Texans vs Vikings

[purplefaithful]

Brosmer is QB3 guy this season - not more
Not sure how comfortable I am with QB2 at this point
Zavier Scott was the surprise of the game - looking forward to seeing more
WR depth is a concern starting the season as is returner
Sounds like TJH is dealing with a hip flexor

[pattersaur]

Like I said before-- We looked solid.

The team looked prepared to play, like they were taking it seriously, and some players flashed. All you can hope for really, aside from clean health.

The secondary getting carved up early by Davis Mills didn't help my already shaky opinion of that unit much. That aside I'm happy with how the team looked overall.

I don't put any stock into what "twitter" thinks so I haven't read any fan takes other than the ones on this board. But I saw a good football team.

[JR44]

Secondary is even a bigger of a concern after watching this game, guys like Blackmon, McGlothern and Zauughn who was hoping to see flash didn't impress at all. Last year the pickups of Gilmore and Griffin, while they were both past their prime, they both had the veteran experience to help solidify the position. We do not have that kind of experience this year. I don't get the hype on Rogers who has been a 4/5 CB, how is he suddenly a #2? Okudah definitely looks the part, really need the light to go on there. And while we are paying Murphy as a #1, think many forget he has been a liability in coverage often. At safety think it was a huge mistake letting Bynum go. The secondary was was a weak spot last year and the guys filling in for Bynum, Gilmore and Griffin are not as good. Want to feel optimistic in preseason, but do not understand how we have managed the personnel for this group.

[MAD GAINZ]

We had most of our starting offense in for one series, but we held out a lot of key guys on defense. Not sure you can draw any conclusions on our secondary.

One encouraging thing is our backups did what our starting defense did last year and that's rush the passer and generate turnovers. Love seeing that!

[supafreak84]

The only thing you want to see out of a preseason game is no significant injuries and your young players to flash. Score doesn't matter and you can't take much away from any particular unit that's not playing any starters. While I was surprised to not see the Vikings add another corner, Okuduh looks promising. I saw Donovan Jackson got put on his ass and almost into McCarthy lap on a play during that first drive in a "welcome to the NFL" moment. My only other real takeaway was Brosmer is getting closer to being QB3 and Tai Felton looked a little smaller out there than I expected.

[purplefaithful]

The only thing you want to see out of a preseason game is no significant injuries and your young players to flash. Score doesn't matter and you can't take much away from any particular unit that's not playing any starters. While I was surprised to not see the Vikings add another corner, Okuduh looks promising. I saw Donovan Jackson got put on his ass and almost into McCarthy lap on a play during that first drive in a "welcome to the NFL" moment. My only other real takeaway was Brosmer is getting closer to being QB3 and Tai Felton looked a little smaller out there than I expected.

^^^

BINGO!

[MAD GAINZ]

The only thing you want to see out of a preseason game is no significant injuries and your young players to flash. Score doesn't matter and you can't take much away from any particular unit that's not playing any starters. While I was surprised to not see the Vikings add another corner, Okuduh looks promising. I saw Donovan Jackson got put on his ass and almost into McCarthy lap on a play during that first drive in a "welcome to the NFL" moment. My only other real takeaway was Brosmer is getting closer to being QB3 and Tai Felton looked a little smaller out there than I expected.

Jackson tripped on Kelly's foot on that rep, that stuff happens.

[purplefaithful]

J.J. McCarthy’s day began with tears and ended with smiles. Being back on a football field, healthy again, hearing the national anthem before kickoff caused his emotions to pour out.

“This game is the best game in the world,” he said, “and to be out there with this kind of group and this coaching staff was absolutely terrific.”
McCarthy made his preseason debut Saturday as the Vikings’ starting quarterback exactly one day shy of a full year since he suffered a knee injury that ended his rookie season.

The timing brought reflections about the long road he traveled in his recovery. The joy of completing that comeback was evident on his face after turning into a solid first impression in a 20-10 win over the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“Unbelievable,” he said.

McCarthy’s outing lasted one series in what most likely will be his only appearance in the preseason. The beginning of what the Vikings hope is a long marriage did nothing to dampen excitement for his arrival. McCarthy led the first-team offense, minus a few starters, on a 13-play drive that ended with a field goal.

“There’s just a level of composure and poise to how he ran the show that was exactly what I was looking for,” coach Kevin O’Connell said.

O’Connell loved the circumstances his young pupil faced in a live game setting against a defense other than his own. Training camp practices are designed to expose players to different situations, and McCarthy’s one series provided several situational opportunities.

He faced three third downs, one fourth down and was forced to scramble to elude pressure on a blitz. O’Connell also had to be pleased that the opening drive featured no penalties, sacks or turnovers. The operation looked smooth and organized with his new quarterback at the controls.

“It felt super clean,” McCarthy said.

He finished with four completions in seven attempts for 30 yards, and one rush for 8 yards. Three veteran starters — Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw and Aaron Jones — didn’t suit up, but McCarthy had four-fifths of his offensive line protecting him.

McCarthy’s chemistry with receiver Jordan Addison has been particularly noticeable throughout offseason workouts and training camp, and that continued in the game. They connected on three completions for 33 yards, including an 18-yard gain on a diving grab by Addison.

The outing wasn’t without hiccups. McCarthy missed high on a throw to Lucky Jackson when he rushed his timing. He had a pass batted down at the line. A third-down pass to running back Jordan Mason was high and not completed.

