Vikings vs. 49ers: Full Minnesota Game Preview
The New England Patriots kicked off the 2015 NFL season with a 28-21 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football, but Minnesota Vikings fans still must endure several more painfully long, Ragnar-less days until their team takes the field on Monday Night Football.
Minnesota is scheduled to play in the very last game of opening week—as if the offseason wasn't already long enough. Opposing the Purple and Gold will be the San Francisco 49ers, who are expected to trot out a Week 1 starting lineup with more differences than similarities to the unit that came out of the tunnel to oppose the Dallas Cowboys just one year ago.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick returns for his fifth season in San Francisco, but he will be protected by an almost entirely different offensive line and distributing the football to a handful of new skill-position players.
Longtime San Francisco running back Frank Gore will be receiving his carries from Indianapolis Colts signal-caller Andrew Luck this season, and the 49ers' 2009 first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree is across the Bay Bridge hauling in passes from Oakland Raiders second-year quarterback Derek Carr.
Upper management signed former Baltimore Ravens burner Torrey Smith during free agency to replace Crabtree. He will accompany the ageless—and returning—veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin on the outside.
Second-year running back Carlos Hyde is set to team up with new offseason additions Reggie Bush and fourth-round rookie Mike Davis to carry the load Gore had since joining the team in 2005—this was before Kaepernick had even declared his intention to attend the University of Nevada.
As for the offensive line, All-Pro guard Mike Iupati is recovering from knee surgery in Arizona after signing with the Cardinals during the offseason, and 25-year-old right tackle Anthony Davis unexpectedly announced his retirement from the NFL.
Former right guard Anthony Boone, who began the 2014 season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, is set to fill the void left by Iupati on the left side of the offensive line, and 2013 undrafted Memphis prospect Jordan Devey will take over on the right side in his place.
Marcus Martin, a second-year pro out of USC, and former Buffalo Bill Erik Pears are expected to start at center and right tackle, respectively, according to ESPN, amounting to a total of four changes to Kaepernick's protection unit.
San Francisco's offensive line went through a nearly complete overhaul during the offseason, as only 2013 first-team All-Pro left tackle Joe Staley remains in the same place as he was during Week 1 last year.
The 49ers have also been forced to endure turnover at all three levels of their defense as well. Headlining these changes were the retirements of both inside linebacker Patrick Willis and interior defensive lineman Justin Smith, a duo of potential Hall of Famers.
2014 standout rookie linebacker Chris Borland also retired after just one season at the NFL level; formerly dominant pass-rushers Aldon Smith and defensive end Ray McDonald were released due to significant off-field issues; and both of the 49ers' starting cornerbacks from the end of this past season—Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox—left the team via free agency, agreeing to terms with the Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans, respectively.
Even 11-year punter Andy Lee, who is now in charge of winning the field-position battle for the Cleveland Browns, departed The City that Knows How this past June after being traded for a 2017 seventh-round draft pick. He has since been replaced by rookie fifth-round pick Bradley Pinion of Clemson University.
Oh, and that Jim Harbaugh guy, who led the 49ers to a 44-19-1 record, two NFC Championship games and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII, now spends the majority of his time yelling and making one-of-a-kind facial expressions at "The Big House" as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team.
As a whole, San Francisco is forced to attempt to fill the gaping void left by Harbaugh and a group of athletes that accounted for roughly 40 percent of the team's snaps in 2014—according to Bleacher Report NFL analyst Gary Davenport—with rookie head coach Jim Tomsula, a finally healthy Navarro Bowman as well as the aforementioned cast made up of mostly young and unproven players.
While many of San Francisco's key starters shifted their summer focus to improving their golf swings, Minnesota was busy minimizing its losses, developing its young talent and adding difference-makers on both sides of the football.
The Vikings, who have gone from potential dark-horse candidate to realistic postseason contender over the course of this offseason, will look to improve on an unprecedented 2014 record of 7-9 under then-first-year head coach Mike Zimmer.
