Welcome to the Vikings Postgame Report. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Cleveland Browns 27-12 on Saturday afternoon to improve their preseason record to 2-0. The Vikings started the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Quarterback Nick Mullens to WR Trishton Jackson on the opening drive. Mullens finished his afternoon 11-of-21 passing for 135 yards and a TD. Quarterback Jaren Hall came into the game in the 3rd Quarter and finished his day 4-of-5 passing for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. Both Kene Nwangwu and Myles Gaskin led the team in rushing and finished with 45 yards on the ground. Wide receivers Jeshaun Jones, Malik Knowles, and Trishton Jones scored the Vikings 3 touchdowns through the air. Defensively, Brian Asamoah II, Bo Richter, and Lewis Cine recorded sacks in the game. Safety Lewis Cine, cornerback Cobi Francis, and cornerback Dwight McGlothern also got on the stats sheet by notching interceptions. Kicker Will Reichard was perfect today, hitting 2 field goals and 3 extra points in the game. The Vikings will conclude their preseason set of games by traveling to Philadelphia to face the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field next Saturday. Paul Allen and Pete Bercich recap the keys to the Vikings second preseason victory, including: Lewis Cine's standout performance, Kene Nwangwu hitting another gear in Cleveland, Jaren Hall looking more comfortable, and young players making the most of their opportunities. All of this and more is in this edition of the Vikings Postgame Report.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:14):
Hey, Welcome to Cleveland and the Postgame Report podcast with
a radio analyst former coaching player for the Vikings, Pete Persage.
I'm Paul Allen. We just concluded a twenty seven to
twelve victory for your Minnesota Vikings over the Cleveland Browns
in the second preseason game. Began reigning a bit at
the end, but the Vikings were reigning supreme the entire game,
(00:37):
including right out of the gate where Nick Mullins led
the offense down the field scored a touchdown pass to
Tristian Jackson. Undrafted Dwight mclothern had a ninety yard interception return.
He didn't get into the end zone, but that was
a highlight. But Lewis seen the first round pick from
Georgia a few years ago. It's a preseason game, but
(00:58):
you got to start somewhere. Lou scene stepped up big today.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, And for Lewis Scene, we'll see how much of
that momentum he can carry into Philadelphia, right, and you
hope that the proverbial light switch went off, went up
and that he's going to be playing that loosely. And
you know, we saw a little bit of what was
advertised when we drafted him right, the speed, the hitting,
the ability to blitz. He did a great job disguising
(01:23):
on the blitz on the sack that he had. So
everybody's pulling for Lewis scene. He's had to overcome a
lot to even stay in this league as long as
he has, and hopefully he can show enough and put
enough on tape where if he doesn't make this team,
he's going to be playing somewhere. But Leeah Lewis sceen had.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
A very very good day today and granted his preseason
but undrafted Jayshawn Jones got loose for a seventy one
yard touchdown from Jaren Hall, and it was a wonderful
pass by Jaren and Jaren second year from BYU fifth
rounder last year, he played in three games and he
started too. You know, Jaren Hall had also after the
(02:03):
mcglothern interception, he had a wonderful fade to receiver Malik
Knowles back left of the end zone for another touchdown.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, I think I think Jaren Hall looked a lot
better today than he did a week ago. He got
a little bit of time at the end of the game.
You know, it just things looked a little off when
once he finally got in there. But today, once he
got it, once he got in the behind the center,
this offense kept on humming and he kept on rolling.
And so I'm you know, the arm talent that he has.
(02:32):
And when I arm talent, we don't mean side arm
throws and the strong arm. It's just enough touch on
a bootleg. I mean you're running full speed and have
just enough touch and accuracy to get that ball over
the hands of a defensive back because if that d
back misses, it's a touchdown. And that's exactly what we saw.
