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If the ball moves down the field regularly through the air, and ends in points, I'm cool with it. I'm sure everyone else will be as well! AP will be successful no matter the mileage gained, and as long as injury refuses to claim him.

...wisdom

80 PurplePride 84 wrote: This has been the case since 2007 though.

Exactly. How many times do we hear opposing teams specifically game-planning to "stop" AD and he still goes for 150+ and a TD or three?

Won't be any different than any other year. I just can't wait to watch him break away for the first time in game 1. It's gonna happen.

St. Louis tried and got scorched. GB was successful crowding the LOS in the playoff game, but that scheme was basically saying "we don't think you can make a throw Joe". I doubt we'll see the GB type front as long as Ponder is healthy.

GBFavreFan wrote:I was watching ESPN or NFLN and they were talking about how Adrian will not come close to breaking the rushing record this year because teams will be keying on Adrian and specifically targeting taking away his big plays and will be successful.

This makes sense, particularly because of all the attention Adrian has received for this in the offseason with his stock rising so high. While it seems like it doesn't seem to affect Adrian's performance, teams will likely attack the run more than they did last year, and if they do, all it does is create more opportunity for our shiny new receiving group! Once again, it all comes down to Ponder doesn't it?!

To absolutely nobody's surprise, I don't think so. In fact, based on what you're talking about above, I'd say it comes down to the blocking as much as the QB. Let's face it, even though the skill position players get the glory, the o-line and good blocking are really the engine that drives any offense. Without that blocking, too many plays break down and too many drives stall.

I see no reason to believe analysts who simply say defenses will be more successful against AD because they will be targeting him and trying to take away big plays. They need to provide more than that to be credible because, as everybody else wrote, teams have been focused on stopping Peterson for his entire career. They did that during the latter half of last season and he was tearing them up. Over the last 10 games of the 2012 season, only one team was able to hold AD under 100 yards rushing and that was Houston. Why? He was bothered by an injury in that game so that may be part of it but the main reason is their defense was able to manage and often control the line of scrimmage. Teams that couldn't do that either tried run blitzing or bringing up extra defenders and often, Vikes blockers were able to pick up most of those extra defenders and Peterson beat the rest.

I know what you're saying, more defenders near the line of scrimmage could mean good news for the passing game (especially the deep passing game) but as Leslie Frazier pointed out last season, run blitzes can be effective pass blitzes as well and when nothing else stops Peterson, I'd expect to see run blitzing. We did last season. If increased attention to AD brings more defenders up that will also create more congestion so it may not help the short-to-intermediate passing game too much. Longer plays area different story, especially if the Vikes WRs and TEs can catch defenders peeking into the backfield and get behind them. However, we all know those longer plays need time to develop so the blocking will have to hold up, the receivers will have to beat whatever coverage remains and Ponder will have to deliver the ball. I think it still comes down to a team effort.

Mothman wrote: To absolutely nobody's surprise, I don't think so. In fact, based on what you're talking about above, I'd say it comes down to the blocking as much as the QB.

I think that sums it up pretty well. Big rushing totals come from big gainers, and big gainers come from a combination of outstanding blocking effort both at the LOS and downfield along with an outstanding running back. I laugh when I hear the talking heads say that defenses are going to be "focusing" on stopping AD this year. Like they weren't doing that last year and pretty much every season since AD has been in the league?

If AD is going to sniff 2,000 yards again, it's going to be because his offensive line remained intact over the offseason and because those offensive linemen give him exceptional effort. I referred to it in another post, but if one watches many of AD's highlight runs last season there is often one or more offensive linemen who are getting to the 2nd and even 3rd guy to throw a block,. They were also very good at staying on blocks which in turn gave AD time to make his superhuman cuts. If great receivers help a QB, offensive linemen like that help a RB.