Minnesota should receive a significant boost from returning superstar running back Adrian Peterson, a host of talented rookies and their anointed franchise quarterback, making this team appear destined for substantial improvement.
Behind an improved Bridgewater, a well-rested Peterson and a steadily improving Zimmer-led defensive attack, Minnesota will begin its journey back to January football at Levi's Stadium with a Week 1 matchup against Kaepernick, Bowman and the 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Get your sunglasses out Minnesota faithful; the future looks bright in Vikings Territory.
Location: Levi's Stadium, San Francisco
Time: 9:20 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN (National); Channel 4 WCCO (Local)
Preseason Week 4 Results and Recap
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After rattling off eight consecutive wins to begin his head coaching career, the Tennessee Titans handed Zimmer his first career preseason lost last week. The Taylor Heinicke-led Vikings made things interesting late, but Marcus Mariota and Co. ultimately topped Minnesota by a final score of 24-17.
The loss marked Minnesota's first in the preseason since Kaepernick, Gore and the 49ers crushed the Vikings 34-14 back on August 25, 2013. Minnesota began its ensuing nine-game, two-year-long preseason win streak with a 24-23 win the following week over the Titans, oddly enough.
Week 4 of the preseason tends to be battle between second- and third-string units, and the Vikings-Titans matchup wasn't much different. Bridgewater, Mike Wallace and the rest of the first-team offense did not play a single snap.
Additionally, the only expected Week 1 starters who received snaps on defense were safety Robert Blanton and linebacker Gerald Hodges, who were both competing for their respective jobs.
Mariota only played one series on offense for the Titans, but he still managed to complete his first touchdown pass of the preseason despite throwing just three passes.
The 59-yard scoring toss to Harry Douglas was the product of a severe defensive breakdown, as it appeared cornerback Marcus Sherels was caught out of position.
Mariota's pass attempt only traveled roughly 10 yards through the air, but Douglas had a wide-open hole and managed to make safety Andrew Sendejo miss on a tackle attempt.
Rookie fifth-round wide receiver Stefon Diggs fumbled stretching for a first down on Minnesota's opening possession, which Tennessee took advantage of immediately. Backup quarterback Zach Mettenberger found Rico Richardson for a three-yard score, on what appeared to be another error in coverage; this time it was Blanton who appeared to be out of position.
The Minnesota defense settled down after putting the team in a quick 14-0 hole, but yet another Blair Walsh missed field goal kept the Vikings off the scoreboard until late in the second quarter. After missing wide from 48 yards out, Walsh nailed his second attempt from 33.
Walsh finished the preseason 5-of-11 (45.4 percent) on field-goal attempts and 10-of-11 (90.9 percent) on extra-point tries. The Vikings kicker was 3-of-7 (42.8 percent) from 40-plus yards and 2-of-4 (50 percent) on attempts of 39 yards or fewer.
It wasn't a great night—or preseason—for Walsh, but Heinicke capped off a consistently impressive preseason with his best performance.
Given the opportunity to play the game from start to finish; Heinicke completed 27 passes on 41 attempts (65.8 percent) for 279 yards and the first two touchdown completions of his career. The undrafted rookie out of Old Dominion finished the preseason 57-of-82 (69.5 percent) while totaling 516 passing yards on a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Heinicke spread the ball around nicely against the Titans, but Diggs was his go-to option under pressure or on critical downs. The rookie out of Maryland finished the night with eight catches (nine targets), 85 receiving yards and his first career touchdown reception, which came on a seven-yard quick slant while lined up in the slot.
Diggs' fellow fifth-round rookie, tight end MyCole Pruitt, also put together a strong game with three catches and 43 receiving yards. Running back Dominique Williams, who struggled running the ball (nine carries, 24 yards), was the recipient of Heinicke's other touchdown pass.
This 14-yard completion finished off an 80-yard drive in style, as Williams brought in the pass with one hand and barreled into the end zone for six points.
In the end, however, Tennessee defensive tackle Angelo Blackson came up with a strip-sack of Heinicke with roughly 30 seconds remaining in the game and the Vikings trailing by seven points.
