Vikes look smooth.

Vikings-Colts Game Center

Maybe a preseason game is a glorified practice (I suspect a preseason game is less important than practice, but is just easier to watch and understand). But whatever small degree of importance we put on a preseason game, we should have that degree of enthusiasm for the Vikings right now. The first team offense and defense looked very good against the Colts.

I expected Sage Rosenfels to throw accurate passes; I was pleasantly surprised by how much zip he was able to put in his throws. He hit his receivers with sharp passes, and they usually caught them (especially Visanthe Shiancoe). The offensive line looked good opening holes in the running game, and the running backs looked quick and powerful gaining yards. Adrian Peterson, whom we all want to see on the field in more third down situations, even had a good block on a passing play. Defensively, the pass rush was so quick to the sack that we didn't get to see too much of the defense. We did see E.J. Henderson looking quick in adjusting and chasing Peyton Manning on a play where Fred Evans picked up a sack. Whether or not Henderson returns to his superb level of play, he's going to be playing at a high level, showing the speed and quickness the Vikes lacked from the middle position most of last season.

There was one thing I didn't like seeing: the Vikings threw a pass to Naufahu Tahi. Tahi averaged 2.3 yards per reception last season. He showed no ability to gain any yardage after a catch. If you throw to him, you're rarely getting any yardage beyond the point where he catches it, and that's rarely for more than two yards. Either put a fullback on the field that can be effective with the ball, or don't call plays that involve the possibility of Tahi getting the ball. This really upsets me, well beyond the degree it should.