Game Grades

[football24/7]

First pre-season game grades:

Offense: 1st Unit ( c- ) Okay running at times, but not much except for Emmit on a couple of runs. Pass protection was weak, and Josh held the ball to long, and NO wr's created separation.

2nd Unit ( C- ) Too many sacks, ran the ball just as well, All QB's were running for thier lives. Wylie has some serious work to do with this entire group. Shelton was burned a couple of times. Not good for getting out of the doghouse.


Defense: 1st Unit: ( B ) Run defense was very good, so was pass defense most of the time , with the exception of Starks gaff. The one glaring hole: NO PRESSURE WHAT SO EVER ON THE QB.

2nd Unit ( C ) Gave up big runs, some of the defensive players were biting on fakes or mis-direction, and not staying home first. Poor tackling at times. NO PRESSURE ON THE QB once again.

Special Teams: ( B) Scobey looked good, and the punt returns were already better than last year. Rackers needs to get it together. He should have only missed the long one.

Notable players/Groups The Good: Scobey, Smith, Macklin, Harris
The Bad: Several O-lineman, take your pick
The Ugly: Entir O-line for the most part, lots of work to do here.

Overall, ( C-) I expected better from all areas. Are the Vikings that much better, or is this the case of the first game rust. I fully expect Green to chew some serious ass this next week. We were physically beaten on both sides of the ball for the most part. My main concerns were the O-line , and pass rush. It still remains the O-line, followed closely by the pass rush. Wr's need to get open better. If the old adage is true that you'll see 50% improvement from the first week to the second, I sure hope so.

 

[Evil Ash]

Defense: 1st Unit: ( B ) Run defense was very good, so was pass defense most of the time , with the exception of Starks gaff. The one glaring hole: NO PRESSURE WHAT SO EVER ON THE QB.

I'll say something about this. The refs let both teams get away with lots and lots of holding.

The majority of sacks/pressure that came from both teams were on either the QB for holding on to the ball too long or blitzing.

I counted at least 20 times both sides could and should have been called for holding but they only called it one time the entire game

 

[arthurracoon]

I dont think we can blame the QB's for the problems...the OL gave them NO time to thorw the ball, at least in the parts I watched.

 

[Espo]

Ok the O-line gave King plenty of time to throw. A few times he just didn't get rid of the ball in time. I think the whole team would get a grade of a D for this performance with Navarre being the biggest plus in the game.

 

[azdad1978]

I dont think we can blame the QB's for the problems...the OL gave them NO time to thorw the ball, at least in the parts I watched.

Its a combination of things arthur. He wasn't going thru his progression either with his WR. His legs can give him more time but it will also hinder his progress unless he sits in the pocket and step up before he runs.

 

[jstadvl]

I thought the

O line did very well, high point of the offense.
The stutter or count down blitz is something the QB has to see coming because no one is in the backfield to pick up the blitzing player. They shoot a gap once the O linemen take their men. The Qb has got to throw the ball away.
At first the O line showed some jitters, but as time went on, The QB's had plenty of time to make decisions.

 

[Shane]

someone please tell me how this run D was good

 

[RON_IN_OC]

I'll say something about this. The refs let both teams get away with lots and lots of holding.

The majority of sacks/pressure that came from both teams were on either the QB for holding on to the ball too long or blitzing.

I counted at least 20 times both sides could and should have been called for holding but they only called it one time the entire game

Maybe the refs are so concerned with downfield penalties (cb's on wr's) now, that they're not taking a good look at the line and some of those penalties are being ignored. I haven't had a chance to watch any other preseason games to compare...Anyone else got anything?

 

[Brevity]

First pre-season game grades:

Offense: 1st Unit ( c- ) Okay running at times, but not much except for Emmit on a couple of runs. Pass protection was weak, and Josh held the ball to long, and NO wr's created separation.

2nd Unit ( C- ) Too many sacks, ran the ball just as well, All QB's were running for thier lives. Wylie has some serious work to do with this entire group. Shelton was burned a couple of times. Not good for getting out of the doghouse.


Defense: 1st Unit: ( B ) Run defense was very good, so was pass defense most of the time , with the exception of Starks gaff. The one glaring hole: NO PRESSURE WHAT SO EVER ON THE QB.

2nd Unit ( C ) Gave up big runs, some of the defensive players were biting on fakes or mis-direction, and not staying home first. Poor tackling at times. NO PRESSURE ON THE QB once again.

Special Teams: ( B) Scobey looked good, and the punt returns were already better than last year. Rackers needs to get it together. He should have only missed the long one.