Tennessee recovered the fumble, sealing a victory and becoming the lone blemish on Zimmer's preseason resume, which now sits at 8-1 through two seasons.
| NFC North Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| Detroit Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
| Chicago Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
News and Notes
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Jarius Wright, Vikings Agree to Contract Extension
Thursday was a big news day across the NFL, as multiple high-profile players—LB Luke Kuechly and NT Marcell Dareus—signed massive contract extensions, per ESPN's David Newton, as well as Mike Rodak and Adam Schefter, respectively.
It was only the second-biggest piece of news dropped into the hands of Vikings fans—John Sullivan will be covered later—and he is hardly on the same level as Keuchly or Dareus, but Minnesota agreed to terms on a contract extension with underrated wide receiver Jarius Wright on Thursday.
According to NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport, Minnesota handed Wright a four-year, $14.8 million contract with $7 million in guaranteed money:
"The #Vikings have signed WR Jarius Wright to a 4-year extension worth $14.8M, source said. He gets $7M guaranteed.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 10, 2015"
General manager Rick Spielman also released a statement—via the official team website—shortly after the contract was announced:
"Jarius has been a key member of our offense since we drafted him in 2012 and we felt it was necessary to secure his future with our organization. His commitment to this team, hard work and leadership in the WR room are several of the intangibles that he brings to our club on a daily basis and we're excited for his future with the Vikings.
With the help of WR coach George Stewart, Jarius has greatly improved since coming to Minnesota. This extension stays true to our philosophy of drafting young talent, developing them in our system and rewarding their success.
"
Wright, who set career highs in receptions (42) and receiving yards (588) last season, was quietly one of Minnesota's most reliable difference-makers at wideout. Finding a home in the slot, the fourth-year pass-catcher out of Arkansas was responsible for arguably the biggest game-breaker the Vikings offense conjured up last season.
Knotted at 24 in overtime, Bridgewater threw a screen pass to Wright on 3rd-and-5 from inside Minnesota's 20-yard line. He proceeded to shake a few tackles and turn the Vikings' then-rookie quarterback into a hero, as he bolted 87 yards to pay dirt for a walk-off touchdown. It's a play Josiah Durie highlighted:
"Remember when Jarius Wright scored an 87 yard TD in overtime? https://t.co/RnBknO0yAT
— Josiah Durie (@josiahdurie) January 18, 2015"
A more high-quality version of this score (as well as linebacker Gerald Hodges' pick-six) can be viewed here, courtesy of NFL.com's Dan Hanzus.
Also, Wright is known for being one of maybe two wide receivers to do this (high-quality version via team website) to All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman—with Christian Ponder lobbing up the (under-thrown) pass in Seattle no less. Bradley Griggs was impressed by Wright's work:
"Jarius Wright burning Sherman. #RichardSherman https://t.co/2pqEIE8yg2 Hell yeeaahh @tyler_toney
— Bradley Griggs (@Bradley_Griggs) May 28, 2015"
Simply put, this contract extension—which carries the 42nd-highest average annual value among wide receivers, according to Spotrac—is a definitive steal.
The Vikings may elect to release Mike Wallace (and his monstrous 2016 salary-cap hit, per Spotrac) this winter if he does not meet expectations in 2015. Had Wright not been extended—at exceptional value, may I add—Minnesota's receivers would consist of Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen heading into year three of the Bridgewater era.
Instead, the Vikings retain the rights to their still-developing "Z" receiver through 2019 without overpaying as the team has done in recent memory (see Greg Jennings)—good news on a "bad news" Thursday.
Matt Kalil, John Sullivan Express Confidence in Joe Berger
If agreeing to terms with Wright represents Thursday's "good news," then Sullivan's injury announcement certainly fits the description for the "bad news" category—again, this injury will be discussed more in-depth in a later slide.
The Vikings do, however, have a solid replacement for the second-best center drafted during Day 3 in team history (see Matt Birk), and his name is Joe Berger. My choice term "solid replacement" is subjective, meaning it's my fact-based personal opinion, which lacks significant credibility due to my current standing in the sports world.
