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The Vikings absolutely coached up their players after that debacle earlier against Seattle
They played a great game and had a perfect game plan

Coach Zimmer deserves credit for a WIN his team didn't get

Chizzang wrote:The Vikings absolutely coached up their players after that debacle earlier against Seattle
They played a great game and had a perfect game plan

Coach Zimmer deserves credit for a WIN his team didn't get

Eh...they were ready to play, but the Vikes didn't take many shots down the field. I don't think I ever watched a Vikes game this season so maybe that is how they roll.

SDHornet wrote:

Chizzang wrote:The Vikings absolutely coached up their players after that debacle earlier against Seattle
They played a great game and had a perfect game plan

Coach Zimmer deserves credit for a WIN his team didn't get

Eh...they were ready to play, but the Vikes didn't take many shots down the field. I don't think I ever watched a Vikes game this season so maybe that is how they roll.

It's how they play...than and in -20 degree wind chill there was no "taking shots down field". Seattle did it twice (maybe three times). One was picked and the other one (two) were nearly picked.

Teddy doesn't have a great down field accuracy right now, but it's improving...that and the Vikings OL is bad...and missed it's all pro center all season with back surgery and starting all pro right tackle all year

Teddy faced pressure on 48.9% of his drop backs this season. By far the most in the league.


On the flip side look at how young the Vikings are in many areas
Rookie starting RT
Rookie staring LB
2 centers on the active roster - 1 rookie 1 2nd year
Starting guards are 4th and 5th year guys respectively
Starting LT is 4th year
2nd year starting LB
2nd year starting QB
#1 corner is in his 3rd year
Nickle back was a 4th year CB
Rookie CB seeing PT
Rookie starting DE
Starting 3 technique DT in 3rd year
2 of the 3 RB are 2nd year and 4th year
Top 3 safety are all 4th year guys
2nd TE is a rookie (FCS)
Top WR is a rookie
Other WR are in 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th and 7th years each


Zimmer is a hell of a coach, and this team was a year a head of where I thought it would be. I thought it would be a 9 or 10 win team this year, but a division title wasn't expected this year.

This may be blasphamous, but I think AP is actually detrimental to Teddy's growth. AP refuses to learn to run/can't run out of the gun/pistol. Teddy is SIGNIFICANTLY better out of the gun/pistol.

I don't have the numbers right now, but when it comes to personnel when MN was in the I formation they ran something like 85% of the time and when they were in gun/31 personnel it was a pass over 75% of the time.

All because AP isn't a pass catcher and can't run from anywhere but 8 yards deep.


I look at it like Seattle with Lynch and Wilson.

When Lynch isn't in the game that offense moves better. Wilson shows more life. He isn't hand cuffed to strictly Lynch style plays.

clenz wrote:

SDHornet wrote: Eh...they were ready to play, but the Vikes didn't take many shots down the field. I don't think I ever watched a Vikes game this season so maybe that is how they roll.

It's how they play...than and in -20 degree wind chill there was no "taking shots down field". Seattle did it twice (maybe three times). One was picked and the other one (two) were nearly picked.

Teddy doesn't have a great down field accuracy right now, but it's improving...that and the Vikings OL is bad...and missed it's all pro center all season with back surgery and starting all pro right tackle all year

Teddy faced pressure on 48.9% of his drop backs this season. By far the most in the league.


On the flip side look at how young the Vikings are in many areas
Rookie starting RT
Rookie staring LB
2 centers on the active roster - 1 rookie 1 2nd year
Starting guards are 4th and 5th year guys respectively
Starting LT is 4th year
2nd year starting LB
2nd year starting QB
#1 corner is in his 3rd year
Nickle back was a 4th year CB
Rookie CB seeing PT
Rookie starting DE
Starting 3 technique DT in 3rd year
2 of the 3 RB are 2nd year and 4th year
Top 3 safety are all 4th year guys
2nd TE is a rookie (FCS)
Top WR is a rookie
Other WR are in 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th and 7th years each


Zimmer is a hell of a coach, and this team was a year a head of where I thought it would be. I thought it would be a 9 or 10 win team this year, but a division title wasn't expected this year.

That means absolutely nothing at this point in the season. Now had they gone down leading up to the playoffs then sure, but they've (I'm guessing) been playing with those subs at those positions for all year.

SDHornet wrote:

clenz wrote: It's how they play...than and in -20 degree wind chill there was no "taking shots down field". Seattle did it twice (maybe three times). One was picked and the other one (two) were nearly picked.

Teddy doesn't have a great down field accuracy right now, but it's improving...that and the Vikings OL is bad...and missed it's all pro center all season with back surgery and starting all pro right tackle all year

Teddy faced pressure on 48.9% of his drop backs this season. By far the most in the league.


