Vikings vs. Seahawks— Preseason Game Thread

[Funkytown]

[GIF Breakdown] How Mike Zimmer Racked Up Four Sacks In One Preseason Half

Mike Zimmer's defense sacked Russell Wilson four times in a single half last week, and pressured Wilson on the majority of his dropbacks. That is a lot of pressure. That also underscores what Vikings fans have heard about the Vikings’ pass rush, after the Vikings’ front seven dominated the Bengals in training camp and demolished their own pass protection throughout their own camp.

The obvious caveat to all of this is that it’s only the preseason. Of course, that goes both ways—while offenses may not be trying their hardest, the defenses similarly are not breaking out their best pass moves or sneakiest blitz packages.

However, that also gives casual fans a great opportunity to learn the basics of Zim Tsu. Head coach Mike Zimmer has made a career out of brilliant blitz schemes—showing double A-gap pressure, feigning a blitz from one side then flanking from the other, changing blitz calls based on who the offense identifies as the Mike, packages that morph as the play clock approaches zero. But in the preseason, everything gets dumbed down to the basics. With four sacks and plenty of pressure in a single half, it gives us a great opportunity to show the basics of how pass rush creates pressure in a Mike Zimmer defense.

Film breakdown at the link above.

[mondry]

Yeah, our best hope for the superbowl is that our defense just pulls a Denver and destroys every team we face. If Blair hits that kick it would have worked against Seattle, too bad!

[Mothman]

Yeah, our best hope for the superbowl is that our defense just pulls a Denver and destroys every team we face. If Blair hits that kick it would have worked against Seattle, too bad!

It would have worked anyway if it weren't for those meddling kids.