So Jaren Hall, I thought, did a fabulous job.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Now running back in newan Lu had a forty eight
yard touchdown run against the Las Vegas Raiders and he
was the starting tailback today. Couple of things there. Okay,
Aaron Jones is not going to play in a game
like this, specifically after two joint practices where it was
just super physical and he got after it against a
very very good Browns defense Wednesday and Thursday at the
(03:13):
Browns facility in Burrio, Ohio. But how about a ty Chandler. Okay,
ty Chandler didn't play. Yeah, and he's healthy, but that's
I mean that's a credit to how far he's come
and the fact that he's going to be the backup
to Warn Jones, but behind him, cana wan Wu is
going to be on the team with those three kick
(03:33):
return touchdowns. But you kept hitting on it hard on
the simulcast today and I'm with you, man wan Wu
just looks different running the ball than he has the
last couple of years. He's he wants to get the
sideline on kick returns and runs. That's just where he's
most comfortable. But he's bouncing off browns today.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Yeah, he was.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
And I think you start with saying how well ty
Chandler's done. And everybody we've spoken with has said he
works so hard and he's coming along what he's come.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
A long way.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
So they rewarded him with with his you know, with
not having to put the pads on. You had two
good days of practice. But knay Wan who looked more
like a running back today than I've ever seen him. Right,
He's kind of that hybrid receiver running back kind of guy,
but today keeping his shoulders square, especially on those outside
runs when you when you finally get up to the
(04:24):
line of scrimmage, shoulder square, making guys miss he made.
He had a couple of really nice runs where the
free hitter, the free guy in the defense came up,
got some leather on him, but just slid right off.
So for one move, that's important you get him. Just
if you just get one guy to miss, that's where
the explosiveness and the speed and everything else takes over
(04:46):
because he could put he could take that thing to
the house at any time. But the other thing I
love too is it's the simple runs. It's the ISOs downhill.
It's a it's a it's a kind of a toss
play on the outside. It's not a bunch of tricky
type different different plays that they're in venting to make
one who look good. He's just running that base offense
and Paul, he's really tearing it up.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Let's get the thoughts from Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell,
who had this to say following a twenty seven to
twelve victory against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland brown Stadium.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
When you kind of take your team on the road
for the better part of four or five days, really
important part of our off season preparation, training camp prep
was these joint practices. So first and foremost just want
to once again thank Kevin Cleveland Browns. They were awesome
hosts all week long, whatever we needed.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
It was really really good practice work.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
He's got a heck of a coaching staff and a
really good football team. But really wanted to see our
guys having a little bit of a look into you
know what, they were going to play a lot of
repeat matchups from some of those practice reps. Really challenged
our guys to play one snap at a time and
try to win those reps. You know, see how many
one on one reps we can win, how many collective
(05:58):
group efforts of eleven guys doing their job. So that's
what I was most proud of.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Proud of our.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Coaching staff forgetting a lot of players ready to play
on some limited reps. Some guys you know that just
just arrived recently, and to see guys go out there
and function and do some good things. I thought there
were some really nice performances. Lewis scene ten tackles, one
sack and interception. Great to see him really look comfortable
out there and and and make some plays on the football.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I felt his physicality.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
And and I know the guys on the sideline were
fired up to see lou do his thing. You know,
I thought, Nick Mullens and that first group that we
had out there offensively today to start out the game,
go down there and get a couple explosives, and and
Tristan showing up again, Speedy showing up as well as
just we wanted to run the ball as as as
much as possible. See a lot of different guys, I thought,
(06:49):
whether it was Kenna or Miles and Deebo. I thought
all of our backs ran well against a tough scheme
to run the ball penetrating front.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
So I was happy with the way we were able
to churn.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Out some yards on the ground and and uh, you know,
just across the board, excited to continue the process. Now
heading back to Egan, excited to get home and get
back to work.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Nick almost had that corner. It seemed like there were
two plays in particular that where he was under pressure
and he seen them throwing the dirt.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Yeah, it's I mean, even you know, the player speaking
of like I thought, I thought he could have got
rid of that football too. Nick's a really important player
to us, especially now, you know, having having lost JJ
and knowing that Nick is.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Here for a reason.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
It's it's great that we have the trust in him
to know our system, and it's great the preparation that
he is and the value in the QB room. But
Nick knows we also value his ability to step in
and move the team, which is what he's really always done.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
But I would have liked, like I love seeing some.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Of those throwaways, know when the down's over, no, when
we can live to fight the next down. That coming
off of last year, I thought, you know, that was
a big, a big kind of moving forward, get better.
Point for Nick is just you do a lot of
really good things. We just got to make sure we
possess the football as much as possible at the end
of the snaps that we do have that, especially the
(08:12):
ones that maybe don't go our way, it's a great
question mark because that's you know what for Nick at
his created, at this point in his career, that's what
I'm looking for to go along with the expectation that
he's going to run the show and be a field
general out there for us like he always is. So
I was happy with Nick's performance on the day. Really,
a lot of a lot of different guys mixed into
that huddle that maybe don't go get a lot of
(08:34):
reps A lot of times. We had a lot of
guys down today, So really good, really good to see.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Nico do that, and you're starting is that.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
To see Ed?
