Crucify the OC as well

[YikesVikes]

A quick look at the key int by Cousins, shows a play the Vikings ran 3 times before. The play is a naked play-action bootleg from undercenter. On each of the prior three attempts, the backside DE did not bite on the fake action and instead pursued the QB. Why would be choose to run it a 4th time at this point in the game? This reminds me of the earlier post I made about the Bears game in 2018. The OC called the same mesh concept on 3rd down 4 times and we punted each time. He keeps slamming his head against a brick wall and not exploiting what the defense is giving him. The Packers obviously focused on the playaction off stretch with no WR on the backside. It is clear that was something they focused on in practice. It simply was not there. Instead the QB was pressured and threw a boneheaded play. However, this never happens if he isnt put in a position to be Kirk.

[VikingLord]

A quick look at the key int by Cousins, shows a play the Vikings ran 3 times before. The play is a naked play-action bootleg from undercenter. On each of the prior three attempts, the backside DE did not bite on the fake action and instead pursued the QB. Why would be choose to run it a 4th time at this point in the game? This reminds me of the earlier post I made about the Bears game in 2018. The OC called the same mesh concept on 3rd down 4 times and we punted each time. He keeps slamming his head against a brick wall and not exploiting what the defense is giving him. The Packers obviously focused on the playaction off stretch with no WR on the backside. It is clear that was something they focused on in practice. It simply was not there. Instead the QB was pressured and threw a boneheaded play. However, this never happens if he isnt put in a position to be Kirk.

The general playcall was poor in that situation. It's first and goal. Running has worked. Try running again. If the Packers stop it, run it again. If it gets to 3rd down, you can try a pass.

Choice of a naked bootleg wasn't great. As you point out, it hadn't worked all game. The Packer ends showed a lot of positional discipline. Still, the pressure wasn't the cause of the throw, nor did it affect the throw. That is all on Cousins.

When Cousins let that fly I thought he had to be throwing it away. I expected it to sail harmlessly out the back of the endzone, but then watched in horror as I realized it wouldn't. Then I just hoped that the receiver could play defense on it, but that wasn't to be either.

[YikesVikes]

A quick look at the key int by Cousins, shows a play the Vikings ran 3 times before. The play is a naked play-action bootleg from undercenter. On each of the prior three attempts, the backside DE did not bite on the fake action and instead pursued the QB. Why would be choose to run it a 4th time at this point in the game? This reminds me of the earlier post I made about the Bears game in 2018. The OC called the same mesh concept on 3rd down 4 times and we punted each time. He keeps slamming his head against a brick wall and not exploiting what the defense is giving him. The Packers obviously focused on the playaction off stretch with no WR on the backside. It is clear that was something they focused on in practice. It simply was not there. Instead the QB was pressured and threw a boneheaded play. However, this never happens if he isnt put in a position to be Kirk.

The general playcall was poor in that situation. It's first and goal. Running has worked. Try running again. If the Packers stop it, run it again. If it gets to 3rd down, you can try a pass.

Choice of a naked bootleg wasn't great. As you point out, it hadn't worked all game. The Packer ends showed a lot of positional discipline. Still, the pressure wasn't the cause of the throw, nor did it affect the throw. That is all on Cousins.

When Cousins let that fly I thought he had to be throwing it away. I expected it to sail harmlessly out the back of the endzone, but then watched in horror as I realized it wouldn't. Then I just hoped that the receiver could play defense on it, but that wasn't to be either.

The thought to call a pass was ok. I am even ok with the thought to run play action. What did not work was the naked bootleg. Wrong call all the way.

[PacificNorseWest]

I think the overall offensive gameplan and playcalling was just fine, except for that one play. I dont think a verbal crucifixion is warranted.

[YikesVikes]

I think the overall offensive gameplan and playcalling was just fine, except for that one play. I dont think a verbal crucifixion is warranted.

Why continue to run a play that you saw 3 other times did not work. Its clear that GB gameplanned for it. Clear.

[Alaskan]

I think the overall offensive gameplan and playcalling was just fine, except for that one play. I dont think a verbal crucifixion is warranted.

Why continue to run a play that you saw 3 other times did not work. Its clear that GB gameplanned for it. Clear.
M

Why didn’t cousins check out of it is another question? I heard him say in an post game interview when someone asked him that he didn’t want to go against the playcaller.....or something to that effect. What a joke of a leader that is. He’s got the final say right there at the line of scrimmage. I agree with your statement that you need to take what the defense is giving you and that meant run the football until they proved they could stop it!

[CharVike]

I think the overall offensive gameplan and playcalling was just fine, except for that one play. I dont think a verbal crucifixion is warranted.

How is 16 points fine? Stop using what has worked is fine? This guy is in over his head. That's why they went out for Kub. He's washed up but they needed help. But this gameplan of throwing 30+ times was a joke. They couldn't stop our rushing attack and he stopped using it. What's the next gameplan throw 50+ times. Might as well.