On the flip side look at how young the Vikings are in many areas
Rookie starting RT
Rookie staring LB
2 centers on the active roster - 1 rookie 1 2nd year
Starting guards are 4th and 5th year guys respectively
Starting LT is 4th year
2nd year starting LB
2nd year starting QB
#1 corner is in his 3rd year
Nickle back was a 4th year CB
Rookie CB seeing PT
Rookie starting DE
Starting 3 technique DT in 3rd year
2 of the 3 RB are 2nd year and 4th year
Top 3 safety are all 4th year guys
2nd TE is a rookie (FCS)
Top WR is a rookie
Other WR are in 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th and 7th years each


Zimmer is a hell of a coach, and this team was a year a head of where I thought it would be. I thought it would be a 9 or 10 win team this year, but a division title wasn't expected this year.

That means absolutely nothing at this point in the season. Now had they gone down leading up to the playoffs then sure, but they've (I'm guessing) been playing with those subs at those positions for all year.

Nope.

Starting DT Linval Joseph has been in and out of the line up with a foot injury the last half of the season. 2nd TE that is on IR went down last week. Saftey that started the season went down about half way through the season, had 2 or 3 CBs go down in the last 2 weeks (Josh Robinson and Trea Waynes hadn't played defense more than spot duty all year...don't think Robinson did at all). Actually the starting 3 technique DT has been in and out of the line up for about 6 weeks as well. The safety that started today (Sandejo) was inactive the first few weeks of the year. In Chad Greenways 10 year career he had never played middle LB until this year when starting MLB, Anthony Barr, missed 2 weeks. Greenway (10 years in) played every snap of defense those two weeks at a position he'd never played before. Audi Cole is also on IR. He's a LB that saw a decent amount of time. Broke his leg about week 12

Looking at the youth of the roster and how people have shifted due to injuries it is incredible the Vikings got to a division title.


Say what you want about "this time of year", but throwing a rookie RT out there on an offensive line where the guy playing center is a guard, one of the guys playing guard is a tackle, and the other guard is a back up level guard being forced to play against a defense like Seattle while relying on a 2nd year QB, a rookie TE, and a rookie WR to make plays through the air...well...

That rookie TE is an FCS kid from SIU. The back up RB (who might be more effective all around than AP) is an FCS kid. These guys were all in their first playoff game as well.

You admitted you don't follow the Vikings. You don't understand the roster make up. To be in the position they were today is 2nd in terms of miracle playoff runs only behind KC winning 10 in a row to get in.

clenz wrote:

SDHornet wrote: That means absolutely nothing at this point in the season. Now had they gone down leading up to the playoffs then sure, but they've (I'm guessing) been playing with those subs at those positions for all year.

Nope.

Starting DT Linval Joseph has been in and out of the line up with a foot injury the last half of the season. 2nd TE that is on IR went down last week. Saftey that started the season went down about half way through the season, had 2 or 3 CBs go down in the last 2 weeks (Josh Robinson and Trea Waynes hadn't played defense more than spot duty all year...don't think Robinson did at all). Actually the starting 3 technique DT has been in and out of the line up for about 6 weeks as well. The safety that started today (Sandejo) was inactive the first few weeks of the year. In Chad Greenways 10 year career he had never played middle LB until this year when starting MLB, Anthony Barr, missed 2 weeks. Greenway (10 years in) played every snap of defense those two weeks at a position he'd never played before. Audi Cole is also on IR. He's a LB that saw a decent amount of time. Broke his leg about week 12

Looking at the youth of the roster and how people have shifted due to injuries it is incredible the Vikings got to a division title.


Say what you want about "this time of year", but throwing a rookie RT out there on an offensive line where the guy playing center is a guard, one of the guys playing guard is a tackle, and the other guard is a back up level guard being forced to play against a defense like Seattle while relying on a 2nd year QB, a rookie TE, and a rookie WR to make plays through the air...well...

That rookie TE is an FCS kid from SIU. The back up RB (who might be more effective all around than AP) is an FCS kid. These guys were all in their first playoff game as well.

You admitted you don't follow the Vikings. You don't understand the roster make up. To be in the position they were today is 2nd in terms of miracle playoff runs only behind KC winning 10 in a row to get in.

Again, more lame excuses. It was week 18, nobody is a rookie anymore and everyone is banged up on every team. Bottom line is the AP fumble cost the Vikes the lead, and a choke job on a chip shot FG cost the Vikes the win. The Vikes blew it yesterday regardless of the “roster issues”. They had it in the bag and let it out.

Gil Dobie wrote:

SDHornet wrote:
Again, more lame excuses. It was week 18, nobody is a rookie anymore and everyone is banged up on every team. Bottom line is the AP fumble cost the Vikes the lead, and a choke job on a chip shot FG cost the Vikes the win. The Vikes blew it yesterday regardless of the “roster issues”. They had it in the bag and let it out.

