Vikings vs. Texans Analysis

Vikings running back Jordan Todman
made the coaching staff's decision
tougher as roster cuts loom.

The Minnesota Vikings came up just short in a thrilling game vs. the Houston Texans. We saw many positives and several players emerged as possible players who could make an impact on this roster. Despite a stellar attempt by quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson to lead the team on 99 yard game winning drive, the Vikings missed out on an opportunity. This resulted in a Vikings 28-24 loss to the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. McLeod Bethel-Thompson looked impressive finishing with 193 yards and a touchdown, while adding an interception, as the defensive back made an excellent play on the ball.

Joe Webb struggled once again as the Vikings starting quarterback, passing for just 47 yards. This brings the big question of whether or not the Vikings cut or trade Joe Webb to make room for McLeod Bethel-Thompson on the active 53 man-roster. I think the odds are about 50% at this point, but I wouldn't be suprised to see the Vikings release Webb so they can continue the development of Bethel-Thompson who has bundles of potential.

Jordan Todman looked extremely impressive, which makes the decision of who will be the third running back much tougher. Todman rushed for a 76 yard touchdown, breaking a few tackles, why busting down the sidelines on his way to the endzone. He had great statistics, rushing for 114 yards, while adding 21 yards through the air. Matt Asiata executed while he was in the game, rushing for 43 yards on seven carries, which was a decent performance. General Manager Rick Spielman was in the booth during the 3rd quarter with play-by-play announcer Paul Allen and he made the strong indication that the Vikings may keep four running backs, while eliminating the full back spot due to Rhett Ellison's flexibility at the position. I hope that this happens because with Todman's speed and passing catching abilities, he can make an impact as a 3rd down running back.

Jarius Wright looked excellent hauling in 122 yards through the air with a 59-yard touchdown. He was great at getting open and ran stellar routes. He was injured in the third quarter, as someone rolled on his ankle. He should be fine, but his status will be worth watching when the injury report is released. Devin Aromashodu looked impressive adding 89 yards, including a 58 yard touchdown. He proved he will be the starting split end while Jerome Simpson serves his suspension.

Robert Blanton looked great at the safety position and displayed his ability to be effective in run support, along as within the passing game. I still believe with more work, he will be a starter when the season rolls along. Audie Cole looked impressive and was very effective in making plays at the line of scrimmage. He made several tackles for loss while adding 6 tackles to the defense. He makes this roster and will make an impact on special teams this season.

Several players lost their roster spots based on their performance this evening. Eric Frampton showcased some poor tackling, sparking an early long run by Justin Forsett. Larry Dean also was quite ineffective at the linebacker position, as he missed several tackles which led to big plays. He makes an impact on special teams, but doesn't have the ability to fill-in at linebacker. Tyrone McKenzie is the Vikings leading tackler on defense and special teams during the preseason and will fill Larry Dean's spot. Manny Arceneaux dropped several balls and missed out on several opportunites. He most likely lost his job to a wide receiver like Stephen Burton, who was very effective in tonight's contest.

Overall several players solidified their spot on the roster, while several may have lost their chance to make the 53-man roster. It was a very energizing game to watch and I was very impressed with the way the backups battled for their spot on the roster. We will keep you posted all day tomorrow as roster cuts most be made by 8 p.m.

Vikings vs. Texans: Five Aspects to Watch

Can Jarius Wright make
and impact on this roster as
a punt returner?

Today on Vikings Corner, we will give you five aspects to watch in tonight's game vs. the Houston Texans. The Vikings and Texans are resting their starters to prevent injuries going into regular season play. That poses the question, what do we watch for in tonight's ball game?

McLeod Bethel-Thompson is scheduled to play in the second half of tonight's action and will be battling for a potential spot on the Vikings roster. The only way Bethel-Thompson is a member of the Vikings is if he is placed on the active 53-man roster. If he is placed on the practice squad he will be immediatley swiped by another NFL team. Bethel-Thompson will have to prove he can make an impact to merit the Vikings potentially releasing Sage Rosenfels or even Joe Webb.

Robert Blanton is a player I will keep an eye on in tonight's contest. Blanton is making his first NFL start and will receive his first time as an NFL starter. I would love to see Blanton develop into a starter in this league. His coverage skills and his ability to be effective in run support, make him a viable option to be effective. Blanton missed most of training camp with a hamstring injury and with some time in practice and in games like tonight, he will begin to develop.

Who will emerge as the linebackers on the roster? I will be watching to see if Tyrone McKenzie continues his consistency as roster cuts loom. As discussed in the Top 10 Players Battling for a Roster Spot vs. Houston, Tyrone McKenzie will need to battle for his spot on the Vikings roster, as will special teams ace Larry Dean. It all depends on whether the Vikings choose position depth or special teams value. If I was making the decision I would choose position depth due to the low position numbers already attributed to the linebacker spot. McKenzie deserves a spot on the roster, but will be in an all out battle for the final linebacker spot.

Jordan Todman is hanging off a cliff and is very close to falling off. Todman, Lex Hilliard, and Matt Asiata will all see extended time as the battle for the third running back spot continues. Asiata wins this job if the decision was made before the game, based alone on his perfomance vs. San Diego. Todman and Hilliard both will have to be extremely impressive for this opinion to change. I like Todman's abilities and feel like he is a carbon copy of former Vikings running back Chester Taylor. His pass catching ability is great for a running back in this league. I just feel like Matt Asiata has been more consistent and deserves a spot on the roster. If you haven't read this great article by 1500 ESPN's Tom Pelissero yet, you will be pushing for Matt Asiata to make this roster.

Who will win the job as the final punt and kick returners. This job was primarily slated to Marcus Sherels, but that doesn't seem like as much of a lock anymore. The Vikings are untilizing cornerback Reggie Jones as a returner along with wide receiver Jarius Wright. Wright looked impressive in the last preseason game vs. San Diego, but has had his moments as a returner during training camp. Marcus Sherels injured his ankle and will miss tonight's game, which comes at a bad time for a player battling for a roster spot.

Overall, these five aspects will be key talking points going into roster cuts tomorrow. We will keep you posted with information leading up to roster cuts, which will begin early tomorrow afternoon.

Top 10 Players Battling for a Roster Spot vs. Houston

Can McLeod Bethel Thompson
sneak his way on the practice squad, or
will the Vikings attempt to place him
on the active 53-man roster?

Today on Vikings Corner we will analyze ten players who need to prove their place on this roster, by elevating their play in the preseason finale vs. Houston.

1. McLeod Bethel-Thompson: Bethel-Thompson displayed his strong arm throughout training camp and in the first preseason game vs. San Francisco, but can Bethel-Thompson be a viable backup in this league? That is a question that remains to be answered as we must further evaluate his performance during tomorrow's game vs. Houston. He must show that he is worth a potential roster spot or practice squad position. He will receive extended time, as he will play the entire second half.

2. Jordan Todman: With the hamstring injury Todman battled early in the season, can he squeak his way onto the roster? It depends on the Vikings plans and whether or not they are keeping three or four running backs. With the current steam floating through Winter Park, I would lean towards three running backs and a fullback on the roster. In this case, Matt Asiata likely wins the third running back job, which is unfortunate due to Todman's abilities on the field. The only way this opinion changes, is if Todman puts on a performance in tomorrow night's game.

3. Manny Arceneaux: Arceneaux will need to put on a show to make the Vikings 53-man roster. He hasn't seen an extended amount of time in the preseason, but executed when he received the opportunity vs. Buffalo. Coach Frazier stated in his latest press conference that Arceneaux, Devin Aromashodu, and Jarius Wright will all get extended "looks" on Thursday. Frazier also explained he hopes one of these four receivers will separate themselves from the pack. I would love to see Arceneaux make this roster based on his play-making ability he displayed in the CFL.

