Vikings-Lions preview

[dead_poet]

Vikings Look to Prove Last Year Was No Fluke
http://firststopfantasy.com/nfl-teams/m ... -no-fluke/

So, as you can see, I'm doing a thing and writing for firststopfantasy.com, because I found arguing with myself is a lot easier than arguing with Demi

I'll do game previews, injury/other news, random features, etc. Story ideas welcome. Feel free to criticize/engage/blast away in the comments section as well as here. Note that I'm going to attempt to be unbiased (even though I'm clearly completely biased), and as neutral as possible, but I suspect some of the writing will be infected with glimmers of optimism and positivity. I will attempt to keep this to a minimum.

I'll try to focus on a few key matchups/storylines every week. Two I touched on this week were Jared Allen vs. first-time LT Riley Reiff and Charlie Johnson vs. Nick Fairley, among others. There's no shortage of storylines this year and I'm excited to start getting some answers to all of our questions.

Also, if you're so inclined, follow me on the Twitter (@KC_Vikes), where I'll be posting Vikings news, links, tidbits, general football/Vikings-related musings, answering fantasy questions and random dumb-assery that I find amusing.

I'm certainly not an authority, am not affilitated with the Vikings and I don't know how much (if any) "insider" information I'll be able to post (I'm currently checking on if I can leverage my "sources" within the organization). Just a guy that apparently doesn't get his fill of Vikings on a daily basis that enjoys writing, enlightened conversation, and (obviously) pain/suffering as it relates to being a Vikings fan.

Anyway, enjoy or hate or whatever you choose to do after using your eyeballs to look at my words.

[dead_poet]

I know people want to see the "new" passing game, but I don't see any advantage in Ponder chucking the ball around the field 25-35 times. This offense runs through AD. Maintaining TOP, keeping Stafford/Calvin Johnson off the field is a priority, especially on the road.

Something that I didn't write about but am curious to see is Henderson vs. Pettigrew and the 'backers vs. Reggie Bush. I think the defense is going to really miss Winfield out there. He all but eliminated screen passes to his side from the opposition's playbook due to his reaction time, instincts and tackling ability. I suspect we'll see more than one screen to Bush and I'm nervous that it's going to be a lot easier/more effective sans Winfield.

Kind of okay if Ansah doesn't play. Kalil's preseason has made me nervous.

[Mothman]

Thanks for the link! There were several hilarious lines in there that I really enjoyed (especially the line about the "arm battle"). You really did a good job and I look forward to reading your game previews and other writing all season (although I hope it won't reduce your posts around here too much). Please provide us with links to new material as you create it.

[Mothman]

I know people want to see the "new" passing game, but I don't see any advantage in Ponder chucking the ball around the field 25-35 times. This offense runs through AD. Maintaining TOP, keeping Stafford/Calvin Johnson off the field is a priority, especially on the road.

Well said. Despite the desire to see Ponder show more patience in the pocket, I wouldn't count on a lot of that in this game because I'm not sure there will be much of a pocket. If I were Musgrave, I'd try to use a fair number of designed rollouts and keep Ponder on the move. Fairly and Suh are likely to tear up the middle of the Vikings o-line. I suspect the pocket will be rapidly collapsing all day.

Something that I didn't write about but am curious to see is Henderson vs. Pettigrew and the 'backers vs. Reggie Bush. I think the defense is going to really miss Winfield out there. He all but eliminated screen passes to his side from the opposition's playbook due to his reaction time, instincts and tackling ability. I suspect we'll see more than one screen to Bush and I'm nervous that it's going to be a lot easier/more effective sans Winfield.

that's definitely possible and Bush is a very elusive runner so it would be really nice to have a sure tackler like Winfield over there.

Kind of okay if Ansah doesn't play. Kalil's preseason has made me nervous.

You're not alone!

[Reignman]

- Will Bill Musgrave call more plays than what is available on Tecmo Super Bowl?

Oh I see, saving your best material for the other place. Haha good stuff.

