FAN or MANkato 2023 | Preseason Week 2

[Bundy]

 

FAN or MANkato 2023 | Preseason Week 2

Offseason with the Minnesota Vikings

 

The Vikings came into their preseason week 2 game expecting to get some work done for their second stringers and priority rookies, and were entirely outmatched by the Kansas City Chiefs.

7th round QB Derrick Marshall struggled mightily to get into rhythm, completing just 6 of his 29 attempts, though a very inexperienced line (4 rookies, 3 of them undrafted) blocking for him did him no favors. 

Of the few highlights of the afternoon, Doug Brothers ripped off an early 20 yard run midway through the opening quarter. Punter Anthony Upton, a 2nd year man cast off by the Buffalo Bills and competing with veteran Gregory Linley for the lone punting job on the team, sent some massive 50 and 60 yard punts away, and during the 2nd quarter CB Darnell Hale forced a fumble on a Chiefs punt return, with Upton having raced down field to cover his own punt, and hopping on the loose ball. 

 

Though otherwise bleak to any fans watching the game, there was a massive energy felt towards one certain player, who has easily punched his way into Mr. Mankato contention, and is perhaps more of a favorite than Oswaldo Urrutia was last year. EDGE Ashaad Anderson, an outside blitzer from Baylor, was considered a long shot to even sniff survival through early Vikings cutdowns. The Vikings have had Anderson working in at end throughout camp, and he's feasted on the Vikings 3rd and 4th stringers, which has largely been brushed off as camp fodder beating up on camp fodder.

But Anderson has been relentless, and the Vikings gave the rookie a nod by starting him at the left end spot. Anderson had two sacks, earning an roaring ovation from the home crowd especially on a 13 yard sack of Jose Delpozo.  

 

Following Week 2 of the 2023 preseason, the Vikings have made 10 releases in their self-imposed "cut down to 80" before the final matchup of the offseason. 

For several players, it came as a shock. OL Braden Anger, an OT by trade at Wisconsin, but a guard in the Vikings eyes, was perhaps the biggest early cut. Anger was one of five players invited to Eagan by the Vikings during the predraft process, and is the native son of Willmar, Minnesota. Anger started the preseason week 2 game at left guard against the Chiefs, and while the team appeared outmatched entirely on offense, Anger didn't see, to be the worst of their problems, and appeared destined for at least a practice squad spot. But the Vikings were carrying 18 offensive linemen to this point, and will likely carry 10 or less on their opening day 55. A Communication Arts major at UW, if Anger can't catch on with another team, he appears headed to a sports desk in the Twin Cities. OLB Adrian Nicholson was someone the Vikings really liked through the 2022 UDFA process, as he'd ran a 4.48 40 with 30 Bench Reps at that combine. Unfortunately, Nicholson could never elevate himself to the Vikings 55 during his rookie year, and that was with a very thin LB corps that he was competing against. He survived the purging of the Vikings roster during the start of the 2023 preseason, but was a non-factor through training camp and was just a reserve LB against the Chiefs. CB LaRoy Crockett played 617 snaps last year, even competing his way into a nickel CB role at times and finishing with 22 tackles and an INT! Crockett beat out fellow 2022 UDFA CB J.P. Cunningham for that nickel CB role, and for a spot on the Vikings 90-man through camp, But Crockett was hardly truly in the Vikings plans, as they made multiple draft picks in the secondary, and the Vikings are giving him a shot to make a different team's roster for the final week. 

WR Marco Ngata was a teammate of Alex Williams III and Austin Bishop at Wisconsin, and the 6'3" receiver was looking for a shot at an increased role with Mathew Madden's departure. But like Crockett, the numbers game didn't work in Ngata's favor, with the Vikings drafting multiple receivers and bringing a handful more UDFAs in. 

TE Zack Leyba was someone the Vikings were very familiar with after seeing his Michigan film against Kansas in 2022, and the tight end depth chart continues to be lacking, with only Carl White and drafted rookie Connor Pence seemingly "locked in." Leyba consistently was used with the efficiency of a tackling dummy throughout camp, and it was clear he was just not an NFL caliber player. DT Mike Brantly is probably a practice squad caliber defensive tackle as a rookie, but he was DT7 on a surprisingly deep defensive tackle unit. 

QB Jeffrey Gingerich was a new acquisition to the team within the preseason, but the Vikings opted to roll with Austin Bishop and Derrick Marshall as their long term plans, and with Randy Madson as a camp arm.

OL Diego Walker IV, DE Blake Kuechly, and ILB B.J. Geathers were also released.

 

The Vikings take on the Carolina Panthers as they close the preseason this weekend.

[Minnow]

Ok I get the Mankato reference, but they have their training in Eagan now.

Edited May 16, 2023 by Minnow

[Bundy]

21 hours ago, Minnow said:

Ok I get the Mankato reference, but they have their training in Eagan now.

No we’re having it in Mankato because we actually care about our fans 👀