I didn't get to watch this game. Of course it wouldn't be broadcast in the LA area, so my only chance would be if I had the NFL network. My cable provider, Charter, doesn't carry it. So, the best I can do is watch the nfl.com highlights, look at the box score, and read the comments of everybody else that did get to watch it. With that in mind, here's my reaction to the game.
The best sign from this game was the play of the offensive line. Even without Pat Williams playing, the Vikings have a great defensive front, and the Seahawks were playing with uber-green centers. One stat really sticks out: Zero Vikings sacks. I was reading through the comments of a game preview post on daily norseman and commenters were discussing how many sacks the Vikings defensive starters would get in the first quarter. And I can't blame them - I would have expected at least one, which is why zero is such a pleasant surprise.
Overall the offense seemed to be humming along - 4.6 yards/carry rushing, 257 yards receiving, multiple touchdowns - and that further reflects on the line play. Mike Kahn, on with John Clayton today, said the offense had the kind of up-tempo rhythm that a properly-functioning Mike Holmgren offense should have (and usually doesn't early in the season). Hasselbeck looked as good as he could have.
The running game looked great, minus T.J. Ducketts's performance. I'm surprised with how well Morris ran, and couldn't be happier with Forsett's stats - 4.5 yards/carry across 13 attempts. That guy is really pushing for a roster spot. I must say I'm a little surprised Julius Jones didn't get more carries. I read that the coaches intended to get him more and circumstances didn't work out quite right. He also got his runs with the second unit, which could be troubling. I say 'could' because Jones might get the first team carries next week and everything will even out. But consider this game a red flag for how Holmgren might treat the running back rotation this year.
Holmgren has been saying all training camp that he doesn't expect to have a workhorse back, that the carries will be split between Morris and Jones primarily, plus some small amount going to the big backs. I assumed this was Holmgren's way of not rubbing it in Morris's face that Jones was brought in to be the #1 back and Morris would be 1a at best. But what if Holmgren pulls the same loyalty act with Morris that he did with Alexander last year? It was so obvious that Morris should have been getting the bulk of the carries in 2007, but Holmgren seemed to want to will Alexander back to the player he was in 2005. Unfortunately, will isn't enough to get production from a running back over 30. Now, this thought is premised on Jones being the better, more productive back. If Morris can consistently run like he did last night (note that he was running against the Vikings' number ones as well), that premise may be incorrect. But I'll believe that when I see it. In the meantime, and until I'm shown otherwise, I want to see Jones getting 60% of the carries.
The first team defense was apparently a disaster. I'm not too worried, mainly because it's so out of character for a unit that collectively isn't competing for roster spots. The Vikings also came out with an all-pass game plan for Tarvaris Jackson, which seems perfectly reasonable in hindsight, but wasn't excepted at the time. Mike Kahn talked about a conversation he had with Lofa Tatupu after the game, and Tatupu said that the defense was so jacked up about stopping Adrian Peterson that they were caught off-guard with all of the passes. If the first team gives up a bunch of points to the Bears next week, then I'll be worried. As a side note, what is worth being worried about is how good Tarvaris Jackson looked. He played really well at the end of last season. If that continues, or gets better, the Vikings will be that much better.
Quick notes: Jamar Adams had the kind of game he needed to push for a roster spot. Jordan Kent had a nice touchdown catch (it's in the nfl.com video), while Obomanu and Taylor had no catches, for a touchdown or otherwise. David Hawthorne, a rookie that was completely off my radar at the start of camp, was blowing people up. That's great - the Seahawks need some depth at linebacker, especially with Will Herring's mysterious illness.
Final thought: Super Bowl dreams can't really be stoked with a preseason win, but they can definitely be dashed (like with the loss at Green Bay last preseason). This result is probably the best that can be hoped for - no injuries, the offense clicked, and the defense received a nice dose of humble pie. Here's to putting a whoopin' on Chicago next week.
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