Panic Report: Preseason Week Three
After an abysmal offensive performance against Jacksonville in their second preseason game and a noticeable step backwards in the kicking game during the Seattle contest, the Vikings are full of things to panic about. Now that the “dress rehearsal” is over and the starters figure to be sitting out the final preseason game, let’s focus on the things that could really derail the regular season.
The Offensive Coordinator
To be perfectly honest, I hadn’t thought much about naked bootlegs before Defilippo got here. I don’t remember Pat Shurmer running very many of them and I was more concerned with the sieve-like O-line holding up for seven step drops during Norv Turner’s time at the helm of the offense. I am very aware of naked bootlegs now, as every one the Vikings run seems to result in Kirk Cousins staring at a humongous, unblocked DE. When the offensive coordinator is admitting that he called a bad game, as Defilippo did after the Jacksonville game, how could you not be concerned?
The Bleeping Kicker.
Daniel Carlson “won” the kicking competition against Kai Forbath and then went out and missed two very makable field goals in his first game as the unquestioned kicker. Wide left, no less. Not ideal. Mike Zimmer told the media after the game that the reason the Vikings went for two after their first TD was to send a message to Carlson. Definitely not ideal and not exactly a ringing endorsement from the head coach, there. It would not shock me if the Vikings wind up with a different kicker before the end of the season. The only question that still needs to be answered is, if these misses continue, how many games will the Vikings lose before they cut bait on Carlson?
The Offensive line
The group that has been starting for most of the preseason has done an admiral job given the circumstances. However, it’s hard to believe that any combination of those players would be able to hold up to the cream of the NFL defensive crop. The Vikings best offensive linemen are in the training room or just leaving it. Pat Elflein should be back by the start of the regular season but what combination of players will be starting around him? The regular season is two weeks away and the Vikings aren’t sure who will be starting at three, possibly four of the five offensive line spots.