What We Saw: Preseason Week 2

Titans @ Vikings

Final Score: Titans 24, Vikings 16

Senior Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1)

 

This was a pitiful excuse for a football game with both teams learning little about their offensive options behind the starters, none of which saw any action for either team. With both teams choosing to focus on the ground game, we did see some impressive running from a couple of rookies who are fighting to make these teams.

Three Up

  • Julius Chestnut – the standout player on the field by some distance, Chestnut looks a lot like Derrick Henry in many aspects of his game and he could be a useful replacement long term for the Titans. He could be a sneaky sleeper pick in fantasy in deeper leagues.
  • DeWayne McBride – the promising undersized back notched his first touchdown as a professional and also bulldozed two Titans defenders on his way to picking up a key forst down on third and long. Encouraging signs that McBride will make the team alongside Ty Chandler with Alexander Mattison as the starter.
  • Will Levis – see comments on Willis below, Levis improved his stock purely by sitting this one out.

Three Down

  • Malik Willis – Willis played all the snaps at quarterback with Will Levis sitting this one out with a lower body knock sustained in the week. He struggled through the air and threw a pick right down the middle of the field with two Vikings occupying the space. He’s only a threat on the ground and that might mean an end to his hopes as a quaterback in Tennessee.
  • Jaren Hall – despite a couple of nice throws last week, Hall has looked every bit the long-term developmental option for Minnesota. He looks destined for the practice squad right now.
  • N’Keal Harry – the former Patriots first-round pick missed the game with a soft tissue injury, something he just cannot afford if he wants to make this team.

 

Tennessee Titans

| Preseason Week 1 |

 

Quarterback

 

Malik Willis: 10/17, 85 Yards, TD, INT | 11 Carries, 91 Yards, 1 Fumble (Recovered)

 

There is an inevitability about Malik Willis that becomes evident very quickly after a couple of failed drives – he needs to run the ball to be effective. Willis’ 11 rushes for 91 yards was the highlight of his game but the struggles through the air continued. This dreadful read for his interception shows how his passing game has not developed since entering the league. He is still making the same mistakes.

 

Notes

  • Willis was uncomfortable in the pocket, and even when he had time he struggled to go through his reads
  • Willis scrambled often once his first read disappeared
  • He has elite rushing ability – he could be used in package situations and that is something they should consider

Missed Opportunities

  • Willis threw short of the sticks on third down in three separate occasions, making it hard for his team to move the sticks in the first half
  • Willis twice pulled out of passing opportunities on third down in the red zone missing the chance to score in the third quarter

 

Running Back

 

Julius Chestnut: 13 Carries, 98 Yards, TD | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 1 Yard, TD

 

Second-year man Julius Chestnut took over from Tyjae Spears and ran his heart out to try and make this team. Chestnut was a useful special teams contributor as he chipped in at least 40 kick return yards in three of the last five games to close out 2022. He showed that burst in the second half with a huge run that nearly went all the way. He also caught a pass for a touchdown on fourth down late in the game to top off a stellar performance.

 

Tyjae Spears: 7 Carries, 57 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards

 

Spears was a third round pick out of Tulane and was immediately anointed as the backup to workhorse Derrick Henry. He showed plenty to back that up in this performance, including an electric 33-yard run for a score in which he broke through a hole with vicious speed before hopping over a tackle to run the ball in for a touchdown.

 

Spears is the perfect change-of-pace back and one to watch in fantasy circles as a FLEX option if he forges a role in the offense. That is all he is though, as concerns over a recurring knee injury and his small frame rules out a three-down role.

 

Jacques Patrick: 8 Carries, 29 Yards

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Mason Kinsey: 1 Carry, 6 Yards | 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 37 Yards

 

Kinsey is coming off two seasons on the Titans practice squad and he is hoping that he gets a shot as a contributor in what is an underwhelming wide receiver room. Potential in the slot role showed out in this game as he hauled in all four targets, including a brave grab over the middle for a third down conversion.

 

Chigoziem Okonkwo: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 19 Yards

Racey McMath: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 16 Yards

Gavin Holmes: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 5 Yards

Josh Whyle: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards

Chris Moore: 1 Target

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine: 1 Target

 

Minnesota Vikings

| Preseason Week 1 |

 

Quarterback

 

Nick Mullens: 13/23, 151 Yards | 1 Carry, 9 Yards

 

Meh, this was more of the same from Mullens after last week’s professional showing. Lots of play action, safe reads and plenty of bowing to the run game. He’s still one of the more competent backups in the league. This roll right and intermediate throw to Ben Sims was his play of the day and shows us what he can do in his comfort zone in play action.

 

Jaren Hall: 4/7, 49 Yards | 2 Carries, 14 Yards

 

It was another rough day for Hall, who has looked far from an NFL product in his first two games with the Vikings. Often slow to progress through reads, Hall showed inaccuracy and hesitation. Like the first game of preseason, there were flashes where it all comes together. This throw for example was elite. However, it is the exception rather than the rule.

 

Notes

  • Looks clunky and unbalanced in the pocket at times
  • His throws have excellent velocity
  • Hampered by very bad offensive line play
  • Accuracy is an issue when under pressure; but excellent in a clean pocket

Missed Opportunities

  • Converted a third down in the fourth quarter thanks to a scramble left but didn’t use his feet on other occasions when he should have
  • Was sacked deep in own territory after nothing going on three reads. He made no attempt to throw the ball away or reasses the situation. Poor awareness often in the pocket.

 

Running Back

 

Ty Chandler: 11 Carries, 24 Yards

 

Another solid showing from the presumptive backup to Alexander Mattison, noting that Kene Nwangwu is injured and hasn’t been a factor in preseason. Chandler once again showed good vision, quickness in his running lanes, and importantly for his value to the team effective pass protection. He stayed in on passing downs too and looks to be a perfect change-of-pace option to Mattison’s downhill running.

 

Aaron Dykes: 3 Carries, 19 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 11 Yards

DeWayne McBride: 6 Carries, 18 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 11 Yards

 

A better outing this week for the seventh round flier. McBride showed a nice cut for his touchdown as well as strength and attack in his running style. Most of his work came in the second half, however, with the third string unit. McBride could make the team in Nwangu lands on the PUP list but he needs to make an impression over the coming two weeks to have a shot at the roster.

 

Abram Smith: 2 Carries, 7 Yards

 

Wide Receiver/Tight End

 

Nick Muse: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 46 Yards

 

Nick Muse started for the second straight week and made a splash early on. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell loves his tight end sets and so Muse has a shot to make the team after back-to-back impressive performances. T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver will be the first two names on the depth chart but Muse could be a value add in deeper leagues in a similar fashion to Tyler Conklin a few years back. Muse also showed out in run blocking for Chandler.

 

Ben Sims: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 38 Yards

 

With Jordan Addison in the concussion protocol, the Vikings really did roll out the backups in the passing game. Ben Sims was one who showed excellent blocking alongside big play ability. Sims is an undrafted free agent and will be hard pressed to make this team with Muse once again showing nice hands as the starter in this game. Still, Sims certainly made a case with this performance.

 

Thayer Thomas: 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 32 Yards

Colin Thompson: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 31 Yards

Brandon Powell: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 11 Yards

Trishton Jackson: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 10 Yards

Jalen Reagor: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 10 Yards

Lucky Jackson: 1 Target

Blake Proehl: 2 Targets

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