Throw into that mix the type of effort the Vikes got at FB, TE, and from receivers blocking downfield and you have the recipe for a huge rushing year no matter whether the defense "focuses" on stopping it or whether the passing game is more effective. Heck, based on what we say from the Vikings in the late 90's and early 00's when they had Robert Smith running in concert with a truly outstanding passing attack, a better passing attack should just open things up for a runner like AD. So even if the Vikings throw the ball more effectively that doesn't preclude AD from getting his big gainers. It's those big gainers and their frequency that will determine AD's final rushing totals more than anything else. I'm pulling for Ponder and Co. to start lighting it up, because based on what we saw during the Robert Smith era, that could equate to another huge year for AD.

VikingLord wrote:I think that sums it up pretty well. Big rushing totals come from big gainers, and big gainers come from a combination of outstanding blocking effort both at the LOS and downfield along with an outstanding running back. I laugh when I hear the talking heads say that defenses are going to be "focusing" on stopping AD this year. Like they weren't doing that last year and pretty much every season since AD has been in the league?

If AD is going to sniff 2,000 yards again, it's going to be because his offensive line remained intact over the offseason and because those offensive linemen give him exceptional effort. I referred to it in another post, but if one watches many of AD's highlight runs last season there is often one or more offensive linemen who are getting to the 2nd and even 3rd guy to throw a block,. They were also very good at staying on blocks which in turn gave AD time to make his superhuman cuts. If great receivers help a QB, offensive linemen like that help a RB.

Throw into that mix the type of effort the Vikes got at FB, TE, and from receivers blocking downfield and you have the recipe for a huge rushing year no matter whether the defense "focuses" on stopping it or whether the passing game is more effective. Heck, based on what we say from the Vikings in the late 90's and early 00's when they had Robert Smith running in concert with a truly outstanding passing attack, a better passing attack should just open things up for a runner like AD. So even if the Vikings throw the ball more effectively that doesn't preclude AD from getting his big gainers. It's those big gainers and their frequency that will determine AD's final rushing totals more than anything else. I'm pulling for Ponder and Co. to start lighting it up, because based on what we saw during the Robert Smith era, that could equate to another huge year for AD.

Well said! I think improved passing will do nothing but open things up for Peterson but run or pass, it starts with the blocking. Actually, I suppose it starts with the play design and playcalling and it's easy to overlook just how much of a role Musgrave played in Peterson's huge season last year. He's a clever coordinator and he made great use of personnel packages to expose weaknesses in defenses and put AD in position to get many of those big gains. Bucky Brooks wrote a great column about it last year. I think you and I may have even discussed it here but it's worth reading again:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... ool-attack

Mothman wrote: Well said! I think improved passing will do nothing but open things up for Peterson but run or pass, it starts with the blocking. Actually, I suppose it starts with the play design and playcalling and it's easy to overlook just how much of a role Musgrave played in Peterson's huge season last year. He's a clever coordinator and he made great use of personnel packages to expose weaknesses in defenses and put AD in position to get many of those big gains. Bucky Brooks wrote a great column about it last year. I think you and I may have even discussed it here but it's worth reading again:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... ool-attack

Great link. I think this was one of my favorite parts:

As I studied the All-22 Coaches Film of the Vikings' past few games, I noticed that their offense often jumps into quasi-unbalanced formations and goal line-type sets to create numerical advantages at the point of attack. In theory, these formations and packages are designed to force opponents to play in a phone booth. Most defenses feature sleeker defensive linemen and linebackers, selected for their ability to get after the passer. The use of tight formations allows the Vikings' big, physical offensive line to overpower opponents over the course of the game. As a result, by the time the fourth quarter rolls around, Peterson routinely finds huge running lanes, often with the game hanging in the balance.