Speaker 4 (08:46):
I just I just think these these reps are so vital,
And like I tell you guys all the time, we've
got an individual plan for every player on our team.
What we think based upon reps, what we think based
upon getting them game ready.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
So I wanted to see Ed go out there.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
I thought he did some really good things in the
run game passpro for the most part was pretty good.
We got beat on one te kind of stunt there
on a third down.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
But those are great, great reps for Ed to go
out there.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
He was a captain today and and liked, liked Ed
being ready to go today, even coming off of quite
a few reps in the joint practice setting. I would
have loved to see Dalton get some snaps today. And
and yes I would have had Ed play regardless.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Repeat a blother and you know he had to pick Thursday.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Yeah, no, I would have absolutely mentioned him if he
didn't get hawked down there on the return. But no,
I mean that's no surprise to any of us. I
mean you saw the reaction from his teammates. Dwight's been basically, uh,
you know, every other day or so, you feel like
he's making a play, significant play like that. Just a
really good example of the group of defense in there.
(09:55):
They'd put together a little drive and you know, make
him snap it one more time down in the zone,
and tips and overthrows and and the and the ability
to really.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Flip the entire field.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Two plays later, Jared starting a touchdown to Milik Knowles,
who was great to have out there as well.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
So Wes West called the offense and Deronta and Mike
Sheridan defense.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
I thought they did great.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I mean, Wes had a great flow, really did a
great job preparing the guys that we're going to play
clear plan.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I got, you know, very very h you know, unfortunate.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
I think a lot of our penalties came in the
in the special teams phase today, but it felt clean.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
The operation.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Wes called a great game, really mixed it well, some
good third down calls, I'm and put points on the board.
So we really want to compliment West. And then I
thought Durante and and Saravo were. You know, it's it's
always interesting when you're gonna have two separate guys call
plays with you know what their one style is going
to be versus the other. But I thought they played
off of each other well and and like I said,
(10:53):
just challenged the defense at halftime to not give up
another point, and they didn't.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
You know, the offense ended up giving up two there
at the end.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
It wasn't an entire comp I mean that to play
pressure with.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
That for sure, Yeah, no, you know absolutely, And I
think you could go through the list of guys. I mean,
Gant had nine tackles, BA had a really a really
good play there. It looked pretty darn close to a
safety on that one sack that he had, and then
we you know, finish it with another interception there late.
So you know they're not going to get a lot
(11:25):
of credit statistically. But I also thought our D line,
I mentioned the O line. I thought our D line. Uh,
there was knock back, There was a lot of physicality
up there, a lot of different young guys that were
really excited about, you know, in a really competitive situation
in that room.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
I think it was harder kind of creating a little
the traffic for pa on that. Yeah, I think you
had to get passive Blue Kid too.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Yeah, yeah, I mean to me, andre Is continues to
get better. He's he's a guy that you felt him
off the edge quite a bit. I'm sure you guys
did as well. That that outside I think, which Patton's
doing a really good job with that outside back or
group as a whole. And I think you know, guys
like Grenard and Van Ginkel hot he played, you know,
got off to a good start today alongside of DT.
(12:11):
When I look at that group, I mean, that's that's
as I'd like to see a deeper room in football
as far as the edge outside back or position goes.
But I think Pet's doing a great job. I love
the scheme with the way flows, mixing looks and allowing
those guys to do some different jobs. But we're going
forward a lot at that position, and those guys are
impacting the game.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
Jared start next weekend and.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
For matter, Yeah, no, I you know, I've I've I've
been that guy before. I've been that guy before. So
I wanted to make sure we got Matt out there,
you know. Unfortunately, kind of a little mix up there
on that on that last keeper on a third and long, Uh,
those things are gonna happen. We'll get Matt ready to go,
and Jared I thought, was, you know, really good for
(12:55):
the most part, rhythm timing, ball coming out accurate, and
then that throw to Jay Shawn. You know that's a
that's a ball on a keeper that you know once
or twice a season that ball might get thrown there.
