2008 NFL Draft Countdown

Nothing more to say about the Gophers that hasn't already been said. The key for this program is RECRUITING, RECRUITING, RECRUITING! And from the sound of it, if the verbals can stay true to their word, things will definitely be on the up & up for the program.

Today's rant is going to be of the Vikings variety, which is rare for me since I stopped giving a shit about the Vikings after 41-Doughnut at the Meadowlands in 2001. But I am a fan of watching former Gophers, along with all college players hitting the draft. Call it fresh faces & new blood, I suppose, but there's just something about the draft that interests me. With that, I offer what the Vikings "should" do.

I think T. Jack is awful. He has no calmness, is a total spaz, and he can't throw accurately & throw to the right guy to save his life. With that said, if he's healthy, he should be the QB for the rest of the season. The bottom line is 2007 is a wasted season for the Vikings. Even if they went on a role, do you really think they're going to take down Dallas for the NFC? Take your medicine & keep rebuilding. Let's find out for sure on Jackson. Let him play out the entire season. If he sucks, then we know. If he builds a little, then you can go in that direction. But I think the most important thing for the Vikings is this: LOSE EVERY GAME POSSIBLE! People want to look at the way the Vikings ended the season so poorly last year. Yes, it was true, but there was a big time benefit to that: the Vikings were in a #7 draft position and were able to take Adrian Peterson. Do the same thing this year. You can answer your question about Jackson. If he seems to have found it, you can go after an OT in the Jake Long form (or a WR, but I'm not big on this current crop of receivers, except if DeShaun Jackson comes out). If he isn't the answer, there seems to be a decent crop of QB's to look at drafting, including Brian Brohm, Andre Woodson, Matt Ryan, or even a step below with Chad Henne & John David Booty. Build up your young talent base. It's the only way to get better. Cleveland is in the right direction (although giving up the #1 to Dallas may be tough, but they did get Brady Quinn out of it, which isn't that bad a move). They have Quinn, Edwards, & Joe Thomas to build around. They obviously won't be able to answer the RB position this year without the #1 & go after a Darren McFadden, but you can always find RB's a bit later (Marion Barber anyone?). Unless they're able to make a move for a Drew Brees type veteran, find the young core & build. The Vikes need some safety help as they're getting older at the position (perhaps Kenny Phillips if he comes out), I think they need another CB (Griffin would be ok as a nickle, but I'm not sold on him being a #2), need some help on the right side of the OL, and the obvious concerns at WR & QB. Just like with the Gophers & RECRUITING, the Vikings need to RESTOCK & go young.