. There's really no way to accurately project what a college football player will do in the NFL. I read recently that Bill Belichick thought that Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins would be the top pick of the 2010 draft if it were to be done again. Atkins went in the fourth round of that draft. Armed with hindsight, the same can be said for Tom Brady and his draft. Everyone knows that Brady went in the sixth round. No one really knows on draft day. How can they possibly know six or more months from draft day. No poking and prodding of the Combine. No interviews. It's too early. That doesn't stop the supposed draft experts. There's a demand for draft stuff so those knuckleheads will be feeding it. Draft expert Todd McShay says that we should pump the breaks on the projections of this year's top quarterbacks. Most notably, Teddy Bridgewater and Marcus Mariota. Assuming Mariota leaves after this, his redshirt sophomore season. McShay, I guess, was responding to those that are jumping to the conclusions that Bridgewater and Mariota are being thought of as the equals to Luck and Griffin. McShay doesn't have the current players in Luck's class. For the life of me I can't figure out how that is a significant knock on anyone. He thinks that Mariota could end up being graded as high a Griffin but not now. Interesting. No one had Griffin of November 2011 graded out as high as Griffin of April 2012. Not even McShay. November is way too early to firm up those draft plans.

It's too early, but I like Mariota, UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr, and South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney if the Vikings can't climb out of this damn 1-6 hole.