By Matthew Coller
Well, that football game certainly happened.
The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Baltimore Ravens at home in a lifeless second preseason contest. Here’s a look at the lineups and who stood out…
Offensive starters
QB: JJ McCarthy
RB: Demond Claiborne, Max Bredeson
WR: Myles Price, Tai Felton, Jeshaun Jones
TE: Gavin Bartholomew
OL: Byrd, Huber, Jurgens, Lee, Van Demark
KR: Dillon Bell, Demond Claiborne
Defensive starters
DT: Elijah Williams, Domonique Orange Caleb Banks
OLB: Ty Ingram-Dawkins, Chaz Chambliss
LB: Jake Golday, Ivan Pace Jr.
CB: James Pierre, Chuck Demmings
S: Jay Ward, Jacob Thomas
Mixing in: Tyler Batty, Bo Richter
JJ McCarthy
The Vikings’ backup QB had a tough open to his day with an overthrow to a wide open Myles Price and then a false start. He completed back-to-back throws to Felton and Price, who made a good catch for a first down.
Second drive, McCarthy stepped up in the pocket and launched a deep shot to Tai Felton for a big completion. Then he overthrew an open Felton in the back of the end zone on second down and overthrew Myles Price wide open in the end zone on fourth down.
Third drive, McCarthy took a sack when Henry Byrd got beat around the edge and McCarthy didn’t get rid of the ball quickly. Then he completed a line drive pass over the middle to Jeshaun Jones but it was taken back by a penalty.
Fourth drive, McCarthy overthrew Jeshaun Jones, who was open over the middle of the field. Then he got drilled releasing the ball on third down on a ball that was broken up trying to find Myles Price.
McCarthy was done after one quarter. He went 5-for-10 with 81 yards and one sack.
Bottom line: Every time McCarthy plays, it seems like there is hope that it can look different but the same issues persist with consistency and accuracy. There will be some questions about why he didn’t play longer when development is needed. After another day with wobbly throwing, you have to wonder if O’Connell is considering Carson Wentz for QB2 when the season begins.
Carson Wentz
Overthrew Dontae Fleming on second-and-7 and then converted a third down on the money to Dillon Bell. Converted another couple first downs before taking a third-down sack.
In the two-minute drill, Wentz converted a third down pass to Fleming and then launched a deep shot over the middle to Jeshaun Jones, who made a really good contested catch in double coverage to bring the Vikings within Will Reichard’s range. Then picked up a big gain on a screen pass to Bartholomew.
Bottom line: As usual, Wentz was fine. He held onto the ball too long at times and made a couple of on-time plays mixed with a successful deep shot. It looked decent for a QB who hasn’t had the opportunity to practice much.
Max Brosmer
Took a sack during the first series after scrambling for a first down.
On his second drive, completed an 18-yard throw to Dillon Bell for a first down but the drive stalled out when missed on a fourth-and-3.
He put together a drive in the fourth quarter but threw an interception that ended any chance of a comeback.
Demond Claiborne
His first two rushes of the game were blown up immediately, including a run where nobody blocked a Ravens defender right through the A-gap.
The Vikings tried running him up the middle at the goal line and he got stuffed. There hasn’t been almost any movement of the defenders when Claiborne hits the pile. He picked up a good gain on a third-and-24 delay run.
He finished with eight runs for 18 yards.
Bottom line: Claiborne has speed and burst for days but when he isn’t in space, it looks totally different. He appears to need work on pacing out his runs and gains in strength in order to break tackles and make the most of carries when nothing is there.
Myles Price
Caught a third down pass for a first down from McCarthy.
Tai Felton
Caught a bomb from McCarthy on the second drive of the game. Leaped up over the defender and grabbed the ball for a 50-yard gain.
Felton finished with three catches for 66 yards.
Bottom line: Felton needed a bounce-back day after dropping a pass last week and having a quiet joint practices. It’s unclear whether he or Myles Price would be first off the bench but he did demonstrate his ability to be a deep threat, which could get him on the field in a rotational role.
