Thoughts week 2

[DK Sweets]

I really enjoy that post, frosted. I think it made a lot of good points.

I personally am not worried about the receivers yet, though. Teddy only threw 18 passes and completed over 70% with over 8 yards per attempt. Obviously the focus of the offenses are very different, but those are similar to the numbers Aaron Rodgers has been putting up this year.

I REALLY want to stress that I'm not saying Teddy is in Rodgers territory, but it does demonstrate that in an offense centered around Peterson, he's been efficient. So far the receivers haven't been the smart target, but I'm tentatively optimistic that over the course of the season we'll see more balance.

At the very least, I'm confident enough not to worry about it quite yet. It is something to watch moving forward, though.

[frosted]

Defense

- Anyone else a bit frustrated with Everson Griffen so far? The guy is an absolute juggernaut, so I have no doubt he'll get it figured out, but he needs to get back to playing the way he did last year.

- Run defense was much better. So much better in their alignments and gap integrity. Particularly impressive was Linval hungry. Keep pushing big boy. Still, holding my breath on the run defense - it's one thing to stymie the Lions running game, but we're going to see much tougher rushing attacks as the year goes along, and I can't forget how poor they've been over the last 18 games overall.

- The pass defense gave up a pretty big chunk of total yardage, BUT - we held Stafford to 5.4 YPA. That's really good. If the pass rush can get the opposing quarterback on the ground a bit more, before he completes the pass, we can start getting off the field quicker, and allowing our offense more chances to score.

- I liked the way Hodges and (at times) Kendricks played. Barr wasn't as effective as he usually is. Greenway - I can't say I noticed him at all. The LBs just need to be more consistent. I think we have a decent mix of guys - if Kendricks continues to improve and Barr gets back to playing the way he did last year we'll be a much better defense. Hodges can bang, but he sometimes misses his keys egregiously. That's mental. I imagine the learning curve going from SAM and WILL to MIKE is pretty steep. I'm surprised he made as many positive plays as he did this week, to be honest. I was extremely upset with the way he played last week. He seems to have earned Zimmer's trust - hopefully he makes good on that.

- I need to see better tackling from this defense - they really piss it down their leg in the open field sometimes.

- Brian Robison played like an animal! Love to see that. His motor never quits, and while he's not as effective as he once was, he still flashes enough that I think there's more positive than negative week to week. He'll need to continue to eliminate the "wat" plays, but he can still bring some good pressure.

- On the topic of defensive ends, I am continued to be encouraged by Scott Crichton. He's a <GrudenVoice>football player, man</GrudenVoice>. I'd like him to get some more reps (spell B-Rob, keep him fresh). I think he's especially tough playing the run. I am really excited to see what he can become. Me thinks he has the skill set to slide inside on passing downs as well. Another dirt dog is Justin Trattou. We have the beginnings of a pretty quality defensive line rotation, between these boys and Linval, Floyd, Johnson, and Stephen on the interior.

- Sendejo..anyone? I don't recall noticing him at all. That may be a good thing. Harrison is Harrison. Rhodes was uneven (the penalties were a bit annoying), but I thought he played pretty well, given the player he was covering. I think Newman had an awesome game. Captain might have played his best overall game as a Viking (refresh my memory, this might be hyperbole).

- The defense needs fine tuning, but it's not the #### show we saw in San Fran. That's good. I could talk (type?) about this team for a while longer, but it's early in the season, and I think we'd all do well to watch closely and formulate a more well supported opinion of this team before we get too up or down.

Viking Stat Box: Offense

Code: Select all

299.0 Total Yards/Game (29th in NFL)
164.0 Passing Yards/Game (32nd in NFL)
7.7 Passing Yard/Attempt (13th in NFL)
135.0 Rushing Yards/Game (9th in NFL)
4.6 Rushing Yards/Attempt (6th in NFL)
34.8% 3rd Down Conversion (23rd in NFL)
-1 TO Differential (18th in NFL)
14.5 Points/Game (31st in NFL)

Viking Stat Box: Defense

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359.0 Total Yards/Game (19th in NFL)
225.0 Passing Yards/Game (16th in NFL)
5.7 Passing Yards/Attempt (4th in NFL)
80.7 Passer Rating Against (7th in NFL)
1 INT (18th in NFL)
2 Sacks (24th in NFL)
134.0 Rushing Yards/Game (24th in NFL)
4.9 Rushing Yards/Attempt (30th in NFL)
44.0% 3rd Down Conversion Against (19th in NFL)
18.0 Points/Game (6th in NFL)

[frosted]

I really enjoy that post, frosted. I think it made a lot of good points.