The Vikings' offensive line also features several athletic blockers with the agility and quickness to pull and trap on the perimeter. Matt Kalil and Brandon Fusco are particularly adept at getting on perimeter defenders following pulls or traps. This enables the Vikings to utilize a variety of running plays designed to get Peterson on the edges, with multiple blockers leading the way. Few defensive backs are tough and physical enough to take on big blockers on the perimeter; the Vikings' movement-based power running scheme helps Peterson pick up significant yardage on runs directed off tackle. Looking at all of Peterson's big runs, I was blown away by how many were produced from the Vikings' "22" personnel package.

dead_poet wrote:Great link. I think this was one of my favorite parts:

I love that too, especially this part of it:

In theory, these formations and packages are designed to force opponents to play in a phone booth. Most defenses feature sleeker defensive linemen and linebackers, selected for their ability to get after the passer. The use of tight formations allows the Vikings' big, physical offensive line to overpower opponents over the course of the game.

It's a clever use of personnel and a way to successfully use current NFL trends against teams. If everybody is gearing up to pass and stop the pass, an offense geared to overpower those pass-oriented defense with the run can have some real success and we saw that last year.

GBFavreFan wrote:I was watching ESPN or NFLN and they were talking about how Adrian will not come close to breaking the rushing record this year because teams will be keying on Adrian and specifically targeting taking away his big plays and will be successful.

What geniuses were playing the role of Captain Obvious today on ESPN and NFL Network? Of course teams key in on Adrian Peterson and try taking away his big plays. Haven't they always? They just can't do it. At least not for a game's entirety. Most of the time, our blockers and Peterson are just plain better. Ask the Packers.

But seriously, our passing game was just plain blah sometimes last season...teams knew we'd run run run. That's the thing about AP, everyone knows he's going to run--it's hardly a secret--and he still finds a way to get his yards no matter what the defense does. Sometimes great talent just simply outdoes the seemingly perfect game plan by the opposing team. That's Peterson for ya!

I hope AP continues finding a way. I'm certainly not doubting him!

The run sets up the pass sets up the run sets up the pass sets up the run sets up the pass...........

It's balance, not rocket science. All we've been hearing for years is 'stop Adrian'. Remember another guy they couldn't stop - Randy Moss? That was all they talked about then too. If all you have is ONE major weapon and a bunch of also-rans, you won't get far. If you have both run and pass consistent and capable, then you can see some individuals SHINE!

I love watching 28 rip off a huge run. When he kicks in the afterburners, it's awesome! I'm really hoping with our additions in the passing game that we'll get to see more big runs - that will be our balance, keeping the opposing D at home.

Peterson 2000 is not the issue for the Vikings ..

The problem is our passing game is weak that teams can constantly put every defender in
the box or close to it; hopefully this year our passing attack makes this very painful choice.

Teams really can't focus on him more though without compromising their pass defense and not to mention the more they've brought into the box, the more dangerous a big run actually becomes. That's been the major problem for D-coordinators that isn't always talked about. Bring everyone up into the box and you better make the tackle there cause if he gets by you it's a TD. That's nothing new though, that's why you'll see runs of 3, 2, 9, -1, 5, 64, 7, 1, etc.

The other reason I think AD can get 2000 again is that we're simply really good at run blocking. Felton has been huge since his arrival, I really can't begin to explain how effective he has been and the line certainly does there part. To me it's honestly like saying "we're just gonna stop aaron rodgers today simply because we want to." It just doesn't work that way.

as long as the vikings win games i'm happy. everything else is secondary.

mondry wrote:Teams really can't focus on him more though without compromising their pass defense and not to mention the more they've brought into the box, the more dangerous a big run actually becomes. That's been the major problem for D-coordinators that isn't always talked about. Bring everyone up into the box and you better make the tackle there cause if he gets by you it's a TD. That's nothing new though, that's why you'll see runs of 3, 2, 9, -1, 5, 64, 7, 1, etc.

The other reason I think AD can get 2000 again is that we're simply really good at run blocking. Felton has been huge since his arrival, I really can't begin to explain how effective he has been and the line certainly does there part. To me it's honestly like saying "we're just gonna stop aaron rodgers today simply because we want to." It just doesn't work that way.

If he hits 2k again, that means this passing game didn't make much of a leap. If the passing game is better, I would expext less yards but more scores.