Vikings Message Board.Com

1) The 49ers’ defense has been in a groove. Which could be scary for a Vikings offense that has scored only 13 points before halftime the first two weeks.

Here were Matthew Stafford’s first half numbers last weekend against San Francisco: 7-for-16, 67 yards, no touchdowns, one interception.

Calvin Johnson, meanwhile, had just three catches for 36 yards before the break.

In Week 1, San Francisco forced Green Bay to punt six times in its first seven possessions, continuing to play with a relentless edge. The 49ers’ front seven in their 3-4 defense, led by defensive tackle Justin Smith and linebacker Patrick Willis, has been both stingy and opportunistic.

The Packers only managed 45 yards rushing in the opener, their longest rush a 9-yard scramble by Aaron Rodgers. Detroit averaged just 3.2 yards on its 26 rushes with Stafford delivering the long rush for 11 yards.

cstelter wrote:Probably the best think the Vikings have going for them is that they have 2 full games worth of footage to study-- something neither DET or GB had.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- I dropped by the Minnesota Vikings' practice facility Thursday and heard something I wasn't expecting: Tailback Adrian Peterson lobbying the Vikings to throw the ball downfield more often.

Peterson has always been a single-minded devotee of the power run game, but even he realizes the Vikings have little chance to run effectively Sunday if they let the San Francisco 49ers' stout defense sit on the line of scrimmage. The 49ers have stymied the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions' rushing attacks even while aligned with deep safeties and no more than seven men on the line of scrimmage. Imagine what they could do against the Vikings when stacking against the run and, presumably, disregarding the threat of a downfield pass.

Based on how the Vikings have played their first two games, the 49ers have no reason to push their safeties deep as they did against the Packers and Lions. They might as well put as many defenders as necessary at the line of scrimmage to shut down Peterson, who has struggled in two previous appearances against the 49ers. Only three other teams have held him to a lower average yards per game (44.0) in his career, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

"These guys are good," Peterson said. "We're looking forward to the challenge. I don't think they've faced a run-attack offense like we have, so I think that can switch things up. … I'm sure they'll come in focused on trying to stop the run. That's where we've got to be productive offensively, keep those guys honest and complete some balls down the field, and then still run the ball."

Peterson added: "That's something we want to do: get the passing game going a little more with those deep balls and spread those defensive backs out some. I feel we'll be able to do that this week."

The Vikings are fairly undermanned when it comes to downfield threats, especially as Jerome Simpson serves the third and final game of his NFL suspension. To be fair, though, they've barely tried to test the defenses they've faced.

Only three of quarterback Christian Ponder's 62 passes have traveled more than 20 yards in the air, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Two fell incomplete, and the third was a 24-yard pass to receiver Devin Aromashodu during the desperate final seconds of regulation in their eventual Week 1 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave told reporters that "we definitely want to have more chunks going forward" and blamed himself for not providing Ponder better play-calling options in that regard. It would make sense for the Vikings to push the ball downfield more often, but we'll kindly say that the matchups don't appear to be in their favor this week.

J. Kapp 11 wrote:Musgrave blamed himself for not providing Ponder better play-calling options for downfield passes?

That's pretty interesting. Ninety percent of the Joe Schmoes on this board, me included, have been clamoring for some downfield passing to keep defenses honest ... and the actual offensive coordinator is only figuring this out AFTER the fact?

Wow.

mansquatch wrote:I don’t presume to think our offense is as potent a passing attack as either Detroit or GB, we obviously are not. However, in both cases the 49ers faced what are at best mediocre offensive lines with very pedestrian running backs. On top of that those teams are both pass happy. Our OL isn’t great, but it is definitely better than GB and Detroit. In terms of RB, there is no comparison. I don’t know that we’ll do great, but I think matchup wise it is a completely different deal that what the 49ers saw in weeks 1 and 2. I’d like to see the Vikings pound Gerhart in this game and take it to their front 7. If we can get 3-4 yard gains it should open up the passing lanes a bit. It could be interesting to watch, although I agree with the general sentiment of our being enormous underdogs. We could surprise, you never know.

On defense I think our unit is at risk of getting exposed. Alex Smith is showing maturity and has by far the most complete set of receiving threats we’ve faced so far this season. Our defensive line really needs to make some plays for us on Sunday and limit the damage, because I think our back 7 are likely to give up some.

Demi wrote: They're in full on damage control mode now. First Ponder with his company line "take what they give us" garbage. Waiting for a "it's a kick #### offense when ran correctly". Hell they're getting the insane % on first and second and that was their goal so, the offense is working?

Him and Ponder fighting to take the blame...I think it's clear they are BOTH to blame.

This is a process that will take 2 maybe 3 years to reach the point that most all of us fans are looking forward to.

Demi wrote: We were fed the same line from Childress and company when he brought in Jackson. It'll take time. 2 to 3 years.

We have the wrong coach, and quarterback, again. We'll get to 6 wins at best and both will be replaced and we'll start all over again.

Hopefully this time there will be a real reason to believe in 2 or 3 years after that we'll be where all of us fans are looking forward to...unlike now when the only reason is faith...