But, the opinion of Berger's teammates—starting offensive linemen to boot—hold the versatile 33-year-old veteran in high regard, according to Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Starting left tackle Matt Kalil, who strangely enough is healthy heading into Week 1, was first to chime in:
"Joe’s a good player; That’s why we’ve had him here.. He’s going to get the job done. He’s a physcial, tough player. He’s got years of experience. It’s a good replacement to replace Sully with. I’m not too worried about it. He’s a veteran guy. He knows the system, he knows the calls and we haven’t had any problems so far. It’s been pretty smooth so far.
"
Kalil, whose perception of superior offensive line play may be irrelevant to pessimistic fans, wasn't the only Vikings offensive lineman to support the recently anointed starting center; the fallen Sullivan was next to vocally support Berger:
"We all wanted John to be back. When I signed here in March, I signed because I love the Vikings. I loved everything about the organization. To be put in this role, I’m embracing it. I look forward to it forever how long it last. We hope John heals up quick. He’ll be missed.
"
Multiple Vikings players, including starting left guard Brandon Fusco who spent the majority of the 2014 season injury, also voiced their displeasure with losing the man they call "Sully" for a significant amount of time:
"I feel for the guy. It’s not a fun feeling. You come in everyday for rehab and you leave by noon while you watch your guys go to practice. John definitely was the leader in the room, so I might have to step up my game and help these young guys. Give them any advice I can help them with.
"
Berger's first test appears far less daunting than it may have a year ago, as even promising fifth-year 49ers nose tackle Ian Williams doesn't tread water on the now-retired Justin Smith.
Gerald Hodges Named Starting Middle Linebacker
The path has not been direct by any means, but after two strong seasons of spot-start duty and an encouraging preseason, third-year linebacker Gerald Hodges is finally an NFL starter, according to Chris Tomasson of the Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
"That's the way it's looking, yes sir," Hodges said about getting the call for Monday's regular-season opener at San Francisco. "I feel great. I feel excited."
A former quarterback in high school, first-team All-Big Ten selection at Penn State and 2013 fourth-round draft selection, Hodges has consistently performed at a high level when called upon, making both simple and impact plays (as noted above) on a week-to-week basis.
Hodges is also a former safety, which should make it come as no surprise that he excels in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, the first-time starter was targeted 33 times throughout his 235 coverage snaps and receiving a plus-3.4 pass-coverage grade, which ranked second to Audie Cole among Vikings linebackers.
For more on his skill-set flexibility, the Daily Norseman's Arif Hasan put together an analysis-heavy post-draft evaluation of Hodges back in 2013.
In addition, his plus-7.5 run-defense grade ranked second (Jasper Brinkley) and overall plus-8.4 ranked seventh among all Vikings defensive players.
His greatest weakness to date has been as a pass-rusher, but given his status as an inside linebacker, Hodges will not be asked to do much of this—that responsibly belongs primarily to strong-side linebacker Anthony Barr.
Stud rookie Eric Kendricks and Cole will have to take a backseat for now—Kendricks is expected to line up alongside Barr in Minnesota's nickel defense, however—as it's Hodges' chance to show he is a high-quality starter at the NFL level.
Rookie Trae Waynes Expecting Nervousy
Given that my talent as a football player didn't even earn me a starting role at the high school level, I can only imagine how special of a moment it must be to walk out onto an NFL field for the first time in a meaningful game.
Rookie Trae Waynes will be one of multiple Vikings players to experience this moment on Monday at Levi's Stadium, and he is already preparing himself for the nervous emotional reaction that runs hand-in-hand with the feeling of accomplishing a life-long dream—via Tomasson.
"There's always going to be nerves for a game," Waynes said Tuesday. "Obviously, not right now. But as the game gets closer."
Waynes isn't even going to bother with the tough-guy routine. He knows that nerves are a natural factor in every rookie's first regular-season game, which is just another prime example of the 23-year-old's maturity as a both a player and human being.
