Vikings @ Dolphins Game Day Discussion Thread -- Week 16

[Mothman]

If anyone needs reading material to tie over till Sunday, this is a good write up.

Breakdown:Teddy Bridgewater

Thanks for the link. That was a great read/watch. Bridgewater made some truly excellent throws in that game, like the TD toss to Jennings and this beauty:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KBdplv ... e=youtu.be

I love the way he showed patience in the pocket on that play, stepped up and then made a great throw with perfect touch, placing the ball right where it needed to be placed. Great stuff!

It's interesting, that analysis also shows, once again, how perceptions of the same play can be highly subjective. For example, the author refers to the INT as a mistake, and I suppose a veteran QB might have held onto that pass but it was also a reasonable choice to throw it and a pretty typical check down play. I don't really see that as a mistake by the QB.

On the other hand, the author wrote the following about the play linked below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fzwAge ... e=youtu.be

Play 5: 3rd & 14. -31. 3:43 2nd. Formation: Shotgun Doubles Wing TE (11 Personnel)
The Dolphins rush 4, while in the back they run a Cover 3. The WR to the boundary runs a "Skinny post" easily covered up by the deep S and CB. The WR in the slot runs a crossing route at 15 yards, which is easily covered up by the "Robber" Safety. The WR to the field runs a "Dig" at 17 yards. But this is where the play gets interesting. Bridgewater sees that the slot CB has over extended his coverage and is essentially covering nothing standing on the numbers at the -40. The CB is responsible for anything deep so he still has a cushion of 5 yards as the WR breaks but is closing quickly. Teddy sees that the "Dig" won't be open by time the ball arrives, so he leads his WR back to the ball almost turning it into a "Curl" route. The ball arrives before the overextended slot CB can get there and before the CB can get there but it is a little high and it falls incomplete. This play shows Bridgewater's intelligence and ability to read a defense on the fly and to make the opponents pay for their mistakes.

The play does show Bridgewater's ability to read a defense but since the pass was high, it's not a very good example of his ability to make opponents pay for their mistakes (an ability he's obviously demonstrated at times). To me, it's an example of his tendency to occasionally sail a pass, a dangerous tendency. He's lucky that one didn't get picked off. Hopefully, when watching the play, Bridgewater and his coaches will take note of all of it: the good read, the decision, the high throw...

Thanks again for the link!

[Wild Bill]

It doesn't have to be, but if the punter can still get the punt off within a second or so of his normal time, then I just don't think the snap hitting the ground should be that much of a factor in getting the punt blocked. Obviously if it causes the punt to be delayed by more than a second than it greatly increases the chance of it getting blocked. In this case, Locke scooped up the snap cleanly, didn't have to take any extra steps and took his normal 2 steps to punt the ball, so I don't put all the blame on the snap like most people are, I think it was more of a breakdown in blocking than the snap itself.

I thought Banyards block was close to a whiff. He appeared to see the pressure too late . It looked like maybe he thought the ball should have been gone already. A mistake on his part. Even if the kick was slow (I am not sure either way) keep blocking!!!

[Pondering Her Percy]

I thought Banyards block was close to a whiff. He appeared to see the pressure too late . It looked like maybe he thought the ball should have been gone already. A mistake on his part. Even if the kick was slow (I am not sure either way) keep blocking!!!

I've said multiple times that Banyard was launched backwards. And Loeffler had a horrible snap. Nobody should be blaming Locke that's for sure. He did exactly what he was suppose to