Notable players/Groups The Good: Scobey, Smith, Macklin, Harris
The Bad: Several O-lineman, take your pick
The Ugly: Entir O-line for the most part, lots of work to do here.

Overall, ( C-) I expected better from all areas. Are the Vikings that much better, or is this the case of the first game rust. I fully expect Green to chew some serious ass this next week. We were physically beaten on both sides of the ball for the most part. My main concerns were the O-line , and pass rush. It still remains the O-line, followed closely by the pass rush. Wr's need to get open better. If the old adage is true that you'll see 50% improvement from the first week to the second, I sure hope so.

I think these grades are, overall, a tad too generous.

I agree with your "Good, Bad, and Ugly", however, I would add the D-line to the ugly. Absolutely no pressure on the QB.

NFL games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Last night we did not control either side of the ball. Until we do this in a consistant manner the losses will pile up.

 

[conraddobler]

I think these grades are, overall, a tad too generous.

I agree with your "Good, Bad, and Ugly", however, I would add the D-line to the ugly. Absolutely no pressure on the QB.

NFL games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage. Last night we did not control either side of the ball. Until we do this in a consistant manner the losses will pile up.

I agree with that 100%.

It's going to take drafts to fix this. I said a couple because there are so many holes to fill and that is just stupid with all the drafts we spent on this. We have no warriors and the ones we do KVB are just too slow and too injured.

 

[TXCardinalsFan]

The Texas Take

Well, what I saw was a team that was going to contend for the NFC title and one that is still just a shell of a team. How in the world can we compare the two right now? The Vikings are much better on paper and on the field. I don't care how good a coach is suppose to be, when you face a team that has the possiblity of going to the Superbowl and you have no weapons, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the results. Hopefully things will improve after Green saw what he is working with, but we can all agree that Minnesota is just a plain good team.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Well, what I saw was a team that was going to contend for the NFC title and one that is still just a shell of a team. How in the world can we compare the two right now? The Vikings are much better on paper and on the field. I don't care how good a coach is suppose to be, when you face a team that has the possiblity of going to the Superbowl and you have no weapons, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the results. Hopefully things will improve after Green saw what he is working with, but we can all agree that Minnesota is just a plain good team.

I agree that we didn't look that good.

That said, wedrilled the cowboys last year in preseason, and the they spanked us in the regular season rematch.

You cant get a good take off of preseason. Thats the bottom line.

 

[TXCardinalsFan]

Couldn't agree with you more Crimson Warrior.......About the cowbell I mean. Come on, I'm feeling that there just isn't enough cowbell. Oh, and that we shouldn't judge the season based on preseason.

 

[Brevity]

Well, what I saw was a team that was going to contend for the NFC title and one that is still just a shell of a team. How in the world can we compare the two right now?

I compare the two because we beat this team last year to deny them a playoff berth and because Green said we would be a playoff contender this year.

Look, I really want them to succeed. The problem is all I have to judge the team on, so far, is the first game of the preseason. Gotta call it like I see it.

 

[TXCardinalsFan]

I can agree somewhat with that Brevity. But this is preseason where we play all different players to see what they can do. In a regular season game, we ceratinly would not be benching starters to allow second, thrid, or fourth string players play. That is why it is difficult to judge how a team will do in preseason. In fact, I saw a stat during the game that showed four teams with a 4 - 0 preseason record last year. All teams but one was a contender....And you know that last one was us. So, how can we look at this preseason game like we would the last game of last season? I would love to see us come out and open a can whenever we hit the field, but with the majority of our first string injuried, how could we abuse the Vikings?? Just some thoughts.

 

[Evil Ash]

someone please tell me how this run D was good

The Vikes running offense did absolutely nothing until our 3rd stringers were out there.

 

[Brevity]

I can agree somewhat with that Brevity. But this is preseason where we play all different players to see what they can do. In a regular season game, we ceratinly would not be benching starters to allow second, thrid, or fourth string players play. That is why it is difficult to judge how a team will do in preseason. In fact, I saw a stat during the game that showed four teams with a 4 - 0 preseason record last year. All teams but one was a contender....And you know that last one was us. So, how can we look at this preseason game like we would the last game of last season? I would love to see us come out and open a can whenever we hit the field, but with the majority of our first string injuried, how could we abuse the Vikings?? Just some thoughts.

Agreed, but I want them to show me something different at some point. Show me some sort of pass rush. Show me a running game that sputters to life sometimes.

I promise I'll back off until the regular season begins. Deep down I'm a "kool-aider".