So Jared to have the awareness, eyes up, attacking with
the ball up, showing his athletic ability, and then throwing
a dime right over the top there.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
It was really cool. We'll work through it.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
But yeah, whether whether we end up you know, having
Nick take some snaps or not next week, but well,
i'd love to see, you know, I'd love to have
extended opportunities for a lot of these guys to continue
to build on the performances they've had. But well, we'll
keep you guys posted about the plan kind of for
next week when it gets a little closer.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
As tough as in news was on JJ is unsettling
as that could be for a team, can you also
have kind of a calvinizing effect within the room and
across the team.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Yeah, I think I think guys are pretty confident in
Sam Darnold. I do, and and you know, when Nick
Mullens got his opportunities last year, we were very explosive
as an offense. So his ability to run the show
and really you know, highlight a lot of different aspects
of our offense with his underderstanding is is something That's
why Nick's here. He's a guy we really respect and
(14:05):
respect his prep and his experience. But I think, you know, nobody,
nobody's more bummed out about JJ's situation than JJ himself,
just because he loves being with his teammates, and we're
going to get him back with the group as fast
as possible. Great to get home and and and see
him post you know, post up. I'm sure he'll be
at the facility day and night already in meetings and everything.
(14:27):
It's it's we're going to really try to craft a
plan for JJ that allows him to not miss a
beat from a mental preparation and that standpoint of going
through game plans throughout the season, really starting to envision
what that looks like for him as he kind of
watches Sam go about it. And you're one of the
system as well, we did, Yeah, we did there, There
(14:47):
was really nothing, nothing to.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Make note of.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
We had a couple guys that maybe would have played
if it was the regular season, but just through the
physicality of the joint practices, which I did, like h
we decided to hold those guys out and just be smart.
I mean, between guys that were a little nicked up
and then I think twenty one or so.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Healthy guys we did sit.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
That speaks to the depth and Quacy and I we
wanted to win some preseason football games this year, and
I think the depth that Caraycy's put together on this roster,
the fact that we're two and zero, and I've seen
a lot of guys play in some cases against you know,
maybe higher levels of the depth chart on some other teams.
It's been really cool to see those guys go out
there and compete.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
All Right, So it's Philadelphia next game, and it's the
final preseason game. Justin Jefferson has never played in a
preseason game since he came into the league in twenty twenty.
So you know, Jefferson, Darnold Jones defensively, the hit man,
so on and so on. The expectation, at least from
my standpoint, I'd be shocked if any of them played.
Feels like it would be like quarterback Jaron Hall and
(15:53):
new guy Matt Corral. But when it comes to what
we saw in those joint practices, we saw a lot
of good things today from the Vikings, twos and threes,
specifically the quarterbacks. Mullins for the most part played pretty well.
I agree with you. Jaron Hall looked as comfortable as
we've seen him pre or regular season those joint practices,
(16:16):
ones versus ones. What did you see then? For those
who maybe missed some of your thoughts on KFAM.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I think Darnold did a great job, especially in the
red zone and the arm strength, making decisions. Justin Jefferson
being more vocal, just being more of a fire you know, firecracker,
just getting guys, you know, fired up, getting the group
fired up, and being a leader in that respect. You know,
he's he's been a little he's always been a little
bit quiet until he does something. But he was right
(16:43):
in there talking getting everybody fired up, and you know
so I think that's the growth spurt. I think Tillery,
Jerry Tillery was he showed up a lot on defense,
you know, I thought John Ward showed up a lot
on the defensive line, and then guys like I've in
pace continuing to do what they do. And you know,
you get guys like mcglothern making plays and some of
(17:05):
these other guys sneaking in there, cam buying them making
a they're they're they look like they are on the
right path, right, And Flora says, every year is different,
every defense is different. We're figuring out who these guys
are and what they can do, and they're gonna coach accordingly.
But I think offensively, that offensive line looking better. It's
(17:26):
it's it's looking better. And I think you know, Darrisaw,
I mean, Paul they watching him and Miles Garrett go
at it.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
It's just it was it was beauty.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
It was a thing of beauty to see those two
guys go about their business. And Derisaw did a very
very good job. So there's a lot to just let's
be hopeful for, right. I mean, obviously Darnold is a
big question mark. He's a huge question mark, but we've
seen evidence of him in the red zone in practice
(17:53):
in some of these games where they yeah, there there
is something I think here to be to be excited
about because No one's looking at the Vikings to win
this division, right, Everyone's going in thinking we'll be third four,
you know whatever. Yeah, I don't think that these players
are looking at it the same way, and I think
that they're going to surprise some people.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
The Vikings are undefeated in the twenty twenty four preseason.
