The third preseason game is typically lauded as the “dress rehearsal” for the regular season, and is often talked about as the exception to the rule that the “preseason doesn’t matter.”
This is in part because starters play a large portion of the third preseason game, though it should be acknowledged that this rule has become somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy — the starters play because the game is the most important of the four, and the game is the most important of the four because the starters play.
Regardless of the relative meaning of the preseason game, there are some specific takeaways that fans and teams can always grab from live reps, and there are some key questions the Vikings will want to answer coming out of this game.
Offensive Line Performance
The offensive line put up a lackluster performance against the Buffalo Bills, where they gave up two sacks and a hit in seven dropbacks and blocked for 2.6 yards per carry in the running game. After that, they ended up acquitting themselves well against a more fearsome Seattle Seahawks front, allowing no sacks and one quarterback hit on 11 dropbacks. Not only that, Dalvin Cook ran for 5.7 yards a carry.
Offensive lines can go through these stretches of good and bad play, so the key is determining what’s repeatable. In this upcoming game, poor play or excellent play both seem possible and the talent level they’ll put on display will give us a better clue on the overall state of the line.
They’ll have solid tests in a pair of first-round picks, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner. Players like Aaron Lynch, Elvis Dumervil and rookie Solomon Thomas should also create some problems up front as well, providing a number of opportunities for the offensive line to prove itself both in pass protection and as road graders.
Defensive Line Movement
It’s difficult to argue that there’s a reason to worry right now about the defensive line, but there are some interesting developments that could take place over the preseason. There’s significant reason to think that rookie fourth-round pick Jaleel Johnson could make waves and start by the beginning of the season.
To that end, Johnson will probably have to put together another great performance after two fantastic ones thus far this preseason. While it would be unusual for a nominal third-string player to start by the beginning of the year, it’s not impossible. It would help, however, if Jaleel Johnson also played some spots with the first team defense, something that seems more likely if they rotate players like we typically see in a game.
This sort of rotation may also benefit Tashawn Bower, whose play has made him virtually impossible to cut and demands consideration above Stephen Weatherly as the second backup defensive end. He, too, could put together another lights-out performance and force the Vikings’ hand — possibly earning enough leverage for the Vikings to trade Stephen Weatherly to a team like the Patriots or Cowboys who have depth at positions of need for the Vikings but need depth at edge rusher.
The depth that the 49ers have across the offensive line should make for some interesting moments, as players like John Theus and Garry Gilliam back up the offensive edge positions with a strong interior unit beside them.
Offensive Explosiveness
In the first game, against the Buffalo Bills, fans didn’t see much offensive explosiveness from the Vikings. Attempts downfield were limited and situations that required aggressiveness saw timidity instead.
In the second preseason game, Vikings fans were treated to quite a bit more downfield passing, but the passes themselves were either errant or had a low difficulty to them. A blown coverage gave Stefon Diggs acres of space, which Sam Bradford took advantage of, and downfield throws to covered receivers didn’t get much done; one-on-one matchups with open receivers were sometimes ignored in favor of shorter passes with lower chances of success.
In this game, Bradford will have to more evenly straddle the divide between solid decision making and aggressive passing, picking his spots instead of just testing covered receivers. The Vikings were also able to put together at least one game with solid running, so it would be nice to see that appear once more.
Coverage Woes
With a defense that looked to be improved along the defensive line and linebacker, Vikings fans could be forgiven for thinking that Minnesota’s defense would be the top in the league. Unfortunately, with two starting cornerbacks from the year prior on another team or on the bench, they’ll have to see more from young cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander.
Waynes hasn’t been on the field much because of a sore shoulder from the first preseason game, while Alexander looked thoroughly lost against the Seattle Seahawks. Both will likely end up being downgrades at the position from the previous year, in part because of how well Terence Newman and Captain Munnerlyn played, but also because they haven’t shown enough to say they are league-average starters at the position.
Ultimately, the Vikings’ game against the 49ers won’t define the season. But it will give us some clues on what to watch for as we inch ever closer to games that matter.
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