Vikings Rookie Report Card: Preseason Week Two
The Minnesota Vikings fell to 0-2 this preseason after a sluggish 12-10 loss against the Indianapolis Colts. As advertised, both teams sent out the majority of their starters to begin the game. However, they still left plenty of time for the reserves to come in with an opportunity to prove themselves. Here is the rookie report card for the latest edition of Vikings preseason football.
QB Kellen Mond
Grade: C+
We’re still waiting for Kellen Mond to grab this QB2 position by the horns. After a pretty dreadful first preseason game, Mond again had a mostly underwhelming performance in week two. This time though, we can’t really offer up a ton of excuses. There were multiple moments of indecision for the rookie QB throughout the second half, and a couple times it cost Minnesota yards and first downs. In order to truly be a safety net at backup QB, he is going to need to shore these mistakes up, and fast.
However, it’s not all bad tonight. Mond made a few very nice throws under pressure, and he even threw a couple strikes while taking a hit. Most notably was a first down play at the end of the third quarter. Mond took a hit from behind, but he still delivered a bullet pass straight to Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Unfortunately, a hold was called on Cohl Cabral, nullifying the play. Mond may just be handed the QB2 position on a silver platter given how Jake Browning has performed, but if he can make more of these types of throws rather than the indecisive ones, it will go a long ways.
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Grade: B+
It would have been nice to see Ihmir Smith-Marsette haul in one of his two targets on Saturday, but he didn’t have any glaring drops like he did last week. In fact, he had a very impressive catch at the end of the third quarter, but the 16-yard reception got called back because of a hold along the o-line. His routes were clean, and he looked much more ready to play. He just needed Jake Browning to be on the money, who missed him badly on both targets in the first half.
ISM also made a much bigger impact in the return game against the Colts. He had three returns on the day (two kicks, one punt), and he read his blocking very well. His day was highlighted by a 41-yard kick return to open up the second quarter. For the rookie to make an impact immediately, his ability as a return man is probably his road towards making the roster.
G Wyatt Davis
Grade: A-
Wyatt Davis had himself a very good game at right guard this week. It seems like Oli Udoh has the starting spot locked up, but Davis showed some great skills in pass blocking. He allowed zero pressures against the Colts—a welcomed sight from a team that watched a ton of subpar play at the position last season.
As aforementioned, Udoh will probably start week one. However, after watching Davis play back-to-back games compared to Dakota Dozier, RG2 should solidly belong to Davis at this point.
TE Zach Davidson
Grade: C
Zach Davidson had an opportunity to emerge in this TE3 battle, but it feels as close as ever. Tyler Conklin sat out this week, so both Davidson and Brandon Dillion took plenty of snaps in this game. Both players had the same amount of production in the passing game: three targets, one catch, six yards.
Both players are capable in the blocking game, but still not perfect. Davidson had a few lapses throughout the game, and with only one preseason game remaining, we shall see who can win this battle.
DE Janarius Robinson
Grade: B-
Janarius Robinson is probably locked into a backup role along this defensive line. He played left end for much of the second half, and he was able to get in the backfield a couple times to make an impact. With Patrick Jones sitting out of this game, he had a chance to move ahead of his fellow rookie, but I wouldn’t say he accomplished that this week.
LB Chazz Surratt
Grade: B+
Like most of the Vikings rookies, Chazz Surratt looked much better this week than last. The game got off to a rough start for him with a missed tackle on a punt return, but the third-round pick quickly got it together. On the very next return, Surratt blew up the play before Isaiah Rogers could even react.
Defensively, Surratt was all over the field as well. He recorded a team-high nine tackles, including a TFL. On a couple instances, the physicality of Indy’s RBs got the better of him, but this was overall a much better performance than last week against Denver.
S Cam Bynum
Grade: B
With both Harrison Smith and Xavier Woods sitting out this game, Cam Bynum got the start this week. He performed much better as well, which should go as a great sigh of relief for Vikings fans. The Vikings desperately need to find some safety depth behind their two veterans, and everyone was holding their breath after the Broncos offense torched the secondary last week.
Bynum was involved in a couple solid plays in pass coverage. Most notably, he batted a ball in the air while covering a slant route that was then intercepted by Jordon Scott. It was the second consecutive possession in which the Vikings picked off Sam Ehlinger.