4. Allen Reisner: Resiner was impressive through the air in the last preseason game, hauling in 47 yards on four catches in the contest. Reisner could make this roster based on the time John Carlson has missed with the MCL sprain over the past three weeks. The Vikings need an insurance option just in case Carlson has trouble with the knee. The need of Reisner could diminish if the Vikings feel Carlson is fully healthy, or if another player steps up at a different position.

5. Chris DeGeare: DeGeare has been a major disappointment to the organization and many felt that with a season on the practice squad, he would develop into a decent backup guard. This definitely isn't the case, as DeGeare has a big hill to climb and he is at the bottom looking up. DeMarcus Love would have to be terrible in tomorrow's night's contest for DeGeare to have a shot to make this roster. DeGeare just hasn't looked impressive in practices and was terrible in several practices at training camp. He was very out of shape and was slow, which is something you can't have at the offensive line position.

6. Tyrone McKenzie: Many feel Tyrone McKenzie won't make the roster because of Larry Dean's presence on special teams. I don't believe this is the case because McKenzie has the ability to play backup to a potentially injured starter. Dean doesn't have the flexibility to fill-in at linebacker, which gives McKenzie the nod. McKenzie has experience in this league and has shown he is a strength in games and at practice. His ball skills and tackling are excellent for a backup in this league.

7. Reggie Jones: Jones is a cornerback that has impressed over his time at training camp. I was very impressed with his ball skills and his overall coverage abilities. He is most likely a long shot to make this roster, but will be someone to keep in eye in tomorrow night's action. Primarily due to Coach Frazier expressing interest in Jones fielding kicks and punts tomorrow evening. I don't foresee Jones making this roster solely as specialist on punts and kicks. If this is the case, Marcus Sherels will make this roster, which is sounding like more and more of a long shot.

8. Bobby Felder: Felder was one of the more surprising players at Vikings training camp this year. His speed, ball skills, and his excellent tackling are very impressive. We haven't seen Felder over an extended period of time in game situations. He did make a slight special teams impact in the first preseason game, by downing a punt inside the twenty and recording a nice tackle in space. He is a player that will have to make a major impact vs. Houston, to have a shot to make the 53-man roster, which is currently a long shot. Look for Felder to make the practice squad, as he would be a great developmental cornerback for the future.

9. Robert Blanton: Blanton has missed most of training camp and all of the preseason with a naging hamstring injury. Tomorrow night he will be making his Vikings debut as a starting safety. The Vikings drafted Blanton in the fifth round and have high hopes for him to become a starter in this league. Blanton has most likely solidified a roster spot, but will need to show the Vikings he has potential to develop. He has been highly tauted for his balls skills and his ability to make plays at Notre Dame. Now we will see if these tangibles carry over from college to the NFL.

10. Eric Frampton: Frampton has been a special teams ace for the Vikings and has been very effective over the last five seasons. Frampton is due $850,000 this season and will be very difficult to release, but will most likely get cut for a player like Robert Blanton. Frampton has done great in his time with the Vikings, but I believe it is time to head in a younger direction. Frampton has always been one of the friendliest Vikings and it definitely will be difficult to lose his presence on the team.

Overall, these ten players will have the battle of their lives, as their NFL career could hinge on one performance. They have the opportunity to live the American dream and play in the National Football League. All they needed was one opportunity and the chance is tomorrow evening vs. Houston.

Top 4 Areas that Must be Fixed Before the Regular Season

Look for Vikings safety Robert
Blanton to make an impact
during the regular season.

Today on Vikings Corner we will anaylze the aspects the Vikings have to fix before opening the season vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Obviously a key part of the Vikings success this season will hinge on Christian Ponder's performance. Ponder must improve his decision making and his poise in the pocket, both of which have been issues during the preseason. He must be open to all options instead on zoning in on one receiver when going through progressions. This was a major tendency last season and led to sacks and interceptions. These issues can be the difference between a win and a loss and must be resolved before regular season play begins.

The Vikings main issue going into the season is the uncertainty surrounding the split end wide receiver position. With Jerome Simpson suspended for the first three games, the Vikings need someone to step up into his role. In the first three preseason games, none of the receivers have emerged as potential suitors for this position. This will become interesting as Leslie Frazier indicated Devin Aromashodu, Manny Arceneaux, Stephen Burton, and Jarius Wright all will see extended action in Thursday's game and that he hopes for someone to seperate themselves from the pack. The door is extremely open, as no receiver on the Vikings roster has more than three receptions during the preseason.

Will the safety position show the same consistency as in the past two preseason games? I'm not so sure and wouldn't be suprised to see Robert Blanton in the mix by the end of the season. Blanton has been battling a hamstring injury since the middle of training camp and hasn't had an extended period of time to become aclitmated to the league. He will get a strong look in the Thursday's game vs. the Texans, by starting and playing the whole game. Rookie Harrison Smith has shown he is ready for his role as a starter and I feel like with work, he can be a nice compliment to Smith in the backside of the defense.

Who will emerge as the starting nickel cornerback this season? Many have become concerned with Chris Carr's less than stellar performance in the preseason and are wondering if he is the answer to the equation. Look for Carr to begin the regular season as a starter, but only for a few weeks until Josh Robinson is fully recovered from his concussion, which may be sooner rather than later. Robinson's speed, athleticism, and his ability to make tackles, defeats Chris Carr's mediocre performance. Carr is a decent backup option and is a huge help to cornerback depth, which has been weak over the past few seasons.

Overall, the Vikings have four areas in which they must improve upon before the regular season begins on September 9th, but are more prepared than last season. Look for the Vikings to be much improved, as the re-building stage of this organzation has begun and his heading in the right direction.

Player Profile: Blair Walsh

Blair Walsh will help improve
a near league worst average opponent
drive start.

Today on Vikings Corner we will wrap up the player profile series by taking a look at Viking's rookie kicker Blair Walsh.

Blair Walsh was drafted by the Vikings in the sixth round from the University of Georgia. Before beginning his career with the Georgia Bulldogs, he played football at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Boca Raton, Florida. Walsh was named a USA Today All-USA first-team selection and received a four-star prospect as the nation’s best kicker, according to Scout.com. Rivals.com expressed Walsh as having the fourth-strongest leg in the prep football. In addition, ESPN.com rated him fifth among the nation’s kicking specialists.

Furthermore, Walsh was selected to The Class AAA Florida Sports Writers Association All-State second-team selection in 2007 and was named to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel All-County first-team. After his continued success, he was invited to play in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Walsh made 14 out of 20 field goals, including two from 59 yards and 30 out of 31 extra points as a senior. He also averaged 69 yards per kick-off during his final high school season.

After completion of his high school career, he committed to Georgia and immediately became their placekicker. He continued his successful pattern by going 20-for-22 on field goal attempts and 42-for-42 on PATs. In addition, he kicked the ball 75 times for 4,790 yards (63.9 avg.) with 17 touchbacks on kickoffs. Immediately you could see Walsh's big leg would bring him success after his years in Athens, Georgia.

He continued his success in his sophmore and junior seasons, nearly replicating his statistics from his freshman season. Walsh began to struggle along with a dismal Georgia offense in his senior season. His accuracy dropped to 21-of-35 on FGs and 46-of-46 on PATs.

Many NFL teams questioned why Walsh wasn't as efficent in 2011, but the Vikings had no concerns. Special teams coach Mike Priefer believed the issue was mechanical and could be fixed quickly. From an analysis standpoint, we have to remember the amount of drives, where the Bulldogs offense stalled near the 45 or 50 yard-line, which left Walsh attempting extremely long field goals. Walsh also brings a nice element in the kickoff category, with his excellent leg. The Vikings average kickoff yardage was about 64.8 yards last season. With the average opponent drive start ranking 31st in the league, this can only be a major improvement this season.

The only question mark is whether or not Walsh can make field goals on a consistent basis. Will he miss a 37-yard field goal during a regular season game much like he did in Friday night's game vs. San Diego? This can't happen and won't happen with Walsh's focus he displayed, combated with his ability to kick in practice. In addition, Walsh hasn't had an ample amount of time to gain continuity with Chris Kluwe and Cullen Loeffler. Establishing a comfortable relationship with snapper, holder, and kicker, is key to successful operation. He only will improve as he gains experience and continuity with those he works with.