The No. 11 overall pick out of Michigan State experienced painfully visible growing pains early-on in the preseason, but he showed significant improvement following back-to-back dumpster fires against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I've learned a lot, everything from technique to just understanding coverages and plays and concepts," he said per Tomasson. "But I have a long way to go, and I'm going to keep working."
For those who missed his performances against the Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans, Pro Football Focus exemplifies his progression n numerical form:
| Week | Opposition | Defensive Alignment | Snaps | Overall | Run Defense | Pass Rush | Pass Coverage | Penalty | No. of Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOF | PIT | LCB | 54/66 | -4.1 | -0.4 | 0.0 | -3.8 | 0.1 | 3 |
| 1 | TB | LCB | 34/72 | -1.9 | 0.1 | -0.1 | -1.9 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 2 | OAK | LCB | 35/69 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 3 | DAL | LCB | 29/53 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 |
| 4 | TEN | LCB | 36/65 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Total | N/A | N/A | 188 | -4.0 | 0.0 | -0.1 | -4.0 | 0.1 | 3 |
With exception to the licking Steelers rookie wide receiver Sammie Coates put on him during the Hall of Fame game, Waynes produced a total overall grade of plus-0.1 and total-pass-coverage grade of minus-0.2, which would qualify his five-game performance as remarkably average.
Potentially an even greater showing of progression is the four consecutive games with zero recorded pass-coverage penalties. Waynes is a physical corner by trade, using his length and hands to aggravate his opposition. He was able to get away with a lot of contact at Michigan State, but he learned the hard way—three times—that the NFL is far more strict regarding its cornerback-receiver contact policies.
Waynes (apparently) made the necessary adjustments in just one week's time.
Drafted to form a young, shutdown cornerback combination with the criminally underrated Xavier Rhodes, Waynes isn't expected to start Week 1 against the 49ers, but his day will come sooner rather than later if he continues to show week-to-week improvement as the backup to definitive veteran Terence Newman—long after he shakes the butterflies from his system.
Latest Injury News
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Mike Zimmer addressed the media Thursday afternoon.
The Vikings' head coach briefly outlined a significant back injury to starting center John Sullivan, which could play a significant role in Minnesota's contest with San Francisco. However, Zimmer was very blatant about withholding as much information as possible to avoid giving San Francisco any sort of game-planning advantage.
Return-timetable information and injury specifics for Phil Loadholt, Josh Robinson and Sullivan are courtesy of Matt Vensel, Master Tesfatsion and Chris Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Minnesota Vikings Week 1 Injury Report
| Player | Position | Injury | Practice Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Loadholt | RT | Torn Achilles | Out for Season |
| John Sullivan | OC | Back Surgery | Out 6-8 Weeks |
| Josh Robinson | CB | Chest | Out Indefinitely |
| MyCole Pruitt | TE | Ankle | Full Participant |
| Chase Ford | TE | Shoulder | Limited Participant |
| Zach Line | FB | Knee | Limited Participant |
| Shamar Stephen | NT | Knee | Limited Participant |
(Vikings official injury-report information courtesy of Vikings.com)
Loadholt's season-ending torn Achilles and cornerback Josh Robinson's partially torn pectoral muscle have quickly become old injury news in Minnesota.
Robinson injured his chest during a late-June practice (reported in early July), and Loadholt's substantial foot ailment occurred during Minnesota's Week 1 preseason contest with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Both players represent key losses, but Minnesota drafted well to lessen the blow from these injuries.
No. 11 overall pick Trae Waynes is expected be the Vikings' No. 3 cornerback, while fourth-round offensive lineman T.J. Clemmings will start in place of Loadholt at right tackle. In addition, seventh-round Alabama product Austin Shepherd gives the team depth in the event Clemmings struggles or is forced to miss time.
Zimmer announced Thursday that starting center John Sullivan will miss 6-8 weeks after undergoing back surgery, which marks the latest significant blow to an already below-average Minnesota offensive line.