They beat the Raiders, then they go to the road
and they beat Kevin Stefanski's Cleveland Browns twenty seven to
twelve for Pete Versa, John Paul Allen. That's the Postgame
Report podcast. Make sure you stay here at Vikings dot
com for press conferences, interviews, and much much more. Thank
(18:30):
you very much for listening, and we will talk to
you next week from Philadelphia.
Hey, Welcome to Cleveland and the Postgame Report podcast with
a radio analyst former coaching player for the Vikings, Pete Persage.
I'm Paul Allen. We just concluded a twenty seven to
twelve victory for your Minnesota Vikings over the Cleveland Browns
in the second preseason game. Began reigning a bit at
the end, but the Vikings were reigning supreme the entire game,
(00:37):
including right out of the gate where Nick Mullins led
the offense down the field scored a touchdown pass to
Tristian Jackson. Undrafted Dwight mclothern had a ninety yard interception return.
He didn't get into the end zone, but that was
a highlight. But Lewis seen the first round pick from
Georgia a few years ago. It's a preseason game, but
(00:58):
you got to start somewhere. Lou scene stepped up big today.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, And for Lewis Scene, we'll see how much of
that momentum he can carry into Philadelphia, right, and you
hope that the proverbial light switch went off, went up
and that he's going to be playing that loosely. And
you know, we saw a little bit of what was
advertised when we drafted him right, the speed, the hitting,
the ability to blitz. He did a great job disguising
(01:23):
on the blitz on the sack that he had. So
everybody's pulling for Lewis scene. He's had to overcome a
lot to even stay in this league as long as
he has, and hopefully he can show enough and put
enough on tape where if he doesn't make this team,
he's going to be playing somewhere. But Leeah Lewis sceen had.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
A very very good day today and granted his preseason
but undrafted Jayshawn Jones got loose for a seventy one
yard touchdown from Jaren Hall, and it was a wonderful
pass by Jaren and Jaren second year from BYU fifth
rounder last year, he played in three games and he
started too. You know, Jaren Hall had also after the
(02:03):
mcglothern interception, he had a wonderful fade to receiver Malik
Knowles back left of the end zone for another touchdown.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, I think I think Jaren Hall looked a lot
better today than he did a week ago. He got
a little bit of time at the end of the game.
You know, it just things looked a little off when
once he finally got in there. But today, once he
got it, once he got in the behind the center,
this offense kept on humming and he kept on rolling.
And so I'm you know, the arm talent that he has.
(02:32):
And when I arm talent, we don't mean side arm
throws and the strong arm. It's just enough touch on
a bootleg. I mean you're running full speed and have
just enough touch and accuracy to get that ball over
the hands of a defensive back because if that d
back misses, it's a touchdown. And that's exactly what we saw.
So Jaren Hall, I thought, did a fabulous job.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
Now running back in newan Lu had a forty eight
yard touchdown run against the Las Vegas Raiders and he
was the starting tailback today. Couple of things there. Okay,
Aaron Jones is not going to play in a game
like this, specifically after two joint practices where it was
just super physical and he got after it against a
very very good Browns defense Wednesday and Thursday at the
(03:13):
Browns facility in Burrio, Ohio. But how about a ty Chandler. Okay,
ty Chandler didn't play. Yeah, and he's healthy, but that's
I mean that's a credit to how far he's come
and the fact that he's going to be the backup
to Warn Jones, but behind him, cana wan Wu is
going to be on the team with those three kick
(03:33):
return touchdowns. But you kept hitting on it hard on
the simulcast today and I'm with you, man wan Wu
just looks different running the ball than he has the
last couple of years. He's he wants to get the
sideline on kick returns and runs. That's just where he's
most comfortable. But he's bouncing off browns today.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Yeah, he was.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
And I think you start with saying how well ty
Chandler's done. And everybody we've spoken with has said he
works so hard and he's coming along what he's come.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
A long way.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
So they rewarded him with with his you know, with
not having to put the pads on. You had two
good days of practice. But knay Wan who looked more
like a running back today than I've ever seen him. Right,
He's kind of that hybrid receiver running back kind of guy,
but today keeping his shoulders square, especially on those outside
runs when you when you finally get up to the
(04:24):
line of scrimmage, shoulder square, making guys miss he made.
