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Over the first half of the season, the Vikings averaged 160 YPG. Since then, we've averaged 103.

Dalvin Cook's first half featured 823 yards and 5.3 YPC. In games 9-14, he's rushed for 312 yards (52 yards per game) and averaged 3.3 YPC.

How concerned are you that the Vikings rushing attack, which was so potent early in the season, has hit a wall?

J. Kapp 11 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 16, 2019 5:14 pm Over the first half of the season, the Vikings averaged 160 YPG. Since then, we've averaged 103.

Dalvin Cook's first half featured 823 yards and 5.3 YPC. In games 9-14, he's rushed for 312 yards (52 yards per game) and averaged 3.3 YPC.

How concerned are you that the Vikings rushing attack, which was so potent early in the season, has hit a wall?

I'm concerned about Cook's health, and I think Cook's and even Mattison's overall health has played a role in that decline.

But I'm not concerned about the run game overall, or at least not as much, because I think defenses adjusted to prioritize stopping it, and as they adjusted we've seen a corresponding improvement in the passing game. Cousins has continued to play well without Thielen, and now that he's back there is even more reason to believe defenses will have to relax against the run, which should in turn open things up a bit. I wouldn't be surprised to see marked improvement in the run game over the last two games and into the playoffs as a result.

I'm very concerned. The health issue is a big one. There's a saying that defenses and the run game travel well and I believe it. The most likely scenario will be a playoff game in Lamblow and we're absolutely going to need a run game to be successful there.

If Mattison was healthy it wouldn't be so bad but we can't rely on Boone and Abdullah.

Obviously the Pack losing week 17 would make things much easier but the odds of that are pretty low.

S197 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 17, 2019 8:19 pm I'm very concerned. The health issue is a big one. There's a saying that defenses and the run game travel well and I believe it. The most likely scenario will be a playoff game in Lamblow and we're absolutely going to need a run game to be successful there.

If Mattison was healthy it wouldn't be so bad but we can't rely on Boone and Abdullah.

Obviously the Pack losing week 17 would make things much easier but the odds of that are pretty low.

Well how long will Matti be out. Cook is a hell of a back, It doesn't appear that he is a true work horse. The team knows this and that is why they selected Matti. This gives us a great 1 2 punch. Both are banged up which is a #### for us. We have no choice but to play them. Based on how Boone banged the ball our line appears to be playing good. They have to make what they have work. I thought Cook would sit against the Lions but they felt it was better to use him. Matter of fact they had to because it's win or you are out. We are still in that mode.

I am not concerned as long as the big boys up front keep doing their job and Cousins keeps the defense guessing with his passing threat. It's all up to Stefanski and Zimm how the last two games go!

Rumor is Cook is unlikely to play Monday. There's a few more days so holding out hope.

S197 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:09 pm Rumor is Cook is unlikely to play Monday. There's a few more days so holding out hope.

Rapaport pretty much just said that he won't be playing Monday night. They showed snippet of Cook being interviewed and he was pretty positive about the injury. He said it's not the end of the world.
Rappaport said it's highly unlikely he plays, it's a different injury than what he has been dealing with, but this isn't a major injury and he is completely expected to be ready to play in the playoffs if they do indeed get in.
Kinda took it that they are pretty much keeping him out to be healthy due to being confident about getting a playoff berth.
I have been trying to find out about Mattison's situation and haven't seen a thing yet.
Hopefully he will be healthy enough to be in the mix Monday night.
I like Boone alot, and did last year, but Abdullah scares me a bit due to his history of fumbling.
I would rather see Mattison and Boone getting the majority of the snaps over Boone and Abdullah.

S197 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:09 pm Rumor is Cook is unlikely to play Monday. There's a few more days so holding out hope.

Am I the only person here who hasn't been all that impressed by Cook the last, oh, 5 weeks or so?

He was incredible to start the season, and clearly is a good player when healthy, but I'm not sure he's been healthy for a while now. With Mattison out, the Vikings are going to have to rely on their depth at the position.

