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[purplefaithful]

Arrow UpKicker Greg Joseph: A couple days after officially winning the kicking competition with undrafted rookie Jack Podlesny, who was released last week, Greg Joseph remained a perfect 7-for-7 this preseason by drilling all four kicks against the Titans. Joseph is likely building back some confidence inside TCO Performance Center while remaining spotless with a 54-yard field goal in the Seahawks' outdoor home to hitting from 26, 33 and 45 yards away against the Titans inside U.S. Bank Stadium. "The way I view every competition: It's me vs. me," Joseph said last week after the team cut Podlesny.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Day: Day is quick off the snap. He lit up the second quarter with a strong series, effectively stalling a Titans drive that started with a 19-yard throw to tight end Chig Okonkwo. First, Day beat the down block from Titans center Corey Levin and poked the ball out of quarterback Malik Willis' right hand almost immediately after a play-action fake. That led to a loss off 11 yards. When the Titans managed to get back to a fourth-and-1 play, Day drew a holding call on Titans guard Justin Murray that negated a first-down run and forced a Titans punt.
Tight end Nick Muse: Muse, the former seventh-round pick, is showing his connection with backup quarterback Nick Mullens, who has found Muse for six catches, 56 yards and a touchdown over two preseason games. He followed up his leaping 4-yard touchdown grab in Seattle with the first catch Saturday: an 18-yard catch and run after blocking and releasing into the flat. Muse just needs to set a pick more subtly; he was flagged for offensive pass interference after hitting a Titans linebacker while on a crossing route, which set up receiver Trishton Jackson for an 18-yard catch that was called back. "I'm a big fan of Muse," Mullens said. "Great personality on and off the field. Underratedly talented. We have a good chemistry going, and hopefully we'll keep it up".
https://www.startribune.com/sports/minnesota-vikings/

[Guest]

And, not so up...
Tackle Oli Udoh: Udoh is likely on the 53-man roster. His contract — known as a four-year qualifying player benefit — is a collectively bargained way for teams to re-sign players who have been with the same team for four seasons and get some salary cap help. The Vikings agreed to guarantee $2.6 million to Udoh, but he only counts about $1.2 million in cap charges. That turns back into $2.6 million in cap if he's cut. Maybe they're thinking about it after Udoh was flagged twice and allowed sacks on back-to-back plays against the Titans. Either way, the team should be looking for another reserve tackle option.
Running back DeWayne McBride: McBride isn't factoring in the Vikings' running back competition, and he just had kick return duties taken away after his first and only attempts in Seattle. Running back Aaron Dykes, who signed just two days before Saturday's game, handled all five kickoff returns, looking solid by taking the opening kickoff back 38 yards. McBride's six carries for 18 yards ended with a 1-yard touchdown run. "He's finishing — physical, downhill," O'Connell said. "Now the reads aren't always perfect. 
Tackling in the secondary: Where's the run support? If defensive coordinator Brian Flores is going to play as many defensive backs in nickel and dime subpackages as he's shown in camp, then he'll probably want the reserves to be more trustworthy as tacklers. Safety Lewis Cine missed Titans running back Tyjae Spears on a 33-yard touchdown. Cornerback Joejuan Williams was locked onto his receiver, and missed Titans running back Julius Chestnut exploding for a 55-yard run after Williams' guy took out safety Jay Ward to clear a running lane. Cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. missed Spears on a third-down run, giving up the first down. 
 https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-takeaways-preseason-loss-tennessee-titans/600298446/

[Guest]

The Vikings will have two more days of joint practices this week against the Cardinals, before a preseason finale next Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium. 
O'Connell said the Vikings' starters will see even more work in the two practices with Arizona than they did against Tennessee last week, all but ensuring they won't play a game together until Sept. 10 against the Buccaneers.
The Vikings' backups, then, will get another chance to improve upon an effort that was sometimes flat on Saturday night.

[Guest]

Sheldon Day is interesting to me...  with what he's shown in preseason, he'd be some nice depth to have along the DL.

[Guest]

I really liked the way McBride looked, not sure why he has not gotten a lot opportunities, I think he is more than capable of holding down the #3 RB.  I also thought the TE Sims looked really good.  

[Guest]

McBride is just a guy....or even less than that. He's a step slow in the realtime of NFL play. Again, how anyone can tell who 'looks' good in the 2nd half of these garbage NFL preseason games is beyond me. 

[Guest]

is an NHL player metric.

[Guest]

McBride was a tough physical runner in college, but I didn't see any special burst.  He reminds me of Trey Sermon from a couple drafts ago... 

[Guest]

@Wetlander said:
Sheldon Day is interesting to me...  with what he's shown in preseason, he'd be some nice depth to have along the DL.

I'd like to be excited about Day, but the Vikings are his 5th team. He always seems to make rosters, but doesn't end up sticking. I think his performance against the Titans is more about the fact that he just has way more experience than the guys he was facing.

He could make the 53 though. He plays a position that might be the weakest on the team. 

[Guest]

@Wetlander said:
McBride was a tough physical runner in college, but I didn't see any special burst.  He reminds me of Trey Sermon from a couple drafts ago... 

I think McBride may not be especially well suited for a zone team. He doesn't appear to have that one-cut burst. He broke a lot of long runs in college, but I don't think he's particularly good in traffic. The difference in how he runs compared to what we're used to--Dalvin, Mattison, Chandler--is remarkable. Doesn't mean he can't play, but he'll need some time...or a power team.