[StumpHunter]

I think the overall offensive gameplan and playcalling was just fine, except for that one play. I dont think a verbal crucifixion is warranted.

How is 16 points fine? Stop using what has worked is fine? This guy is in over his head. That's why they went out for Kub. He's washed up but they needed help. But this gameplan of throwing 30+ times was a joke. They couldn't stop our rushing attack and he stopped using it. What's the next gameplan throw 50+ times. Might as well.

The QB sucked and failed to execute. The kicker missed a FG and extra point.

The play calling was fine, the execution was terrible.

[CharVike]

How is 16 points fine? Stop using what has worked is fine? This guy is in over his head. That's why they went out for Kub. He's washed up but they needed help. But this gameplan of throwing 30+ times was a joke. They couldn't stop our rushing attack and he stopped using it. What's the next gameplan throw 50+ times. Might as well.

The QB sucked and failed to execute. The kicker missed a FG and extra point.

The play calling was fine, the execution was terrible.

When your QB is having an extremely difficult time and your OL was having a hard time pass blocking and your running the ball great I would think it's a good idea to run. So the play calling IMO was worthless. This guy wanted the 30+ PA game and he got it.

[VikeFanInEagleLand]

Ref doesn't call OPI and Cousins doesn't miss Diggs on the open deep route and the Vikings score 30. That's just two plays. FG kicker doesn't miss, Cousins doesn't throw INT, etc... It goes on. It's was about lack of execution and some bad officiating, not about bad OC play calling.

[mansquatch]

That playcall was on 1st down, IIRMC. Even if it drops incomplete, who cares? You've got two more downs to punch it in. That is on the QB for taking a risk you should only take on 4th down on 1st down, plain and simple.

I didn't feel like the playcalling was bad yesterday. Execution by the QB was the main issue.

[StumpHunter]

The QB sucked and failed to execute. The kicker missed a FG and extra point.

The play calling was fine, the execution was terrible.

When your QB is having an extremely difficult time and your OL was having a hard time pass blocking and your running the ball great I would think it's a good idea to run. So the play calling IMO was worthless. This guy wanted the 30+ PA game and he got it.

Cousins had the highest time to throw of any QB in the NFL so far this season on Sunday, and was only hit 6 times. How bad could the line have really played? Do they need to give him 4 seconds to throw, 5? How much time do we need to give the QB before we can say the line was playing well?

[StumpHunter]

That playcall was on 1st down, IIRMC. Even if it drops incomplete, who cares? You've got two more downs to punch it in. That is on the QB for taking a risk you should only take on 4th down on 1st down, plain and simple.

I didn't feel like the playcalling was bad yesterday. Execution by the QB was the main issue.

Correct.

[CharVike]

That playcall was on 1st down, IIRMC. Even if it drops incomplete, who cares? You've got two more downs to punch it in. That is on the QB for taking a risk you should only take on 4th down on 1st down, plain and simple.

I didn't feel like the playcalling was bad yesterday. Execution by the QB was the main issue.

Correct.

Everything comes down to execution I realize that. But this isn't about execution. Its about the play called. The issue here is our QB sucked on this day. We had a back that was tearing them up. We were in a do or die situation. I would use what was working. I wouldn't put all the marbles on a guy who was having a bad game. Let the hot hand finish the job. Our OC made a mistake because he's an idiot and is in over his head.

[VikingLord]

That playcall was on 1st down, IIRMC. Even if it drops incomplete, who cares? You've got two more downs to punch it in. That is on the QB for taking a risk you should only take on 4th down on 1st down, plain and simple.

I didn't feel like the playcalling was bad yesterday. Execution by the QB was the main issue.

Correct.

Throwing in down-to-goal situations is riskier, bar none. It's one thing if the offense hasn't been able to run it successfully. Maybe in that situation you know there is a low chance of punching it in on the ground, but the Vikings weren't in that situation. Throwing near the goal line can work obviously, but now your chance of a negative play is higher as well. The QB could be sacked or stripped, or, as Cousins did, he could throw a pick and the drive ends with no points. Yes, he can throw a TD as well, but it's riskier than a run.

This playcall is similar to LaFluer's decision to have the Packers go for it on 4th-and-1 earlier in the game. The logical, safe play there is to attempt the field goal and take the points. But he wants to try to catch the Vikings off guard and/or put the dagger in, and his team comes away with nothing. That decision wasn't picked apart because the Packers won, but had they lost, he'd have gotten all sorts of heat for it. It's a risk-reward decision that tilted unnecessarily towards risk, and I think the decision to have Cousins throw on 1st-and-goal late was a similarly bad decision that resulted in the worst possible outcome.

On the bright side, I doubt Stefanski repeats that error again this season. I'd expect the Vikes to attempt to punch it in via the run in future down-to-goal situations unless they obviously can't get it in that way.