mickey shuler

3 Things I’ll Be Looking For In Tonight’s Game Against the Chargers

Analysis

by Brett Anderson - Aug 24, 2012

In their first preseason game, the Vikings looked just okay as they traveled to San Francisco to play the 49ers. Last week, in their second preseason game, the Vikings looked much, much improved. You know what? I’ll just say it: The Vikings looked great against the Bills at home. This week, the Vikings will get another chance to show that they are an improved unit when they host the Chargers tonight at Mall of America Field.

As it is the third preseason game, the starters will likely play an entire half. (And maybe even a drive into the second half.) We should get a really good idea of what our team could look like come the first regular season game September 9th. With that being said, I just found out this morning that neither Phillip Rivers or Antonio Gates will be starting for the Chargers so our defense will be working against backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst.

So, as we head into the game tonight, here are some things I’ll be specifically looking for. Don’t forget to check back here sometime after the game for my notes and analysis.

Can Christian Ponder keep it up?

I know this probably seems like a cop-out. And I know you’re probably tired of hearing us talk about on VT about how this year is about Ponder. Blah, blah, blah… But really, Ponder had a great game last week. It was very, very impressive in my opinion. And since tonight’s game will be the preseason game that is most like a regular game, I’ll be watching him closely again. Almost as a confirmation that what we saw last week wasn’t some sort of fluke or something. The poise he showed in the pocket. The decisions he made. The way he went through his reads and directed hot routes at the line. Those are all things that I want to see again tonight through the first half.

I’ll also be watching to see how he does with Jerome Simpson being on the field less. Leslie Frazier said earlier this week in a press conference that the Vikings were going to start throttling his involvement because of his three game suspension at the beginning of the regular season. All indications at this point are that Ponder and Simpson seem to have a pretty good connection and have done well together. It will be interesting to see what happens when Simpson is absent and another wide receiver (Aromashodu?) needs to step up.

Audie Cole and Jarius Wright

Kind of two different stores with these guys so far, huh? On one hand, you have Audie Cole who has been very splashy so far in preseason. Last week he had two interceptions returned for touchdowns (within 17 seconds of one another). The prior week he had a sack against the 49ers. Jarius Wright, on the other hand, has been incredibly quiet. He hasn’t had a single reception and has only returned one punt for decent yardage.

I’ll be looking for Audie Cole to show more this week. While I doubt he’ll get much playing time in the first half, if he can come out in the second half and make some big plays again, I think it is a lock that he will make the roster.

Jarius Wright just needs to show some sign of life if he is going to make this team. I was high on the Wright pick in this year’s draft and I’m really hoping he turns out to be a weapon for this team. Hopefully, in the second half of tonight’s game he can come down with a few grabs and/or show some of that speed on a punt return.

Who will be RB3?

There are a lot of names in the basket for the third running back spot on the roster. The Vikings Age pointed out that Rick Spielman has said he would prefer the third running back to be a running back/full back hybrid. While you would think Lex Hilliard would fill that role quite nicely, he hasn’t really shown anything in the preseason to solidify his place. Matt Asiata, on the other hand, looked really good last week against the Bills (as I mentioned in last week’s notes and analysis). If he can come out and have another really good game, I definitely think he deserves consideration for the role.

Other quick notes

There is a battle going on at the tight end position. With John Carlson out with an injury, other guys like Allen Reisner, Mickey Shuler and rookie Rhett Ellison have been stepping up. One of them will probably end up getting cut in the next couple of weeks, though. Who will it be?
Is Erin Henderson really being pushed by Marvin Mitchell for the Will spot? I’ll be watching these two tonight.
Chris Carr will get to start in place of Chris Cook who is out with concussion concerns. Carr has looked pretty bad so far in preseason. Can he improve tonight as a starter?
Who will get the nod at backup quarterback tonight? Joe Webb has looked ghastly in preseason so far. Does he get another shot tonight or does the team decide to give veteran Sage Rosenfels a shot for the QB2 position?

Todman And King Inactive

General News

by Adam Warwas - Jan 1, 2012

We had some hopes of getting a look at the rookie running backs on the Vikings roster as of this week, but alas, Jordan Todman and Caleb King are both inactive. Also inactive is tight end Mickey Shuler who re-joined the Vikings roster recently.

Cornerback Chris Cook, linebacker Xavier Adibi, tackle DeMarcus Love, and defensive end D’Aundrae Reed round out the Vikings inactives for today.

Please make sure to join us for a live chat of today’s game.

Reisner Is Back… Again

Transaction

by Adam Warwas - Dec 28, 2011

The tight end merry-go-round is continuing in Minnesota.

After being cut in favor of Mickey Shuler, Allen Reisner has landed back on the practice squad.

The Vikings have Visanthe Shiancoe, Jim Kleinsasser and Kyle Rudolph at the top of their depth chart but both Shiancoe and Kleinsasser are possibly going to play their last game as Vikings this Sunday.

Reisner and Shuler are doubtless being evaluated to see if they will work their way into the team’s long term plans at the position.

Caleb King And Mickey Shuler Activated

Transaction

by Adam Warwas - Dec 26, 2011

The Vikings have hopes that Adrian Peterson will recover from surgery repairing his ACL and MCL injury in time for week one of the 2012 season.

That seemingly lofty goal may or may not be reached, and it will be the topic of conversation all offseason, but in the meantime Peterson’s season officially ended Monday when the Vikings placed him on the injured reserve.

To replace Peterson, the Vikings activated Caleb King from the practice squad, and if he makes the field next week he could be interesting to watch. The Georgia running back is listed at 5’ 11” and 212 pounds.

King was a highly touted prospect after declaring for the NFL’s supplemental Draft this past offseason. At Georgia, he was expected to be the heir to Knowshon Moreno but ended up breaking his jaw, missing substantial time, and leaving for the NFL earlier than expected. It was expected that he would be selected in the supplemental Draft, but no teams put in a bid, and the Vikings ended up signing him as an undrafted free agent prior to this season.

In the preseason finale against Houston, King rushed 19 times for the Vikings and gained 62 yards (3.3 yard average) and scored two touchdowns. I personally have the feeling King will be a solid NFL running back, and he may be able to stick to the active roster and help the Vikings cope with Peterson’s potential absence for part of the 2012 season.

According to the NFL’s transaction report, the team also continued to shuffle the fourth tight end spot on the roster by cutting Allen Reisner and activating Mickey Shuler from the practice squad. Both players have spent time on both the Vikings practice squad and active roster, but neither has been able to move up the depth chart.