No really the whole article was a nice read. Not even this "glass half empty" guy can find much to criticize haha. I'm looking forward to some of the same matchups, especially Allen vs Reiff. And maybe RT is the one position Joe Webb can't play, but there's another Webb (J'Marcus) who can if Load can't step it up. Heck he can't do worse in the penalty department.

[dead_poet]

Drat.

Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

Lions RE Ziggy Ansah (concussion) returned to practice Thursday.

Ansah is now on track to play in Sunday's opener against the Vikings. The No. 5 overall pick is part of a ferocious front four that figures to give Christian Ponder a ton of problems. Ansah ended up missing just a week of practice.
Source: Chris McCosky on Twitter

[Mothman]

Drat.

Ezekiel Ansah - DL - Lions

Lions RE Ziggy Ansah (concussion) returned to practice Thursday.

Ansah is now on track to play in Sunday's opener against the Vikings. The No. 5 overall pick is part of a ferocious front four that figures to give Christian Ponder a ton of problems. Ansah ended up missing just a week of practice.
Source: Chris McCosky on Twitter

It's going to be a baptism by fire for the 2013 Vikings o-line.

[The Breeze]

It's going to be a baptism by fire for the 2013 Vikings o-line.

Ugh

Hopefully AD can run like a pack of wild dogs in downtown Detroit......slow that front down a bit.

[Texas Vike]

Vikings Look to Prove Last Year Was No Fluke
http://firststopfantasy.com/nfl-teams/m ... -no-fluke/

So, as you can see, I'm doing a thing and writing for firststopfantasy.com, because I found arguing with myself is a lot easier than arguing with Demi

I'll do game previews, injury/other news, random features, etc. Story ideas welcome. Feel free to criticize/engage/blast away in the comments section as well as here. Note that I'm going to attempt to be unbiased (even though I'm clearly completely biased), and as neutral as possible, but I suspect some of the writing will be infected with glimmers of optimism and positivity. I will attempt to keep this to a minimum.

I'll try to focus on a few key matchups/storylines every week. Two I touched on this week were Jared Allen vs. first-time LT Riley Reiff and Charlie Johnson vs. Nick Fairley, among others. There's no shortage of storylines this year and I'm excited to start getting some answers to all of our questions.

Also, if you're so inclined, follow me on the Twitter (@KC_Vikes), where I'll be posting Vikings news, links, tidbits, general football/Vikings-related musings, answering fantasy questions and random dumb-assery that I find amusing.

I'm certainly not an authority, am not affilitated with the Vikings and I don't know how much (if any) "insider" information I'll be able to post (I'm currently checking on if I can leverage my "sources" within the organization). Just a guy that apparently doesn't get his fill of Vikings on a daily basis that enjoys writing, enlightened conversation, and (obviously) pain/suffering as it relates to being a Vikings fan.

Anyway, enjoy or hate or whatever you choose to do after using your eyeballs to look at my words.

Congratulations on a really solid piece. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to future write ups. Please keep posting links here.

[S197]

Great job DP! The opening was very reminiscent of Kluwe's style. Loadholt's in a single bound...

[dead_poet]

Great job DP! The opening was very reminiscent of Kluwe's style. Loadholt's in a single bound...

Thanks!

I write a weekly "humor" column for a paper here in Iowa. Some people find it amusing. I think it's crap. Anyway, if you're curious:

http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/con ... l?nav=5003
http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/con ... wheel.html
http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/con ... women.html

[Pepper2Moss]

Lions are 5.5 point favorites... That seems about 2-3 points higher than it should be, but I guess Detroit is a trendy bounce back pick this year & the no one seems to look past the Vikes QB when considering their talent level this year.

[dead_poet]

Lions are 5.5 point favorites... That seems about 2-3 points higher than it should be, but I guess Detroit is a trendy bounce back pick this year & the no one seems to look past the Vikes QB when considering their talent level this year.

I think Florio has them going to the NFC Championship.

[Funkytown]

I think Florio has them going to the NFC Championship.

Wow. Someone has jokes!

Nice article by the way, DP.

[porky]

Nice read.