Thoughts

[DK Sweets]

One of the worst parts about watching the game last night is knowing what this place would be like today. The air has been completely sucked out of our fan base and it seems like a team that most of us thought was going to be pretty good is now viewed as the worst team in the league.

I would again like to remind people that this was one game. A very, very ugly game, but only one game nonetheless.

[John_Viveiros]

Didn't anyone else think that the interception was the result of Wallace breaking off his route? When Teddy let go of the ball, it had that look of being exactly where he wanted it. On replay, I thought I saw Wallace running side by side with the guy who picked it off, but then when they swung the camera back to the INT, Wallace was nowhere to be seen.

Anyone else see the same thing, or see a definitive replay showing this was just a bad overthrow?

[84BreaksAnkles]

I'll be able to see once the all-22 comes out. There were a number of plays I wanted to go back and see if Ted was too hesitant, we're our guys not getting open? Was our line getting outclassed? Were the route trees taking too long to develop? I want to know why

[dead_poet]

I'll be able to see once the all-22 comes out. There were a number of plays I wanted to go back and see if Ted was too hesitant, we're our guys not getting open? Was our line getting outclassed? Were the route trees taking too long to develop? I want to know why

Zim said Teddy was uncharacteristically hesitant and visibly rattled at times.

[Mothman]

Didn't anyone else think that the interception was the result of Wallace breaking off his route? When Teddy let go of the ball, it had that look of being exactly where he wanted it. On replay, I thought I saw Wallace running side by side with the guy who picked it off, but then when they swung the camera back to the INT, Wallace was nowhere to be seen.

Anyone else see the same thing, or see a definitive replay showing this was just a bad overthrow?

I'm not sure what you'd consider definitive but on the broadcast, they showed the play from an offensive backfield perspective and it looked like TB just overthrew Rudolph. It's possible he thought Wallace was going to continue up the field and cut inside but I have a hard time believing that's how the play was designed because then Wallace's route would have put him on a near-collision course with Rudolph. I think Wallace was probably supposed to run a curl route and cut it off where he did. It looks to me like Bridgewater saw Rudolph come open, tried hit him down the seam and the ball sailed.

[James]

Now that my anger has subsided, I think I can give a reasonable review of the game.

Overall, I think the team came in over confident, thinking that were already the better team after hearing all the losses 49ers took this off-season. I don't think they were mentally prepared for this game. I think the coaching on offense could've been way better. Zimmer says the defense dictates how the offense is ran but we've been watching Peterson for years. Even when the Defense drops 8 or 9 men in the box, Peterson is still capable of making a big play. I think the coaching deserves just as much as the blame as the players. Both were not executed perfectly.

Defense looked worn out all game. The couldn't stop the run, they looked frustrated and couldn't tackle. Even before the offense took the field for their first possession the D had a hard time getting off the field. The lack of offense just made the margin look worse. Had the offense played well I think we'd probably be going back and forth with TDs and still a chance to lose.

Blair Walsh is probably the most disappointing of all. Seems like ever since he signed that new contract, he's gotten in a slump. I don't know what his problem is but it needs to be solved asap. My biggest fear is being down by 2 with a 3 seconds left in the 4th quarter and we him to kick us to victory. I'd me more pessimistic than optimistic about him kicking it with the game on the line

[Raptorman]

I'm not sure what you'd consider definitive but on the broadcast, they showed the play from an offensive backfield perspective and it looked like TB just overthrew Rudolph. It's possible he thought Wallace was going to continue up the field and cut inside but I have a hard time believing that's how the play was designed because then Wallace's route would have put him on a near-collision course with Rudolph. I think Wallace was probably supposed to run a curl route and cut it off where he did. It looks to me like Bridgewater saw Rudolph come open, tried hit him down the seam and the ball sailed.

Looks like the pass was just high. Not sure why. BTW. Good tackle by Wright.

[Hunter Morrow]

The loss is so confounding, not just because of the hype the Vikings had and the extra eyes watching MNF, but it just seems so contrary to what I and the rest of the public probably thought was going to be the Vikings game plan. Very old school and smash mouth, with Chiliball/Frazier punting and kicking philosophy. I understand that didn't really work, but now that we've got a decent QB with some quality WRs you'd think that would be just enough spice for Zimmer chili.

I thought this was going to be run the ball, stop the run, party at the QB and punt and kick it down their throats and well...

10 rushing attempts for Peterson, 4 in a full half, first three plays are incompleted passes,
4 punts at 37 yard average, missing field goals, going for 4th and 3 because the punter and kicker are awful, the opponents had one back alone rush for 168 and two touchdowns. It was terrible. the Vikings got out-Vikinged.
It's like the whole country got to see that game and write the Vikings off as a big fat lie.

[halfgiz]

few quick thoughts before film analysis which i will post later this week (when I can see the all-22)

However, for now here is our offensive breakdown::

green = good
yellow = meh
orange = concerning
red = bad

Total eligible plays: 54 (I didn't count the very last play of the fist half for some reason)

66.6% of our plays were out of the shotgun last night? that's baffling and angering to me.

