preseason games thread - 2013

[hermes]

8/9: vs. houston 7 pm
8/16: @ buffalo 6 pm
8/25: @ san francisco 7 pm (nbc)
8/29: vs. tennessee 7 pm


discussion of the games can go here

[hermes]

first game tonight, likely one series for ponder (unless he's off or something), no jared allen and most likely no peterson

few other vets probably won't see the field either, chance for younger guys to make a splash

would be cool if patterson had a good start

[hermes]

cordarralle! 50 yard return to start!

[Devilzsidewalk]

I haven't seen helium balloons like Cassell lofts up there in awhile. Makes Brad Johnson's throws look like prime Favre.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I've seen enough, Burton and Patterson are the truth. Cut Simpson.

[hermes]

yeah patterson is having a good game, cassell doing well (prepare for calls for ponder's benching )

with burton playing well, its likely that webb is the one who will be outside looking in instead of simpson right? everything i've heard is that the top 4 wrs are fairly set (jennings, wright, simpson and patterson) and its burton and webb for the last spot

[Twolf16]

Too bad we didn't get to see much out of Wright. Also Ponder still leaves us with so many questions!!

[hermes]

floyd had a good start before getting hurt, anyone know how serious that was?

i like how they focused on the pass this game, didn't run it much or effectively (probably since we know what we're going to have there, and they need to figure things out in the passing game)

seems like they are giving burton all the chances in the world to make this team (ahead of webb) in more as a receiver and was returning punts and kicks - didn't hear how much webb was in the game

and it sounds like blair is going to get a pass from everyone this year if he does have a bit of a slump because everyone will blame it on the holder (who had some good punts) hopefully everything will be fine, nothing looks wrong at the moment

[Worm Guts]

I wouldn't call it likely, but it is possible the Vikings keep both Webb and Burton. It's possible Webb could be the 6th receiver and 3rd QB.

[The J Rocka]

I can't see us getting rid of Webb. Not the best QB but he's a gifted football player in a sense that he's versatile at other positions, has great speed, can catch, jump, etc. I think Frazier will find a place for him on the roster. Has too much talent to just let go.

[Twolf16]

I can't see us getting rid of Webb. Not the best QB but he's a gifted football player in a sense that he's versatile at other positions, has great speed, can catch, jump, etc. I think Frazier will find a place for him on the roster. Has too much talent to just let go.

Very true, he could be kept on roster for 3rd string qb and still be a wide receiver. This saving vikings a spot.

[hermes]

anyone get a chance to see the game friday? any thoughts?

looks like neither ponder or cassel set the world on fire but at least ponder got in like 5 series worth of playing time

blair missed a kick i'm going to try and not be worried about him - people are hopefully over-blowing the new holder thing

sounds like our secondary has looked good so far, which i'm happy about because i was more worried about it then the quarterback spot

[Worm Guts]

I missed the first quarter because I thought the game started at 7, but we really looked brutal in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

[The J Rocka]

Was out of town but saw the highlights. 2nd/3rd string secondary were giving up everything. Ponder was average, which is all I would ask for at this point. Anything more would be ideal.

[Twolf16]

Xavier Rhodes looked good, also Bobby Felder impressed on punt returns. Offense was out of sync and O-line was brutal. Thought Ponder played better than normal under the pressure though. He didnt scramble out as quick as he normally does and actually made a couple of good throws.

[hermes]

didn't see the game, but it sounds like some other concerns are starting to pop up

- offensive line is not playing great, and there seems to be something up with kalil - not good if ponder is going to make any strides forward this year

- d-line depth is getting a little thin as some (minor) injuries are occurring

- secondary concerns - which i have been worried about for a while but josh was getting picked on pretty bad last night

i wonder how much of this adrian's real presence is going to mask if at all, i don't really have a definite gauge for how well this team could be this year. i'd believe anywhere between 4 and 10 wins

[hermes]

i see that felton got suspended for 3 games

not a good run for him lately, arrested, appendectomy, now this

[Twolf16]

Zach Line will probably make the team now. Kalil has been struggling and Ponder actually had some decent stats but the offensive play just doesn't show that. Pass D also looked Horrid.

[Worm Guts]

Can't feel good about how things have gone so far. I'm worried.

[hermes]

first round of cuts, 13 got the axe

WR LaMark Brown, WR Erik Highsmith, OG Tyler Holmes, DE Lawrence Jackson, DE Marquis Jackson, LB Stanford Keglar, DB Greg McCoy, RB Bradley Randle, WR Chris Summers, QB James Vandenberg, C Camden Wentz, RB Jerodis Williams, DB Roderick Williams.