Earlier this week, Fox Sports reported Zimmer "wasn't concerned" about Sullivan missing time, but the significance of this injury suggests the Vikings coach may have been bluffing.
Minnesota was forced to place Sullivan on its PUP list with a designation to return.
Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported shortly after Zimmer touched base with the media that veteran offensive lineman Joe Berger is expected to fill in for Sullivan during his absence.
Berger spent time at both right guard and center over the course of 12 appearances for the Vikings in 2014, totaling an excess of 600 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Aside from these three significant injuries—two to the offensive line—the rest of the Vikings roster is fairly healthy. Rookie tight end MyCole Pruitt practiced fully on Thursday and is expected to be ready to go come Monday.
Tight end Chase Ford and fullback Zach Line both practiced in a limited capacity. Line returned to practice on Thursday, leading to optimism that he will be able to suit-up in San Francisco.
Ford, who is listed as the No. 4 tight end on the Vikings' depth chart, is on pace to be ready for game time. However, his (perceived) minor role in Minnesota's offense should allow the team to deactivate him as a precautionary measure if there is any uncertainty.
Nose tackle Shamar Stephen, who was a limited-practice participant, may be the likeliest candidate to miss Monday's game. The extra day of rest should work in his favor, but Stephen has been battling this knee injury on and off throughout the summer.
Minnesota's greatest concern heading into San Francisco is the offensive line. Both Loadholt and Sullivan have been key pieces of the protection unit for over a half-decade, but Clemmings and Berger do represent strong replacements.
Andrew Krammer of 1500 ESPN noted the Vikings were already considering moving Berger into the starting lineup in place of Mike Harris at right guard, which should have him well-prepared.
Losing Sullivan for potentially two months certainly is not ideal—especially after Loadholt's injury—but Berger has the ability to keep the offensive line whole as he recovers from surgery.
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Key Matchups
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RB Adrian Peterson vs. LB NaVorro Bowman
Monday night's contest will not only feature running back Adrian Peterson's long-overdue return, but San Francisco is expected to also welcome back blue-chip linebacker NaVorro Bowman to the fold.
The general consensus among analysts and fans is that Peterson will be running with quite a bit of heart this season. Not only has he been consistently knocked for his age (30 years old) throughout the offseason, but Peterson has an undying passion to be the greatest running back to ever play—and the 15 games he missed in 2014 significantly hurt his chances at breaking many all-time rushing records.
Peterson is almost assuredly the greatest running back of his generation, and his return to the field should heavily influence Minnesota's goal of returning to the playoffs—and dethroning the NFC North champion Green Bay Packers and their four-year run of definitive divisional superiority.
On the other side of the field Bowman, who is returning from the very same ACL injury Peterson trademarked as a non-issue back in 2012, will look to recapture his standing as one of the top linebackers in the NFL.
Peterson, a dynamic rusher, and Bowman, a sure-tackling run-stopper, should physically collide on multiple occasions during Monday's contest, and the player who emerges when the dust settles will have a leg up in the race for the 2015 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
QB Teddy Bridgewater vs. 49ers Defensive Secondary
Everyone has heard second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater categorized as a breakout candidate—via Pro Football Focus—this offseason. Week 1 will be the beginning of a "16-game court case" to decide if this popular opinion was accurate or yield the same verdict as 2014 consensus breakout candidate Cordarrelle Patterson's "argument."
San Francisco's depleted defensive secondary will have the first crack at proving (almost) everyone wrong about the 2014 Pepsi Rookie of the Year award winner. Following the departures of No. 1 and No. 2 cornerbacks Chris Cullver and Perrish Cox, Tramaine Brock is expected to regain his starting status.
Joining Brock on the outside is former sixth-round pick Kenneth Acker, who will look to record regular statistics this season. Drafted out of Southern Methodist University, the second-year defensive back was inactive for the entire 2014 season but managed to earn the starting spot opposite Brock over Keith Reaser and free-agent acquisition Shareece Wright.
Veteran safety Antonie Bethea, who is entering his ninth NFL season and second in San Francisco, earned his third career Pro Bowl appearance last year after signing with the 49ers during the previous offseason.
