What to watch for in preseason week 3: Minnesota Vikings vs 49ers

Starting Spots Up For Grabs

The Minnesota Vikings have a number of starting jobs that remain open to competition heading into their 3^rd preseason affair. The coaching staff will generally tip their hat to observers with the players who are named as starters for game 3 customarily being the ones who have done enough to continue in that role for the opening game. Despite that the opinions of the coaching staff can still swayed by substantial performances on Sunday evening.

Offensively the most hotly contested positional battle has been at center between Nick Easton and Rookie Pat Elflein. Both players have impressed coaches, analysts and fans alike thus far.

Heading into game 3 the competitors appear to be in a dead heat with both looking to receive snaps with the first team offensive line, the player who performs the best seems set to win the starting role.

The competition at running back looks to be currently taking place in name only with most, including our own Adam Patrick, assuming that Dalvin Cook has locked up the role of RB1 with his impressive preseason outings. Cook has been aided thus far by Latavius Murray’s continual absence but that looks set to end on Sunday. Murray would have to dumbfound coaches in his debut to claim his place at the top of the depth chart but with a decent performance he can certainly make a case for his fair share of first team snaps.

Defensively the battle to replace Chad Greenway at weakside linebacker wages on but due an injury to Kentrell Brothers the field has been narrowed to 3. Emmanuel Lamur, Ben Gedeon and Edmond Robinson Jr remain in the hunt and surprisingly the rookie from Michigan has taken the lead after playing well against Seattle in his first start. Lamur and Robinson Jr are still in contention but both have looked indifferent in their playing time so far and will need remarkable performances to usurp Gedeon.

An unexpected contestant is making waves in the skirmish for the opportunity to line up next to Linval Joseph at 3-technique defensive tackle. With Shariff Floyd still attempting a comeback from a career threatening injury that kept him out for all of last season, the Vikings headed into training camp with Tom Johnson, Datone Jones and Shamar Stephen duking it out for the starting gig. The 3 veterans remain in the mix due to their indifferent preseason showings but 4^th round rookie Jaleel Johnson has done his best to steal the show in both of the Vikings preseason games, inserting himself into the competition.

The folks at Pro Football Focus and countless other observers have certainly been impressed, including Mike Zimmer. If Johnson can continue to shine against the 49ers he might just to enough to steal a starting role along the defensive line.

Next: Players to Watch Vs 49ers

On special teams the competition to be named as a Vikings’ specialist continues at both the Kicker and Punter positions. Kai Forbath may have taken a slender lead in the kicking competition after converting a 51 yard field goal against the Seahawks but Marshall Koehn remains in the hunt. The duel between Ryan Quigley and Taylor Symmank remains neck and neck. After Sunday’s dress rehearsal both contests and many others should be much clearer.