Preseason Week 3 - Minnesota Vikings vs. Oakland Raiders

[Demi]

What stood out most was the lack of physicality from the first team Defensive Line. They weren't taking the fight to the Oline, just trying to hold their ground.

Robison needs to be replaced. He's a liability. Still over running the QB, and getting pushed around against the run. Even though it looks like he beefed up a bit.

[frosted]

My only real concerns right now are along the line of scrimmage. The OL still lacks quickness off the snap, plus the lack of depth is troubling.

I'm getting nervous about the run defense. I was hoping to see them show us something in preseason after too many dismal performances last year.

I believe that the vanilla offensive and defensive sets limit the starters to a degree. No way is Zimmer going to show his whole hand during preseason ball.

As for MLB, I would probably go with Kendricks or Hodges as the starter, though they lack experience as starting pro MLBs. They'll get that experience by playing. I'm not saying that they presently look way better than Cole or Mauti. At least not yet.

Actually, I wonder if Zimmer feels he has a three down starting MLB at this point.

I'm actually very encouraged by the way the offensive line (starters) have played in pass pro. Kalil did a wonderful job with Mack last night, and I thought, outside of one play, Clemmings was as solid as he could have been.

But yeah, run blocking has been a bit concerning. That, and the run defense still looking a bit soft, are my main concerns so far.


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[Purple bruise]

I'm actually very encouraged by the way the offensive line (starters) have played in pass pro. Kalil did a wonderful job with Mack last night, and I thought, outside of one play, Clemmings was as solid as he could have been.

But yeah, run blocking has been a bit concerning. That, and the run defense still looking a bit soft, are my main concerns so far.


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As has been mentioned, AD will make up for most/all deficiencies

[fiestavike]

I'm actually very encouraged by the way the offensive line (starters) have played in pass pro. Kalil did a wonderful job with Mack last night, and I thought, outside of one play, Clemmings was as solid as he could have been.

But yeah, run blocking has been a bit concerning. That, and the run defense still looking a bit soft, are my main concerns so far.




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I agree, although Mack is vastly over rated.

Also, Teddy has been doing a great job of hitting that last step and releasing the ball or pushing up in the pocket. He's making their job a lot easier.

[MrPurplenGold]

I've got 5 concerns for this team going into 2015 based on the preseason games we've seen so far.

1. Secondary: Newman is 36 years old. He was torched by Amari cooper on the play down the sideline and with his age, as the season goes on, I think he'll end up wearing down. Munnerlyn seems to have fallen out of favor with Zimmer and Waynes doesn't seem ready to start.

2. Wallace: right now he seems to be another overpaid WR. His hands seem questionable and so far he doesn't seem to be the deep threat they envisioned him to be.

3. Run defense: whether it's the DL or the LBs, they seem to continue to struggle with stopping the run.

4. OL: with 2 new starters I think there will be some issues with communication that may cause teddy to take some unnecessary huts.

5. Injuries: seems like the injury bug is really biting the Vikings this year which could derail any hopes of the playoffs.

[fiestavike]

4. OL: with 2 new starters I think there will be some issues with communication that may cause teddy to take some unnecessary huts.

Teddy's gonna have to be like, "hut, hut hut....hut.....hut hut hut...hut...hut..HIKE!"
At least a few of those huts are clearly unnecessary IMO.

[mosscarter]

i think newman will be able to hold his own, but i am the most worried about barr. we need him in there and i think he'll get injured again. he always seems hurt. wallace is who he is, he was the same player in pittsburgh and miami. he can be explosive, but he does have questionable hands and an attitude problem. he has been that way his entire career.

[S197]

Sullivan is okay right? I noticed when Hill came in, they kept the starting O-line in except Sullivan. I'm thinking Hill is used to taking snaps from the 2nd string center more than Sully but just making sure I didn't miss anything.

I like the way Teddy is seeing the field and going through progressions. When he rolled right and found McKinnon all the way over to his left seems to indicate he's seeing the whole field really well. I don't know which announcers you guys had but out here it was the Raiders. They were saying Rudolph was open on a seam route on the 2nd series but TB didn't see him. Couldn't see it on tv but maybe on coaches tape that some subscribe to has it. Otherwise I thought he did well other than a few throws that were behind the receiver early on.

In any case, some good and some bad but overall I thought it was a sloppy game for the Vikings, who lets not forget are a full game ahead of most of the league. Tough to take away too much from a preseason game but vanilla or not, the energy seemed lacking yesterday.

[frosted]

Sullivan is okay right? I noticed when Hill came in, they kept the starting O-line in except Sullivan. I'm thinking Hill is used to taking snaps from the 2nd string center more than Sully but just making sure I didn't miss anything.

I like the way Teddy is seeing the field and going through progressions. When he rolled right and found McKinnon all the way over to his left seems to indicate he's seeing the whole field really well. I don't know which announcers you guys had but out here it was the Raiders. They were saying Rudolph was open on a seam route on the 2nd series but TB didn't see him. Couldn't see it on tv but maybe on coaches tape that some subscribe to has it. Otherwise I thought he did well other than a few throws that were behind the receiver early on.

In any case, some good and some bad but overall I thought it was a sloppy game for the Vikings, who lets not forget are a full game ahead of most of the league. Tough to take away too much from a preseason game but vanilla or not, the energy seemed lacking yesterday.

Sullivan didn't play yesterday. I don't recall his injury, but Berger started the game.


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[Mothman]

Sullivan is okay right? I noticed when Hill came in, they kept the starting O-line in except Sullivan. I'm thinking Hill is used to taking snaps from the 2nd string center more than Sully but just making sure I didn't miss anything.

Sullivan didn't actually play last night. He had a spasm the other day (location unknown—all the info Ii could find just said he had a spasm). Reportedly, they think he'll be fine. I think they just held him out of the game as a precautionary measure.

[S197]

Thanks guys. Watching a Raiders broadcast they naturally focused more on the other team, didn't even notice Sully was out. Although I will say the broadcast was much more even in terms of discussion than a PA broadcast.

[losperros]

I'm actually very encouraged by the way the offensive line (starters) have played in pass pro. Kalil did a wonderful job with Mack last night, and I thought, outside of one play, Clemmings was as solid as he could have been.

But yeah, run blocking has been a bit concerning.

I actually agree. This is only preseason ball but despite some nice pocket work by Teddy, I still see the OL as being a big slow off the snap. Perhaps it's a timing issue or maybe I'm just being too critical. I can get like that at times.

The run blocking is just okay, which also concerns me. Sure, AD will help a lot, but he gets smothered too when the blocking isn't there. And the opposing defenses will no doubt be focusing on Peterson, so the blocking must get off the snap quickly and be where they're supposed to be.

My biggest concern with the OL is the current lack of depth. It could come back to haunt the Vikings later in the season.

[dead_poet]

Sullivan didn't actually play last night. He had a spasm the other day (location unknown—all the info Ii could find just said he had a spasm). Reportedly, they think he'll be fine. I think they just held him out of the game as a precautionary measure.

Back spasms

[PurpleMustReign]

Back spasms

Is there any other part that can spasm?

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[Mothman]

Is there any other part that can spasm?

Sure, almost any muscle or group of muscles in the body can spasm.