Player Grades - S13 PW1 vs Saints

majesty95

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The Vikings knocked off the Saints in the first preseason game 24 -20. While the score was close, the game was largely controlled by Minnesota. There are a lot of new faces on this roster competing for jobs and most of them played very well in the win. We went into the film room and broke down the game play-by-play and handed out grades for the first week of action. Here's our assessment of each guy and their spot on the roster heading into next week's game vs the Colts.

OFFENSE

QB Tom Savage - 83

Savage played the first quarter and did a nice job completing 4-of-5 passes for 55 yards. There wasn't a lot of film to go off of but it was a solid performance and puts him in the lead for the #3 QB job.

QB Joel Stave - 45

The former Wisconsin QB won the backup job with a solid preseason last year but got off to a rough start in this one. He completed only 11-of-22 passes and threw two INTs. He did have a few nice plays that showed his potential but was far too inconsistent and is in danger of losing his roster spot with another poor performance.

HB Jerrick McKinnon - 90

McKinnon had a nice game overall. He had a nice kick return and a couple of solid runs including a 22-yard TD scamper. Jerrick looks like he has a solid hold on the #2 HB job behind Adrian Peterson, especially with the rookie Freeman getting injured.

HB Royce Freeman - 78

The rookie from Oregon electrified the crowd when he broke off a 59-yard run on his second carry of the game. After that he only had six carries for 21 yards though and and also dropped a wide open pass. Freeman left the game in the third and will miss the rest of the preseason and likely the first week of the regular season with an injury. He's a lock for a roster spot as the team's first round pick and certainly flashed tremendous potential but seems destined to be the #3 back at this point.

HB Jhurell Pressley - 82

Pressley was a nice addition last year and provided some valuable reps as the team's #3 back. Unfortunately for him, he's not viewed as a long-term answer at HB with Peterson starting to slow a step and the team taking Freeman with their first-round pick. Pressley still has value and could see a roster spot though. He's a solid return man as he showed in this game and also broke off a 32-yard run. He'll just need to improve his special teams play if he really wants to solidify a spot on the final 53.

HB Dwayne Washington - 78

Washington spent last season on the practice squad and was anxious to spend an entire camp with the team. He showed good ability as a punt returner and also had a nice run from scrimmage. He'll need to improve on his 3.8 YPC or show tremendous potential on special teams if he wants to crack this extremely deep rotation of running backs.

FB Ted Bolser - 78

The converted TE is getting the first crack at the starting FB job. He showed well in his first game although in limited action. He has good potential as a blocker but isn't consistent enough just yet but still leads this trio of fullbacks fighting for the starting job.

WR Adam Humphries - 85

Humphries was picked up in the offseason as a possible slot receiver and is still slated as the likely #4 receiver even after the team added Ryan Switzer in the draft. Humphries has a couple of nice catches in this one and also showed ability as a blocker. We're likely to see a lot more of him with Switzer out until at least the start of the regular season.

WR Ryan Switzer - INC

Switzer got hit and tore a shoulder muscle on his first target of the game. He was projected as the team's #3 receiver and possible punt returner. However, he'll miss the preseason and may have to work his way back into the rotation when he returns.

WR Josh Reynolds - 90

Not much was expected of Reynolds who was taken towards the end of the 6th round in this year's draft. However, the Texas A&M product (one of three taken in the draft) had one of the best grades on the day hauling in three passes for first downs and also flashing ability as a blocker. With Switzer out, expect to see Reynolds get an extended look in the preseason. He could make Switzer getting a spot in the lineup very tough when he returns from injury.

WR TJ Jones - 85

Jones flashed solid potential with a pair of long first down conversions. He's got some really tough competition for a lineup spot but fared well in his first action with the team.

WR Devin Lucien - 74

Lucien wasn't super active and flubbed his one big opportunity of the game dropping a crucial third down pass. He has an outside shot at making the team, especially if there are any more injuries, but he's going to have to hold onto those types of passes if he's going to beat out anyone on this talented receiving corps.

TE Mycole Pruitt - 75

Pruitt played with the first team so didn't see a ton of action. He's a guy with good speed that can stretch the field vertically. However, he's not much of a blocker (although he had a nice block to break a run in this game) which is why the team brought in Jermaine Gresham. He's got the inside track on the #3 TE spot but we'll have to see more from him in the next few games to know for sure what the Vikings plans are for him.

TE Cameron Clear - 75

Another Texas A&M product, Clear was brought in to compete with Pruitt as more of a blocker. However, he showed nice potential hauling in three passes in the game. He also missed a block and drew a penalty on a kick return. It could go either way with him and Pruitt for the #3 TE spot and will likely come down to the final preseason game before a decision is made.

LT Jake Long - 80

Long was once one of the best tackle prospects in the game and he showed flashes of that in this game. He's still not as consistent as the team would like but has a shot at the team's primary backup at both tackle positions once again this year.

LG Willie Beavers - 85

The second-year man out of Western Michigan had a very good game overall and graded well as both a pass and run blocker. If he can develop some consistency and play like that against top level talent he has a shot to move into a starting role as the older linemen on this team retire or move on.

