Seattle game observations

Would love to see Hall get some run with the #2's next game instead of the 4th string and practice squad guys. I think it's established that Mullens is the backup. 

I actually thought Cine looked bad last night. Chalking it up to first game back from injury, but he needs to be better and not going backwards when making contact. 

Hopefull Addison and Blackmon are big contributors because we need them both. I thought both looked pretty good in limited action 

@"MaroonBells" said: Andrew Booth Jr. - He looked healthy, so YAY! But he got burned on a route that shouldn't have fooled anyone. Looks more and more like a bust every day. 

I'm just happy Booth didn't get injured putting his luggage in the overhead bins for the flight to Seattle. 

Great to see Evans out there but he took a headshot that was kind of scary but he is going to be one of those that needs to learn to protect himself.

Happy to see Cine out there getting in the mix. Villain and Blackmon were having some good moments. Hall was putrid but part of that is nerves and trying to speed up. Mullens was shaky at times. I like some of the stuff from the defense.

I still think that was a catch by Addison. That Powell dude is tiny but he made some plays.

@"supafreak84" said: Would love to see Hall get some run with the #2's next game instead of the 4th string and practice squad guys. I think it's established that Mullens is the backup. 

I actually thought Cine looked bad last night. Chalking it up to first game back from injury, but he needs to be better and not going backwards when making contact. 

Hopefull Addison and Blackmon are big contributors because we need them both. I thought both looked pretty good in limited action 

Cine pursued well and had a handful of impressive plays (see below). I wouldn't worry about him getting knocked back a couple of times by Zach Charbonett, who's an ultra-physical runner. Cine was in the right place and met him HARD each time with the ball carrier going no further. Getting knocked back is going happen when the other guy outweighs you. If anything, I'd worry about concussions. Cine is probably more fearless than he should be.

Lewis Cine closing speed = elite
pic.twitter.com/7JVfro55PK

— Vikings Central (@VikesCentral) August 11, 2023

@"Vikergirl" said: Great to see Evans out there but he took a headshot that was kind of scary but he is going to be one of those that needs to learn to protect himself.

Happy to see Cine out there getting in the mix. Villain and Blackmon were having some good moments. Hall was putrid but part of that is nerves and trying to speed up. Mullens was shaky at times. I like some of the stuff from the defense.

I still think that was a catch by Addison. That Powell dude is tiny but he made some plays.

That scared me too. He's got to learn to hit hard without using his head. A lot of these guys do. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"supafreak84" said: Would love to see Hall get some run with the #2's next game instead of the 4th string and practice squad guys. I think it's established that Mullens is the backup. 

I actually thought Cine looked bad last night. Chalking it up to first game back from injury, but he needs to be better and not going backwards when making contact. 

Hopefull Addison and Blackmon are big contributors because we need them both. I thought both looked pretty good in limited action 

Cine pursued well and had a handful of impressive plays (see below). I wouldn't worry about him getting knocked back a couple of times by Zach Charbonett, who's an ultra-physical runner. Cine was in the right place and met him HARD each time with the ball carrier going no further. Getting knocked back is going happen when the other guy outweighs you. If anything, I'd worry about concussions. Cine is probably more fearless than he should be.

Lewis Cine closing speed = elite
pic.twitter.com/7JVfro55PK

— Vikings Central (@VikesCentral) August 11, 2023

Many thought Booth was a bad choice when he was drafted. I was upset for trading down and then taking Booth. He did not look good last night.

@"FLVike" said: Many thought Booth was a bad choice when he was drafted. I was upset for trading down and then taking Booth. He did not look good last night.

Ingram, Booth, and Cine all have major question marks and are looking like bad picks by Kwesi. Cine flies around, but he doesn't seem like he is under control. Ingram still looks lost, and Booth hasn't demonstrated any ability that he can be trusted with regular playing time, even if he is healthy. 

I think Cine gets somewhat of a pass because of the injury and the fact it was his first time back on the field. Booth is bad, a total bust it seems. Ingram doesn't appear to be improved and I hope they sign Risner. 

The Vikings neither signed a lineman in free agency nor drafted one. Only signing some camp bodies and undrafted rookies will not improve the starting group, but a current free agent could help. Dalton Risner, the former Denver Broncos guard, visited the Vikings last week, but he somehow was allowed to leave the building without a deal.

