Another seven games down for Week three of the NFL Preseason. Having been up since 10 AM, watching every single game in detail, taking notes vigorously as I see passes caught, players get hit, and balls getting kicked through the uprights. It really had that NFL Sunday feeling going on, and I did not want to move from my couch one inch, in fear of missing any big plays.
Here are the top performances from Saturday’s Week three preseason games;
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Minnesota Vikings (14-10)
Jacksonville Jaguars: Rashad Greene, Sr. (PR)
Jacksonville’s offense was… underwhelming to say the least. Blake Bortles threw for a buck fifty-nine and an interception. Despite picking Andrew Norwell from the Panthers, Bortles was
Sacksonville was on display, though, racking up four six sacks against an injury-plagued Vikings offensive line.
However, the most valuable player for the Jaguars on Saturday wasn’t someone on offense or defense, but on special teams (and no, it wasn’t a kicker).
Fourth-year pro Rashad Greene, Sr. was buried in the depth chart as a wide receiver, and only got one chance at punt returner. But boy, did he make the most out of just one chance.
After a penalty on Minnesota’s special teams, punter Ryan Quigley under kicked his punt due to oncoming pressure, setting up an easy route for Greene to take the rock 56 yards up to within the Vikings five-yard line.
Minnesota Vikings: Ifeadi Odenigbo (DT)
The defense was the backbone of the Vikings’ NFC North winning season in 2017. Players like Linval Joseph, Anthony Barr, and Xavier Rhodes are just the tip of the iceberg for the Vikings defense, having a tremendous amount of depth at every position.
That depth was on display against the Jaguars Saturday, as DT Ifeadi Odenigbo had a monster of a day; racking up seven total tackles, five of them solo, and two sacks.
The second-year pro out of Northwestern was a seventh-round pick for the Vikings, meaning he could be on the roster bubble, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Should Odenigbo make the final roster, expect that defensive line to be one of the most dominant in football.
Oakland Raiders vs Los Angeles Rams (19-15)
Oakland Raiders: Chris Warren III (RB)
In an article published by Mercury News, it was reported that Raiders head coach Jon Gruden had nicknamed rookie RB Chris Warren “Herschel,” presumably after Hall of Fame RB Herschel Walker, whose jersey number Warren just so happens to wear (#34).
While that is lofty praise for an undrafted rookie running back, based on what Warren has done two weeks into the preseason, that nickname seems well deserved.
In two weeks of work, Warren has racked up 196 yards and a touchdown on only 31 carries, including that bruiser against a stout Rams defense. With an aging Marshawn Lynch and an inconsistent Doug Martin, Warren has a good shot of stealing the starting job. Maybe not in time for the season opener, but somewhere down the line, late in the season.
Los Angeles Rams: John Kelly (RB)
Like Warren, John Kelly was another rookie running back that has been impressing L.A.’s coaching staff all offseason.
Despite having last year’s Offensive Player of the Year in Todd Gurley II leading the backfield, Kelly has shown to have big play-making abilities, tough enough to punch his way for short yardage, but speedy enough to outrun defenders.
Kelly and Malcolm Brown are battling over who will be backing up Gurley during the regular season. With 133 rushing yards and a touchdown in the past two games, it’s safe Kelly might just run away with the job.
Cincinnati Bengals vs Dallas Cowboys (21-13)
Cincinnati Bengals: Tra Carson (RB)
Tra Carson was the lone bright spot in a field of obscurity that was the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense. Never mind that he only racked up 24 yards on six carries, Tra Carson is a playmaker.
Against the Cowboys, Carson ground for small chunks of yardage, ultimately leading the Bengals down the field for their first touchdown of the game.
The Bengals have always played with a running back-by-committee strategy, and with Jeremy Hill gone to the Patriots, the door opens for Carson to play the power/third-down back, better in short yardage situations.
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott (QB)
When future hall of fame tight end Jason Witten retired just before the NFL Draft and the Cowboys released controversial receiver Dez Bryant, many in and out of the NFL believed the Cowboys passing game would suffer. Players like Allen Hurns and Cole Beasley are rated as B receivers; as in, not WR1 material.
Many thought QB Dak Prescott would suffer from the departure of so many key offensive key pieces.
Looking at this touchdown pass, it doesn’t seem like Dak’s suffering.
Prescott has done everything the Cowboys have asked him to do, and then some. A game manager with great mobility and intelligence, Prescott is ready to let the ball rip. It’s been a consistent media trope that the Cowboys were opening the playbook for Prescott, but exactly does that mean?
Against the Panthers on September ninth, the only open thing that matters is just how open Cowboys receivers will be for their QB.
Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Chargers (14-24)
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson (QB)
Man, it is tough being Russell Wilson.
Last year, Wilson’s Seahawks were a complete mess in nearly every facet of the game. Their defense was aging and injury prone, they had no clear-cut leader at the running back position, the offensive line was filled with more holes than the plot of Armageddon, and there’s no receiver that can take the pressure off of Doug Baldwin.
Wilson was the only bright spot on this once dominant team. During the days of the Legion of Boom and Beastmode, Wilson was merely an afterthought, a game manager, really. He didn’t need to make the long throws down the field, buy time for his receivers, or even lead the Seahawks in passing and rushing yards.
With the Legion disbanded, and Marshawn Lynch playing for the silver and black, Wilson will have to carry the Seahawks to just break even in wins, let alone make the playoffs. Against the chargers, Wilson looked like he was in midseason form; completing 61 percent of his passes for 193 yards, but no touchdowns nor interceptions.