Bethea is joined by former first-round pick and third-year safety Eric Reid, who was a bit inconsistent during his sophomore NFL season. Despite their flaws, this pairing of do-it-all veteran and promising young stud will be a legitimate threat against Bridgewater answering the call in Week 1.
The second-year Vikings quarterback will be forced to fit some intermediate and deep throws into small holes due to the ball-hawking nature of both Bethea and Reid, and even the slightest error could result in a costly turnover—this safety pairing combined for seven interceptions in 2014.
Having Peterson draw defenders into the box and influence play action will provide significant help, but Bridgewater will still need to capitalize on these benefits.
He has the necessary ability, despite some—ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is in search of his second consecutive incorrect assessment of Bridgewater's level of talent—defining his tools as average.
Bridgewater also has a pairing of lightning-fast, fundamentally sound wide receivers in Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson, a high-quality safety net at tight end in Kyle Rudolph and an offensive coordinator who not only strongly believes in him but is also excellent at calling plays that benefit his strengths.
His offensive weapons are healthy and hungry, and the opposing man-to-man defensive backs are undersized and subpar; Bridgewater just needs to go out there and prove once again that he is on a road to success.
Vikings Defensive Front Four vs. Rebuilt 49ers Offensive Line
With Peterson returning and the enormous amount of hype (via Tomasson) surrounding Bridgewater, the Vikings' dynamic defensive front four of Everson Griffen, Sharrif Floyd, Linval Joseph and Brian Robison has been a bit overlooked.
Facing off against an offensive line that features three new starters and one 2014 starter playing in a different position, the Zimmer-led Vikings defense should be set to dominate the battle in the trenches.
Griffen earned recognition as an all-around dominant defensive end with 12 sacks and elite run defense in his first season as a full-time starter.
Robison, who produced a down year last season, will look to rebound quickly, as second-year third-round pick Scott Crichton and physically daunting rookie Danielle Hunter are waiting in the wings if the part-time fishing expert comes out showing further signs of regression.
Floyd, now in his third year since being selected as one of three first-round picks in 2013, is yet another breakout candidate on the Vikings roster—assuming you don't consider his disruptive 2014 campaign to have already done the trick. Additionally, 2014 Vikings free-agent acquisition of the year Tom Johnson provides outstanding relief when the former Florida Gator needs a blow.
Joseph, the substantial load in charge of eating up offensive linemen (no pun intended) and correspondingly creating gaps for Floyd to burst through, was just OK in his first season with the Vikings. Backup nose tackle Shamar Stephen, who is currently struggling with a knee injury, proved capable of filling in for Joseph with little to no drop-off during his rookie season.
As a collective group, this unit should be expected to create chaos early and often against a mostly unproven 49ers offensive line; Kaepernick better have his good running shoes on, or he may develop taste buds for grass by the time Week 1 comes to a close.
Matchup X-Factors
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Vikings' X-Factor of the Week: RT T.J. Clemmings
Teddy Bridgewater represents Minnesota's season-long X-factor, but for Week 1 against San Francisco, right tackle T.J. Clemmings gets the nod.
Clemmings, who started two preseason games and amassed 117 total snaps—via Pro Football Focus—is set to begin his rookie campaign with his first NFL regular-season start. Filling in for the injured Phil Loadholt, the fourth-round rookie will be in charge of lead blocking for Adrian Peterson on outside runs to the right side, an area his predecessor consistently excelled at.
To be blatantly obvious, the once-considered first-round-caliber prospect will also be responsible for the well-being of Minnesota's franchise quarterback, a critically important and overlooked role, especially considering Bridgewater's history of being a bit injury-prone.
Minnesota's massive rookie tackle won't be taxed with stopping Aldon Smith or potentially even Ahmad Brooks—whose immediate future is in limbo, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, but impressive second-year outside linebacker Aaron Lynch and rookie edge-rusher Eli Harold should be expected to test Clemmings frequently throughout Monday night's contest.
