Preseason Test

All over the NFL, is that the third preseason game is where the starters will be playing the most of all the preseason games. I thought that the offense preformed well in their test.


I know that there will be many of whom wondering about Favre throwing 2 INTs in the game and no TDs. One of those INTs was a good play by the Seattle DB and he went the distance. Favre also seemed like that he worried about getting Walker the ball to give him enough looks for the coaching staff to have a true evaluation of him.


The Viking receivers also have shown that they can be sure handed in 3 down and long situations. Camarillo, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe all will be great options for Favre. It looks like the Vikes did well trying the find receivers this past week to get into the last preseason games.

What is there to say about the defense in this game. Every unit was great against the Seahawks last night. The Vikes defense gave up 2 FGs in the game. The Vikes have plenty of depth on that side of the ball. The questions that remain are who will be left out of the 53 man final roster?


Overall, I think the Vikes performed at a B- grade for the game. I just cannot wait til Sept 9th!!!!

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!! Revenge my friend. 

What We Learned in Preseason Game #2

There were some things that we Viking fans did learn in the preseason game #2. It is so hard to cheer for your team in the preseason. I know it is football after all, but it is NOT the same as the season. We Viking fans know in the end it does not matter who wins or loses in these games.


One thing that we learned, is that the Vikes offensive line needs to learn how to block a little better. Man just look at Willis and company planting Favre to the turf. I bet that Chilly was holding his breath after that hit. Favre was on the field for a grand total for 4 plays and that was all he needed. I am hoping that the line was do a better just in pass and run blocking the next game. If not it many be a LONG season for Favre and the Vikings.

The Vikes need to keep Joe Webb on the team no matter what it take. If Webb is unable to beat out Sage for the #3 QB spot. Put him at WR/RB spot or something. There is no way that he will be available to Vikes as a practice squad dummy. He has to much talent for other team to pass up on him. He is a stud, he has the athletic ability and instincts that you are looking for in a football player.Here is Webb running for a 48 yard TD.


I am hoping that EJ is in football shape. He  looked a little rusty in last nights game, but that was expected with this being his 1st real action since his injury. He may need some work on his pass coverage, because the TEs were getting behind him to get the first downs the offense needs to continue the drives.

Overall it was an okay game, but the Vikes last 15-0 in the end. Just remember 2 more games of worthless football and then the fun starts...oh yeah and the ulcers.

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!

Favre To Play

The Viking announced that the starts will play for the 1st quarter in the contest against the 49ers on Sunday Night. It looks like Favre might break a seat in this game and AD will get a carry and maybe two as well.


I would be shocked to see Harvin suit up on Sunday and Sid the Kid is expected to miss this preseason game as well. It look like Favre will be throwing it to Berrian and the reserves.
I will be interesting considering that next week is the dress rehearsal for the NFL Week 3 of the preseason.


Some things to keep an eye out for:

• Will Sage shine again in the #3 QB battle as he did last week?
• Is Albert Young going to be the #3 running back on this team, meaning getting 4 carries all season?
• Who will seperate themselves from the group as the #4 reciever?

I hope to get an answer to most of these questions Sunday Night. If there is no more breaking news, I will see everyone of Sunday.

SKOL VIKINGS!!

What We Learned in Preseason Game #1

With the first preseason game now in the books. There were some lessons that we all learned throughout the game. The first is this IF Favre does not return this season Tarvaris Jackson is our guy. In the game he was treated like a Manning or a Brady in the game. T-Jack played a series or two and that was the night for him.



Speaking of Quarterbacks, Sage Rosenfels completed 23 of 34 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns.He played most of the game until rookie Joe Webb replaced him in the 4th quarter.Web completed 4 of 6 passes for 37 yards and one touchdown

• The battle for the No. 2 running back job didn't provide a lot of clarity. Albert Young got the start but rushed for minus seven yards in six carries. Rookie Toby Gerhart had 24 yards rushing on eight carries.
• Rookie DB Chris Cook forced a fumble on special teams as a gunner. He made an impact in his first NFL game. 
• On defense the backups played well in this contest,  Erin Henderson, who had six tackles and a sack. Defensive end Jayme Mitchell was impressive, recording two sacks and a pass breakup. 

The Vikes defense did not allow a TD, the only touchdown came against the special teams unit. So that means donuts for the defense.







SKOL VIKINGS!!

3 Thoughts Of the 1st Preseason Game

Here we are ladies and gentlemen here we are the 1st preseason game just upon us. With the Rams and Vikes facing off against each other. In the preseason it does not matter who wins or loses, it is to see how the players you have right now fair against competition.



Some of the thoughts entering the game would be:

Is Sage going to step up and play let a vet or just get schooled by a rookie QB(Joe Webb)?
Will Lito be showing that he has lost a step as a CB?

Can the Vikes walk away from the game without any significant injuries?



We will all see if the Vikes evaluate the Vikes performance, but it is only preseason after all.

Naufahu Tahi Retained

The Vikes decided to retain restricted free agent Naufahu Tahi on Friday. The Vikes matched the offer of the Bengals of a 1-year 1.4 million deal. Tahi seems to be happy to be returning to the Vikes this season. Tahi took over as the Vikings' fullback and the lead blocker for Adrian Peterson, early last season after free-agent acquisition Thomas Tapeh, who played in only two games and was released in part because he did not disclose that he had minor knee surgery shortly before signing.

