Vikings v. Raiders Game Thread - August 8th

[mmvikes]

We have quite a knack of making scrub QB's look like Joe friggin Montana in the 2 min drill don't we?

Our scrubs against their scrubs. None of those guys will be playing in a regular season game. Don't worry about it.

[Reignman]

Whewww ... different era and we still have to sweat it out all the way to the final play lol.

[Reignman]

Our scrubs against their scrubs. None of those guys will be playing in a regular season game. Don't worry about it.

Except their scrubs weren't making our scrub look like Montana. Ponder looked like himself vs the Raiders starters xD.

[S197]

No injuries

Relatively disciplined (I.e. Lack of penalties except 3rd team)

Thought CP, Coleman, cole, and thielen played well.

[DarthBrooks]

I don't see the point of having Ponder in other than to use up trash time. I would have kept Bridgewater in. They may have decided they have enough teachable moments and to not get him hurt.

My wife asked me how it was going and I told her it was first day of school on a grass classroom - a bit rough, but that's to be expected.

[DK Sweets]

Mixed bag. I guess it makes sense that the game looked progressively sloppier, and I'm glad we looked good with the first team. But geez...the second half was hard to watch.

[Reignman]

Mixed bag. I guess it makes sense that the game looked progressively sloppier, and I'm glad we looked good with the first team. But geez...the second half was hard to watch.

A TD on the 1st drive, a FG on the 2nd drive, and pretty much squat after that, but it's still nice to watch the players you've never seen before get some action. It was still nice watching a dominant, nearly shutdown defensive performances for once too.

[DK Sweets]

The defense was awesome...but consider the team we were playing lol

I have to admit, I got really pumped for that blocked FG!

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Positives: Cordarrelle, Matt Cassel, Anthony Barr, Thelien, McKinnon, entire first team defense/offense, PLAYCALLING


Negatives: Penalties, ENTIRE back-up offensive line, Christian Ponder, Jeff Locke (Christ, he was just awful), Allen Reisner.

Overall, this was a pretty sloppy game. It was kind of boring - but hey, it was football. I was glad to see how our team may look this season. There are a lot of games left to go yet this preseason. I am hoping for the best! Skol.

[Eli]

Negatives: ENTIRE back-up offensive line

It's real tough to play behind an entire backup offensive line. You have to realize that during the season the Vikings will only carry 8 or 9 offensive lineman. Which means that at least one or two of the guys forming the "second string" OL won't even make the team. With other positions, like DL and LB, that's not the case; those "second string" guys will be the rotational players or first-line backups. That side, I am a little worried about who would be the first backup at OT.

[Reignman]

The defense was awesome...but consider the team we were playing lol

Hey consider some of the teams that put up 30+ against us in the Frazier era that weren't capable of putting up 17 vs any other defense in the league xD. Anyway you slice it, Zims D looks much faster and far less passive. I nearly forgot what coverage and batted down passes looked like, and we had quite a bit tonight.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

It's real tough to play behind an entire backup offensive line. You have to realize that during the season the Vikings will only carry 8 or 9 offensive lineman. Which means that at least one or two of the guys forming the "second string" OL won't even make the team. With other positions, like DL and LB, that's not the case; those "second string" guys will be the rotational players or first-line backups. That side, I am a little worried about who would be the first backup at OT.

While true, none of the back-ups looked good. I know it is a new system and just the first preseason game, but damn. Their performance tonight definitely was not a ringing endorsement should Matt Kalil, Charlie Johnson, John Sullivan, Brandon Fusco, or Phil Loadholt went down.

Oh, and while we are on the topic, how in the hell does Kevin Murphy still have a job? Murphy was just dreadful last preseason and I can see he has made ZERO improvement since last year. I really hope he doesn't even get close to sniffing the roster.

[Demi]

No depth anywhere.

Thanks Spielman.

[Eli]

While true, none of the back-ups looked good. I know it is a new system and just the first preseason game, but damn. Their performance tonight definitely was not a ringing endorsement should Matt Kalil, Charlie Johnson, John Sullivan, Brandon Fusco, or Phil Loadholt went down.

Again... there's a HUGE difference between plugging in someone like Jeff Baca as a backup in between Matt Kalil and Johns Sullivan and having him play on an offensive line between guys like Kevin Murphy and Joe Berger.

I thought Yankey looked fast and amazingly nimble when pulling. It's probably same the reason he fell in the draft - questions about his pass blocking skills, that were apparent tonight.

Oh, and while we are on the topic, how in the hell does Kevin Murphy still have a job? Murphy was just dreadful last preseason and I can see he has made ZERO improvement since last year. I really hope he doesn't even get close to sniffing the roster.

Murphy has spent the past couple of seasons on the practice squad. If he has any eligibility left, maybe he'll end up there again, or maybe he'll just be cut for good. I think the only hope the Vikings have for a decent backup at OT is Antonio Richardson. Let's all cross our fingers that he becomes the steal of the undrafted free agents this year.

[joe h]

Four things I took away. Bridgewater isn't up to speed, takes too long, and if he keeps turning his back and dropping ten yards, his career will be short.

Ponder wants nothing to do with team, please just cut him and get some one that wants to be here.

Locke is by far the worst punter in Viking history, to the point heads should be rolling.

If Cassel is injured or is yanked for poor performance, the season is over.