Key points:
- Every teams roster is an absolute train wreck right now !!!
- Adrian Peterson's fumble was a HUGE game changer
- A missed kick is a tough way to lose

All-in-All Zimmer deserves HUGE credit for a great game plan and a well coached team
That was the most surprising game of the weekend for me

clenz wrote:This may be blasphamous, but I think AP is actually detrimental to Teddy's growth. AP refuses to learn to run/can't run out of the gun/pistol. Teddy is SIGNIFICANTLY better out of the gun/pistol.

I don't have the numbers right now, but when it comes to personnel when MN was in the I formation they ran something like 85% of the time and when they were in gun/31 personnel it was a pass over 75% of the time.

All because AP isn't a pass catcher and can't run from anywhere but 8 yards deep.


I look at it like Seattle with Lynch and Wilson.

When Lynch isn't in the game that offense moves better. Wilson shows more life. He isn't hand cuffed to strictly Lynch style plays.

I noticed that too (about Seattle). They flashed a stat that said Seattle was 3-4 when Lynch played, 7-2 without him....helloooooo?

Chizzang wrote:

SDHornet wrote:
Again, more lame excuses. It was week 18, nobody is a rookie anymore and everyone is banged up on every team. Bottom line is the AP fumble cost the Vikes the lead, and a choke job on a chip shot FG cost the Vikes the win. The Vikes blew it yesterday regardless of the “roster issues”. They had it in the bag and let it out.

Key points:
- Every teams roster is an absolute train wreck right now !!!
- Adrian Peterson's fumble was a HUGE game changer
- A missed kick is a tough way to lose

All-in-All Zimmer deserves HUGE credit for a great game plan and a well coached team
That was the most surprising game of the weekend for me

I don't know. I think the temperature alone should have predicted a close, low scoring game. Not much of a surprise there.

AZGrizFan wrote:

clenz wrote:This may be blasphamous, but I think AP is actually detrimental to Teddy's growth. AP refuses to learn to run/can't run out of the gun/pistol. Teddy is SIGNIFICANTLY better out of the gun/pistol.

I don't have the numbers right now, but when it comes to personnel when MN was in the I formation they ran something like 85% of the time and when they were in gun/31 personnel it was a pass over 75% of the time.

All because AP isn't a pass catcher and can't run from anywhere but 8 yards deep.


I look at it like Seattle with Lynch and Wilson.

When Lynch isn't in the game that offense moves better. Wilson shows more life. He isn't hand cuffed to strictly Lynch style plays.

I noticed that too (about Seattle). They flashed a stat that said Seattle was 3-4 when Lynch played, 7-2 without him....helloooooo?

Yep.

It's tough to judge, right now, because Teddy's numbers this year were better than last year (when AP was suspended). He didn't take the step forward most thought he would. I think that's a large part of AP and the OL issues.

It sounds crazy to say that the best RB in the league is holding your team back, but he very well might be. The offense becomes so relied on packages for AP. When he's in the game you know what's coming because he's terrible at pass blocking and routes. When he isn't in the game you know it's a pass.

McKinnon and Asiata aren't amazing, but between the two of them, last year, they put up numbers very similar to what AP put up this year plus gave the passing game more option.

The offense just looks more in-sync when AP is off the field. It's odd to watch.

Chizzang wrote:

SDHornet wrote:
Again, more lame excuses. It was week 18, nobody is a rookie anymore and everyone is banged up on every team. Bottom line is the AP fumble cost the Vikes the lead, and a choke job on a chip shot FG cost the Vikes the win. The Vikes blew it yesterday regardless of the “roster issues”. They had it in the bag and let it out.

Key points:
- Every teams roster is an absolute train wreck right now !!!
- Adrian Peterson's fumble was a HUGE game changer
- A missed kick is a tough way to lose

All-in-All Zimmer deserves HUGE credit for a great game plan and a well coached team
That was the most surprising game of the weekend for me

Yup. The way they lost shouldn't take away from the job he did. They played well yesterday, just had the ball bounce the wrong way on a few key plays.

clenz wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
I noticed that too (about Seattle). They flashed a stat that said Seattle was 3-4 when Lynch played, 7-2 without him....helloooooo?

Yep.

It's tough to judge, right now, because Teddy's numbers this year were better than last year (when AP was suspended). He didn't take the step forward most thought he would. I think that's a large part of AP and the OL issues.

It sounds crazy to say that the best RB in the league is holding your team back, but he very well might be. The offense becomes so relied on packages for AP. When he's in the game you know what's coming because he's terrible at pass blocking and routes. When he isn't in the game you know it's a pass.

McKinnon and Asiata aren't amazing, but between the two of them, last year, they put up numbers very similar to what AP put up this year plus gave the passing game more option.

The offense just looks more in-sync when AP is off the field. It's odd to watch.

I thought McKinnon was more effective yesterday, especially when he ran routes down the field and totally exposed the Seattle secondary on a few plays. They just couldn't connect on those routes to take advantage of it.

Gil Dobie wrote: