Sure, I would have loved to see Graham Mertz engineer a couple of 4th quarter drives to take the lead. But, if I'm being honest (and you know that I always am) that would have been the after-dinner mint on a day that saw plenty of bright spots while underlining some areas that the coaches will bring up in the meeting rooms this week.
Preseason In Perspective
Preseason games are in a different category of football. You want to win. But you also need to learn as much about your squad as possible. And with so many players sitting out the opener, you're focusing on deeper layers of the roster as you navigate through 60 minutes of action.
The Vikings started the man that will be under center in the regular season, J.J. McCarthy. He led his squad to a field goal in his only drive to begin the game. Davis Mills and friends took over from there and marched into the end zone in a drive that saw four-for-five passing and productive running from RB Dare Ogunbowale.
Early Success for the O-Line
The offensive line featured rookie tackle Aireontae Ersery and he and his crew did not disappoint as they immediately paved the way for the go-ahead score. Mills finding Braxton Berrios for a catch-and-run touchdown was a nice capper to a promising drive.
Berrios ended up with three catches. John Metchie led the way with five and the rookie Cyclones, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, had two apiece. Kedon Slovis was 11 of 15 and led the Texans to a field goal drive to start the second half. At the time, that cut the lead to three, but Houston could get no closer.
Rookie Graham Mertz did some good things but got bitten by the turnover bug, throwing three fourth quarter picks that doomed the chances to win.
There was only one long drive for the Vikings and it happened in the second quarter, with Zavier Scott running well and veteran Sam Howell sneaking the ball into the end zone from short range. Other than that, the Texans had plenty of chances to prevail.
Special Teams
Special teams had their moments and also a good lesson when one of the kickoffs didn't make it into the landing zone as it bounced at about the 22-yard line. That cost the Texans a Viking defensive field position at the 40-yard line. The rules are complex and we'll be going over them every game. With the touchback now at the 35-yard line, we'll see returns galore as the excitement is back in the return game.
Big Picture
I look at this game in a combined file with the intrasquad scrimmage the Texans had at the Greenbrier Thursday. In fact, some of the good from that one carried over to the early parts of this game.
The offense started to find a groove on the ground in both outings – something that bodes well for play action and other elements of what Nick Caley is trying to accomplish this season.
It'll be a big week with Carolina coming in for a joint practice Thursday and the game Saturday.
Get ready because this is going fast. Two weeks from now, the preseason is over, cuts will be made and we'll be in full bloom in preparation for the Rams on September 7.