In training camp, he drilled six field goals from 71+ yards, and attempted from 80 yards, but hit the crossbar. Of course the wind was at his back, but it still shows he has the ability to make kicks in a practice setting. A game situation is different than a practice situation, but it certainly is a positive sign going into regular season play.

Overall, I love the addition of Blair Walsh to the Vikings roster. When I met Blair at Vikings training camp he had a great personality and seemed focused on being successful. I believe Blair Walsh will be a positive acquisition to a team that is looking for players to step up and make an impact.

Vikings Corner 53-Man Roster Cuts Projection: Podcast 6

In this podcast segment, we will take a look at the Vikings difficult roster decisions this week.

Projecting the Vikings 53-Man Roster



Today we show you our projected list of
Vikings cuts, as the roster is
shaped to 53 players.

Today on Vikings Corner we will give you a projection of the Vikings 53-man roster.

Quarterbacks: Christian Ponder, Joe Webb, Sage Rosenfels (3)

The Steam: The Vikings have the best group of quarterbacks they have had in a long time. Ponder is being groomed into our franchise quarterback, Webb brings an athletic presence, and Rosenfels is a great mentor to Christian Ponder. McLeod Bethel-Thompson looks like he is a perfect developmental quarterback and the organization could try to slide him onto the practice squad.

Running Backs/Fullbacks: Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart, Matt Asiata, Jordan Todman (4)

The Steam: Many question whether or not the Vikings are really serious about Matt Asiata being the 3rd down running back. Based on the last preseason game, you have to believe that Vikings are serious about Asiata. Throughout training camp, Lex Hilliard was the projected 3rd down running back, but with the recent performance, Asiata showed it is tough to fathom the Vikings aren't going to keep him on the roster. In addition, Asiata received the bulk of the carries over Hilliard on Friday, which shows the coaching staff isn't completely confident in Hilliard. It is also too early to write off running back Jordan Todman, who has missed the majority of training camp and the preseason with an ankle injury. He saw his first action on Friday and made a nice grab out of the backfield. Don't be by surprised by Jerome Felton being cut because the Vikings already have Rhett Ellison's H-Back ability. We can't forget that Asiata also has had some experience at fullback, which is another positive Asiata brings to the roster. In this instance the Vikings would be able to keep 4 running backs. Ultimately, this position group will be decided over the next week of practices.

Tight Ends: Kyle Rudolph, John Carlson, Rhett Ellison, Allen Reisner (4)

The Steam: Kyle Rudolph and John Carlson will be the prime duo for the regular season, but Carlson will potentially need more time to recover from the MCL sprain. That poses the need for the Vikings to keep Allen Reisner on the roster. He likely beats out Mickey Shuler because he is a bigger threat in the passing game. In addition, Rhett Ellison will be playing H-Back and brings a passing threat along with him. Look for the tight ends to be a strength of this roster.

Wide Receivers: Percy Harvin, Michael Jenkins, Jarius Wright, Manny Arceneaux, Devin Aromashodu (5)

The Steam: With Jerome Simpson suspended for the first three games, the Vikings may keep 5 receivers and look to release one after Simpson returns. A player like Manny Arceneaux will need to show the coaching staff he can make an impact while Simpson is suspended. I keep coming back to Coach Stewart calling Arceneaux the most improved player he has ever coached. I don't see how a player can be released after showing improvement like he did. This means the Vikings will release Stephen Burton, but many people have different opinions on Burton. I never have been impressed with Burton from the start. He was had injury issues his whole career and was practically non-exsistent in the San Diego game, only making one catch. Burton isn't a player that I would trust in a big spot, due to his inability to hold onto the football. Devin Aromashodu is a lock on this roster because of his experience as a veteran in this league. Look for Aromashodu and Arceneaux to have an elevated role while Jerome Simpson is suspended.

Offensive Line: Matt Kalil, Charlie Johnson, John Sullivan, Brandon Fusco, Phil Loadholt, Geoff Schwartz, Joe Berger, DeMarcus Love, Pat Brown (9)

The Steam: The main part of the Minnesota Moving Company will be solid and will protect Christian Ponder way better than last year. When backup offensive lineman are discussed, Geoff Schwartz and Joe Berger will be the utility players who can be versatile. Schwartz has the ability to play tackle and guard, while Berger can play center or guard. I like DeMarcus Love's size and athletic ability and feel like he makes the roster, despite the pectoral injury he suffered in the early stages of training camp. Pat Brown was utilized with the first team in a six man offensive front. With this formation, protection is better and it puts the offensive line in total control. You make ask why I excluded Vikings 2010 fifth round draft pick Chris DeGeare off the roster. I feel like he hasn't been a positive to the coaching staff and after evaluating him in training camp, he was getting beat almost every other snap. I don't forsee him making the roster, unless DeMarcus Love has a poor performance in his debut on Thursday vs. the Texans.

Defensive Line: Jared Allen, Kevin Williams, Letroy Guion, Brian Robison, Everson Griffen, Christian Ballard, Fred Evans, D'Aundre Reed, Trevor Guyton (9)

The Steam: When you take a look at the listed group of players, you see the true talent we have in this position group. Jared Allen leading the league in sacks, Kevin Williams presence in the middle, Letroy Guion's run stuffing ability (when he returns), and Brian Robison's improved pass rushing skills, round out the starting four. Everson Griffen will be swapped into the middle on passing situations and can get to the quarterback. 2011 draft pick Christian Ballard has improved and is viable backup to the defensive tackles. Fred Evans is a veteran of the group and recorded a nice sack in the game vs. the Chargers on Friday. He will be the man to replace Letroy Guion if he isn't full recovered from his PCL injury. D'Aundre Reed will be a solid option to backup Brian Robison and Jared Allen and Trevor Guyton rounds out the group as a security blanket, while Guion remains injured.

Linebackers: Chad Greenway, Jasper Brinkley, Erin Henderson, Marvin Mitchell, Tyrone McKenzie, Audie Cole (6)

The Steam: The linebacker position may be more solidified than we first thought. The top four players include Chad Greenway, Jasper Brinkley, Erin Henderson and Marvin Mitchell, all players who have experience and can make an impact. Many fantasize over Larry Dean being such a great special teams player. Yes, he was during his first season, but we have a better option in Tyrone McKenzie. McKenzie can play special teams, but has the flexibility and experience to replace an injured starter. Audie Cole has shown flashes in all the Vikings preseason games and has proven his readiness to play in this league.

Cornerbacks: Antoine Winfield, Chris Cook, Josh Robinson, Chris Carr, Marcus Sherels, Zack Bowman (6)

The Steam: The cornerback position is going to bare some tough decisions for the Vikings. Again the top four cornerbacks are set in stone, but the last two available spots are up for grabs. 2011 draft pick Brandon Burton was hoped to be groomed into a full time starter for the Vikings, but he didn't pan out. Marcus Sherels has the ability to return kicks and is a decent option in coverage, so Sherels' versatility most likely defeats Burton's roster spot. Then comes the decision between Reggie Jones, Bobby Felder, and Zack Bowman for the last available cornerback spot. Zack Bowman has to win this job because of his experience, but look for Felder and Jones to be practice squad options.

Safety: Harrison Smith, Mistral Raymond, Jamarca Sanford, Robert Blanton (4)

The Steam: The safety position is much stronger than in years past. Harrison Smith brings great physicality and Mistral Raymond has improved in run support. Jamarca Sanford brings an excellent presence on special teams and will likely replace special teams ace Eric Frampton. Frampton is due $850,000, which is a disadvantage because he would be due that money upon release, but the Vikings invested a draft pick on Robert Blanton and won't release him for a special teams ace. Andrew Sendejo has been impressive on special teams, but won't make the roster because we have so much depth at this position. Look for for the Vikings to keep a safety on the practice squad for insurance during the season.