He had a couple of really nice runs where the
free hitter, the free guy in the defense came up,
got some leather on him, but just slid right off.
So for one move, that's important you get him. Just
if you just get one guy to miss, that's where
the explosiveness and the speed and everything else takes over
(04:46):
because he could put he could take that thing to
the house at any time. But the other thing I
love too is it's the simple runs. It's the ISOs downhill.
It's a it's a it's a kind of a toss
play on the outside. It's not a bunch of tricky
type different different plays that they're in venting to make
one who look good. He's just running that base offense
and Paul, he's really tearing it up.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Let's get the thoughts from Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell,
who had this to say following a twenty seven to
twelve victory against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland brown Stadium.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
When you kind of take your team on the road
for the better part of four or five days, really
important part of our off season preparation, training camp prep
was these joint practices. So first and foremost just want
to once again thank Kevin Cleveland Browns. They were awesome
hosts all week long, whatever we needed.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
It was really really good practice work.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
He's got a heck of a coaching staff and a
really good football team. But really wanted to see our
guys having a little bit of a look into you
know what, they were going to play a lot of
repeat matchups from some of those practice reps. Really challenged
our guys to play one snap at a time and
try to win those reps. You know, see how many
one on one reps we can win, how many collective
(05:58):
group efforts of eleven guys doing their job. So that's
what I was most proud of.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Proud of our.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Coaching staff forgetting a lot of players ready to play
on some limited reps. Some guys you know that just
just arrived recently, and to see guys go out there
and function and do some good things. I thought there
were some really nice performances. Lewis scene ten tackles, one
sack and interception. Great to see him really look comfortable
out there and and and make some plays on the football.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
I felt his physicality.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
And and I know the guys on the sideline were
fired up to see lou do his thing. You know,
I thought, Nick Mullens and that first group that we
had out there offensively today to start out the game,
go down there and get a couple explosives, and and
Tristan showing up again, Speedy showing up as well as
just we wanted to run the ball as as as
much as possible. See a lot of different guys, I thought,
(06:49):
whether it was Kenna or Miles and Deebo. I thought
all of our backs ran well against a tough scheme
to run the ball penetrating front.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
So I was happy with the way we were able
to churn.
Speaker 4 (07:00):
Out some yards on the ground and and uh, you know,
just across the board, excited to continue the process. Now
heading back to Egan, excited to get home and get
back to work.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Nick almost had that corner. It seemed like there were
two plays in particular that where he was under pressure
and he seen them throwing the dirt.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Yeah, it's I mean, even you know, the player speaking
of like I thought, I thought he could have got
rid of that football too. Nick's a really important player
to us, especially now, you know, having having lost JJ
and knowing that Nick is.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Here for a reason.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
It's it's great that we have the trust in him
to know our system, and it's great the preparation that
he is and the value in the QB room. But
Nick knows we also value his ability to step in
and move the team, which is what he's really always done.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
But I would have liked, like I love seeing some.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
Of those throwaways, know when the down's over, no, when
we can live to fight the next down. That coming
off of last year, I thought, you know, that was
a big, a big kind of moving forward, get better.
Point for Nick is just you do a lot of
really good things. We just got to make sure we
possess the football as much as possible at the end
of the snaps that we do have that, especially the
(08:12):
ones that maybe don't go our way, it's a great
question mark because that's you know what for Nick at
his created, at this point in his career, that's what
I'm looking for to go along with the expectation that
he's going to run the show and be a field
general out there for us like he always is. So
I was happy with Nick's performance on the day. Really,
a lot of a lot of different guys mixed into
that huddle that maybe don't go get a lot of
(08:34):
reps A lot of times. We had a lot of
guys down today, So really good, really good to see.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Nico do that, and you're starting is that.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
To see Ed?
Speaker 4 (08:46):
I just I just think these these reps are so vital,
And like I tell you guys all the time, we've
got an individual plan for every player on our team.
What we think based upon reps, what we think based
upon getting them game ready.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
So I wanted to see Ed go out there.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
I thought he did some really good things in the
run game passpro for the most part was pretty good.