The biggest takeaway was McCarthy’s mobility. His athleticism gives O’Connell a wrinkle to incorporate into play design and play calls.

On fourth-and-4, he felt pressure and ran around the right edge for an 8-yard gain.

Asked earlier this week about his comfort level as a runner, McCarthy replied, “extremely comfortable.”

“I almost wish you didn’t ask that because I would like to keep it on the low,” he said, smiling. “I think that’s a huge part of my game. It’s a weapon in this league, and you kind of have to have it as a quarterback with these edge rushers and the different pressure looks and stuff like that. You’ve got to be able to help [O’Connell] out if a play call isn’t a certain way versus a certain look.”

The trick is knowing when to run and when to hang in the pocket a millisecond longer to give receivers a little more time to get open. That awareness will come with experience.

O’Connell noted that McCarthy can “flat-out go” when he pulls the ball and runs, but there is more nuance to it. O’Connell referenced a play in camp in which McCarthy got fooled by the schematic look presented by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, allowing linebacker Jonathan Greenard to blow up the play by chasing him down at the line.

“Immediately afterwards, I said, ‘What were you thinking there?’” O’Connell said. “And he said, ‘Not the right thing. I should have been up and out right there.’ It’s a great example of what we’re kind of working through this camp, the layers to it. I’m just fired up about him and I, the dynamic we have and how we’re kind of both growing together on a daily basis.”

Saturday was another step in that process, and an important one. McCarthy wiped tears from his eyes as he waited to take the field. He was back doing something he loves.

“I felt like we left today in a great spot,” he said.

Startribune

[Waterboy]

J.J. McCarthy’s day began with tears and ended with smiles. Being back on a football field, healthy again, hearing the national anthem before kickoff caused his emotions to pour out.

“This game is the best game in the world,” he said, “and to be out there with this kind of group and this coaching staff was absolutely terrific.”
McCarthy made his preseason debut Saturday as the Vikings’ starting quarterback exactly one day shy of a full year since he suffered a knee injury that ended his rookie season.

The timing brought reflections about the long road he traveled in his recovery. The joy of completing that comeback was evident on his face after turning into a solid first impression in a 20-10 win over the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“Unbelievable,” he said.

McCarthy’s outing lasted one series in what most likely will be his only appearance in the preseason. The beginning of what the Vikings hope is a long marriage did nothing to dampen excitement for his arrival. McCarthy led the first-team offense, minus a few starters, on a 13-play drive that ended with a field goal.

“There’s just a level of composure and poise to how he ran the show that was exactly what I was looking for,” coach Kevin O’Connell said.

O’Connell loved the circumstances his young pupil faced in a live game setting against a defense other than his own. Training camp practices are designed to expose players to different situations, and McCarthy’s one series provided several situational opportunities.

He faced three third downs, one fourth down and was forced to scramble to elude pressure on a blitz. O’Connell also had to be pleased that the opening drive featured no penalties, sacks or turnovers. The operation looked smooth and organized with his new quarterback at the controls.

“It felt super clean,” McCarthy said.

He finished with four completions in seven attempts for 30 yards, and one rush for 8 yards. Three veteran starters — Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw and Aaron Jones — didn’t suit up, but McCarthy had four-fifths of his offensive line protecting him.

McCarthy’s chemistry with receiver Jordan Addison has been particularly noticeable throughout offseason workouts and training camp, and that continued in the game. They connected on three completions for 33 yards, including an 18-yard gain on a diving grab by Addison.

The outing wasn’t without hiccups. McCarthy missed high on a throw to Lucky Jackson when he rushed his timing. He had a pass batted down at the line. A third-down pass to running back Jordan Mason was high and not completed.

The biggest takeaway was McCarthy’s mobility. His athleticism gives O’Connell a wrinkle to incorporate into play design and play calls.

On fourth-and-4, he felt pressure and ran around the right edge for an 8-yard gain.

Asked earlier this week about his comfort level as a runner, McCarthy replied, “extremely comfortable.”

“I almost wish you didn’t ask that because I would like to keep it on the low,” he said, smiling. “I think that’s a huge part of my game. It’s a weapon in this league, and you kind of have to have it as a quarterback with these edge rushers and the different pressure looks and stuff like that. You’ve got to be able to help [O’Connell] out if a play call isn’t a certain way versus a certain look.”

The trick is knowing when to run and when to hang in the pocket a millisecond longer to give receivers a little more time to get open. That awareness will come with experience.

O’Connell noted that McCarthy can “flat-out go” when he pulls the ball and runs, but there is more nuance to it. O’Connell referenced a play in camp in which McCarthy got fooled by the schematic look presented by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, allowing linebacker Jonathan Greenard to blow up the play by chasing him down at the line.

“Immediately afterwards, I said, ‘What were you thinking there?’” O’Connell said. “And he said, ‘Not the right thing. I should have been up and out right there.’ It’s a great example of what we’re kind of working through this camp, the layers to it. I’m just fired up about him and I, the dynamic we have and how we’re kind of both growing together on a daily basis.”

Saturday was another step in that process, and an important one. McCarthy wiped tears from his eyes as he waited to take the field. He was back doing something he loves.

“I felt like we left today in a great spot,” he said.

Startribune

I’m pretty sure we have a good one.

[supafreak84]

Jackson tripped on Kelly's foot on that rep, that stuff happens.

Gotcha, couldn't really tell with the side by side telecast of the Bills/Giants game. Just saw him get rocked back almost into McCarthys lap