Specialists: Blair Walsh, Chris Kluwe, Cullen Loeffler (3)

The Steam: This position group is the only spot where everyone is secure. Walsh has shown his big leg, Kluwe has shown his ability at punting balls inside the twenty, and Loeffler is a veteran who knows how to play at long-snapper.

So here is the projected list of players who will be released by Friday at 8 p.m:

* Denotes projected spot on practice squad

DT- Chase Baker
QB- McLeod Bethel-Thompson*
CB- Brandon Burton
WR- Stephen Burton
DE- Jeff Charleston
FB- Ryan D'Imperio
LB- Larry Dean
G- Chris DeGeare
CB- Bobby Felder*
FB- Jerome Felton
S- Eric Frampton
RB- Lex Hilliard
G- Tyler Holmes*
CB-Reggie Jones*
OT- Kevin Murphy*
LB- Corey Paredes
G- Austin Pasztor
DE- Nick Reed
C- Quentin Saulsberry*
S- Andrew Sendejo*
TE- Mickey Shuler

 

Stay tuned for more information on roster cuts and practices this week!

Vikings Release 15 Players to Reach 75 Man Limit

Bryan Walters rounds out
the first round of Vikings
roster cuts.

The Vikings have officially announced the release of the following players to reach the Monday 75-man deadline.

WR Bryan Walters, WR A.J. Love, WR Kamar Jordan, WR Kerry Taylor, RB Derrick Coleman, OL Levi Horn, OL Bridger Buche, OL Grant Cook, DL Tydreke Powell, DL Anthony Jacobs, DL Ernest Owusu, LB Tyler Nielson, LB Soloman Elimimian, DB Corey Gatewood, and DB Chris Stroud

As an analysis, there are hardly any suprises with this group of players being released. I was slightly suprised that the Vikings decided to part ways with wide receiver Bryan Walters. He was a decent possession receiver and had nice versatility on special teams. This is a business and the Vikings have day to day contact with these players. Most of the time there are underlying reasons for a player being released. In addition, we have too many other wide receivers that have more potential than Walters.

A player that I had very high hopes for was linebacker Solomon Elimimian. He had an excellent career in the CFL and was hoped to be in contention for a roster spot. The Vikings gave him a rather large signing bonus, but a hamstring injury derailed his chances to make the roster. Before the injury, he was slightly successful and recorded an interception in the opening preseason game vs. San Francisco.

Don't be suprised if one of these two players mentioned is placed on the practice squad, which will be set next Saturday. Elmimian must me placed on the practice squad in the next 10 days or his contract reverts back to the CFL. Walters odds of making the practice squad are slim because they normally reserve those spots for players with low NFL experience.

On another note, the Vikings have potentially rounded out the wide receiver group as only 7 players remain, including Jerome Simpson, who won't count against the roster during his suspension. The current wide receiver group includes:

Percy Harvin, Jerome Simpson (suspension 3 games), Michael Jenkins, Devin Aromashodu, Jarius Wright, Stephen Burton, Manny Arceneaux

Another position group that will be worth watching is the cornerbacks, who currently have nine occupants. By Friday that number should be down to six and presumably Bobby Felder and Reggie Jones will be battling for the final cornerback spot.

Overall, this week will be pivotal in the formation of this roster, as the team will be trimmed to 53 players on Friday and the practice squad will be formed on Saturday.

We will keep you posted with the latest information.

Vikings vs. Chargers Analysis



Nick Novak drained a 45 yard field
goal as time expired to defeat the
sloppy Minnesota Vikings
12-10.

The Vikings were looking to improve upon last week's 36-14 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills, but took a step back in the process. The Vikings sloppy performance on Friday night vs. the San Diego Chargers resulted in a 12-10 loss on a last second field goal by Nick Novak.

This was by far one of the worst performances we have seen by quarterback Christian Ponder. Ponder had his shakiest performance in three preseason outings, completing 9 of 16 passes for 115 yards with a bad interception and taking five sacks. Before the interception Ponder was staring down Percy Harvin during the duration of the play. This is something that plagued Ponder during the entire 2011 season. In addition, Ponder held unto the ball too long and was very indecisive. The offensive line gave Ponder great time, he just couldn't make a decision quickly. Both of these attributes are aspects we hoped Ponder would improve upon over the offseason.

The Vikings displayed the concerns they have over the third running back spot, by giving Matt Asiata an extended look. Evidently the Vikings don't have complete confidence in Lex Hilliard or Jordan Todman at this time. Asiata ran for some very tough yardage and recorded 48 yards on 9 carries. He also fumbled on the five yard line during an excellent drive by the first team offense. This is something the Vikings won't be impressed with when they review film over the weekend.

Turnovers were a major issue during last night's game. Lex Hilliard, Derrick Coleman, and Asiata all recorded fumbles and Ponder added an interception. The third running back spot is wide open for someone to emerge as a good option. We saw Jordan Todman's first action of the preseason, which yielded little showing. He did rush for seven yards, but added a nice catch out of the backfield for 11 yards. Todman will most likely get an extended look in Thursday's preseason game vs. Houston.

I found one specific formation the Vikings ran to be very interesting. The Vikings went with six down offensive lineman, by bringing Patrick Brown in the game alongside Phil Loadholt. This play resulted in an 18 yard connection from Ponder to Rudolph. We only saw this formation during one play, but it resulted in a nice connection. I like the formation because it gives the offense a slight power advantage over the defense. I can't wait to see if this formation is used in the redzone during the season.

Jasper Brinkley's performance was just what the Vikings coaching staff has been waiting to see. The middle linebacker had four solo tackles, two sacks and three quarterback hits, resulting in his most productive play of the preseason. We finally saw some tenacity out of Brinkley, which had been missing over the first two games. Hopefully this trend continues into the first regular season game vs. Jacksonville.

The Vikings' starting defense looked impressive allowing only 87 yards and six first downs on 40 plays, but this was primarily versus the Charger's second team offense. Six players, three along the starting offensive line, and quarterback Phillip Rivers didn't see action in the contest. Jared Allen looked impressive, recording two sacks during his game action. He looks as dominate as he was during the 2011 season and is poised for great success in 2012.

Another aspect of the defense that many may not have noticed, was Everson Griffen's presence in the middle of the defense. On passing downs, the Vikings were placing Griffen in the middle. His speed and physical ability helped our pass rush and is something to watch for in the first regular season game. In addition, on running downs the Vikings swapped Griffen and Fred Evans at defense tackle. Griffen's pass rushing ability, combined with Fred Evans run stuffing ability, help keep the defense honest.

Injuries were a major issue in last night's game, which will make roster cuts on Monday very difficult for the coaching staff. The Vikings would like to play reserves on Thursday night vs. Houston, but may not have the personnel to due so without making several waiver claims on Monday. The positive fact is that the Vikings have had no major injuries to starters through the three preseason games they will play in, but the Vikings will have low depth going into the Houston game Thursday.

The injuries began at safety, where Harrison Smith and Jamarca Sanford both started and finished Friday's game because Mistral Raymond (lower back), Andrew Sendejo (ankle), Eric Frampton (groin) and Robert Blanton (hamstring) were unavailable. The Vikings are also short at tight end, where rookie Rhett Ellison was hit hard enough to receive a MRI on his knee and John Carlson still hasn't returned from his sprained MCL. It was nice to see Allen Reisner be effective during Ellison's absence. Resiner hauled in 4 passes for 47 yards and was the Vikings second leading receiver. Resiner has always been effective when he he saw action and is someone that could slide his way on the roster.

The injury bug also hit the cornerbacks where Josh Robinson (concussion) and Marcus Sherels (ankle) may not play against the Texans. This leaves the Vikings with low depth to play the reserves vs. Houston. Look for the Vikings to potentially claim several players, merely for depth during the last preseason game.