The moment he has been waiting for since the NFL became a realistic possibility has finally arrived, and if he can capitalize on this opportunity, Clemmings could be in line to be Minnesota's right tackle for the next decade.
49ers' X-Factor of the Week: WR Torrey Smith
Honestly, San Franciso probably leads the NFL in X-factors heading into the 2015 season, given the amount of volatility on its current depth chart. But, for this preview, there can only be one, and that playmaker is free-agent acquisition wide receiver Torrey Smith.
Smith agreed to terms with the 49ers on a five-year, $40 million contract with $22 million in guaranteed money back in early March. With Crabtree now in Oakland, he will not only be in charge of replacing his (lackluster) production, but doing what he does best: stretching the field vertically.
Throughout his career, Smith has averaged an absurd 16.9 yards per reception, doing almost all of his damage on intermediate- and deep-pass attempts.
However, his new signal-caller has failed miserably in working the ball down the field on deep pass attempts throughout his relatively short career. Per Pro Football Focus, Kaepernick completed just 22 of 69 throws that traveled 20-plus yards through the air, which amounts to an abysmal 31.8 completion percentage.
If Smith and Kaepernick can't get into a groove, then most of what the fifth-year pass-catcher is will be wasted—along with, at the very least, $22 million.
Getting into a rhythm in Week 1 already presents a tall task, but Smith will also be spending most of Monday night in the rapidly developing city of Xavier, Rhodes Island.
Prediction: Vikings 31, 49ers 10
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Prior to pairing linebacker Patrick Willis and Justin Smith together in 2008, the 49ers had won just 25 games throughout the previous five seasons from 2003-07.
During the three-year gap between the formation of this dynamic defensive duo and the hiring of former head coach Jim Harbaugh for the 2011 season, San Francisco won a total of 21 games, extending the franchise's winning season drought to eight in the process.
On Monday, all three of these key members from the 2011-13 49ers teams that totaled 36 victories, three NFC Championship game appearances and one Super Bowl appearance will be nowhere to found at Levi's Stadium.
The 2015 edition of the 49ers will be playing without its heart, soul and fearless attitude—three key components that took almost a decade to assemble.
This isn't a reloading team, it's a rebuilding one, as it is exceedingly rare for a team to successfully reload roughly 40 percent of its total snaps in a single offseason—one may even venture to say its impossible.
Minnesota was in a similar situation back in 2006, having parted ways with future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss and deep-ball juggernaut Daunte Culpepper in back-to-back years.
The Vikings added Adrian Peterson in 2007, brought in Kyle Rudolph in 2011, drafted Harrison Smith in 2012, found the starting trio of Xavier Rhodes, Sharrif Floyd and Gerald Hodges in 2013, attained a pass-rushing specialist in Anthony Barr, received a gift in franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater and hired the head coach-offensive coordinator combination of Mike Zimmer and Norv Turner in 2014.
General manager Rick Spielman collected rookies Trae Waynes, Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter, T.J. Clemmings, Stefon Diggs and MyCole Pruitt this past April, sufficiently filling nearly every significant hole remaining on Minnesota's roster with pro-ready, high-ceiling talent to boost this team to the next level.
How the Vikings fair over the course of the next decade will hinge on progression and execution, as it finally appears that all the necessary pieces are in place for Minnesota to evolve into a consistent playoff contender.
The road to reaching these expectations begins on Monday against a decimated 49ers team, and it is a near-certainty that Zimmer will have his team prepared to win—and they will.
Led by an extremely disruptive defensive line and a well-balanced offensive attack, Bridgewater, Peterson and Co. will overwhelm the transitioning 49ers from start-to-finish, earning the Vikings a momentous Week 1 road victory by a final score of 31-10.
Statistics and player information courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. General roster and depth chart information courtesy of Ourlads. News reports and player developments courtesy of ESPN.
Find me on Twitter @RobertReidellBT. There are three things that are certain in life: Life, Death and Marcus Sherels making the Minnesota Vikings' 53-man roster.
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