Vikings: Things to keep an eye on in Baltimore

By Jonathan Mohr  |   Friday, August 15, 2008  |  Comments( 4 )

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The Seattle Seahawks took the opening kickoff of their Aug. 8 game in Minnesota and needed only seven plays to move the ball 76 yards and punch it into the end zone against the Vikings' first-team defense. Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck completed 4 of 5 passes on the drive for 52 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown toss early in the first quarter.

The Seahawks would finish the game, which they won 34-17, with 24 completions on 31 attempts, four passing touchdowns and no interceptions. So what conclusions can Vikings fans draw about their team’s chances this season from those numbers? Absolutely none; after all, it was just the first preseason game.

But the way Seattle was able to move the ball through the air was certainly reminiscent of the way Minnesota's defense has been carved up by opposing quarterbacks with dismal regularity the last few years. Any team with a competent passing attack has been able to shred the Vikings' defense, and until Minnesota puts an end to that, talk of playoff runs and conference titles is pointless.

With Vikings head coach Brad Childress now saying his starters will play the first two quarters of the team's second preseason game this weekend in Baltimore, Minnesota will be looking to tighten up its coverage and put more pressure on the Ravens' quarterbacks.

Here are three other things to keep an eye on when Minnesota takes the field for its second preseason game:

Tarvaris Jackson

If the Vikings' starting quarterback can turn into a capable leader and consistent playmaker, the team could do some damage in 2008. If not, the Vikings will be up and down all year long. Jackson had a good game against Seattle, hitting on 8 of 11 tries for 118 yards and a score. He made smart decisions and used his feet to stay alive but kept his eyes downfield and threw first instead of taking off. It will be interesting to see if that’s become a habit or was just a onetime tease.

Coaches and players alike say Jackson seems more comfortable and more confident at this year’s training camp, and if he takes another step forward against Baltimore, Vikings fans may begin to share that confidence.

Injuries

The Vikings lost special teams ace Heath Farwell and backup defensive end Jayme Mitchell for the season (ACL tears) against Seattle. And even before the midpoint of the preseason has been reached, the Vikings are already beginning to find themselves thin at a couple of positions.

Mitchell’s loss is particularly significant because the player he was going to back up, Ray Edwards, has had back problems this offseason and Brian Robison, who showed promise last year as a rookie, is expected to miss a couple more weeks thanks to a surgery that removed two blood clots from his leg. Add the loss of former starter Kenechi Udeze, who’s out for the year while he battles leukemia, and the Vikings can’t afford to see another end go down.

Safety is also area of concern. One of the Vikings' prize free agent acquisitions, Madieu Williams, could be out up to six weeks with a neck injury and Minnesota is hoping rookie Tyrell Johnson, who is nursing an abdominal strain, can fill in during Williams’ absence.

And left tackle may also become a problem. Reports are beginning to surface that starter Bryant McKinnie may have to serve a four-game suspension to start the season for his altercation with a Miami Beach bouncer a few months ago. Former starting right guard Artis Hicks might be asked to step in if McKinnie has to sit out, but the Vikings have reportedly also liked what they’ve seen from rookie Drew Radovich in camp. However, the former USC tackle dislocated his shoulder against Seattle and is out indefinitely.

If the Vikings can leave Baltimore as healthy as when they arrived, that might do as much to help them succeed this year as anything else that happens in preseason game No. 2.

No. 81

Can Visanthe Shiancoe actually play? All indications up to this point are that Shiancoe, who has had problems catching the ball, can't. When he does haul in a pass, he has difficulty holding onto the ball (witness his first-quarter fumble against Seattle).

This is a make-or-break year for Minnesota’s starting tight end. Jermaine Wiggins (whom Shiancoe essentially replaced) was no Steve Jordan, but at least he made a positive contribution once in a while. Whenever Shiancoe has made his presence known during his career with the Vikings, it’s usually because an opportunity has been missed or something negative has happened. For $18 million, he needs to start becoming an asset, and quit being a liability.

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About Jonathan Mohr

A lifelong Vikings fan, I live in the Twin Cities area (about a mile from Winter Park) and work as an editor at a boating magazine. As with all long-suffering Vikings fans, I patiently look forward to the day when Minnesota finally breaks through and wins a Super Bowl. Until then I eat my...
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