Henry Byrd
Was forced over to left tackle because of Caleb Tiernan’s injury and had a rough time, giving up a sack and getting moved by the Ravens’ D-line. He normally has been the second-team guards.
Dillon Bell
Ran a stop route on third-and-7 and caught the ball on a good throw from Carson Wentz. Then caught a quick out route for another first down. His third catch of the drive came on a quick screen where he knifed through defenders for another first down.
Bell caught an 18-yard throw from Brosmer in the third quarter.
He finished with six catches for 51 yards.
Jeshaun Jones
Was open several times early in the game but couldn’t connect with McCarthy. Before the end of the half, caught a jump ball from Wentz. Jones is often the most consistent player with the second and third-team units.
Jones fumbled in the fourth quarter.
He had five catches for 63 yards.
Gavin Bartholomew
Ripped off a big gain at the end of the first half for a first down. Weaved through traffic for 16 yards.
Caleb Banks
On the Ravens’ second time with the ball, Banks blew up a run play to start the drive.
On the third drive, Banks got shoved back several yards on a run play. That happened a few times against the Giants as well.
Banks looked a little gassed as the half went along. He played a ton of reps during joint practices.
Bottom line: The Vikings are doing everything they can to get Banks caught up to speed but it doesn’t look like he’s going to be ready to be an impact player right away. That’s not unusual for a young DT, though we might have expected his size/quickness to show up more in these games.
Domonique Orange
Looked strong over the Ravens’ center, pushing him back into the backfield early in the second quarter.
Late in the second quarter, he dropped back in coverage and got a PBU.
Bottom line: Orange has looked ready to be a part of the rotation.
Ty Ingram-Dawkins
The versatile defender created a pressure on the first pass attempt of the game, blowing through a double team and causing a holding penalty. On the next play, he tracked down a scrambling Tyler Huntley
Jake Golday
Created a pressure on second-and-long with a blitz in which he blew up the running back trying to pass protect and pushed him back into the QB forcing a scramble.
Tyler Batty
Won on a pass rush quickly against the Ravens’ left tackle, created a throwaway while delivering a blow to Huntley.
Jacob Roberts
Got a TFL on third down, forcing a Ravens field goal. Last week he picked off a pass vs. New York.
Bo Richter
Late in the second quarter, created a pressure on the Ravens QB. He has gotten a lot of OLB work as the Vikings try to figure out what they have behind AVG and Turner.
Early in the third quarter, he knocked down a pass headed for the flat.
Johnny Hekker and Brett Thorson
Hekker’s first punt was strong, traveling 51 yards.
Thorson took the second punt and had good precision, landing it inside the 20 at the 13-yard line.
Hekker then delivered a great punt that went 49 yards and pinned the Ravens inside the 10.
Thorson responded with a solid 40-yard boot inside the 20 at the 14-yard line.
On Reichard’s end-of-half field goal, Thorson was holding. He nailed it from 52.
Hekker crushed a punt 65 yards to open the third quarter.
Bottom line: Both punters had good days. The veteran is probably going to get the job because he has been a long-time holder but Thorson has looked capable. It might be a harder decision than we thought.
Treyvon Rudolph
Had an impressive punt return where he slammed on the brakes and hit the edge for a 21-yard gain.
JJ’s inability to take anything off the ball, even when a guy is wide open for a TD ten yards away from him, is killing me. I still say don’t trade him as Kyler could get hurt week 1, but come on, man. I didn’t except him to be good enough to win a QB battle after one offseason, but I was expecting some kind of evidence that he could put touch on a ball and run an offense. I don’t know that I see any real improvement at all. Banks seemed pretty rough to me today and it felt like he was just going through the motions at times, but I get that it’s a lot of snaps to play after joint practices. Feels like it’ll be a long wait for him to do much, though.
Really looking like Wentz is QB2 if we are trying to win. Also, just me or did these guys (Offense) all look spent from the first drive of the game?