Which poses another question: Am I the only person here who is excited about seeing what Boone and Abdullah can do?

Boone looked pretty good to me, and the Chargers have a good run defense. He was hitting it HARD and clearly has fresh legs and an attitude. Abdullah likewise is fresh and motivated.

I could be wrong, but with the zone blocking scheme the Vikings employ coupled with the return of Thielen and a healthy WR corps that should draw most of the Packers focus, I could see the Vikings having a really big night running it with Boone/Abdullah. While it's reasonable to expect the Packers to shift their focus, I think they'll be scrambling to shift it back before too long.

VikingLord wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2019 7:26 pm

S197 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:09 pm Rumor is Cook is unlikely to play Monday. There's a few more days so holding out hope.

Am I the only person here who hasn't been all that impressed by Cook the last, oh, 5 weeks or so?

He was incredible to start the season, and clearly is a good player when healthy, but I'm not sure he's been healthy for a while now. With Mattison out, the Vikings are going to have to rely on their depth at the position.

Which poses another question: Am I the only person here who is excited about seeing what Boone and Abdullah can do?

Boone looked pretty good to me, and the Chargers have a good run defense. He was hitting it HARD and clearly has fresh legs and an attitude. Abdullah likewise is fresh and motivated.

I could be wrong, but with the zone blocking scheme the Vikings employ coupled with the return of Thielen and a healthy WR corps that should draw most of the Packers focus, I could see the Vikings having a really big night running it with Boone/Abdullah. While it's reasonable to expect the Packers to shift their focus, I think they'll be scrambling to shift it back before too long.

In the Dalvin Cook thread I mentioned that one of the major concerns and the reason he dropped was durability concerns. The talent is there, I don't think anyone would argue with that but he has yet to show the ability to stay on the field for a full season.

I think there's a really big dropoff to Boone. He was a good pickup for a UDFA but this teams success is driven a good deal by Cook. His elusiveness and ability to catch the football out of the backfield can't be matched.

VikingLord wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2019 7:26 pm

S197 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 19, 2019 1:09 pm Rumor is Cook is unlikely to play Monday. There's a few more days so holding out hope.

Am I the only person here who hasn't been all that impressed by Cook the last, oh, 5 weeks or so?

He was incredible to start the season, and clearly is a good player when healthy, but I'm not sure he's been healthy for a while now. With Mattison out, the Vikings are going to have to rely on their depth at the position.

Which poses another question: Am I the only person here who is excited about seeing what Boone and Abdullah can do?

Boone looked pretty good to me, and the Chargers have a good run defense. He was hitting it HARD and clearly has fresh legs and an attitude. Abdullah likewise is fresh and motivated.

I could be wrong, but with the zone blocking scheme the Vikings employ coupled with the return of Thielen and a healthy WR corps that should draw most of the Packers focus, I could see the Vikings having a really big night running it with Boone/Abdullah. While it's reasonable to expect the Packers to shift their focus, I think they'll be scrambling to shift it back before too long.

I am also excited to see Boone get the ball more. Last year pre season I posted on here how I was impressed with the kid. Hes a scrappy little RB. Like you, I also feel that the zone blocking scheme will serve us well. I can see Boone being very effective behind it.
I would have more confidence in Abdullah if it weren't for his history of fumbling. I remember him running the ball pretty well against us when he was with Detroit. But every time he has the ball in his hands I actually tense up while he is being hit just in fear of the seeing the ball pop out. Shoot, I have to admit lately I even get nervous about Cook fumbling.
I just wish Mattison was healthy and able to play. It sucks having both of our RB duo hurt at the same time for sure. But times like this is when we have to prove we can hang in there and still win.
I'm just hoping the D just pounds Erin into oblivion, and would love to see us force half the turnovers we did last week.
Get in the playoffs, let Cook and Mattison get healthy and see what we can do.
A man can dream.