The Big Stuff to Monitor in Vikings 2nd Preseason Game
The Minnesota Vikings undertake Preseason Game No. 2 on Saturday night, hosting the Tennessee Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The purple team lost 24-13 last week to the Seattle Seahawks after jumping out to a 10-0 lead at Lumen Field.
The Big Stuff to Monitor in Vikings 2nd Preseason Game
The Vikings second-teamers played reasonably well at Seattle before the third-teamers performed ineptly and squandered the lead. Thankfully for the Vikings sake, winning or losing preseason games really doesn’t matter.
For the next game, though, these are the four big items to monitor on Saturday night.
1. Will Jaren Hall Do More than Throw the Ball Out of Bounds?
The Vikings third-string offensive line did this rookie quarterback no favors last Thursday night, enabling Hall to show off his wheels in wiggling out of the pocket.
The only problem was Hall would escape pressure and heave the ball out of bounds — repeatedly. It’s fine and dandy — preferred, even — that Hall can dance away from would-be sackers, but eventually, he must turn such plays into positive gains.
Because of Minnesota’s offensive trenches, Hall’s preseason debut was largely forgettable, but he can rebound against the Titans. Once again, he should play about half the game.
2. Does the Ivan Pace Jr. Train Continue?
Pace Jr. kept his hype train choo-chooing at Seattle, proving his outstanding training camp theatrics extended to a quasi-meaningful game. He did not have a problem with ‘the speed of the NFL’ and, in fact, looked quite productive against the Seahawks second unit.
The young defender’s emergence is among the Vikings top storylines this summer, and Pace Jr. can maintain the momentum at U.S. Bank Stadium this weekend.
3. Jordan Addison, in General
Addison absolutely dazzled fans last week — with an out-of-bounds catch.
That was the ruling on the field, anyway, negating this reception had head coach Kevin O’Connell challenged the call.
Now, Vikings fans want more of this, perhaps in a ‘legal’ capacity. Addison eyes a WR2 job for 2023, and it’s still a mighty task to topple K.J. Osborn for the gig. But the early returns on Addison, especially in Seattle, are more than promising.
4. Can Andrew Booth Rebound?
Booth was burned by a man named Jake Bobo in the first preseason game, and naturally, folks were unenthused by the transaction. This Clemson alumnus found his way to the Vikings via Round 2 of the draft last year. Before too long — so, like, now — he must emerge as a defensive contributor.
It won’t get any easier than exhibition showings against WR3s, WR4s, WR5s, WR6s, and WR7s from the Seahawks, Titans, and Cardinals.
The time is now for Booth.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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