With the Vikings losing their first pre-season game to the Titans 14-3, there were some good and bad things to take from it.
The Good
Starting Quarterback Donovan McNabb had a decent first outing for the Vikings going 6-11 for 40 yards. McNabb converted a few 3rd downs, was calm and smooth inside the pocket and also showed mobility when the pocket collapsed.
Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder had a positive first game. The newbie was 8-13 for 89 yards. Ponder also showed some mobility and looked comfortable throwing on the run. He converted his first pass to rookie TE Kyle Rudolph for 10 yards. He also had the nights longest reception hitting Juaquin Iglesias for 26 yards.
Running-back Lorenzo Booker fumbled the ball in the 2nd quarter but other than that looked good. He rattled off a 20 yard run in the 3rd quarter and finished with 9 carries for 47 yards with a 5.2 YPC. Booker also added 3 receptions for 32 yards, making his case to be the 3rd down running back.
Weak side linebacker Erin Henderson was active all over the field. He finished with 10 tackles, 7 of them solo tackles, and 2 tackles for loss. I was impressed with Henderson and liked what I seen out of the young new starter.
Rookie DT Christian Ballard registered the Vikings only sack when he bulldozed his way through the Titans line and sacking Jake Locker, welcoming him to the NFL.
Jaymar Johnson made his case of why he should be the starting punt returner when he returned a punt for 40 yards to the Titans 24 yard line.
The Bad
2 turnovers hurt the Vikings and led to points
Joe Webb had a rough time going 4-8 for 45 yards, an interception and a 27.6 passer rating. Webb showed once again that he can escape the pocket and pick up yards with his feet but he did little to show he’s improved in the passing game.
The Vikings were in striking distance twice and Christian Ponder failed to convert 2 different 4th down attempts.
Vikings offensive line wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t great either.
Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin were held out of this game and the rest of Vikings secondary was terrible. Especially CB Chris Cook who was caught looking at a fumbled snap by Jake Locker who picked it back up and through a 45 yard touchdown which the receiver had Cook by a few steps. Cook also was getting handled in the run game by the Titans receivers and took a stiff arm by a Titans running-back.It was a rough night for the 2nd year corner-back. Asher Allen missed a tackle and was burned for a 20 yard gain within first 4 plays of the game.
Tackling was terrible, especially by the corner-back.
Vikings offense as a whole is still a work in progress so none of the receivers really got a chance to stand out. Devin Aromashodu had a chance at some hard catches but couldn’t come down with any of them.
Other Notes:
Joe Webb was the 2nd string quarterback this week and next week versus Seattle, Christian Ponder will be the 2nd string quarterback.
Jamarcus Sanford got the start at strong safety even though Tyrell Johnson was penciled in as the starter on the depth chart released early this week. My guess is Johnson will get the nod next week as the starter.
Bill Musgrave states starters will get a little more time next week probably somewhere between 15-18 snaps or so.
DE De’Andre Reed left in 3rd quarter with leg cramps.
Players who sat out:
Kevin Williams, Jared Allen, and Antoine Winfield were held out of the game.
Cedric Griffin (Knee)
Visanthe Shiancoe (Hamstring)
Mistral Raymond (Hamstring)
Kenny Onatolu (Foot)
Stephen Burton (Hamstring)
Anthony Herrera(Triceps)
Tristan Davis(Stomach)
Original Story:
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