Post by Funkytown on Aug 20, 2021 8:24:38 GMT -6
After last weekend's torture treatment, ... do we have to?!? ...actually, on second thought, yes, let's get those horrible images out of our heads!
- 6. Backup linebackers
- 7. The starting secondary
- 8. Britton Colquitt
- 9. Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- 10. Backup tight ends
1. Oli Udoh
It was a surprise last week when Udoh was announced as an inactive player along with all of the team’s other presumed starters. That made it clear that the Vikings view Udoh as the starting right guard, basically ending the competition he had with Dakota Dozier and, to a lesser extent, Wyatt Davis for that spot. Dozier didn’t play well in the game, further cementing Udoh’s spot as a starter.
One other nugget worth noting on Udoh: While he’s penciled in as the starting right guard, he’s essentially also the team’s swing tackle as long as first-round pick Christian Darrisaw is hurt. While fourth-string tackle Blake Brandel has had a fine training camp, it sounds like the team would slide Udoh back to tackle, his natural position, if either Brian O’Neill or Rashod Hill were hurt.
2. Kirk Cousins
The preseason isn’t really an indication for how a veteran of as many years as Cousins will play in the regular season, but this will still be the first time we’ve seen Cousins taking a snap in a game since the meaningless contest against the Lions in Week 17 a year ago.
Zimmer said that Cousins looked a bit rusty upon his return from the COVID-19/reserve list, but he seems to have worked past that in the days since. While Cousins’ passing numbers probably won’t matter, it’ll be interesting to see how comfortable he feels behind this offensive line. Remember, in practices (even the joint ones with the Broncos), the defense isn’t allowed to hit the quarterback, so while Cousins has been mock sacked, he hasn’t actually been hit.
“You just don’t want to develop a false sense of security because you’re in a red jersey,” Cousins said. “That will always be the challenge. You don’t want to get into the real thing and feel like it’s moving faster than practice, so you try to have that clock that says, ‘Hey, I can’t sit around much longer. I have to take off or throw it away.’”
3. Weatherly vs. Wonnum
The competition for the starting defensive end spot opposite Danielle Hunter hasn’t been as one-sided as some within the Vikings hoped after signing Stephen Weatherly to a one-year deal. The veteran has been just OK in training camp, and perhaps the workout the Vikings conducted with Everson Griffen on Wednesday was also to send a message to Weatherly. Remember, Weatherly was the only projected starter forced to play in the last preseason game.
On the flip side, Wonnum has played very well as he prepares for his second season. With a dominant showing Saturday, he could leapfrog Weatherly on the depth chart.
4. Michael Pierce
Of all of the new additions on defense, Pierce may be the most impressive so far. He routinely drives the Vikings interior line into the backfield and has even impressed co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson with his pass-rush moves.
As a veteran, Pierce may not get more than a couple of series on Saturday, but it’s worth watching to see whether he flashes the same way he has in practice. It can be hard during these practices to know whether Pierce’s positive plays are because of how good he is or whether they speak more to issues on the Vikings offensive line. Saturday should help straighten that out.
And besides, this will mark Pierce’s first game in nearly two years after sitting out last season.
“I’m super excited,” Pierce said. “I’m just counting down the days and making sure I tighten everything up for Saturday.”
5. Browning vs. Mond
Jake Browning entered the first preseason game with a sizeable lead in the competition to be Cousins’ backup. While neither quarterback shined last week, Browning’s pick-six stands out for all the wrong reasons and opened the door for Mond to make this battle more interesting.
Browning remains the No. 2 quarterback in practices and will probably get the first action once Cousins exits the game. But if Mond is significantly better on Saturday, this competition could get interesting in the final two weeks before the season.
It was a surprise last week when Udoh was announced as an inactive player along with all of the team’s other presumed starters. That made it clear that the Vikings view Udoh as the starting right guard, basically ending the competition he had with Dakota Dozier and, to a lesser extent, Wyatt Davis for that spot. Dozier didn’t play well in the game, further cementing Udoh’s spot as a starter.
One other nugget worth noting on Udoh: While he’s penciled in as the starting right guard, he’s essentially also the team’s swing tackle as long as first-round pick Christian Darrisaw is hurt. While fourth-string tackle Blake Brandel has had a fine training camp, it sounds like the team would slide Udoh back to tackle, his natural position, if either Brian O’Neill or Rashod Hill were hurt.
2. Kirk Cousins
The preseason isn’t really an indication for how a veteran of as many years as Cousins will play in the regular season, but this will still be the first time we’ve seen Cousins taking a snap in a game since the meaningless contest against the Lions in Week 17 a year ago.
Zimmer said that Cousins looked a bit rusty upon his return from the COVID-19/reserve list, but he seems to have worked past that in the days since. While Cousins’ passing numbers probably won’t matter, it’ll be interesting to see how comfortable he feels behind this offensive line. Remember, in practices (even the joint ones with the Broncos), the defense isn’t allowed to hit the quarterback, so while Cousins has been mock sacked, he hasn’t actually been hit.
“You just don’t want to develop a false sense of security because you’re in a red jersey,” Cousins said. “That will always be the challenge. You don’t want to get into the real thing and feel like it’s moving faster than practice, so you try to have that clock that says, ‘Hey, I can’t sit around much longer. I have to take off or throw it away.’”
3. Weatherly vs. Wonnum
The competition for the starting defensive end spot opposite Danielle Hunter hasn’t been as one-sided as some within the Vikings hoped after signing Stephen Weatherly to a one-year deal. The veteran has been just OK in training camp, and perhaps the workout the Vikings conducted with Everson Griffen on Wednesday was also to send a message to Weatherly. Remember, Weatherly was the only projected starter forced to play in the last preseason game.
On the flip side, Wonnum has played very well as he prepares for his second season. With a dominant showing Saturday, he could leapfrog Weatherly on the depth chart.
4. Michael Pierce
Of all of the new additions on defense, Pierce may be the most impressive so far. He routinely drives the Vikings interior line into the backfield and has even impressed co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson with his pass-rush moves.
As a veteran, Pierce may not get more than a couple of series on Saturday, but it’s worth watching to see whether he flashes the same way he has in practice. It can be hard during these practices to know whether Pierce’s positive plays are because of how good he is or whether they speak more to issues on the Vikings offensive line. Saturday should help straighten that out.
And besides, this will mark Pierce’s first game in nearly two years after sitting out last season.
“I’m super excited,” Pierce said. “I’m just counting down the days and making sure I tighten everything up for Saturday.”
5. Browning vs. Mond
Jake Browning entered the first preseason game with a sizeable lead in the competition to be Cousins’ backup. While neither quarterback shined last week, Browning’s pick-six stands out for all the wrong reasons and opened the door for Mond to make this battle more interesting.
Browning remains the No. 2 quarterback in practices and will probably get the first action once Cousins exits the game. But if Mond is significantly better on Saturday, this competition could get interesting in the final two weeks before the season.
- 6. Backup linebackers
- 7. The starting secondary
- 8. Britton Colquitt
- 9. Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- 10. Backup tight ends