As mentioned, Harrison Smith played in the fourth quarter due to injuries, but he made a poor decision that kept the Charger's final drive alive. An unnecessary roughness penalty cost the Vikings the game and will probably burn a slight whole in his paycheck. Charger's receiver Mike Willie was hit very hard in the head area, which is something the league is enforcing more than ever.

In Coach Frazier's post game press conference he wasn't overly impressed either stating, "Yeah, he'll learn from that one, that was preseason, so he'll learn."

Replacement officiating was a key issue in last night's game as Wayne Elliot's crew had a rough night. An interception and a fumble, both very obvious in nature, were reviewed and overturned by the officials. In addition, the referees gave a ten yard infraction for an unnecessary roughness penalty, instead of the 15 yards which is in the rule book. I hope the NFL's resolves this issue so we don't have to watch games lost by the referees.

Overall, the Vikings looked less than stellar and have major work to be done before opening vs. Jacksonville on September 9th. The coaching staff and players will be working tirelessly to fix mistakes before it all becomes real during the regular season.

Vikings vs. Chargers: Five Aspects to Watch



Can safety Mistral Raymond
display the same success he
showed last week vs. the Bills?

Today on Vikings Corner we will analyze five aspects to look for during tonight's preseason game vs. the San Diego Chargers.
The Vikings looked shaky in the first preseason contest, but bounced back nicely last Friday vs. the Bills. Can the Vikings display the same consistency they showed on last Friday night?

Tonight we will see the most extended look at the 1st team offense and defense until the regular season opener vs. Jacksonville. I will be watching to see if the offense can continue to move the ball as well as they did vs. the Bills. The key will be whether or not the Vikings reveal many formations they will use this season. They most likely won't and we most likely won't get an accurate assest of the group until the first regular season game.

Christian Ponder will need to utilize all his targets, as he will be without his biggest threat Jerome Simpson, for the first three games of the regular season. We will need to see if another vertical threat emerges such as Devin Aromashodu or Stephen Burton. Both have shown flashes, but haven't reached the pinnacle of full success.

It will be amusing to see if Mistral Raymond plays at the high level he displayed vs. the Bills. He was deflecting passes and was very instrumental in run support, which are key for the backside of the defense. When Raymond was combined with rookie safety Harrison Smith, it was a major upgrade to our secondary. Raymond and Smith compliment each other well, with Smith bringing physicality combated with Raymond's ability in coverage. Mistral seems more comfortable with Smith alongside him than he ever was when he was paired with Jamarca Sanford. I hope this trend continues and Raymond brings a bright spot to the Vikings secondary.

It will be interesting to watch rookie Josh Robinson when he hits the field with the second team. I love to see his athletic ability and the speed he brings to the secondary. In last week's game he lost a step on a "go" route, but had the speed to catch up and make a deflection. I want to see how he has progressed by being more involved in practices this week. We have to remember the limited amount of practices Robinson participated in before playing in the game last week. Robinson won't start in the place of Chris Cook (concussion), but will make his way into the game, sooner rather than later.

Who will emerge on punt and kick returns in the preseason? We have seen Marcus Sherels, Jarius Wright, Bryan Walters and Josh Robinson used on punt returns, but have mainly witnessed Marcus Sherels or Stephen Burton on kickoffs. With the rumblings coming out of practice, I don't see how Marcus Sherels isn't the main return specialist on punts and kickoffs. He has experience and is reliable in special team situations. With experience, Josh Robinson may be a candidate to return punts later in the season. His 4.3 speed and athleticism fit the skill set for an excellent punt returner. Robinson missed so much of training camp with a hamstring injury, that he needs more time to get adapted to the NFL.

Overall, it will be exciting to see an extended look at the Vikings 1st team offense and defense. This will be the last true test in a game before the 1st regular season game vs. Jacksonville. In addition, it will be the last time for many players to show they deserve a spot on the roster, as the team is cut from 90 to 75 on Monday at 3 p.m.

Player Profile: Manny Arceneaux

Emmaunel Arceneaux hauls in this
pass vs. the Buffalo Bills
last Friday evening vs.
the Bills

Today we will continue the player profile series by profiling wide receiver Manny Arceneaux.

Manny Arceneaux was a member of the Vikings practice squad for 15 weeks of the 2012 season and was activated when injuries plagued the Vikings. Arceneaux was signed by the Vikings in January 2011 after 2 successful seasons in the Canadian Football League with the BC Lions. Manny has seen minimal action on the field during his time with the Vikings organzation, but has been successful this preseason. Arceneaux led the team in receiving yardage in last Friday's game with two receptions for 50 yards, including a 48 yard reception from Sage Rosenfels.

Before his time with the Minnesota Vikings, Arceneaux attended Peabody Magnet High School and lettered in football and track/field. He was an All-District wide receiver and free safety and was an honorable mention placekicker during his senior season.

He was then recruited by Alcorn State University, where he committed to play wide receiver. While at Alcorn State, he was president of the student-athlete advisory committee, while recording 99 career catches for 1,618 and 12 TDs on the football field.

Following his time with the Alcorn State Braves, Arceneaux was signed to the BC Lions of the Canadian Football league and made the Lions' active roster after training camp. Arceneaux had an outstanding debut season, starting at the wide receiver position for all 18 games and recording 63 catches for 858 yards and seven touchdowns. He caught a touchdown pass in each of his first three games and had two 100-yard receiving games during the season. In addition, he came up clutch in the playoffs recording recording 12 catches for 189 yards. In 2010, he continued his success by catching 67 passes for 1,114 yards, and five TDs

Watching him play in the CFL brought the enjoyment of acrobatic plays and catches that amazed opponents and fans. His sheer athleticism and catching ability intrigued eight NFL organizations to host him for a workout. He later was signed on a three year contract with the Minnesota Vikings in January of 2011.

Check out this highlight video of his time in the CFL with the the BC Lions. You will notice his ability to get open in space and his nice hands.

After battling through training camp in 2011, Arceneaux made his way onto the Vikings practice squad, where he worked to improve his game. Arceneaux came into training camp this season with the mission of making the active 53 man roster. Manny has impressed the coaching staff and has been in the hunt for the final wide receiver spot.

Wide receivers coach George Stewart recently stated in an interview with Judd Zulgad, that Manny Arceneaux was one of the most improved players he has ever coached. This is a huge statement coming from Coach Stewart who has one of the best coaching pedigrees in the NFL. Stewart has coached the likes of Terrell Owens, Roddy White, and Jerry Rice throughout his tenure. Coach Stewart is the best wide receivers coach in this league and I trust his insight and perspective.

I would like to see Arceneaux used more over the course of the next few weeks. I love his abilities which include catching and leaping that he displayed while in the CFL. He has an excellent stature, coming in at 6'-2" 211 lbs., which is great size for a wide receiver in this league. In addition to his size he has great speed, which he displayed in his 40 yard dash time that resulted in a 4.44.

Through Arceneaux's athletic ability and the hard work he has put forth to reach the NFL, Arceneaux has the chance to sneak on the 53 man roster. He is absolutely a player to watch over the two remaining preseason games.

Player Profile: Bobby Felder

Bobby Felder continues his
mission to make the
Vikings roster.

Today on Vikings Corner we will continue analyzing under the radar Vikings players. We will analyze Bobby Felder as we continue profiling Vikings players.

Bobby Felder is an undrafted rookie out of Nicholls State and has caught the coaching staff and fans by surprise.

Bobby Felder is a big, physical press cover corner from Nicholls State University. Felder is a very confident football player and a guy that loves to press wide receivers where they don’t want to go. He is a ball-hawk and a play maker with the ball in his hands. These tangibles have made him become noticed by the coaching staff.

Felder was a four year letter winner in football and basketball for the McComb Tigers. On the gridiron he registered 76 tackles his senior season, while intercepting 12 passes in both his junior and senior seasons. On offense he accumulated 1,000 yards rushing, 675 yards receiving and 21 total touchdowns. Scout.com ranked him in the top-25 of high school football players in the state of Mississippi.

