Texas Vike wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 11:04 am
TB made major adjustments at half: 1) they committed to the run more and 2) Baker made quicker throws and ran the ball effectively when forced to. Flores was aggressive with blitzes throughout, but failed to adapt to TB's revised game plan.
Yeah, the Bucs made those adjustments but I thought Flores played it much more passively and the defense overall kind of reverted to the form of last year starting with the first Buc TD at the end of the first half. I recall several times where the Bucs were in an obvious passing down in the 2nd half and Flores just sent three pass rushers, including on the 2nd Buc TD where, despite the Vikings sending only 3 rushers, the guy who caught the TD was still wide open with no Viking anywhere near him. On the final Buc drive where they needed 9 yards, the Vikings DBs played soft, passive coverage. No hard breaks on the route where the guy made the catch.
There was another play where Mayfield rolled out to Hunter's side and ran for a 1st I think. On that play Hunter lost edge contain, which is something I've seen him do repeatedly over his career where he's locked into pass rush mode before the ball is even snapped. I think the Bucs saw that on film and used it against him on that play. It's just disappointing to see Hunter continue to do that and be victimized doing that, and I'm sure the Eagles and Hurts will be looking to exploit it if he starts doing it against them on Thursday night.
Texas Vike wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 11:04 am
Also, Harrison Phillips played great in the middle, but we are definitely susceptible vs. the run again this year. We are undersized at LB.
It's hard for me to fault any individual player on the defensive line, just as it's hard for me to fault Mattison for the lack of production in the run game. The individual player(s) usually exert max effort and the same is true for Phillips on the defensive line. It's just the Vikings defense seems built for small ball. The LBs are fast but smallish. The defensive ends/outside LBs are explosive but not particularly stout. The team desperately needed an inside presence that can anchor the interior of the line and eat up blockers. Tomlinson wasn't the best at that but he was better than anyone they have now.
What I don't understand is why KAM didn't attempt to replace that presence in the middle of the DL. He had opportunities to do that in the draft two years running and passed both times. He could have done it in FA. And yet here we are with not only the same issue as last year, but the issue is worse now. I kept saying the Vikings defense couldn't possibly be worse than last year, but after watching the Buc offense pound them up the middle in the 2nd half yesterday, I may have to take that back. Most teams can field a running game equal to what the Bucs brought yesterday.
Texas Vike wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 11:04 am
Our IOL still sucks and it's extremely frustrating that they did NOTHING to address this major flaw this offseason. How they trust Ingram is one of the universe's great enigmas. The dude managed to sack his own QB several times last season by stepping on his foot. Now he causes a fumble by swatting the ball out of his QB's hands? All the while he's getting beat on every other play within .5 seconds? It's mindblowing that he is starting. Kirk is still not very adept at pocket awareness either. He looked rattled yesterday. That throw to KJ at the goal line was ill advised. On other throws he was high and/or had too much juice on it. Not his best outing.
I just spit out my coffee laughing...
I think a lot of Cousins struggles come from PTSD. Seriously. He's getting hit over and over and turning to see multiple defenders with free runs at him. After a while, that has to become a factor.
Ingram's most infamous play yesterday was on the goal line run play where Vita Vea stopped Mattison for like a 3 -4 yard loss when he hit him in the backfield. On that play Ingram is pulling to lead into the area where the run is supposed to go. Unfortunately for the Vikings, Ingram vacated the exact area where Vea was and Vea was unimpeded to the runner. On the play, Ingram eventually did blow up some poor Buc defender with an pretty impressive block. Unfortunately, Mattison was already down. I can't necessarily blame Ingram on that play. It seems clear someone was supposed to pick up Vea. Unfortunately, nobody did, and the image I'll always have is Ingram almost running away from Vea.
Texas Vike wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 11:04 am
I'm concerned about this prime time game vs. a DL that can wreak havoc. We match up very poorly.
I think Hurts is going to have a field day running on the Vikings defense. The Eagles actually have an offensive line and can run effectively with their running backs. You add Hurts to the mix with the relatively undisciplined front seven of the Vikings and Hurts might set a new rushing record for QBs by the time all is said and done. This could be a game where the Eagles need to pass very little. I just don't see them in many 3rd down situations where they'll need to throw it, and if they are, I suspect we'll see a lot more victimization of Byron Murphy and his soft coverage.
The Vikings should be able to move the ball on offense against the Eagles, but they're going to have to actually score this time and stop shooting themselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers if they want to have any chance.
I did like it that many of the Vikings star offensive players seemed upset at how things went against the Bucs. JJ was visibly pissed, as was Cousins. Hopefully they come up with a fire under them because if the Vikings win against the Eagles it won't be because of their defense.