Game Thread, Pittsburgh Steelers at Minnesota Vikings
by Gonzo
on Aug 23, 2008 5:00 PM CDT
in Game Threads
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Minnesota Vikings
Well, folks, we are a couple of hours away from the Vikings' third, and arguably most important, pre-season game of 2008. They'll also be in the national spotlight this evening, as they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Metrodome.
As far as the Vikings' injury situation, it looks like Tarvaris Jackson isn't going to play after all, and in my estimation, that's the right move to make. Even though pre-season game #3 IS the most important (if any pre-season game can really be considered "important," that is), there's no point in risking your starting quarterback in a pre-season game if it means that there's a chance he won't be ready when the bullets start flying for real. So, Gus Frerotte will get the majority of the snaps with the first team this evening, with Brooks Bollinger and John David Booty following him up.
On the wide receiver front, Bernard Berrian is going to play tonight, despite a toe injury that apparently gave him trouble last season as well. On the down side, Sidney Rice (the official wide receiver of The Daily Norseman) will NOT play this evening, as he's had a virus all week long.
The rest of the Vikings' injury situation tells us that DE Brian Robison, S Madieu Williams, and TE Garrett Mills are out (and this has to be putting a serious crimp in Mills' attempts to make the roster), while OL Drew Radovich and OL Tim Mattran are questionable. Marcus Johnson should be coming back from a knee injury this evening.
This is Mike Tomlin's first trip to Minneapolis since he took the Steelers' head coaching job after the 2006 season.
The game will be on your local CBS affiliate. If you're somewhere that doesn't have a TV, might I suggest this link here (scroll down a ways to find it). That's how I'll be watching, in any event. . .stupid DirecTV not giving me my local channels.
In any event. . .
SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!
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Alright, folks. . .
All I’m going off of here is an internet feed. . .I hope it cooperates.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 7:04 PM CDT 0 recs
Three and out to start with
Nice little start for the Beloved Purple.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 7:09 PM CDT 0 recs
Penalties
Ahhhhh! I can’t stand repetitive mental mistakes.
by Odin on Aug 23, 2008 7:13 PM CDT 0 recs
3 false start penalties on one drive
At home?
Out-freaking-standing.
We might be in bigger trouble without #7 than we thought.
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by Gonzo on
Aug 23, 2008 7:15 PM CDT
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New Ref? I'm not concerned just yet...
There were a lot of yellow flags. A LOT! It could be based on the fact this officiating crew was new and under a Ref who was in charge of his first game.
Not to pass the buck, but these were not jump-off-the-line offenses (as from what I could tell on CBS). This does require additional discipline, but I would say the O-line made up for it with great protection of Gus down the stretch.
by DelawareBerserker on
Aug 24, 2008 8:07 AM CDT
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Nice stop on 4th down
Penalties be damned. . .nice job by the defense.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 7:23 PM CDT 0 recs
My feed hasn't been terribly cooperative
But it doesn’t need to be for me to see that the offense thus far has been pretty terrible.
Two consecutive three-and-outs. . .but hey, at least we were penalty-free the second time.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 7:27 PM CDT 0 recs
We look flat.
I do not see any passion on the field except for EJ Henderson and Jared Allen. Hopefully we will awaken from our slumber before the 1st quarter ends.
by Odin on Aug 23, 2008 7:30 PM CDT 0 recs
Well. . .
The Steelers ARE now 0/3 on third down, which is always nice.
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by Gonzo on
Aug 23, 2008 7:33 PM CDT
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-->My concern with AP
All I’ve heard thus far in Preseason is how AP has “watched tape” and saw how it was “(his) fault” and not the offensive lines’. That he wasn’t “being patient” enough and "waiting for blocks to develop.
I don’t know if it’s overcoaching or what not. But I really hope that AP shows the aggressive, I-want-to-eat-you-alive play he did during the first 75% of games last year.
by DelawareBerserker on
Aug 24, 2008 8:10 AM CDT
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Make it three consecutive
Three-and-outs for the Vikings’ offense.
Man. . .is the drop-off from Jackson to Frerotte REALLY this great?
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 7:37 PM CDT 0 recs
Gus's fault?
Probably not. The Steeler D and O-line have a lot to do with it. And as I write this, he completes two in a row and the second one for a first down.
by Odin on
Aug 23, 2008 7:40 PM CDT
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My feed must be behind
I just now saw the Mendenhall fumble.
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by Gonzo on
Aug 23, 2008 7:41 PM CDT
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1st and goal!!!!!
Frerotte to Shiancoe, right after the Steeler injury. Make a bet with Mrs. Gonzo. LOL
by Odin on Aug 23, 2008 7:42 PM CDT 0 recs
A bet?
Forgive me for not following. (-:
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by Gonzo on
Aug 23, 2008 7:44 PM CDT
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sorry
With your feed behind, I thought I was giving you an opportunity to see the future and get out of doing the laundry.
by Odin on
Aug 23, 2008 7:46 PM CDT
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My wife doesn't get off of work
For another half hour or so. . .I’m laundry-free until the starters go out. (-:
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by Gonzo on
Aug 23, 2008 7:47 PM CDT
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TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS!!
Capitalizing on the Mendenhall fumble, Adrian Peterson caps a pretty nice drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Longwell knocks the extra point through to make it 7-0, Vikings.
