I got to watch my first preseason game tonight and while I don't believe much can be told from the score of the contest, I think a handful of plays and/or series can help foreshadow what to expect when the season begins.
Aaron Brooks won't be the Raiders QB by the end of the season - There are a number of reasons to make this assumption beyond the obvious one which is that Brooks is one of the worst starting QB's in the league. The offensive line is still terrible. Moving Robert Gallery back to his natural Left Tackle position will help, but he got beat badly in the first quarter of this game and still looks like he's got some work to do. Brooks struggled badly in NO and it got worse when the line broke down towards the end of the season. He still has a great arm, but I'm not sure I saw him step into a single throw this entire game. He doesn't have happy feet and he's willing to take a hit, but his technique is a mess. He throws from multiple arm slots when there isn't pressure and didn't seem to have great timing with any of his receivers. I'm also not sure if he's the right type of QB, even when he's on, to get Randy Moss the ball consistently.
Andrew Walter will enter 2007 as the Raiders QB if not earlier - He's not quite ready, thus the reason for the Brooks signing, but I can't imagine he won't get his chance in the near future. Brooks isn't the long term answer and the raiders aren't going to have that much patience with him if they don't get out to a fast start, which they won't. Walter looked good tonight and Randy Moss has said good things about him in the past. He's young and endured a serious staredown from Art Shell tonight after a mistake, but that was after throwing a TD and looking strong in the first half.
Chester Taylor will be a very good, but unspectacular back - He's not going to be a pro bowler in Brad Childress' spread-the-ball, pass-heavy West Coast offense, but he's going to get a lot of looks. I'm not even sure how good a back Taylor is, but I really like the situation in Minnesota and barring injury, he's going to be the man there.
Brad Childress will be an above average coach and the Vikings will win the division this season - Again, I know it's preseason, but the Vikings looked crisper, despite losing the game, then they did at any point under Tice's reign. Childress knows exactly what he wants to do and the team seems to be on board. They improved their offensive line and added FB tony richardson, which should help manage the clock and keep the defense from being exposed. The Vikings don't have overwhelming talent, but no one in the NFC north does and I have a feeling they are going to have, far and away, the best turnover ratio in the division.
Backup Vikes QB Tarvaris Jackson will see time - He's looks like a bigger Michael Vick. He's obviously not as gifted, but I'd be surprised if he didnt' see time on trick plays or short yardage.
Aaron Brooks won't be the Raiders QB by the end of the season - There are a number of reasons to make this assumption beyond the obvious one which is that Brooks is one of the worst starting QB's in the league. The offensive line is still terrible. Moving Robert Gallery back to his natural Left Tackle position will help, but he got beat badly in the first quarter of this game and still looks like he's got some work to do. Brooks struggled badly in NO and it got worse when the line broke down towards the end of the season. He still has a great arm, but I'm not sure I saw him step into a single throw this entire game. He doesn't have happy feet and he's willing to take a hit, but his technique is a mess. He throws from multiple arm slots when there isn't pressure and didn't seem to have great timing with any of his receivers. I'm also not sure if he's the right type of QB, even when he's on, to get Randy Moss the ball consistently.
Andrew Walter will enter 2007 as the Raiders QB if not earlier - He's not quite ready, thus the reason for the Brooks signing, but I can't imagine he won't get his chance in the near future. Brooks isn't the long term answer and the raiders aren't going to have that much patience with him if they don't get out to a fast start, which they won't. Walter looked good tonight and Randy Moss has said good things about him in the past. He's young and endured a serious staredown from Art Shell tonight after a mistake, but that was after throwing a TD and looking strong in the first half.
Chester Taylor will be a very good, but unspectacular back - He's not going to be a pro bowler in Brad Childress' spread-the-ball, pass-heavy West Coast offense, but he's going to get a lot of looks. I'm not even sure how good a back Taylor is, but I really like the situation in Minnesota and barring injury, he's going to be the man there.
Brad Childress will be an above average coach and the Vikings will win the division this season - Again, I know it's preseason, but the Vikings looked crisper, despite losing the game, then they did at any point under Tice's reign. Childress knows exactly what he wants to do and the team seems to be on board. They improved their offensive line and added FB tony richardson, which should help manage the clock and keep the defense from being exposed. The Vikings don't have overwhelming talent, but no one in the NFC north does and I have a feeling they are going to have, far and away, the best turnover ratio in the division.
Backup Vikes QB Tarvaris Jackson will see time - He's looks like a bigger Michael Vick. He's obviously not as gifted, but I'd be surprised if he didnt' see time on trick plays or short yardage.
