Is Week 2 of the Preseason Too Early to Panic?

By Seth Toupal |

Aug 20, 2018

Fresh off the Vikings 14-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, there were plenty of alarm bells ringing on Twitter:

I'M TIRED OF THESE MOTHERF***IN INJURIES ON MY MOTHERF***IN OFFENSIVE LINE

— Eric Thompson (@eric_j_thompson) August 18, 2018

.@Vikings offense needs work. I realize some OL are out and no @dalvincook BUT, there is no rhythm and poor execution all the way around. 3rd preseason game better look better or???? #BaldyBreakdowns

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/AndyCarlsonShow/status/1030901572895694857

Kirk Cousins done for the #Vikings today

His stats on three drives:

3/8
12 yards
1 sack

— Adam Patrick (@adampatrickNFL) August 18, 2018

Here are some of my biggest takeaways from the game:

– The Vikings first team offense did not look good at all. Kirk Cousins had several throws that skipped before getting to his wide receivers, and lacked the poise he showed in his preseason debut. Now whether that was due to lackluster offensive line play, or the Jaguars dominant defensive line, Cousins took a step back and will need to regroup to get the offense back on track for week 3.

– Mike Boone has the inside track on the 3rd running back job in my opinion. Especially after his showing Saturday, rushing 13 times for 91 yards and a touchdown. Roc Thomas has shown plenty in the receiving game. But Boone has been extremely active on the ground all preseason so far.

– After missing a field goal Saturday, Kai Forbath was cut today, and rookie Daniel Carlson, will be the Vikings kicker in 2018-19. Carlson hit both of his field goals in week 1 and did well with kickoffs on Saturday. Forbath didn’t boast the same leg as Carlson, and the Vikings didn’t spend a 5th-round draft pick on him in April, so the missed kick on Saturday sealed his fate.

Kai Forbath appears to have done a bad thing pic.twitter.com/HEbgEZHUPo

— Seth Toupal (@sethtoups) August 18, 2018

MORE INJURIES!!!

“Minnesota had six players leave the game with injuries and not return. Three players were carted off: defensive end Ade Aruna (knee), offensive lineman Cedrick Lang (lower leg) and fullback Johnny Stanton (lower leg).

Cornerback Mackensie Alexander suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter and was listed as questionable to return. Center Josh Andrews injured his ankle at the beginning of the third quarter on an incomplete pass and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. After rookie Jeff Badet caught a 13-yard pass from Kyle Sloter in the fourth quarter, the receiver took a vicious hit to the head that put him in the concussion protocol.”
(Courtney Cronin, via (ESPN)

Alexander appears to have avoided a significant injury, and none of the other injuries occurred to big names, but with a couple of weeks left in the preseason any team hates to lose depth.

– Penalties are going to be out of control. Both teams combined for 20 penalties that totaled 200 yards. The Vikings were one of the least penalized teams in the NFL last year, so seeing them commit 7 penalties on Saturday was very odd. As the NFL continues to tweak its rules changes, there have been plenty of examples of why this new tackling protocol is garbage.

Everyone will have to get used to plays like this now being penalties. It sounds like Zim is getting close to being adjusted.

This was a roughing the passer penalty, multiple angles pic.twitter.com/NpwUkcF3cx

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) August 18, 2018

Zimmer on the late roughing the passer call on Williams: "After I calmed down and looked at it, his head was to the side…if he'd just rolled. But he kinda pumped him into the turf. So, I think that was a good call."

— Chris Long (@ChrisLongKSTP) August 18, 2018

Mike Hughes continues to show progress and poise. He was given ample playing time Saturday and he responded in a big way. Hughes is looking more and more like another 1st round homerun by Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer.

Not many positives today for the #Vikings, but I thought Mike Hughes looked phenomenal. They used him at outside and nickel CB. His technique and hips are so advanced for a rookie. pic.twitter.com/GYr6vQrju6

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) August 18, 2018

There’s still plenty of time to get things shored up before the start of the regular season, but what a difference from week 1 to week 2. Hopefully week 3 is more of the good we saw in week 1.

Seth Toupal @SethToups
Minnesota Sports Fan