09-18-2024, 04:12 PM
3 problems the Vikings need to fix before their Week 3 game vs. the Texans
By Clay Vasquez | 12:40 PM CDT
1. Ball Security
This may sound like a broken record, but the Vikings have trouble holding onto the ball. In Week 1, Sam Darnold's interception was forgiven due to him being hit as he threw the ball, but his interception in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers was not as forgivable.
Darnold threw the ball right to 49ers star linebacker Fred Warner, ending a promising drive for Minnesota and preventing the Vikings from putting more points on the board.
Against San Francisco, Vikings running back Aaron Jones also fumbled the football on the goal line after the offense executed a screen pass to perfection, once again eliminating a scoring opportunity for Minnesota and keeping the 49ers in the game.
At the very least, if the Vikings had kicked field goals on both of those drives, their tight 23-17 victory in Week 2 would become a more comfortable 29-17 win.
Minnesota looked like the better team this past Sunday, but their costly turnovers kept a dangerous San Francisco squad in the game for too long.
2. Penalties
Once again, this may sound like a broken record from the week before, but the Vikings need to cut down on its penalties.
Minnesota racked up seven penalties in Week 2 for 53 yards, giving too many free yards to its opponent. The Vikings also had seven penalties in Week 1 for 63 yards, so this is not a trend the team can sustain if they want to continue winning.
Even though Minnesota was able to come out on top in Week 2, the 49ers only had four penalties for 30 yards, with that 23-yard difference in penalty yardage between the two teams being a pretty decent gap. It didn't come back to hurt the Vikings in the end, but they cannot give the opposing team free yards like that.
While this may be a nitpicky thing that Minnesota needs to fix, one cannot argue that it's always a helpful idea to cut down on penalties.
3. TE Help
This last point is being nitpicky for sure, but the Vikings need to get some tight-end help. Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver serve their purpose, but neither of them add much of anything when it comes to the passing game.
Minnesota star tight end T.J. Hockenson will return at some point this season, but it's still clear that the Vikings need to either ask more of Mundt and Oliver as receivers or look externally for additional tight end pass-catching help.
The free agent tight end market is very scarce, as the top available player is arguably Logan Thomas, a former member of the Washington Commanders.
Thomas was able to put up nearly 500 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, which are middling numbers at best. But Minnesota doesn't need a dominant tight end right now, just someone who can help move the chains.
Even when Hockenson returns, it would still be ideal to have a reliable pass-catching tight end who can give Hockenson a breather as he ramps up his workload after his ACL recovery.
Mundt and Oliver have been fine, but the lack of pass-catching from the two leaves a lot of opportunity on the table, especially with wide receivers Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson also being banged up heading into Week 3.
(Footnote: Nick Muse is now on IR w/broken bone in hand)
By Clay Vasquez | 12:40 PM CDT
1. Ball Security
This may sound like a broken record, but the Vikings have trouble holding onto the ball. In Week 1, Sam Darnold's interception was forgiven due to him being hit as he threw the ball, but his interception in Week 2 against the San Francisco 49ers was not as forgivable.
Darnold threw the ball right to 49ers star linebacker Fred Warner, ending a promising drive for Minnesota and preventing the Vikings from putting more points on the board.
Against San Francisco, Vikings running back Aaron Jones also fumbled the football on the goal line after the offense executed a screen pass to perfection, once again eliminating a scoring opportunity for Minnesota and keeping the 49ers in the game.
At the very least, if the Vikings had kicked field goals on both of those drives, their tight 23-17 victory in Week 2 would become a more comfortable 29-17 win.
Minnesota looked like the better team this past Sunday, but their costly turnovers kept a dangerous San Francisco squad in the game for too long.
2. Penalties
Once again, this may sound like a broken record from the week before, but the Vikings need to cut down on its penalties.
Minnesota racked up seven penalties in Week 2 for 53 yards, giving too many free yards to its opponent. The Vikings also had seven penalties in Week 1 for 63 yards, so this is not a trend the team can sustain if they want to continue winning.
Even though Minnesota was able to come out on top in Week 2, the 49ers only had four penalties for 30 yards, with that 23-yard difference in penalty yardage between the two teams being a pretty decent gap. It didn't come back to hurt the Vikings in the end, but they cannot give the opposing team free yards like that.
While this may be a nitpicky thing that Minnesota needs to fix, one cannot argue that it's always a helpful idea to cut down on penalties.
3. TE Help
This last point is being nitpicky for sure, but the Vikings need to get some tight-end help. Johnny Mundt and Josh Oliver serve their purpose, but neither of them add much of anything when it comes to the passing game.
Minnesota star tight end T.J. Hockenson will return at some point this season, but it's still clear that the Vikings need to either ask more of Mundt and Oliver as receivers or look externally for additional tight end pass-catching help.
The free agent tight end market is very scarce, as the top available player is arguably Logan Thomas, a former member of the Washington Commanders.
Thomas was able to put up nearly 500 yards and four touchdowns in 2023, which are middling numbers at best. But Minnesota doesn't need a dominant tight end right now, just someone who can help move the chains.
Even when Hockenson returns, it would still be ideal to have a reliable pass-catching tight end who can give Hockenson a breather as he ramps up his workload after his ACL recovery.
Mundt and Oliver have been fine, but the lack of pass-catching from the two leaves a lot of opportunity on the table, especially with wide receivers Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson also being banged up heading into Week 3.
(Footnote: Nick Muse is now on IR w/broken bone in hand)
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