Throughout his college career at Nicholls State, he played special teams (punt and kick returns), nickel corner and outside corner. He was a playmaker and made plays when the ball was in his hands. This was an intriguing aspect for the Vikings, who need as many playermakers on the roster as possible.

Felder is a big, physical cornerback who likes to push wide receivers around at the line of scrimmage. Not only does Felder have the the ability to play cornerback, he can make an impact on special teams. We have witnessed his ability as a sharp tackler and his knack for snatching balls inside the twenty over the course of the preseason. The Vikings hope to see continued growth throughout the season in order for him to receive a roster spot. With his impressive training camp and his continued success throughout training camp, he has a great shot to make this roster on special teams.

Felder also has displayed speed, running a 4.5 40 time at the Nicholls State pro day. This was an excellent feat considering the weather conditions yielded winds upwards of 28 mph. In addition, Felder received All-Southland Conference first team as a senior and has proven to be a disruptive cornerback.

The main issue Felder possesses is his 6-1" 200 lbs. stature, which isn't the size of a prototypical NFL cornerback. When we begin to argue the fact that "size matters," we need to take a look at the success Antoine Winfield has displayed as a small cornerback. He is one of the best physical run support cornerbacks in NFL history. In an interview with Scout.com, Felder addressed his size as a cornerback.

"I watch the majority of the corners. I like to watch Darrelle Revis. Everybody watches him because he's a great press corner who can guard any receiver in the NFL. I like to watch smaller corners. I want to be a complete corner," explained Felder.

When I met Bobby Felder at Vikings training camp, he had a very soft-spoken personality off the field. He seemed very focused on the goal of making the 53-man roster. Focus is the key to being successful on the field of play. Without focus, mistakes happen repeatedly which makes the decision very easy when roster cuts begin. Felder seems like he is on the right mental path to the NFL, but he has work ahead of him to continue his excellent performance on the field.

The work ethic he has displayed to reach the NFL, will guide him through this league. It is great to see stories of players who come from small schools and reach the big stage of the NFL. I hope with Felder's hard work and passion, he will continue his success with the Minnesota Vikings. He will certainly be a player to watch when the 53 man roster is finalized on August 31st.

Player Profile: Brandon Fusco

Today on Vikings Corner, we will profile
Vikings guard Brandon Fusco.

This week on Vikings Corner we profile under the radar impact players on the Vikings roster. Today we will analyze Vikings starting right guard Brandon Fusco.
Brandon Fusco was selected in the 6th round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Slippery Rock. Fusco was the highest-drafted player from Slippery Rock in school history and was the first to be invited to Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. Fusco saw time in 3 games during his rookie season and spent the other 13 weeks of his rookie season as an inactive player.

Fusco attended Seneca Valley High School in Harmony, Pennsylvania, where he played offensive tackle. Fusco didn't draw an interest in football until his junior year in high school stating,

"Sophomore year,  I didn’t really do nothing and football just kind of came to my attention. I always watched it on TV and I sometimes got into a ticked off mood so I wanted to get out on the field and take my frustrations out on people."

Despite playing on a team that won just one of eighteen games during his two varsity seasons, Fusco earned All-WPIAL Class AAA-1 and honorable mention Quad North All-Star honors.

Deciding not to play football until his junior season, affected his chances to attend a Division 1 school. Fusco was not heavily recruited out of high school and his 6-4, 240 lbs frame wasn't a friendly tangible. He was only offered a chance to play football at Division II schools, Youngstown State and Slippery Rock and later chose Slippery Rock. Before he arrived at Slippery Rock, he decided to bulk up so size wasn't a major concern. He gained nearly 60 lbs. and touched nearly 300 lbs, which improved his performance.

After enrolling at Slippery Rock in 2006, Fusco spent his freshman season as a red shirt on the scout team, where he played offensive tackle. In 2007, Fusco shifted to center, as his leadership was thought to be better suited for center. As a sophomore, Fusco received All-American honorable mention, All Super Region I and All Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference first-team honors. His performance helped Slippery Rock rank second in the conference with an average of 484 yards per game

Fusco received All-American, All-Region and All-PSAC first-team accolades as a junior. Named the team captain, he also received squad MVP honors. He later continued this trend in his senior season receiving the 2010 Gene Upshaw Award. In addition, Fusco was named team captain and captured All-PSAC honors for the third consecutive year.

Coming out of Slippery Rock, the Vikings felt Fusco had the potential to become an integral part of this offensive line with some experience. Fusco was drafted as center and in three games last season started at center in place of John Sullivan. The Vikings felt after watching Fusco progress throughout last season, he could be groomed into a starting right guard. After working diligently throughout the offseason, Fusco made the transition and has likely won the starting right guard job. The Vikings did sign free agent guard Geoff Schwartz at the beginning of the offseason as an option to compete with Fusco. Nearly a week into training camp Schwartz suffered a sports hernia which required surgery. This left Fusco in the starting role for the duration of training camp and the first two preseason games. This most likely means with the amount of reps Fusco has received, he will be the starter after Schwartz returns from his injury.

Fusco has looked impressive in the first two preseasons games, much like the entire offensive line. At 6-4" 306 lbs., Fusco is an aggressive run blocker, nearly too aggressive in some situations. Last season alone he received three personal foul penalties combined throughout the season. This is something Fusco will need to keep under control during this year. A penalty can be the difference between a win and a loss and is a crucial aspect for being successful in this league.

I like Fusco's controlled physicality and his ability to clog up the middle with his size. He also seems like he has a high football IQ. I have heard several interviews including Fusco and he has stressed the importance of communicating progressions across the whole offensive line. Which later helps prevent breakdowns in protection.These type of aspects have been missing across the offensive line and are pivotal for protection of Christian Ponder this season.

More importantly, Fusco has an excellent personality and is very fan-friendly. I have met Brandon several times and each time he has a smile on his face and is connecting with Vikings fans. Fusco is the type of player the Vikings have been missing at right guard in the past. Anthony Herrera was a great option until a knee injury derailed his career. Fusco should help improve protection of quarterback Christian Ponder and will pave the way for Adrian Peterson in the running game.

Brandon will be a major upgrade and will prove to players, coaches, and fans that he is a viable option at right guard, for seasons to come.

The Vikings: A Team with Talent

The Minnesota Vikings haven't been overly impressive the past two seasons and fans have began to lose patience. Many are asking, are the the Vikings ever going to be successful again? The answer is yes and it may be coming sooner than you think.

The Vikings went into full rebuilding mode after a dismal 3-13 season last year. The organization knew something needed to be done to inject energy into this football team. They first hit the free agent market and signed athletic wide receiver Jerome Simpson. Simpson has already shown the athleticism he will bring during the season.

Next came the draft, where the Vikings drafted for talent instead of need. They added the newest piece of the Vikings offensive line, Matt Kalil with the 4th pick. Kalil will be the centerpiece of this offensive line for season's to come. Later in the first round, the Vikings traded into the round to select safety Harrison Smith. Smith has all tangibles to be a legitimate safety on our roster for seasons to come.

The Vikings knew they needed to improve a terrible secondary, so they selected cornerback Josh Robinson in the third round. His 4.3 speed has been an addition in the secondary. I hope to see him in the nickel cornerback role this season. He will be an impact player for the Vikings for many seasons ahead.

The Vikings decided they needed to improve depth at the wide receiver position by adding Jarius Wright and Greg Childs in the fourth round. Unfortunately, Childs tore both his patellar tendons in his knees at training camp. Wright hasn't shown his abilities on the field as of yet. He has the athleticism to return kicks, but just doesn't seem like he is quite NFL ready. This will only come along with experience, which he has little of.

In addition, Rhett Ellison was drafted in the fourth round out of USC. Many believed this was an absolute reach for a fullback that could have went undrafted. Even though this is probably the case, Ellison has been impressive and has shown he was the right pick. I like his hands with his ability to block up the field. Those skills are going to be vital for the success of the Vikings.

