I think that there were two guys tonight who were on the bubble that are now on the roster.

Nate Jacquet and Kieth Thibideaux.

Jacquet had the beautiful return, he has been solid in the two games I have seen. Thibideaux was aggressive, he had one nice recovery in the end zone to bat down a ball and finished the game with 5 tackles. I think the guys who can now pack their bags thanks to the effort of these two are Cedric James and Carl Kidd.

A lot of guys showed a lot of promise tonight, but overall I think the team looked sloppy. The Colts had a lot of 10-20 yard plays. We did seem to come up with turnovers, which is going to be crucial this season, and that is what saved us. I hope Denny and Co. make their cuts tomorrow, I am anxious, but if they wait until Tuesday I guess they will get an extra practice to evaluate guys who may still be on the fence.

Also if we sign Tez, we will have to cut loose an extra guy. I would think that guy would turn out to be Fernando Smith or Winfield Garnett.

The guys who disappointed me tonight were James Wofford, who I really liked in the opener and Chris Liwienski who showed some flaws for the first time that I have seen. I also thought Hovan was playing poorly and right after I made a comment about it, he turned it on and tore it up.

I also want to give props to a few guys who did some really special things. Griffith on that hit. Kablam! Jordan and Carter on their blocks to spring Moss. Birk and Lacina who I saw burying guys. And Matt Cercone and Shon Bell who both look like comers for the final TE slot. (Even though I think Bell is a reprex for throwing a punch at Culpepper)

IZ

-- IZ (izmorrow@yahoo.com), August 25, 2001

Answers

My crystal ball (SN NFL) tells me the following: The top undrafted free agents to watch are defensive end Jeff Hazuga, linebacker Isaac Keys and safety Brian Russell.

Hazuga sounds like a John Randle clone, only biger and a true speed rush DE, Keys sounds like he is todays modern day version of Jack Lambert or Ray Nitske. All I've heard about this guy is he is makes Brian Eurlacher look average. Of course only time will tell and it's very unlikely these free agents are as talented as the press makes them out to be, but we Viking fans can only hope all three guys are the real deal and make the Vikings team at the practice level at the least! Tell me what you might have heard about these guys like personnel bios that we haven't read yet! GO VIKINGS!!!!!

-- CMorales (krondor105@aol.com), August 25, 2001.

I agree about Jacquet and i think Thib was on the team anyway. Go Vikes!!!

-- Tom (BMatheus@aol.com), August 25, 2001.

Jeff Hazuga UW-Stout / Rookie year HT 6-5 / Wt 277 BN 4/29/78 / FA-'01 Professional Info Signed by the Vikings as a rookie free agent on April 23, 2001...Accomplished small-college pass rusher with good size and potential...Joins fellow Division III Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member Jeff Kostrewa on the team.

College Info Starred in his lone season at Wisconsin-Stout after transferring from St. Cloud State...Named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year for 2000...Posted 23 sacks and 48 tackles for loss in his college career...Selected to numerous All- America teams, including first-team honors from AFCA, Hewlett- Packard, Don Hansen's Weekly Football Gazette and USAFootball.com...Garnered second-team All-America from D3Football.com and was a third-team choice on the Associated Press Little All-America team...Helped UW-Stout improve from 2-8 record and last-place finish in the WSIC in 1999 to a 10-0 mark in 2000, winning the WSIC title and advancing to the NCAA Division III playoffs...The conference title was UW-Stout's first in 35 years and the trip to the NCAA playoffs was the first ever for the school.

2000 Started every game at defensive end...Set school record with 14 sacks and helped team set school record with 40...Let the WSIC in sacks and tackles for loss, notching 30 stops behind the line...Named the Blue Devil's Co-Most Valuable Defensive Player...Led UW-Stout defense that held opponents to 232 yards per game, held five of 11 opponents to negative yards rushing and held Lakeland College to minus-37 total yards...Blocked what would have been the game-tying extra point in the All-Star Aztec Bowl.

1999 Started every game at RDE for Division II St. Cloud State...Ranked sixth on team with 58 tackles, posted six sacks and 11 tackles for loss...Ranked second on the team with six sacks...Had a season-high 10 tackles vs. Northern Colorado.

1998 Ranked eighth on team with 45 tackles...Notched six tackles for loss and three sacks...Posted season-high six tackles against Morningside and North Dakota State...Returned a fumble for a TD vs. Augustana.

1997 Had nine tackles and a tackle for loss on the season.

1996 Redshirted and earned Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors.

Personal Info Member of 1993 state championship team and 1994 state runner-up at Thorp High in Thorp, WI...High school team posted a 30-5 record with Hazuga as a starter...Named team's MVP, Defensive MVP and was an All- conference choice as a senior...Played in 20th Annual Wisconsin Shrine Bowl as a senior...Honor roll member...Also lettered in basketball...Enjoys skiing in his free time.

-- iz (izmorrow@yahoo.com), August 27, 2001.

Isaac Keys Morehouse / Rookie year HT 6-4 / Wt 265 BN 6/6/78 / FA-'01 Professional Info Signed with the Vikings as a rookie free agent on May 29, 2001...Making the switch from one of NCAA Division II's best defensive ends to outside linebacker...Joins fellow rookies Cary Scott (Kentucky State) and Bennitte Waddell (Tuskegee) from the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

College Info Led Morehouse in sacks as a junior (9) and senior (11)...Was named a first-team All-SIAC performer in 2000...Tied for SIAC lead with 11 sacks on the season despite missing two games on the season...Tied for third in conference with 17 tackles for loss...Ranked eighth on the team with 40 tackles...Added a fumble recovery, forced fumble and a pair of pass breakups...Led team with nine sacks in 1999...Also notched 67 tackles on the seaason, 39 of those solo...Forced three fumbles on the year and recovered three.

-- IZ (izmorrow@yahoo.com), August 27, 2001.