The Minnesota
Vikings improved to 3-0 in the preseason after a 20-12 win over the Oakland
Raiders. The team has 2 more games on the schedule going to Dallas then
Tennessee to finish out and then the real season begins.
I am a
season ticket holder and take pride in saying I had only missed 1 home game in
17 seasons but Saturday night was my 2nd game missed as I proudly walked
my daughter down the aisle to get married.
We did go to
a restaurant/bar for a late supper and I did see the fans mass exodus along
with the players leaving the field on TV. A game we are not there and weather
like this it was hard to imagine being there.
Life is
funny because the delay allowed me to watch the game when I got home and study
what is transpiring with the continual building of the team.
I must say
with weather conditions like that along with a strong wind to see Teddy go
10-14 is just one more reason to be excited about the Vikings quarterback’s
future. The man after 3 preseason games is 22-28 good for 214 yards and one
touchdown good for 111.2 passer rating. One more impressive stat is Teddy has
thrown no interceptions or taken a sack in these 3 games.
I felt the
Vikings run game struggled last night with no running backs really get big
stats although I really like Matt Asiata’s hard running going back to last
season as well.
One guy who really
stuck out offensively is tight end, Chase Ford as he caught the touchdown and
took a beating doing so yet hung onto the ball. He also drew a 15 yard personal
foul as a Raider defender tried to take his head off.
Jack Del Rio
is the new head coach but one thing that has not changed is the amount of dumb
penalties the black and silver take. They are not the 5 yarder either it seems
to be multiple 15 yarders.
The
defensive side of the ball 4 guys really stuck out and they are Eric Kendricks
who really is showing just why the Vikings took him. He is the all-time leading
tackler at UCLA. I think of how good that program has been in the past and he
is number 1 in tackles in his career. I also enjoy his passion on the sidelines
wearing his helmet and showing emotion to the defense coming off after a
defensive series stop.
Defensive
end, Justin Trattou (#94) to me is showing each week he has a motor and again
last night was hustling.
Linebacker,
Brian Peters (#45) with the interception and returns it inches from the goal
line while dragging a would be tackler with him. Yes, the ball was right to him
but how many times have we seen drops. The Vikings punch the ball in after that
and on the next kickoff who is down on the tackle? Yes, Brian Peters. I don’t
know if he will make the 53 man roster but with hustle like that he will be in
the NFL this season.
Veteran,
Josh Thomas had an impressive 4th quarter including an interception
late. I like that he is a veteran hopefully making the team to bolster the
secondary.
One thing
being at a game you cannot always sees what goes on over on the sidelines. The
kicks Blair Walsh missed and the camera shot of Zimmer giving Walsh the look
was captured extremely well.
I do like
this new 33 yard extra point but I don’t like Walsh missing them. It will be an
interesting year watching kickers especially in the winter. It has been
automatic for so many years and now this year will be a challenge. A holding
penalty now pushes it to 43 yards and not so much a for sure any more.
The play of
return man, Stefan Diggs in unbelievable as the play last night in the 4th
quarter in which he was going to let the ball bounce but instead picks it up
and 30 plus yards later, wow.!! All 3 games this preseason the man has showed
the speed he has.
I do believe
with Marcus Sherels who has been the return man that he is so valuable because
of his kick return speed along with his defensive back experience he will make
a great member of the 53 man squad.
It is
preseason only but I do feel the Vikings have showed enough already to show we
will be much better in the 2015 season.
Go Vikes
Thanks for
reading
Todd
Walkingstick
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