I personally am not worried about the receivers yet, though. Teddy only threw 18 passes and completed over 70% with over 8 yards per attempt. Obviously the focus of the offenses are very different, but those are similar to the numbers Aaron Rodgers has been putting up this year.

I REALLY want to stress that I'm not saying Teddy is in Rodgers territory, but it does demonstrate that in an offense centered around Peterson, he's been efficient. So far the receivers haven't been the smart target, but I'm tentatively optimistic that over the course of the season we'll see more balance.

At the very least, I'm confident enough not to worry about it quite yet. It is something to watch moving forward, though.

Thank you, sir.

I'd have to agree, I've been impressed with Teddy's ultra efficient start to the season. Like you, I will have a close eye on the passing game going forward, I'm eager to see them try to push it down the field a bit more in the coming weeks. I think we have the potential to field an offense that can attack the deep middle of the field effectively, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

[PurpleMustReign]

Thank you, sir.

I'd have to agree, I've been impressed with Teddy's ultra efficient start to the season. Like you, I will have a close eye on the passing game going forward, I'm eager to see them try to push it down the field a bit more in the coming weeks. I think we have the potential to field an offense that can attack the deep middle of the field effectively, but we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

I remember Ponder having similar numbers to Teddy's last outing, but with Teddy at QB, things just seem so much more in control. If the OL can continue their improvement, they could have a scary offense.

[808vikingsfan]

Very late in the discussion due to international travel but I think the key that helped the offense was Peterson's gains on first down. The offense can be much more effective with 2nd and manageable rather than 2nd and long.

Great win. I still want to see the receivers get more involved but at least I saw what I was hoping to see vs Detroit. Probably their best team effort since the rams in 2014.

[dead_poet]

Krammer's film review: offense: http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Film ... _win092215

Ugly stat:

After tallying 350 yards and 26 points, the Vikings rank 29th in yardage (299 per game) and 31st in scoring offense (14.5 per game).

I thought this was an interesting tidbit:

Guard Brandon Fusco showed off his versatility, switching back to right guard for a couple snaps, and bounced back from a subpar opener to help the Vikings control the line of scrimmage against a Lions defense without Ndamukong Suh or Nick Fairley.

Krammer neglects to say who went to LG and why this occurred. I hope he asks during Norv's presser.

Another fact maybe only interesting to me:

Personnel groupings (#)
3 receivers / 1 tight end (11): 47 (out of 61)

Goat(s): Joe Berger, T.J. Clemmings -- Both injury replacements along the offensive line, Berger and Clemmings have been uneven. Bridgewater had to scrape a few shotgun snaps off his cleats while Clemmings had a tough draw in his few snaps against Ansah.

Cringing at Berger/Clemmings going up against KC and Denver's defense here soon.

[dead_poet]

Krammer's film review: defense: http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Film ... p_QB092215

Positive:

After allowing the most rushing yards on a Mike Zimmer-led defense in over five years, the Vikings surrendered just 38 yards on the ground in Sunday's 26-16 win over the Detroit Lions, the fewest rushing yards allowed by the Vikings since Nov. 3, 2013.

It's also the fewest rushing yards allowed by a Zimmer defense since Oct. 25, 2009.

After allowing 16 points and 323 yards, the Vikings rank 19th in yardage allowed (359 per game) and 6th in scoring defense (18 per game).

As suspected, Vikings were in their nickel a lot.

Defensive sets & stats
Base: 12/78 [15%]
Nickel: 66/78 [85%]
Yards: 323
Points: 16
Takeaways: 3
Sacks: 1

Game ball: Brian Robison -- Taking advantage of his matchup, Robison's six tackles, one for a loss, and two pass deflections helped the Vikings defense put pressure on Stafford and lock down the running game. After halftime, the Lions were chipping Robison with a running back in pass protection. At 32, he hasn't lost the step yet. Honorable mention: Harrison Smith, who had the interception negated by a flag, a forced fumble, one of the many hits on Stafford and the stop on the two-point attempt to seal the game.

[DK Sweets]

Golden Tate accuses Vikings of taking cheap shots

"One hundred and ten percent (they did)," Tate told the Detroit Free Press on Monday. "After watching the film there were several holds, late hits that I thought should have been called. A couple of them I wouldn't be surprised if we turn them in (to the NFL).