Shotgun:36
-4WR (Rudy Split Out): 17 8/17 successful - -28yds rushing, 3 sacks - 100 yds passing 1INT on 10/13 throws
nice throw incomplete sideline to johnson,
the Clemmings sack,
completion to jerick -2yds,
completion to asiata +4yds,
completion to wallace +9yds,
completion to rudy +19yds excellent protection - check all-22),
completion to rudy +19yds
Adrian +0yds,
incomplete to wright deep- bad route? bad ball?,
completion to jerick +10yds,
Overthrow interception,
completion to johnson +9yds,
completion to rudy +10yds,
completion to Asia +21 yds,
sacked -6yds,
completion to patterson +1yd,
sacked -14yds


-3WR 1TE: 15 7/15 successful - 4yds rushing, 1 sack - 70yds passing on 7/10 throws
Pressure incomplete to wright,
pressure misscommunication? overthrow incomplete to wright,
Adrian +1 yd,
Teddy Sacked (Huge pressure),
Teddy Scrambles +5yds Great Protection (No one open? or Ted too hesitant - check all-22),
4th&3 completion to rudy for +2yds,
Completion to Adrian +17yds (Beast),
incomplete to ellison (hit him in both hands),
completion to wallace +17yds,
Adrian +5yds,
adrian motions outside and completion to him for +2yds on 3rd&4,
completion to wallace +12yds,
Adrian +1yd,
completion to rudy +3yds,
completion to asia +7yds


-2WR 2TE: 4 2/4 successful - 5yds passing on 2/3 throws - garbage protection, 1 sack
incomplete play action (no time, overthrown),
completion to rhett at FB +3yds,
Rhett ellison split out wide? Sacked -10yds,
completion to wallace +2yds,




Under Center:17
- 2WR 1TE 1FB: 5 3/5 successful - 22yds rushing
Adrian +4yds,
Adrian +2yds,
Jerick +15yds,
Adrian +1yd,
bootleg under pressure incomplete,


-2WR 2TE: 8 6/8 successful - 22yds rushing - 37yds passing on 4/5 throws
Play action pass to wallace +19yds,
Adrian +7yds,
Play-action deep bomb incomplete to wallace (Nice throw, obviously egregious PI),
Jerick +4yds,
Jerick +1yd,
Play-action completion to johnson +18yds,
Play-action protection breakdown ted scrambles +10yds,
completion to wallace +4yds,


-1WR 2TE 1FB: 4 4/4 successful - 13yds rushing - 2 first downs
Play-action completion to Adrian +2yds,
Adrian +9yds (Really nice run),
Adrian +1yd (first down),
play action teddy bootleg +1yd (First down),

Hopefully we can all see the trend here- GTFO OF THE SHOTGUN NORV-- 10 carries? is pitiful
Realisticly, our defense provided every opportunity for our football team to win this game and especially early on. If we had a decent offensive gameplan we could have been up 21-7 at the half....

Good post!! It was 10 - 3 early in the 4th. Still any bodies game.

[Texas Vike]

It's like the whole country got to see that game and write the Vikings off as a big fat lie.

That might be the only good to come of it... quieting down the hype train that had gathered WAY too much momentum IMO.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Our LBs are taking a lot of heat for a poor game, as they should, but our Dline was just as bad. Floyd and Joseph especially.

[DK Sweets]

That might be the only good to come of it... quieting down the hype train that had gathered WAY too much momentum IMO.

I agree completely. Whether the hype was internal or external, this has potential to be a blessing in disguise.

[Raptorman]

Somewhat of a bright side. Bridgewater was not the worst QB this past week. Matter of fact his passer rating was higher than,

Sam Bradford
Cam Newton
Eli Manning
Kirk Cousins
Jay Cutler
Andrew Luck
Peyton Manning
Joe Flacco

He also had a better completion percentage than all of the above.

Ok, so a little ray of sunshine through the dark clouds.

[Purple bruise]

If they still look like this after this Sundays game I will be worried. Well, not really worried because we will take a top offensive lineman with one of the top picks in the draft.

On a side note, why do the Vikings not run 2 TE sets with Rudolph and Pruitt? Seems like it would assist with extra blockers in the run game and would do wonders I think with playaction. Seems to work good for New England, San fran.

Oh joy, what a thing to look forward to "drafting a top offensive lineman". Could be the next Tony Mandarich top pick, Robert Gallery (2nd overall pick), Mike Williams (4th) overall pick....etc., etc.,

[Purple Martin]

His percentage is meaningless in the context of the game though. He stunk. That's what means something. And you realize only two of those qbs you listed won, right? I just don't see anything bright in having a better rating than 6 losing qbs. Teddy has always had a high completion percentage on high percentage passes. Even I have a high percentage on those. For some reason this had people raving about him last year.

Somewhat of a bright side. Bridgewater was not the worst QB this past week. Matter of fact his passer rating was higher than,

Sam Bradford
Cam Newton
Eli Manning
Kirk Cousins
Jay Cutler
Andrew Luck
Peyton Manning
Joe Flacco

He also had a better completion percentage than all of the above.

Ok, so a little ray of sunshine through the dark clouds.