Preseason games have started to shift in nature as teams have continued moving away from starters seeing the field. The onus has started to be placed on getting young players in battles for roster spots the brunt of the snaps. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell made his stance on playing starters in preseason known right away when he didn’t let guys like Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson see a single snap of action. The same should be expected when the Vikings head to Seattle for their first preseason matchup of 2023. That should give rookies and young guys on the bubble plenty of opportunity to showcase their talents. Even without starters playing there should still be plenty of storylines to pay attention to in the Vikings preseason opener, including an intriguing rookie quarterback debut.
Vikings Preseason Week 1 Preview: Rookie Quarterback Worth Watching
Jaren Hall’s Debut
Nick Mullens is deservedly the front-runner for the backup quarterback role in Minnesota this coming season. He’s played generally serviceable football in the past when pressed into action by various Jimmy Garoppolo injuries in San Francisco. That backdrop alone puts him in the respectable backup quarterback category as teams normally have no idea what they’re going to get from that spot.
A resume of playing well for a backup is still not enough to stop Vikings fans from hoping to see rookie sixth-round quarterback Jaren Hall pushing Mullens for the job. Anytime a team drafts a rookie quarterback, regardless of round, they become an immediate source of interest for the fanbase.
That truth should particularly hold true for Hall, who has a “dominate the preseason” type of skillset. He’s on the slighter side but plays the game like a poor man’s Kyler Murray. He doesn’t have the arm talent that Murray does, but he’s lightning-quick inside and outside the pocket. Hall is also old for a rookie and an extremely quick decision-maker when distributing the ball. Look for him to dissect the vanilla defensive looks he’s likely to see on Thursday and add a few splash plays with his legs. Something like 200 total yards and a few touchdowns seems in the realm of possibility. That would certainly be enough to get Minnesota buzzing about a backup quarterback controversy.
Only one foot down but what a throw from Jarren Hall #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/I6QL3RuLAN
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) February 2, 2023
Backup Running Back Competition
Alexander Mattison was the presumed bell cow coming into training camp. Reports are that he’s done nothing but solidify that since camp got rolling. Behind him though, there’s a trio of backs trying to sort out the hierarchy for any remaining backfield work. Ty Chandler shredded defenses last preseason and feels like the favorite to get some of the passing down work. However, good showings from return ace Kene Nwangwu and rookie DeWayne McBride could shake that up. Preseason games tend to get a little run heavy later in games. That should give all three backs plenty of opportunities to make their case in this early camp competition.
Unveiling of Brian Flores’ Defense
Minnesota’s defensive deficiencies last year were no secret to anyone watching. They made bad quarterbacks like Mac Jones, Mike White, and Daniel Jones (twice) look like All Pros. It was absolutely maddening watching their corners line up 15 yards off the ball and drop into shell coverage snap after every snap. Former Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell may have been a Vic Fangio disciple, but he certainly couldn’t convey the same message.
Enter Brian Flores, who has proven to be one of the better defensive minds in the game over the past decade. He should instantly transform a unit that was the most conservative in football into an ultra-aggressive group. It will be interesting to see how Flores decides to set the tone in Preseason Week 1. Defenses tend to get a little more vanilla as those games progress, but a few early blitzes would be a welcome sight.
Ivan Pace’s Emergence
Off-ball linebacker Ivan Pace has been the star of camp so far in Minnesota. Pace is an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati that was considered too small to start as a pro. He’s been on a mission to prove all 32 teams wrong since the moment he signed with Minnesota. The 2022 unanimous All-American immediately began raising eyebrows by working with the second unit. He just recently even started working with the starters at times. The hype train has gotten to the point where even vets like Harrison Smith are eager to see what he’s going to do Thursday. A lot of times these camp hero stories turn out to be smoke and mirrors when the lights come on. However, Pace has a real chance in Seattle to prove that the hype is here to stay.
Main Photo: Brad Rempel – USA Today Sports