Other Viking News:
The Preseason schedule for the Vikes this season.
Vikes @ Colts – Either August 14 or 15
Vikes vs Chiefs – Either August 21 or 22
Vikes @ Texans – August 31 (Monday Night)
Vikes vs Cowboys – September 4

You're Benched

For the 4th and final preseason game, the Vikes have decided to sit all the starters on the offense and defense. The reason being because so the coaching staff can get a closer look at some players they are not that sure about. The Vikes are sitting Jackson and Gus, so the battle for the 3rd string job will be decided tonight playing the Cowboys between Brooks Bollinger and John David Booty. I will say i have been a fan of Brooks since his college days. I do not see him making the 53 man roster.Booty is a rookie but I believe has more to offer the team. It will be interesting who the coaches feel that fit into the Vikings scheme more than others. I hope that everyone enjoys the game tonight.

Where is the Offense

With the third preseason game in the books. Vikes lose to the Steelers 12-10. It just leaves me more questions than answers for one. I know that our #1ish QB was on the sideline playing it save and our backup Gus Frerotte was getting his reps.Aftering seeing his performance tonight I can see why T-Jack has an edge on him. Rice and Berrian were also out of the contest. The line did not show up for the offense tonight that was certainly proven tonight.With Gus under a tremendous most of the time he was in there. The line could not open up holes for AD or Taylor much of the night. Childress wanted to run the ball, that was a lost cause with the 1-2 punch averaging about 2 yards a carry. The Vikings rushed 12 times for a mere 17 yards in the first half; the offensive line was called for three false start penalties on the first series.What the hell is this going to do with the Vikes a couple of weeks from the real deal. The OL needs to mold together soon.

I was glad to see that our D was in the backfield more the Big Ben was tonight. The Vikings kept the pressure on Big Ben, surrounded Willie Parker and held Pittsburgh's starting offense to three points.Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams had consecutive sacks in the second quarter, the series before Williams ran down rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall and forced a fumble that Tyrell Johnson recovered near midfield.I was impressed on how the Vikes D played tonight. I was a loss but it is only preseason right now and the coaches are trying to get a feel if certain players are going to fit in their scheme of things this season.

Preseason week #1 Seattle 34 Vikes 17

I know you cannot look too much into this game. It is only the first preseason for crying out loud. There were up and down with game. It was an ugly game as a Viking fan let us just leave it at that.The Vikes turned the ball over 5 times(4 fumbles, 1 int), it lead to 20 Seahawk points.

The Vikes came out throwing:
So start off with is Tarvaris Jackson was of course the center of attention and he put up decent numbers: 8-11/118 yards/1 TD. He is looking better already than he did the beginning of last season. In which makes the Beloved Purple worry a little bit less.

The starting receiving corps that we upgraded this past season look impressive in the game. Bernard Berrian nearly had a TD grab from T-Jack, but tripping going out of bounds before getting in. Sidney Rice bulked up this past offseason will be a great #2 receiver for the Vikes this season.Thomas Tapeh made a triumphant return to the Dome by scoring a TD on a pass from Tarvaris Jackson.

With the Vikes used AD only a decoy in the first preseason game. I believe he was on the field for about 3 plays then he had the rest of the night off.Maurice Hicks led the Vikes with 32 yards on 7 carries. Chester Taylor had the lone rushing touchdown.

Jared Allen was explosive off the line is going to be fun to watch considering that we was lineup against one of the best OT in the league right now in Walter Jones.He was in the Seattle backfield quite often.The rest defense did not look like what they were advertised that is for damn sure(closing my eyes). It was not the whole group of #1s Pat Williams and Madieu Williams were gametime scratches from the lineup. Leslie Frazier played a relaxed defense with limited blitzing and whatnot. Seneca Wallce ripped through the Vikes most of the night did not really matter what string was out there.It is never a good feeling getting beat 34-17.Lets hope that the Vikes step it up come Week 1 in the regular season.

Some Side notes:
LB Heath Farwell and DE Jayme Mitchell tore ACLs in Friday night's loss to Seattle and are done for the 2008 season. This a good reason why coach are not fond of the preseason. Look at how many players are on the shelf for the season with one week in the books.

Next Saturday the Vikes visit the Ravens in Baltimore for Preseason game two.

What the Hell Dr.Z

If Vike fans have to seen the Dr. Z Article yet. In the article, he has destined the Vikes the take it all this season. Just seeing that and now that would be sweet. I just do not believe that it going to happen considering that it is only June Dr. Z. Sure we have a great chance to run the tale this season. He is counting our eggs before they are hatched.Why in the hell would you even phantom a prediction so early. Maybe he needed to jinx the team that made the most progress this past offseason. But Zimmerman makes some very good points. He points out the Vikings proficiency in both running the football and stopping the run. The first of those two can be debated. . .the second one most certainly can not. He also goes on to praise the Jared Allen acquisition, and says that Allen isn't just a looping speed rusher that leaves big gaps on the inside, but rather a technician that "honors the down home of the game."We shall see if Dr. Z will feel the wrath of the people of Viking Nation for jinxing their beloved team WAY to damn early. If he is correct on his pick I will congratulate him on his prediction.

Preseason Games

The pre-season games for the NFL were released this week. Here are the games the Vike will have this season.
Week of 7-11 Aug: vs Seattle
Week of 13-18 Aug: at Baltimore
23 Aug: vs Pittsburgh(game will be nationally featured on CBS)
28-29 Aug: at Dallas(yet again)

I hope that starts play a little more than last season considering that T-Jack had LIMITED playing time in last seasons preseason games. I am glad that I can see at least one of the games live.YEAH.