Ed Ingram, meanwhile, was the only starter of the offensive line to play in the preseason, and it was a disaster. He didn’t look like a starter, not even against the Seahawks’ backups. Nick Mullens was in trouble a few times because of Ingram, and he only played a couple of drives. PFF attributed Ingram with a horrendous pass-blocking grade of 43.6.
After his catastrophic debut season, Ingram should be on a short leash. He was a second-round pick just a year ago, but his draft status isn’t enough to keep him on the field while he ruins drives for the Vikings. Protecting the pocket-passing quarterback should be the front office’s and coaching staff’s priority instead of trying to look better by forcing a high draft pick to play.

It's just crazy to me how much tinkering we are still doing to the roster to make up for draft misses and letting players go we probably shouldn't have. NKeal Harry, Risner, Kareem Hunt, etc. It's reminiscent of last season where after preseason we realized we had nothing on our defensive line and ŵere making trades and signing street guys like Bullard a week before the season started. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: Great to see Evans out there but he took a headshot that was kind of scary but he is going to be one of those that needs to learn to protect himself.

Happy to see Cine out there getting in the mix. Villain and Blackmon were having some good moments. Hall was putrid but part of that is nerves and trying to speed up. Mullens was shaky at times. I like some of the stuff from the defense.

I still think that was a catch by Addison. That Powell dude is tiny but he made some plays.

That scared me too. He's got to learn to hit hard without using his head. A lot of these guys do. 

@"TBro" said:

@"FLVike" said: Many thought Booth was a bad choice when he was drafted. I was upset for trading down and then taking Booth. He did not look good last night.

Ingram, Booth, and Cine all have major question marks and are looking like bad picks by Kwesi. Cine flies around, but he doesn't seem like he is under control. Ingram still looks lost, and Booth hasn't demonstrated any ability that he can be trusted with regular playing time, even if he is healthy. 

@"kmillard" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: Great to see Evans out there but he took a headshot that was kind of scary but he is going to be one of those that needs to learn to protect himself.

Happy to see Cine out there getting in the mix. Villain and Blackmon were having some good moments. Hall was putrid but part of that is nerves and trying to speed up. Mullens was shaky at times. I like some of the stuff from the defense.

I still think that was a catch by Addison. That Powell dude is tiny but he made some plays.

That scared me too. He's got to learn to hit hard without using his head. A lot of these guys do. 

I know, I was worried about both Cine and Evans on their hits. Hard to believe at this level that they can't lower their heads on a tackle. Fundamental 101 back in the day.

Reagor and Powell looked good. Hopefully one of them can grab the WR#5 spot by the horns (see what I did there) and run with it. 

I was a big proponent of drafting Booth. Thought he'd be an excellent fit as a cover guy. We all knew about the injuries which unfortunately are still creeping up with him, but the dismal play is definitely not what I expected.

@"Mattyman" said:

@"TBro" said:

@"FLVike" said: Many thought Booth was a bad choice when he was drafted. I was upset for trading down and then taking Booth. He did not look good last night.

Ingram, Booth, and Cine all have major question marks and are looking like bad picks by Kwesi. Cine flies around, but he doesn't seem like he is under control. Ingram still looks lost, and Booth hasn't demonstrated any ability that he can be trusted with regular playing time, even if he is healthy. 

It takes 2-3 years to fairly judge a draft, I get it.

But It still pisses me off he traded with Green Bay AND Detroit. 

Cine is going to be a force, watch and see. If Mehki Blackmon turns out to be a player, this secondary is going to be very athletic. Evans, Murphy, Blackmon, Cine and the Hitman....me likey.

@"StickyBun" said: Cine is going to be a force, watch and see. If Mehki Blackmon turns out to be a player, this secondary is going to be very athletic. Evans, Murphy, Blackmon, Cine and the Hitman....me likey.

Cine does things that make you go "wow, that's why he was a #1 draft pick." Then he'll do something that makes you cringe. 

A perfect example of both is on a play around left end in the 3rd quarter. Cine shoots through the traffic like a rocket. Hits the back at the line of scrimmage, but doesn't wrap up. Back gets about 5. 

If he can clean up the head-down tackles, he can be a force in Flores's attacking scheme. 

https://t.co/d01xLiIWhe

Chandler touches and pass pro. 

@"Bullazin" said: https://t.co/d01xLiIWhe

Chandler touches and pass pro. 

I just love the way he runs. Always seems to get the most of what's there. He was the most impressive back in camp last year and he is again this year.

I think there's no question he's RB2, but it wouldn't surprise me too much if he carves out a bigger role than Mattison did last year behind Cook.