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The Minnesota Vikings probably won't be playing their starters at a high capacity during their first preseason game of 2019 against the New Orleans Saints on August 9th. But, there are still some notable things to watch for the team that reached the NFC Championship two seasons ago.
3. Improvement by the Offensive Line
The Vikings' offensive line was a problem for Kirk Cousins in his first year in Minnesota. The quarterback dealt with constant pressure and finished the season with 40 sacks taken. In the offseason, the Vikings attempted to rebuild the unit despite not possessing an abundance of cap space. The results, on paper, show they did just that.
The biggest addition, rookie center Garrett Bradbury, is a player alone worth watching. The Vikings invested the No. 18 overall pick on him in hopes of beefing up their interior line. But names to watch don't end at Bradbury. Veteran addition Josh Kline, second-year right tackle Brian O'Neill, and veteran Riley Reiff will have eyes on them, as Minnesota's faithful seeks consistency for the group.
In all, the Vikings offensive line appears to be a better unit, and that can't be confirmed until playing matters. But, considering their need for improvement and a rookie on-board, preseason will be the first tell if Cousins will last in the pocket come 2019.
2. Playcalling for rushes
The Vikings hired John DeFilippo to mold their offense in 2018. While the pass-minded offensive coordinator pushed the ball down the field with clever designs and play-calling to get Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs open, he was fired before the season-ending. The reason being his inability to build up a rushing attack.
With the talented Dalvin Cook expected to take the bulk of the touches, the Vikings are expected to run the ball more. Offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski dialed up the run more than DeFillipo in his three games as the interim at the position. Stefanski's offense averaged 28 rushes per game, while DeFillipo's averaged 21.
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Stefanski is now the full-time offensive coordinator, which should mean more rushes. But, there is an extra twist; Gary Kubiak is now an offensive advisor, his scheme is zone-run dependent. While we won't see the Vikings' full rushing attack in preseason, it should be interesting to see how Kubiak's schematics and tendencies form with Stefanski's in non-competitive play.
1. The fight for the No. 3 WR job
The Vikings possess one of the NFL's premier wide receiver duos, but outside of that, there is a lack of threatening talent. Former first-round selection Laquon Treadwell has auditioned for the job, but he may not get it. 2018 undrafted product Chad Beebe may be the answer there, as Mike Zimmer said last week.
“Chad Beebe’s been doing a really nice job. He’s been playing some inside and some outside. He’s a guy that we found in one of the [undrafted rookie] workouts that has great acceleration… He’s a guy that doesn’t have to slow down out of his breaks. So he’s breaking full speed.”
Beebe can solidify his spot at the No. 3 wide receiver in preseason and Treadwell can gain it back. The fight for the position doesn't just make a good training camp battle, it makes for one in preseason play as the two showcase their talents on a bigger stage. However, indications point to Beebe winning it.