Blair Walsh was questioned when he was selected in the 6th round of the draft. Many thought he would be inconsistent, but he has shown he has a leg. He will be a bright spot on this roster and will help pin teams down inside the twenty on kickoffs, which is something the Vikings missed last season.

Audie Cole was drafted in the 7th round out of NC State. He was a fierce tackler and was great at getting to the quarterback in college. He showed his talent on Friday night vs. the Bills, with two interception touchdowns. He will help bring talent and depth to the linebacker position.

With several of these draft picks we profiled, combated with players like Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen, Percy Harvin and Antoine Winfield, the Vikings are going to be a surprise in this league.

As fans we have to keep optimism low, but after watching a poised quarterback in Christian Ponder, a emerging Jerome Simpson, and an improved defense, it is very hard to contain the amount of excitement the Vikings will bring this season.

Beginning this week we will profile certain players who have shown they are ready to make an impact on this roster.

We appreciate the continued support you display for Vikings Corner!

Vikings vs. Bills Analysis

Audie Cole interecepted two
passes and took
both to the endzone for touchdowns in the
4th quarter Friday vs. the Bills.

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Buffalo Bills 36-14 in their preseason home opener. The Vikings avenged a preseason opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Friday night. We saw vast improvement from a performance where the Vikings allowed nearly 213 rushing yards, compared to only 54 yards from the starters alone last night. Players were in better positions and completed the tackle, which resulted in the run defense being improved.

Christian Ponder looked as effective as we have ever seen in game action. Ponder had pinpoint accuracy finishing 11 for 13 with 136 yards and a touchdown pass to fullback Jerome Felton. He also made a nice connection with Jerome Simpson across the mid-section of the field which brought the Vikings into the redzone on the first drive of the game. Simpson broke several tackles and made a fantastic leap over a defender in the process of the big gain. We saw the athleticism that Simpson will bring to the wide receiver group when he returns from suspension.

The offensive line struggled in the first drive, allowing two sacks of Christian Ponder. Marcell Dareus bull-rushed John Sullivan up the middle and Sullivan ended up bumping into Ponder in the process. This resulted in a loss of 9 yards, which later would have no effect, as the Vikings reached the endzone. Kyle Williams also received a sack, which was caused by a breach in the assignments on the offensive line. During the next two drives, we witnessed little issue with pass protection or running blocking, so this issue was fixed immediately.

Harrison Smith made his first start of the season alongside Mistral Raymond in last night’s action. Smith looked impressive, busting through the line of scrimmage causing a pass deflection. He also didn’t allow any passes over the top and made a nice tackle in run support. Mistral Raymond helped his effort to defeat Jamarca Sanford in the safety position battle. Raymond made two very nice tackles in run support and nearly made an interception on a pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Jamarca Sanford later had an opportunity to receive an interception, but couldn’t execute the play. He was in excellent position, but couldn’t execute, much like we saw last season from our safeties. These are the type of plays that our safeties need to execute each week, if the Vikings are going to be successful on defense during the season. 

Josh Robinson made his debut with the second team defense and impacted the secondary. He displayed his coverage ability and nearly made a leaping interception of an out route. Robinson has the potential to be an impact player for the next few seasons, but he just needs more experience in this league. We saw the pathetic tackling cornerback Chris Carr displayed, which gives Robinson a chance to become the potential nickel cornerback.

Stephen Burton again made the coaching staff wonder if he is a suitable option at wide receiver. He hauled in a nice reception from Joe Webb for a large gain, made the catch, but preceded in fumbling the football. I just wonder if Stephen Burton is viable option for this roster because of his inconsistency. He will be in a battle with two possible players including Devin Aromashodu and Manny Arceneaux. Aromashodu had several opportunities, but they were out of bounds near the sidelines. Arceneaux made a nice 45 yard reception from Sage Rosenfels, which was a great catch in traffic. I would like to see Arceneaux become more involved in the offense to better evaluate his role on the roster.

Audie Cole made his presence known in the game last night, intercepting two passes in a matter of two defense series. He read the quarterback’s eyes, shaded over the tight end, hauled in the interception and took it into the endzone for a touchdown. Later he followed the same sequence, intercepting the pass in nearly the same location and he sprinted into the endzone for his second touchdown. This fired the whole roster up, as Chris Cook, Jared Allen, and Mistral Raymond (all out of the game), ran into the endzone to celebrate with the rookie. With the energy Cole has shown he can inject, it will be interesting to see if he pushes himself onto the roster. With his performances over the last two weeks he should make this roster and could be of assistance this season.

Blair Walsh looked great on Friday night executing on 5 of 6 field goals all between 30 and 49 yards. He did miss a field goal from 49 yards, but the snap was low causing a mishap in timing. Walsh received great game experience last night and he will be ready to execute when the regular season comes along.

Overall, the Vikings looked very impressive in every category on Friday night. They made almost all the tackles, improved the run defense, and the first-team offense moved the ball and made plays. All the keys to success were displayed and it will be amusing to see if this trend continues over the next few weeks. We will keep you posted with the last information this week, leading up to the third preseason game on Friday night versus the San Diego Chargers.  

Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills Preview: Five Aspects to Watch

Josh Robinson will be an intriguing
player to watch in tonight's game vs.
Buffalo

The Vikings begin their home preseason campaign tonight vs. the Buffalo Bills and we will give you five aspects to look for during the game tonight.

The starters are projected to play in almost two quarters of action this evening.  Unlike many of the Vikings preseason opponents, the Vikings won’t play the Bills during the regular season, so the performance may not be as “vanilla.”

Harrison Smith will receive his first opportunity to start at safety tonight. I can’t wait to see his physical presence in the secondary. He has the feisty personality that this defense needs to be successful. With his addition to the lineup, it will be interesting to see if run support is improved over last week’s preseason game.

Josh Robinson will return in his first game action as a Minnesota Viking. He will be one of the players I will be watching closely during tonight’s contest. His ability to make plays and his athleticism will bring a much needed injection to the Vikings secondary. I hope once Robinson gets back to full health, he will become the nickel cornerback of the defense. We need as many athletic players on the field as possible and he brings an advantage to the Vikings defense.

Sage Rosenfels will be the third quarterback for the Vikings during tonight’s game. McLeod Bethel-Thompson possessed those duties in the first preseason game. The Vikings want to receive a better understanding of which quarterback has the best abilities. In other ways, it will be very difficult for the Vikings to release Rosenfel’s due to the bonus he signed at the end of last season. The Vikings would not have brought in Rosenfel’s veteran presence if they were going to release him for an average quarterback option. Yes, Bethel-Thompson has a nice arm and can “air it out” down the field, but financially this isn’t the best decision for the organization. We could try to slide him on the practice squad, but he would likely get snatched, much like Tyler Thigpen several seasons ago.

I would like to see more out of Vikings receiver Manny Arceneaux during the next few ball games. Coach George Stewart explained before the first preseason game, that Arceneaux was one of the most improved players he has ever coached. Stewart has coached in this league for over 30 seasons and has coached the likes of Terrell Owens, Roddy White, and Jerry Rice. This is a big statement coming from a coach with these types of credentials. It will be interesting to see if he utilized more in the game tonight because he was very under the radar in the first contest.

The Vikings will add Antoine Winfield, Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Percy Harvin into the starting lineup this week. Ponder will have one of his favorite down field targets for the first time this season. This should give us a better showing of how Ponder has progressed over the past year.

On the defensive side of the ball, with the added additions to the roster, it will be interesting to see if the run defense will improve over the first preseason. It will be key to have experience back in the defense lineup. We will not have many players out of position in key situations. Ultimately, we will see an improvement in this aspect during tonight’s contest.

Overall, the Vikings will look to build upon last week’s game and the last set of practices in Mankato. With the first set of roster cuts coming on Monday at 3pm, this will be the last chance some players will have to impress the coaching staff.