"But then again, that's part of playing on the road. You've got to control that by not making the game close and busting it wide open. So that's what we should have done better. But there were a few plays out there that I think were clear violations of this game."

Emphasis mine.

I wonder if he realizes that not only did they not "bust it wide open", they were playing from behind almost literally the entire game and never got the score closer than 7 points?

Anyways, I didn't think we played dirty.

[Jordysghost]

Golden Tate, whom played for the Seahawks, and currently plays for the Lions.. is calling another team dirty. (Facepalm)

Golden Tate is a whiny little girl.

[808vikingsfan]

Golden Tate, whom played for the Seahawks, and currently plays for the Lions.. is calling another team dirty. (Facepalm)

Golden Tats is a whiny little girl.

He has much bigger problems if he really does have a tattoo of a whiny little girl.

[fiestavike]

7.7 Passing Yard/Attempt (13th in NFL)
4.6 Rushing Yards/Attempt (6th in NFL)

5.7 Passing Yards/Attempt (4th in NFL)
4.9 Rushing Yards/Attempt (30th in NFL)

With the exception of the Rushing Yards/Attempt surrendered, these numbers should bode well. The passing and rushing/attempt offensively are pretty good. Surrendering long time munching drives defensively has probably cut into the teams scoring and yardage outputs offensively. More disciplined run D should help with that.

[Jordysghost]

He has much bigger problems if he really does have a tattoo of a whiny little girl.

Nice catch, didn't even notice.

[Just Me]

Here is an article about the alleged Viking's "dirty plays" against the Lions. While this is a Detroit website, I thought the author tried to maintain some objectivity in his opinions. I didn't agree with some of his conclusions, but here are some points he made:

...Barr's contact comes almost simultaneously as Stafford rolls out of bounds. In fact, when Barr first contacts Stafford, the quarterback is straddling the sideline:
So in terms of lateness, this play is right there in a grey area. However, this is an absolutely perfect example of unnecessary roughness.

One common theme I saw reviewing the game was Vikings' players finishing plays after the Lions had essentially given up. Here, Calvin is not really trying to pick up many extra yards, slows down and displays a "giving up" posture. Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes uses the opportunity to take a shot at Johnson. While Rhodes is definitely in his right to deliver a hit to an in-bounds Calvin, he delivers a blow to Johnson's head, leading with his helmet.

I don't necessarily agree with that assessment since the evidence presented is a still photo from the front of the hit which could make it appear that Rhodes helmet was closer to Johnson's than it actually was. Hollywood fight choreographers will use a similar angle to create the illusion that someone is the recipient of a punch, when in reality the "punch" will miss the target by a good six inches. It is the camera angle and the recipient's reaction that create the illusion of being hit. This is not to say that Johnson was, or was not, hit in the helmet. This is just to point out that the still shot does not provide conclusive evidence one way or the other.

Individually, these incidents don't point to a dirty performance from the Vikings. However, during the game, Minnesota showed a repetitive tendency to test the limits of late hits and often targeted their opponents toward the head. I can certainly see why Tate was frustrated watching the film after the game, but it's important to remember that I went out and looked for these specific infractions.

I basically disagree with his final conclusions. I thought the Vikings played a good aggressive defense, and there will be some unintentional fouls that occur when defenses do that. Still, I thought is was worth the read to see how the other side viewed it.

More at the link

[Mothman]

Here is an article about the alleged Viking's "dirty plays" against the Lions. While this is a Detroit website, I thought the author tried to maintain some objectivity in his opinions. I didn't agree with some of his conclusions, but here are some points he made:
I don't necessarily agree with that assessment since the evidence presented is a still photo from the front of the hit which could make it appear that Rhodes helmet was closer to Johnson's than it actually was. Hollywood fight choreographers will use a similar angle to create the illusion that someone is the recipient of a punch, when in reality the "punch" will miss the target by a good six inches. It is the camera angle and the recipient's reaction that create the illusion of being hit. This is not to say that Johnson was, or was not, hit in the helmet. This is just to point out that the still shot does not provide conclusive evidence one way or the other.
I basically disagree with his final conclusions. I thought the Vikings played a good aggressive defense, and there will be some unintentional fouls that occur when defenses do that. Still, I thought is was worth the read to see how the other side viewed it.

It was definitely worth it. Thank you very much for the link. It's good to see you posting here a little more often!

[84BreaksAnkles]

This is incorrect if you look at my offensive breakdown on the film studies thread..
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=28632

We only ran 42 plays with 3wr 1te