We got beat on one te kind of stunt there
on a third down.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
But those are great, great reps for Ed to go
out there.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
He was a captain today and and liked, liked Ed
being ready to go today, even coming off of quite
a few reps in the joint practice setting. I would
have loved to see Dalton get some snaps today. And
and yes I would have had Ed play regardless.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Repeat a blother and you know he had to pick Thursday.
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Yeah, no, I would have absolutely mentioned him if he
didn't get hawked down there on the return. But no,
I mean that's no surprise to any of us. I
mean you saw the reaction from his teammates. Dwight's been basically, uh,
you know, every other day or so, you feel like
he's making a play, significant play like that. Just a
really good example of the group of defense in there.
(09:55):
They'd put together a little drive and you know, make
him snap it one more time down in the zone,
and tips and overthrows and and the and the ability
to really.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Flip the entire field.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
Two plays later, Jared starting a touchdown to Milik Knowles,
who was great to have out there as well.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
So Wes West called the offense and Deronta and Mike
Sheridan defense.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
I thought they did great.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
I mean, Wes had a great flow, really did a
great job preparing the guys that we're going to play
clear plan.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I got, you know, very very h you know, unfortunate.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
I think a lot of our penalties came in the
in the special teams phase today, but it felt clean.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
The operation.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Wes called a great game, really mixed it well, some
good third down calls, I'm and put points on the board.
So we really want to compliment West. And then I
thought Durante and and Saravo were. You know, it's it's
always interesting when you're gonna have two separate guys call
plays with you know what their one style is going
to be versus the other. But I thought they played
off of each other well and and like I said,
(10:53):
just challenged the defense at halftime to not give up
another point, and they didn't.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
You know, the offense ended up giving up two there
at the end.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
It wasn't an entire comp I mean that to play
pressure with.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
That for sure, Yeah, no, you know absolutely, And I
think you could go through the list of guys. I mean,
Gant had nine tackles, BA had a really a really
good play there. It looked pretty darn close to a
safety on that one sack that he had, and then
we you know, finish it with another interception there late.
So you know they're not going to get a lot
(11:25):
of credit statistically. But I also thought our D line,
I mentioned the O line. I thought our D line. Uh,
there was knock back, There was a lot of physicality
up there, a lot of different young guys that were
really excited about, you know, in a really competitive situation
in that room.
Speaker 5 (11:40):
I think it was harder kind of creating a little
the traffic for pa on that. Yeah, I think you
had to get passive Blue Kid too.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Yeah, yeah, I mean to me, andre Is continues to
get better. He's he's a guy that you felt him
off the edge quite a bit. I'm sure you guys
did as well. That that outside I think, which Patton's
doing a really good job with that outside back or
group as a whole. And I think you know, guys
like Grenard and Van Ginkel hot he played, you know,
got off to a good start today alongside of DT.
(12:11):
When I look at that group, I mean, that's that's
as I'd like to see a deeper room in football
as far as the edge outside back or position goes.
But I think Pet's doing a great job. I love
the scheme with the way flows, mixing looks and allowing
those guys to do some different jobs. But we're going
forward a lot at that position, and those guys are
impacting the game.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
Jared start next weekend and.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
For matter, Yeah, no, I you know, I've I've I've
been that guy before. I've been that guy before. So
I wanted to make sure we got Matt out there,
you know. Unfortunately, kind of a little mix up there
on that on that last keeper on a third and long, Uh,
those things are gonna happen. We'll get Matt ready to go,
and Jared I thought, was, you know, really good for
(12:55):
the most part, rhythm timing, ball coming out accurate, and
then that throw to Jay Shawn. You know that's a
that's a ball on a keeper that you know once
or twice a season that ball might get thrown there.
So Jared to have the awareness, eyes up, attacking with
the ball up, showing his athletic ability, and then throwing
a dime right over the top there.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
It was really cool. We'll work through it.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
But yeah, whether whether we end up you know, having
Nick take some snaps or not next week, but well,
i'd love to see, you know, I'd love to have
extended opportunities for a lot of these guys to continue
to build on the performances they've had. But well, we'll
keep you guys posted about the plan kind of for
next week when it gets a little closer.