C Mason Cole - 65

Cole was drafted in the second round as the likely replacement for John Sullivan. However, Cole struggled in this game giving up a sack and drawing a penalty. He has potential and is almost assured of a roster spot but the Vikings have to be at least a little nervous about this pick early on in camp.

RT T.J. Clemmings - 85

Clemmings is another young guy who the team hopes can become a starter one day. He showed great promise in this game and was one of the most consistent performers on the offensive line. He's almost guaranteed a roster spot but games like this show he could be in the team's plans beyond this year.

RT Josh Sitton - 65

Sitton only played one quarter but it was largely forgettable. He was one of the biggest names on the free agent market and the team hoped a move from RG to RT would help solidify their line. However, he gave up a sack and lost a block on a run that resulted in no gain. If he is not able to make the transition to tackle it could spell trouble for the Vikings in both the run and pass game.

DEFENSE

DE Daeshon Hall - 78

Hall played with the first team so did not get much action but showed well when he was in there. He will compete with Paul Hazel for the backup RE job which will probably not be decided until the last week of the preseason.

DE Paul Hazel - 75

Hazel played fairly well for the majority of this game and even flashed some nice ability stopping a play behind the line of scrimmage. He's just not very strong at the point of attack and looks like one of those players that can make a great play one minute and then give up one the next. There's still three games left to decide but the team looks to prefer Hall at right end at this point in camp.

OLB Brandon Watts - 88

Watts played extremely well when Anthony Barr got hurt last year so his solid performance is not much of a surprise. He plays well against the run and has exceptional speed to run plays down from behind. He also looked good on special teams and projects as one of the team's top defensive reserves once again this season.

OLB Edmond Robinson - 85

Robinson is a practice squad guy trying to earn a roster spot this year. He's got a solid shot after a very solid performance against the Saints. He tied for the team lead with seven tackles and also had a pass breakup and a QB pressure. There is a deep group of linebackers competing for spots this year but Robinson did about as much as he could have with his opportunity.

MLB Kevin Reddick - 62

For everything that Robinson did to earn a job, Reddick did equally as much to lose a job. Expected to compete with Gerald Hodges for the backup middle linebacker job, Reddick looked old and slow in this game. He got driven out of a play on a long TD run, missed an open field tackle and was uninspiring as a blocker on special teams. The Vikings will likely give him one more game to turn it around but things don't look good for the four year veteran.

OLB Bruce Carter - 84

While his former North Carolina teammate (Reddick) looked to play himself out of a job, Carter showed the flashes that made him a 2nd-round pick and one of the most electric linebackers in college football once upon a time. Carter had an interception on New Orleans' first pass of the game and also got a QB pressure and a tackle. We'll see how he plays when he's on the field for more than one quarter but he looks to have an inside track on one of the backup linebacker positions early on.

OLB Emmanuel Lamur - 68

Lamur is an enigma for this team. They love his athleticism and he flashes tremendous potential yet cannot put together a string of solid series. He had six tackles including two for a loss, one of which was an impressive play coming from the backside showing his pursuit skills, yet missed a tackle and showed very poor spacial awareness. With guys like Carter and Watts around, Lamur is likely just biding his time until he's sent to the unemployment line.

CB Dee Milliner - 77

Milliner is a former first round pick who has not been able to put it together at this level. He got off to a poor start in this one giving up a first down completion and drawing a pass interference call on a third down. However, he rebounded with a couple of nice third down plays and an impressive reach in to knock a ball loose. The Vikings brought him in hoping to be their #4 corner and this game probably doesn't change that. They just have to hope he plays more like the second half version of himself when he is called to action or this defense could take a step backwards this year after letting Captain Munnerlyn go and seeing Terrence Newman retire.

CB Charles James II - 78

The Saints targeted James early and often and, while he had his ups and downs, showed solid potential as a depth corner for this team. James had three pass breakups including a crucial third down but also got lost at times showing poor pursuit angles. He was also got beaten in man coverage on several occasions. He's not likely to be more than a special teams player, but the Vikings have to feel comfortable that they can get by with him as a nickel back for a game or two if they were hit with a rash of injuries.

CB Marcus Sherels - 93

Sherels was the top rated player in this game and not because of his special teams play. Known as one of the game's most feared punt returners, Sherels typically gets a spot as the 6th cornerback. This game showed he has potential to compete for a spot in the slot. Typically you don't see that with players in their 8th year but Sherels was near perfect in his grading even without a significant contribution on special teams.

FS Anthony Harris - 86

Harris is not likely to see the playing field with Harrison Smith in front of him, however, with games like this, the Vikings have to feel they have a solid backup should Smith ever get injured. Harris had two key stops for no gain including one on the goal line and also had an interception. He can be inconsistent in pursuit but is a solid overall backup and is almost a certainly for the final 53.

SS Justin Evans - 87

The scouting report on Evans is that he is always around the ball, is a big hitter and that he can be a center field type safety. All of those proved accurate in this game. Evans was in on just about every play in this game, although some of them resulted in negative grades. He showed his hit power on an open field tackle, ran down a play from behind for a TFL and broke up two third down passes including a deep ball down the middle. However, he showed his inexperience in coverage getting washed out of a few plays, one of which went for a red zone TD. Even with the errors, Evans was impressive in his debut and will push Jayron Kearse hard for the starting strong safety job.
 
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