Vikings vs. Seahawks Preseason Week 2: The Matchups for Jackson, Rice and Bevell

Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and wide receiver Sidney Rice both believe the Minnesota Vikings didn't want them to return in 2011. One of them may be more correct than the other.

Rice claims that only head coach Leslie Frazier from the Vikings ever called him after the end of the 2010 season. After suffering a hip injury in the 2010 NFC Championship game, there was a slight differing of opinion as to how the injury should be treated. Rice decided to forgo surgery in hopes of rehabbing the injury. His decision backfired and Rice had surgery six months later, forcing him to miss 10 games last season. Perhaps this was enough to sour the Vikings organization on Rice.

In an article from Seattlepi.com, Tim Booth claims that Jackson was "jerked around" during his five seasons in Minnesota. This just makes me shake my head.

Jackson had plenty of opportunities. Former head coach Brad Childress, who drafted Jackson in his first season in Minnesota, stuck with him longer than most coaches would. It was an attempt by Childress to justify taking Jackson in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. Most projections had Jackson as a fourth-round selection at best.

Darrell Bevell, who was Chidress' offensive coordinator while in Minnesota, holds the same position under Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. The best offense Bevell coached in his five seasons was 2009 when Brett Favre joined the team and led the Vikings to the NFC Championship game with a 12-4 record. I can't blame Bevell completely for the failings of the Vikings offense. Childress, who held the same position under Andy Reid in Philadelphia, did not give Bevell full reins over the offense.

With the firing of Childress after going 3-7 last season, it was obvious that Bevell's days in Minnesota were limited as soon as new head coach Leslie Frazier had the opportunity to build his own coaching staff. While Frazier didn't dismiss Bevell, he didn't immediately name him as the offensive coordinator, telling him he was free to look for other jobs.  

Now all three are reunited in Seattle.

In order to wash the bitter taste that Minnesota left in their mouths, they will have to rely on each other to show the NFL that the Vikings were wrong in letting them go.

It's a shame this is only a preseason game. The drama would have been so much greater if this game were taking place in October or November.

In 2010, the Seahawks had only one more win than the Vikings, but it was good enough to earn them a playoff berth as the NFC West Champions.

How much more intense could the matchup be if the Vikings defense got an entire game to go after Jackson and Rice?

Here's a look at the match ups for these three against the Vikings.

Seattle's Tarvaris Jackson vs. Minnesota's Jared Allen

After being held out of the Vikings first preseason game, Jared Allen will make his 2011 preseason debut against the Seahawks on Saturday in Seattle.

Allen, whose 11 sacks led the Vikings, had his lowest sack total since the 2006 season when he was with the Chiefs. He wants to crank it up in 2011, stating he would like to get 17 sacks.

If the Seahawks first preseason game is any indication, Allen may get some extra practice tackling Jackson. Jackson was only 3-of-5 in passing for 13 yards and was sacked twice.

In that game, Seattle lost starting left tackle Russell Okung indefinitely to a sprained left ankle. This should only make Allen's job a little easier.

No doubt Seattle head coach Pete Carroll will want Jackson to take a few more snaps in Week 2.

Look for Allen to have a big game with a few calf-roping demonstrations Saturday night.

Vikings Cornerbacks Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield vs. Seahawks Jackson

Like defensive end Jared Allen, cornerbacks Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield didn't see any action in Week 1. Griffin, who has suffered two torn anterior cruciate ligaments in a little over a year, was limited to only two games last season.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported this week than Griffin has been playing exceptionally well in practice. Leslie Frazier has indicated that Griffin may get a series or two against the Seahawks.

Griffin, a second-round draft pick of the Vikings in 2006, started seven games in his rookie season. From 2007 to 2009, he played in all 48 Vikings regular-season games, starting 47 of them. 

Winfield, the Vikings top cornerback, is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl season.

The Vikings defense is looking to improve its 17th ranking in interceptions from 2010. Last season, Seahawks quarterback Jackson threw three touchdowns and four interceptions in only three games for the Vikings.

If Allen and the Vikings defensive line can put some pressure on Jackson, Winfield and Griffin may get their chances at an interception. 

Sidney Rice vs. Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin

Sidney Rice had a breakout year in 2009. He topped 1,300 yards receiving on 83 receptions and scored eight touchdowns—all career highs.

In 2010, his play was affected after having hip surgery in August. Rice was was limited to only 17 catches in six games—even Bernard Berrian had more catches than Rice.

At 6'4" Rice present a huge target. He has a 14.6 yard-per-catch average in 48 games over four seasons.

He'll have a four inch height advantage over Cedric Griffin and seven inches on Antoine Winfield. At 25 years old, Rice is four years younger than Griffin and nine years younger than Winfield.

This will be the first action for all three players this preseason.

It will be interesting to see if Seattle offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, takes any shots down field taking advantage of Rice's size. 

The key to this matchup will be how well Seattle quarterback Tarvaris Jackson can deliver the longer throws downfield. Since 2007, when Rice was drafted in the second round by the Vikings, he has caught 18 touchdown passes. Meanwhile, Winfield and Griffin have combined for 11 interceptions over those four seasons.

This could be a long day for the Vikings cornerbacks if Jackson and Rice can execute Bevell's offensive game plan. It will be a short day considering they will only play a couple of series and out of the game before the second quarter ends.

Seattle Offensive Coordinator Bevel vs. Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Pagac

While Darrell Bevell and Fred Pagac were a part of the same staff under Childress for five seasons, neither may have an edge over the other.   

While Bevell holds the same position in Seattle he had with the Vikings, Pagac has been the linebacker coach as a member of Leslie Frazier's defense. Frazier promoted him to defensive coordinator when he became the head coach. 

While Pagac served as member of Frazier's defense, their coaching styles couldn't be any more different.

Frazier is a quiet, self-assured man. When he speaks the team listens. To say Pagac is a little more animated might be an understatement. He gets his point across so everyone on the field can hear him. There can be no doubt who's in charge.

After Pagac took over for Frazier as interim defensive coordinator, the defense seemed to be more aggressive. In the last six games of 2010, the Vikings defense registered seven of the 10 fumbles they recovered and seven of 15 interceptions. Pagac likes to use the blitz more frequently.

In Week 16 last season, in a game against Michael Vick and the Eagles, cornerback Antoine Winfield benefited from this aggressive style with two sacks and a forced fumble that he recovered and returned for a touchdown in a stunning 24-14 victory in Philadelphia.

It will be interesting to see how much control Seattle's head coach will give Bevell over the Seahawk offense. The Seahawk offense returns only five starters from last season, so it could take time for Bevell and his players to meld into efficient offense. Of course, as Vikings fans have seen with Tarvaris Jackson under center, that may never happen.

Again, it's a shame this meeting occurs in the preseason. With so many entertaining undertones between these two teams, it would be so much better if the game really mattered.