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Vikings Notebook: Preseason Game 3

By Jake Andersen

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Taylor Heinicke (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 27: Taylor Heinicke (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: C.J. Beathard (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 27: C.J. Beathard (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Defense

  • The starting defense gave up touchdowns to Brian Hoyer and the 49ers offense on their first two drives. One, a 46-yard bomb to Marquise Goodwin. The other a 24-yard strike to Carlos Hyde. The defense was not in sync and Harrison Smith got beat on both touchdown plays, unlike the star safety. The defense settled down after the scoring drives forcing a couple punts.
  • Trae Waynes had a rough night giving up a few passes to Pierre Garcon. He recovered by breaking up another Goodwin bomb, but luckily, the ball was underthrown because Goodwin had a couple steps on him.
  • Waynes seemingly lacks the killer instinct against the run and looks apprehensive on cutting routes off. On the opening drive, Garcon made Waynes look silly on one particular play even more so than the rest of the debacle. Garcon gained the first down while making Waynes look silly when he pirouetted the wrong way.
  • Ben Gedeon started again and made one tackle. In my opinion, he has the weakside linebacker job locked up as Emmanuel Lamur went out with a concussion and Edmond Robinson struggled stopping the run.
  • What happened to Edmond Robinson to fall so far out of favor? Gedeon has yet to really light it up and run away with the job but is still seemingly ahead of both Lamur and Robinson at this point.
  • The second and third team defenses also had a tough time stopping a 49ers offense that looked unstoppable at times. The biggest gaff was on 3rd down, with 22 yards to gain a first down, Beathard throws a simple screen pass to Raheem Mostert and he takes it 87 yards to paydirt.
  • Antone Exum Jr. continued his great preseason by making a nice play on a fumble that later was ruled an interception. If he fails to make the team, I will be flabbergasted; his preseason has been exceptional.
  • Although the Vikings only gave up 91 yards total on the ground, they surrendered 340 yards through the air to the trio of Hoyer, Beathard and Matt Barkley. Yeah, the team plays Drew Brees on week one and that stat most assuredly scares even the most loyal Vikings’ fans.
  • Will Sutton did record a sack but Jaleel Johnson and other youngsters continue to make a case to make the 53-man roster. Next week will be interesting as all the rookies and undrafted free agents will be battling their cases with fervor.
  • The defense continually over pursues ball-carriers while losing contain on the edge. Nothing special from the San Fran playbook; yet, multiple bubble-players missing tackles and giving up big plays.
    • Danielle Hunter and Jayron Kearse both took terrible angles when rushing the quarterback resulting in easy dump-offs to running backs for big gains.
    • Kentrell Brothers and Edmond Robinson both bit on moves by ball-carriers, giving up big plays. Has Brothers done enough this preseason to make the 53-man roster?
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