Speaker 5 (13:35):
As tough as in news was on JJ is unsettling
as that could be for a team, can you also
have kind of a calvinizing effect within the room and
across the team.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Yeah, I think I think guys are pretty confident in
Sam Darnold. I do, and and you know, when Nick
Mullens got his opportunities last year, we were very explosive
as an offense. So his ability to run the show
and really you know, highlight a lot of different aspects
of our offense with his underderstanding is is something That's
why Nick's here. He's a guy we really respect and
(14:05):
respect his prep and his experience. But I think, you know, nobody,
nobody's more bummed out about JJ's situation than JJ himself,
just because he loves being with his teammates, and we're
going to get him back with the group as fast
as possible. Great to get home and and and see
him post you know, post up. I'm sure he'll be
at the facility day and night already in meetings and everything.
(14:27):
It's it's we're going to really try to craft a
plan for JJ that allows him to not miss a
beat from a mental preparation and that standpoint of going
through game plans throughout the season, really starting to envision
what that looks like for him as he kind of
watches Sam go about it. And you're one of the
system as well, we did, Yeah, we did there, There
(14:47):
was really nothing, nothing to.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Make note of.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
We had a couple guys that maybe would have played
if it was the regular season, but just through the
physicality of the joint practices, which I did, like h
we decided to hold those guys out and just be smart.
I mean, between guys that were a little nicked up
and then I think twenty one or so.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Healthy guys we did sit.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
That speaks to the depth and Quacy and I we
wanted to win some preseason football games this year, and
I think the depth that Caraycy's put together on this roster,
the fact that we're two and zero, and I've seen
a lot of guys play in some cases against you know,
maybe higher levels of the depth chart on some other teams.
It's been really cool to see those guys go out
there and compete.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
All Right, So it's Philadelphia next game, and it's the
final preseason game. Justin Jefferson has never played in a
preseason game since he came into the league in twenty twenty.
So you know, Jefferson, Darnold Jones defensively, the hit man,
so on and so on. The expectation, at least from
my standpoint, I'd be shocked if any of them played.
Feels like it would be like quarterback Jaron Hall and
(15:53):
new guy Matt Corral. But when it comes to what
we saw in those joint practices, we saw a lot
of good things today from the Vikings, twos and threes,
specifically the quarterbacks. Mullins for the most part played pretty well.
I agree with you. Jaron Hall looked as comfortable as
we've seen him pre or regular season those joint practices,
(16:16):
ones versus ones. What did you see then? For those
who maybe missed some of your thoughts on KFAM.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I think Darnold did a great job, especially in the
red zone and the arm strength, making decisions. Justin Jefferson
being more vocal, just being more of a fire you know, firecracker,
just getting guys, you know, fired up, getting the group
fired up, and being a leader in that respect. You know,
he's he's been a little he's always been a little
bit quiet until he does something. But he was right
(16:43):
in there talking getting everybody fired up, and you know
so I think that's the growth spurt. I think Tillery,
Jerry Tillery was he showed up a lot on defense,
you know, I thought John Ward showed up a lot
on the defensive line, and then guys like I've in
pace continuing to do what they do. And you know,
you get guys like mcglothern making plays and some of
(17:05):
these other guys sneaking in there, cam buying them making
a they're they're they look like they are on the
right path, right, And Flora says, every year is different,
every defense is different. We're figuring out who these guys
are and what they can do, and they're gonna coach accordingly.
But I think offensively, that offensive line looking better. It's
(17:26):
it's it's looking better. And I think you know, Darrisaw,
I mean, Paul they watching him and Miles Garrett go
at it.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
It's just it was it was beauty.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
It was a thing of beauty to see those two
guys go about their business. And Derisaw did a very
very good job. So there's a lot to just let's
be hopeful for, right. I mean, obviously Darnold is a
big question mark. He's a huge question mark, but we've
seen evidence of him in the red zone in practice
(17:53):
in some of these games where they yeah, there there
is something I think here to be to be excited
about because No one's looking at the Vikings to win
this division, right, Everyone's going in thinking we'll be third four,
you know whatever. Yeah, I don't think that these players
are looking at it the same way, and I think
that they're going to surprise some people.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
The Vikings are undefeated in the twenty twenty four preseason.
They beat the Raiders, then they go to the road
and they beat Kevin Stefanski's Cleveland Browns twenty seven to
twelve for Pete Versa, John Paul Allen. That's the Postgame
Report podcast. Make sure you stay here at Vikings dot
com for press conferences, interviews, and much much more. Thank
(18:30):
you very much for listening, and we will talk to
you next week from Philadelphia.
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