The Minnesota Vikings continue their preseason schedule as they’ll host the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
The game likely will consist of backups after the two teams had a pair of joint practices at TCO Performance Center this week, but like any preseason game, there’s enough intrigue if you look between the margins.
With several roster spots up for grabs and a chance to put some good tape down before the start of the regular season, many players will look to prove a point on Saturday. It leaves this trio with a lot to gain with a good performance and higher stakes than a typical preseason game.
Minnesota Vikings who have the most to gain against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday
J.J. McCarthy - QB
McCarthy was banished to the backup role a few weeks ago, but he has hardly been out of the spotlight. His practices have been analyzed with a magnifying glass, and fans on both ends are ready to point out his flaws or successes at a moment’s notice.
But while that wasn’t enough to win a competition for the starting job, McCarthy may have stumbled into another one for the backup role against Carson Wentz.
O’Connell tried to put out the flames earlier this week when mentioning that McCarthy has taken all of the second-team reps since Kyler Murray was named the starter on August 11.
But SKOR North’s Judd Zulgad noted that Wentz had taken the final five snaps against the first-team defense in Monday’s practice, perhaps signaling a shift on the team’s depth chart.
That may be much ado over nothing, but it is interesting considering that many of McCarthy’s flaws from a year ago – including poor accuracy, command in the huddle and holding onto the ball too long – were present in the preseason opener against the New York Giants.
Wentz wasn’t perfect in that game either, but it at least felt like he had some control when he was on the field.
The best way for McCarthy to end this talk is with a solid performance on Saturday. And even if the Vikings have decided that Wentz is the backup, playing well could audition him for another team and perhaps get him the fresh start he appears to need at this stage of his career.
Caleb Banks - DL
Banks had a lot of hype ahead of his preseason debut, but he turned out to be a massive disappointment.
According to PFF, Banks’s 30.4 overall grade was the lowest among all Vikings defenders against the Giants. He also failed to generate a quarterback pressure on 12 pass-rushing snaps and struggled to get into the backfield.
Part of this should have been expected. A player high on size and physical talent, Banks was limited to three games during his final season at Florida and didn’t participate until training camp after breaking his foot during the NFL Scouting Combine.
He also needs to refine his technique to be a more consistent player, which is something that all rookies encounter as they experience life in the NFL.
It would have been great if Banks ripped through the Giants’ offensive line in Week 1, but that’s now in the past.
The best thing Banks can do going forward is show why the Vikings took a big gamble in taking him with the 18th overall pick and perhaps show enough improvement to earn snaps when the games begin to count.
Ivan Pace Jr. - ILB
The season-ending injury to Jamal Adams is disappointing considering the Vikings appeared to have plans to use him at safety and linebacker. But the biggest winner coming out of it may be Pace.
The fourth-year linebacker seemed to be battling Adams for a roster spot at the beginning of camp, but with Adams sidelined, he has the opportunity to work his way onto the team.
To do that, he’ll have to perform better than he did against the Giants. A poor angle on a Devin Singletary reception helped New York convert a 3rd-and-23 in the second quarter.
A few plays later, Pace was “Mossed” in coverage on a touchdown pass from Jaxon Dart to Malachi Fields, continuing his weakness in coverage that seems to be getting worse at this stage of his career.
Still, there appeared to be enough good to take out of that game. Pace recorded three tackles and had a quarterback pressure in his 25 snaps and he also had an overall grade of 74.0 and a run defense grade of 89.3.
If he improves his coverage slightly, it could be enough to get him a solid role and the path is clear after Adams got hurt in New York.
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