Drive went 47 yards in 6 plays, taking 1:44 to accomplish.
Minnesota 7, Pittsburgh 0, 14:12 left until halftime.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 7:49 PM CDT 0 recs
This drive looked like they were running their 2-minute offense
All passing plays until 1st & Goal. Quick routes, if those are covered- hit the TE on the seam. Once again, my concern with AP: the 1st and goal run to the outside where he waited for a second rather than going after the D & reaching for the endzone.
Great over-the-top on 3rd and Goal from the 1.
by DelawareBerserker on
Aug 24, 2008 8:15 AM CDT
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Holy crap, what is that!?
Is that a. . .a. . .pass rush!?
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 7:55 PM CDT 0 recs
Wow. . .
What a terrible pass by Frerotte.
Hopefully that will spare us from one of the dumb, non-existent quarterback controversies that Viking fans are so well known for.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 8:01 PM CDT 0 recs
Not a veteran move.
That one hurt.
Twins game starts now. So my remote is about to get a workout. Exciting times for pro sports fans here in the Twin Cities.
by Odin on
Aug 23, 2008 8:03 PM CDT
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Good lord. . .
E.J. Henderson is a freaking beast.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 8:04 PM CDT 0 recs
Steelers On the Board
After the Frerotte INT, the Steelers go 18 yards in 9 plays, taking 4:06, and end up with a 35-yard Jeff Reed field goal for their efforts.
Minnesota 7, Pittsburgh 3, about 6:30 left in the first half.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 8:12 PM CDT 0 recs
Halftime
Still 7-3, Vikings, at halftime.
I’m going back and forth doing supper and stuff. . .thankfully my wife timed her coming home to coincide with halftime. (-:
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 8:28 PM CDT 0 recs
starters done...
…or soon to be done for the night. The first team did all right. I like our pass rush and truthfully our entire D looks good. Our Offense was spotty, but we haven’t turned our running game loose yet. Looking forward to the GB opener.
Twins/Angels are 0-0 after 2.
by Odin on
Aug 23, 2008 8:42 PM CDT
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Longwell tacks on a FG
With their opening drive of the third quarter, the Vikings take 4:54 to move the ball 60 yards on 11 plays, capping the drive with a 37-yard Ryan Longwell field goal.
Vikings 10, Steelers 3, 10:06 left in the third quarter.
I would assume that the #1 offense is done for the evening after that one.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 8:51 PM CDT 0 recs
My feed
Has gotten quite unreliable, so I’m only going to end up doing occasional updates from here on out.
The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!
by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 9:06 PM CDT 0 recs
Steelers held to another FG
Pittsburgh goes 56 yards in 13 plays, taking 7:16 off the clock. . .the drive ends with a 43-yard Jeff Reed field goal. Neither team had their starters on the field for that drive.
Vikings 10, Steelers 6, 2:50 left in the third quarter.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 9:09 PM CDT 0 recs
And another field goal for Pittsburgh
This one a 37-yarder by Reed to make the score 10-9 in favor of the Vikings.
Drive took 13 plays to go 63 yards and took 5:50 to accomplish. Good to see the Vikings keeping the Steelers out of the end zone thus far.
Vikings 10, Steelers 9, 10:02 left in the football game.
People must be getting off of the connection that I’m viewing/listening to the game on. . .it’s moving a bit quicker now.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 9:29 PM CDT 0 recs
Turnover!
With the Steelers driving downfield, Rashard Mendenhall coughs up his second fumble of the evening, this one forced by Erin Henderson and recovered by Hasim Abdullah.
Score still 10-9, Vikings, with 4:03 left in the ball game.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 9:45 PM CDT 0 recs
Erin's been a beast this preseason
I really hope he makes the team. EJ had a prettty slow start with Minnesota, and Erin might as well. But if he continues to show the learning ability and maturity his older brother has displayed the last 2 seasons then definitely keep him on the team.
He’s been quick to the ball and made his opportunities count.
by DelawareBerserker on
Aug 24, 2008 8:20 AM CDT
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Two-Minute Warning
Still 10-9, with the Steelers having a 2nd and 6 on their own 30-yard line.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 9:53 PM CDT 0 recs
And Reed's fourth FG of the evening
Gives the Steelers a 12-10 lead with four seconds left in the football game.
One more kickoff, and this thing should be over.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 10:04 PM CDT 0 recs
And it's over
Final score. . .Pittsburgh 12, Minnesota 10
We’ll get to a more in-depth discussion of the game tomorrow, methinks.
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by Gonzo on Aug 23, 2008 10:07 PM CDT 0 recs
Final Thoughts
I was very impressed with the way the Vikings played from start to finish from a Defensive perspective. The first team D totally dominated. If GF had not thrown that horribly underthrown interceptions deep in our territory, then the Steelers wouldn’t have scored at all on our 1st team D.
Secondly, outside of offensive penalty blunders the first drive (which put us on our own 5), a seriously toned down AP (I guess he got the message to stay healthy and save himself?), and the only real blunder I saw from Frerotte the starting offense did alright as well. Allison caught 2 passes, and Visanthe I-can’t-catch Shiancoe caught a perfect pass up the middle. Add a healthy Rice and Berrian and we’ll have a great team even with a backup at QB.
Now, I’m ready for Monday Night!
by DelawareBerserker on Aug 24, 2008 8:31 AM CDT 0 recs
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