Wilson Seahawks are in for a rough season, as they’ll be facing off against not one, but two contending teams for the NFC West crown in the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. He may be DangeRuss, but this season, Russ is in danger.
Los Angeles Chargers: Melvin Ingram (LB)
Watching Melvin Ingram play linebacker is like watching a glassblower making a glass horse; beautiful, astonishing, and entertaining. Tagged with Pro Bowl DE Joey Bosa, the two form one of the deadliest pass-rushing tandems in pro football. Even with Bosa out with a foot injury, Ingram was a force to be reckoned with.
The stat line doesn’t paint a pretty picture for Ingram; no sacks, one tackle, and a forced fumble. But numbers don’t tell the whole story, as the cliché goes. Ingram was in Russell Wilson’s face all game, blowing LT Duane Brown off his feet. That forced fumble prevented Seattle from getting their first touchdown of the game. Ingram is a vital part of the Chargers defense.
Even when he doesn’t play, his presence on the field makes it so that someone else can.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Tennessee Titans (30-14)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston (QB)
For all idiotic things that Jameis Winston has (or has been accused of) done in his life; from stealing crab legs and yelling obscenities in FSU’s dining hall, to groping a female Uber driver, one thing is certain: he is a really good football player.
Let me make this clear; just because Winston is good at playing football, it does not excuse the terrible things he’s done in the past. But I give credit where credit is due, and against the Titans, Winston impressed.
Going 13/18 for 226 passing yards and two touchdowns, Winston is showing he can still play at a high level, despite the inconsistencies he’s projected during his first three years in the league.
The Bucs lose Winston for three weeks due to suspension, giving backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick the reins of the offense for the time being.
Rumors have surfaced that after this season, the Bucs are considering moving on from Winston due to his hijinks and inconsistent play. Should that be the case, when Winston comes back, he won’t just be playing to win, he’ll be playing to save his career.
Tennessee Titans: Taywan Taylor (WR)
Second-year receiver Taywan Taylor was an absolute speed demon against the Bucs on Saturday. On the play below, he took a screen pass from Marcus Mariota 47 yards to the house in the first quarter.
Sturdy hands, good vision, and speed like a cheetah; it’s almost as if Taylor was just Tyreek Hill in a Titans Uniform.
Taylor finished the night with four catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. The speedster out of Western Kentucky is vying for a starting role alongside Rishard Matthews and Corey Davis. Expect to see Taylor as an outside receiver, usually on vertical or post routes on lob passes.
San Francisco 49ers vs Houston Texans (13-16)
San Francisco 49ers: Marquise Goodwin (WR)
Sixth-year wide receiver Marquise Goodwin is primed to have the breakout season he’s been waiting for since his time with the Buffalo Bills. In 2017, Goodwin finished with almost 1,000 receiving yards, just 38 yards short of the mark.
Playing with quarterbacks like Bryan Hoyer and C.J. Beathard for the first 11 games of the 2017 season didn’t really help (despite Beathard being a decent starter for the 49ers).
Enter Jimmy Garoppolo.
With Garoppolo under center, Goodwin becomes a much deadlier receiving threat. While small in stature, Goodwin knows how to fight for the ball, while outrunning defensive backs down the stretch for a score. With three catches for 61 yards against the Texans, Goodwin proved he is someone that defensive coordinators need to watch out for when prepping to face the 49ers.
Houston Texans: Vyncint Smith (WR)
Despite the win, no one really stood out with the Houston Texans. Sure, DeShaun Watson looks great coming back from a torn ACL, and the defense caused some turnovers with Johnson Bademosi and Davin Bellamy. But I didn’t choose any of them.
Instead, I chose the guy that did this;
WR Vyncint Smith just slid into the end zone like men slide into Mia Khalifa’s DMs. Out of the bunch, Smith made his way to the left side of the field, caught the ball in stride at the 10-yard line, tripped himself, and just casually rolled into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
You can’t make this up, folks.
Despite the low stat line (two catches for 43 yards), Smith impressed under pressure. He had great separation from the DB and got lucky at the final roll.
Bravo, sir.
Chicago Bears vs Denver Broncos (24-23)
Chicago Bears: Trey Burton (TE)
From the guy that played a major role in the “Philly Special” (he threw the touchdown pass to Nick Foles), TE Trey Burton showed that not only can he throw touchdowns, he can catch them too!
Ok, that was a bit of a lackadaisical intro, but I just had to work the “Philly Special” in there. Burton was just one of the many off-season acquisitions the Bears made to bolster their receiving corps. Despite his relatively small stature (6’3”, 235 lbs), Burton is an excellent red zone target for Mitchell Trubisky.
With Zach Miller out for the season after suffering an extremely gruesome leg injury against the Saints last season, Burton will be relied on heavily as a security blanket for the second-year signal-caller. Let’s just hope he’s up to the task.
Denver Broncos: Bradley Chubb (DE)
The fifth overall pick for the Broncos had himself a pretty good day against the deceptively stout offensive line the Bears employ. On one of the earliest plays of the game, Chubb made his presence known, tackling Mitchell Trubisky in his own end zone for a safety.
Described as a mixture of Von Miller and Khalil Mack, Chubb is proving to be a force to reckon with on the defensive line. Quick first step, strong at the point of contact, and fast hands make Chubb a nightmare for pass protectors and quarterbacks alike.
Chubb is the current leader for Defensive Rookie of the Year and plans to come out the gate running when the Broncos host the Seahawks to open the season.
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