Check out our complete training camp roster breakdown podcast segments! Located on the right side of your screen!

Post Training Camp Storylines

Today we will take a look
at the complete Vikings roster
after training camp.

Today on Vikings Corner we will re-analyze the questions we formulated after Minicamps and OTA’s.

There are many questions that haven't been answered, but let's answer our "Post-Training Camp Questions and Storylines."

Quarterbacks: How will Christian Ponder respond in his second season? Will he improve his play with the help of OTA's and Minicamps?

Christian Ponder has been very poised in his performances at Vikings Training Camp. He bulked up in the offseason to better withstand the hits he takes on a daily basis. With that addition to his physique, he has stayed in the pocket and has improved his arm strength. Ponder does need to develop better accuracy on his passes. He was struggling to be a 60% passer during practice, but eventually improved during the duration of training camp. In addition, he struggles at times with control of his passes and tends to let the ball get away from him. Overall, these problems aren’t seen on a consistent basis, so they are marginal issues that can be fixed with work.

Running Backs: How will Adrian Peterson respond to his torn ACL? Will he ever be the same? Can Toby Gerhart fill his shoes until he returns?

Adrian Peterson returned from the ACL, MCL, and meniscus tears 222 days after the injury occurred in Washington. He responded by working to prove the world that he would be ready for the season. Now the next phase in the process will be live contact drills, which will occur in the coming weeks. Peterson will be the same athlete and possibly better than before the injury. He physically seems stronger and faster than before the injury, but the key factor is how his knee will hold up for the duration of the season.

Toby Gerhart looked impressive in his first appearance of the season, rushing for 31 yards in the first game. He was running through defenders and had a nice scamper on third and six for 17 yards. Gerhart will be an excellent backup to Peterson and is a nice “one-two” punch with Peterson. Gerhart’s “pile-driving” ability with Peterson’s speed, should be fun to watch during the season.

Fullbacks: Who will make the team? Jerome Felton or Ryan D'Imperio?

Jerome Felton went under the radar during camp and wasn’t talked about as much as anticipated. Felton brings an average ability to run block, but doesn’t have the ability in the passing game. D’Imperio has been a major improvement in run blocking over last season and can be affective in the passing game. D’Imperio will make this roster because he has flexibility to play special teams, where Felton isn’t as flexible in that aspect. This is an ongoing battle that will take place during the duration of the preseason.

Wide Receivers: Will we see a receiver step up as a vertical threat? Will Percy Harvin have all his issues resolved?

Jerome Simpson will be the vertical threat for the Vikings, after he returns from his three game suspension. In the meantime, many are questioning who will step up in his absence after the season ending injury to Greg Childs. Players like Michael Jenkins, Devin Aromashodu, Manny Arceneaux, and Stephen Burton will all contend for the last two or three split end slots. If roster cuts were today, I believe Aromashodu, Jenkins, and Burton would most likely make the team, but wide receivers Coach George Stewart indicated that Manny Arceneaux has the ability to be a threat on the roster this season. This will be another battle that will be interesting to watch.

Percy Harvin resolved the “issues,” that he states never really happened. I believe him and feel like he will be a pivotal piece to the puzzle if the Vikings are going to be successful. He is the target Christian Ponder relies on most and this will be important down the stretch of the season.

Offensive Line: Will top draft pick Matt Kalil live up to expectations? Will his presence help boost the play of the offensive line.

No questions asked, Matt Kalil has lived up to the expectations and has exceeded some. During training camp, we saw his strength and his ability to run block. He was in better physical shape than I expected he would be. He is so soft on his feet and is one of the most agile offensive lineman in this league.

His presence has already boosted the play of the offensive line immensely. Moving Charlie Johnson to left guard better suited his physique and adding Kalil next to Johnson has increased pass protection. Protection will continue to improve and the offensive line will be a strength of this team.

Tight Ends: Will Kyle Rudolph become the next Rob Gronkowski type tight end we are hoping for? Will the addition of John Carlson help produce a nice one-two punch at tight end?

Kyle Rudolph has been one of the most impressive players at Vikings training camp. He has nice hands for being such a big individual. He gives us a major threat in the redzone and is great across the middle. He will be one of the most improved players in the NFC North this season.

John Carlson has been held out due to an MCL sprain he sustained towards the beginning of training camp. We weren’t able to analyze his performance in the short period of time he was active. Carlson has struggled with injuries in the past and it will be interesting to see if this continues to be a trend during his tenure with the Vikings.

Defensive Line: Can the defensive line show the same consistency as last season? Will Jared Allen have another career season?

The Vikings defensive line has showed consistency in pass rushing, but struggled in run defense in the first preseason game. Going into the preseason game, I believed the defensive line would be one of the strengths of the team. But with Antoine Winfield, Jared Allen, and Kevin Williams all returning to the lineup, this will be improved.

Jared Allen will have another great season and has a chance to match his sack total. He looks like he is in the same physical and mental condition and will continue pestering defense’s all over the league.

Linebackers: Will the Vikings have enough experience at this position? Will Jasper Brinkley be an answer in the linebacking core?

This position is better than most Vikings fans had expected. Players like Tyrone McKenzie, Marvin Mitchell and Audie Cole have shown they can be a legitimate option at the linebacker position. With the additions of these players, to the current cast of starters, this position will be much improved over last season.

Jasper Brinkley has not shown he is the best option at middle linebacker; as of yet. He looked very tentative in the first preseason game and he will need to show that he is the answer. Marvin Mitchell and Tyrone McKenzie are knocking at his heels and he will need to step up over the next couple games.

Cornerbacks: Will having Chris Cook this season and adding Josh Robinson and Chris Carr help improve a terrible secondary?

Chris Cook has looked very impressive at training camp and has the ability to be an elite cornerback in this league. His height advantage and sheer athleticism are all attributes that will improve our secondary. Josh Robinson missed time with a hamstring injury, but made his presence known when he returned, with two interceptions on the last two days of camp. He will be a huge impact on the roster during the long-haul of the season and will be a force for seasons to come. Chris Carr is merely a backup option, but could start in a fill-in situation. He is a great tackler and is average in coverage. Let’s face it, he is an older cornerback and doesn’t have the speed he used to have, but he is a better backup option than we’ve had in years past.

Safety: Who will win the position battle between Jamarca Sanford, Mistral Raymond, and Robert Blanton. Will the addition of Harrison Smith improve the backside of the secondary?

Jamarca Sanford and Mistral Raymond both haven’t been bright spots in the Vikings secondary early in the 2012 campaign. Raymond and Sanford both are terrible in run support and aren’t starting caliber safeties. Robert Blanton was rumored to be in the hunt at safety, but he missed most of camp with a hamstring injury. He will be interesting to watch in his return over the next few preseason games. The Vikings are now adding Harrison Smith to the starting rotation and will most likely start him alongside Mistral Raymond for now. Smith will bring physicality to a secondary that needs players who can execute in situations.

Punter: Can Chris Kluwe remain consistent as a punter?

Chris Kluwe is great for the life of the Vikings locker room. Kluwe’s humor and joking presence helps keep the team positive in specific situations. In addition, Kluwe is one of the best punters in this league and is great at dropping the ball inside the twenty yard line. 

Kicker: Will the Vikings regret releasing Ryan Longwell? Will Blair Walsh be extremely inconsistent?

Blair Walsh has been an excellent addition to the roster this season. There is absolutely no question that Walsh will be a kicking option for seasons to come. He has a huge leg and will not only improve field goal length, but will be able to boom the ball out of the endzone on kickoffs. Blair Walsh will not be inconsistent and this will prove to be one of the best decisions the Vikings organization has made during the offseason.

Overall, the Vikings have several questions that have been unanswered and we will take a look at those when the preseason is completed. Over the duration of Vikings training camp, the Vikings have made strides and will look to improve upon those over the coming weeks.

Thanks for reading!