Thoughts Week 1

[IrishViking]

One thing about Peterson... even an aging Peterson is probably better than 80% of the RBs out there. Tennessee had 8-9 in the box on almost every play AD was in there, and it opened up the passing game (such as it was) for Hill. I wonder what will happen once Bradford is back there. If we can make the defenses pay for stacking the box, the offense may finally be able to move the ball to the end zone rather than settling for Blair Walsh missing kicks.

We wont know until we sit his butt and let another RB play a whole game. Heaven forbid right?

Bottom line is today AP played like an undrafted old free agent. In asiata's limited looks he produced more consistent yardage which is what you want.

As a General note. FEAST OR FAMINE IS NOT A GOOD THING. It should not be a hashtag or a rallying cry. It would be like building your passing attack exclusively out of passes of at least 40 yards or more, "Well we get sacked a crapload. But once or twice a game the defense makes a mistake and we get more highlight reel tape"

You need consistent yardage and AP has shown over a decade in the league that he cant help but bounce around, the only difference is he is older. He IS slower, he has lost a half a step. And when that happens it means he cant use his herculean physical traits to make up for mistakes.

AP from 2008 would have pulled some absurd double cut leap to escape the backfield on a couple of those plays and turned his -3 self inflicted run into a 8-12 yard gain or more. 2016 post ACL surgery AP. cant do that anymore.


AP is 31, he is older, he is slower, the visual proof is on display. Look at his highlights from 2007-2011 versus 2012-now. Even his highlight show he is slower. AP is not the man that time forgot.


I'll take good pass protection and a decent running attack rather than great run protection so AP can hit homeruns and an Oline that will kill our QB.

[fiestavike]

I can't say for sure if Peterson is out of rhythm, getting old, losing his edge, or if he actually thinks running up to the line of scrimmage and stopping is some strange form of "patience". I know that before his suspension, what Peterson did well was take the ball and hit whatever hole was there. If there wasn't a hole, he would hit his own lineman in the back. It kept his negative gains to a minimum, and when there was a crease he hit it full speed. Conventionally you want your RB to be more patient, but Peterson has never played that way. Maybe he is trying to play that way now? its ugly. If they are coaching him to be patient, they should just stop, because they are negating what he does well and turning him into a guy who spits out negative plays as often as positive plays.

[Mothman]

[PurpleMustReign]

Rofl.

Cold is temporary. Purple Pride is forever.

[fiestavike]

18 games in a row...

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I still am having a hard time understanding the offensive game plan from yesterday. Why we kept running Adrian on inside runs against 8+ in the box just absolutely made zero sense to me. Moreover, it was a run nearly every time against 8+ in the box. There was very few play action attempts - something I was audibly calling for yesterday watching the game. Sure enough, when play action was finally called, it resulted in a really big gain for Kyle Rudolph.

Defensively, the 2nd half was night and day better than the first half. The first half was all encompassing of the 'same old Vikings.' They looked absolutely overmatched.

Thank God this coaching staff is here and can make competent adjustments. I probably should have had more faith in them than I did.

[dead_poet]

I still am having a hard time understanding the offensive game plan from yesterday. Why we kept running Adrian on inside runs against 8+ in the box just absolutely made zero sense to me. Moreover, it was a run nearly every time against 8+ in the box. There was very few play action attempts - something I was audibly calling for yesterday watching the game. Sure enough, when play action was finally called, it resulted in a really big gain for Kyle Rudolph.

Defensively, the 2nd half was night and day better than the first half. The first half was all encompassing of the 'same old Vikings.' They looked absolutely overmatched.

Thank God this coaching staff is here and can make competent adjustments. I probably should have had more faith in them than I did.

They kept doing it because A) Historically it hasn't mattered because AD eats vs. 8-man boxes and B) it opens other things up. I agree that the limited use of play-action is baffling at times. Hill sells it well and defenses bite. Unless the idea is it takes longer to develop and subjects Hill to theoretically more pressure?

[mansquatch]

I wonder if they were hesitant to call it more since the running game was so pathetic? Dick Lebeau is still a hell of a defensive coach, I think that team looks to be improved from last season.

[Mothman]

I still am having a hard time understanding the offensive game plan from yesterday. Why we kept running Adrian on inside runs against 8+ in the box just absolutely made zero sense to me. Moreover, it was a run nearly every time against 8+ in the box. There was very few play action attempts - something I was audibly calling for yesterday watching the game. Sure enough, when play action was finally called, it resulted in a really big gain for Kyle Rudolph.

Defensively, the 2nd half was night and day better than the first half. The first half was all encompassing of the 'same old Vikings.' They looked absolutely overmatched.

Thank God this coaching staff is here and can make competent adjustments. I probably should have had more faith in them than I did.

If the same coaching staff came up with better offensive game plans in the first place, maybe there would be less need for adjustments.

[dead_poet]

If the same coaching staff came up with better offensive game plans in the first place, maybe there would be less need for adjustments.

I need some water after reading that salty take.

[Norv Zimmer]

I really hope Bradford starts this week.

I would really like to see us throwing more on 1st down, having 2nd and 9 every drive really sucks. They kept running it right at Jhurrell Casey with zero effect. I was screaming at the TV AUDIBLE!!!! If I can see it on TV how can Hill not see that their are 10 people in the box? It seems to me like a simple audible and send Diggs on a slant would be a easy throw/catch for a huge gain.

[Mothman]

I need some water after reading that salty take.

Just call me...



Apparently, I'm "meme guy" today.

[IrishViking]

I just don't know what to say to the massive breadth of benefit of doubt AP gets. Even his past talent doesnt seem to warrant this. The man is 31 on a rebuilt knee. He doesnt produce even at his backups level and yes their are other reasons besides just him at play there but the bottom line is the bottom line.

To me, AP showed this week that he needs an offense completely built around his play style to produce game winning performsnces. The more we move towards a balanced offense the more extreme his dropoff.

[petev_sj]

I would have liked to have Treadwell more involved in Red zone plays. He is a big body WR and made for that type of work.

AD was rusty to say the least. The play by play announcers pointed out some big holes AD missed. I'm not that worried though, AD always starts slow due to not participating in Pre-Season.

[mansquatch]

They had Rudolph on the field who is an even bigger target and couldn't make it happen. I do not think Treadwell would have made a difference. Hill did miss Diggs at least one time wide open in the End Zone. I'm not convinced that the personnel grouping was the issue in the Red Zone so much as it was just poor offensive execution.

AP needs to play better, simple
Run blocking needs to improve
RT needs to get it together
QB needs to find those open guys when they are there