Packers at Vikings Depth Chart Preview 2020
Sept 11, 2020 20:04:04 GMT -6
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Post by Danchat on Sept 11, 2020 20:04:04 GMT -6
Finally, we're getting to the 2020 season despite everything that has gone wrong this year. Let's see how the Packers line up this year:
Oh, and if you're new here, welcome to my PFF Depth Chart Previews. Here I take the Packers' depth chart, straight from the team's website, and assign Pro Football Focus' grades on each player (grade is mostly based on 2019, but their past is also included). With everything nicely color-coordinated, teams' strengths and weaknesses will become apparent. I'll also post the injury reports so we can tell who might be playing and who won't be. I will then give my thoughts on the matchup and make a prediction regarding who will win.
Injuries:
Vikings - None (DE Hunter placed on IR)
Packers
LB Randy Ramsey - Out
RT Billy Turner - Doubtful
DE Montravius Adams - Doubtful
S Raven Greene - Questionable
Line: Vikings -2.5
* My Thoughts *
This has been a strange offseason, and the atmosphere will also be off, since there will be no fans in the stands. It was also an odd offseason for the Packers, whilst coming off a phenomenal 13-3 season, they mostly sat out of free agency and opted to draft a QB, HB, and TE/FB in the first three rounds. You'd think the Packers would have gone all in (example: the Saints) on 2020, but it appears they've taken their foot off the gas. Despite that, this is still a talented team lead by a very good QB in Aaron Rodgers. He's no longer the best QB in the game at age 36, but he can still make some great throws and will turn the ball over at a minimal rate. He doesn't have a whole lot of established players to throw to, as Davante Adams (a top 10, maybe 5 WR) is their main receiver. Former UDFA Allen Lazard is locked into the #2 role after putting up a 35/477/3 line last year, but isn't a big playmaker. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has ranked near the bottom of the WR rankings for two straight years, and has failed to make an impact on the field. They cut Jimmy Graham, who was dead weight by this point, but their primary receiving TE is now Robert Tonyan... not sure how that will work out. Marcedes Brown is a very good blocking TE, though.
It is rather clear that HC Matt LeFleur's plan is to run the ball. Aaron Jones finally got the touches he deserved and exploded with production, resulting in over 1500 yards from scrimmage and a crazy 19 total TDs. Jamaal Williams will spell him on passing downs, but they spent a 2nd rounder on A. J. Dillon, who profiles as a poor man's Derrick Henry. It's not clear if he will have a role at this point. As for their offensive line, the Packers return stud LT Bahkitari, a really good sophomore in LG Elgton Jenkins, and the reliable C Corey Linsley. The right side has changed, as they've moved RG Billy Turner to RT, but he's hurt. Lane Taylor will take over RG permanently - he was their starting LG for 3 years before getting benched for Jenkins. The RT spot will likely be handled by Ricky Wagner, whose play has severely diminished since the Lions signed him.
On defense, the Packers had a very clear weakness against the running game... and they barely addressed the issue. Teams ran for 4.7 YPC against them, and DEs Dean Lowry and Tyler Lancaster had poor seasons against the run last year. Those two will line up next to stud NT Kenny Clark, who was a monster against the Vikings in their two matchups last year. He's their best weapon against the run. Against the pass, the Smith Bros., Preston and Za'Darius, will be at it again. The duo wrecked havoc and had a combined 25.5 sacks between the two of them. Sometimes they will rotate in at DE on passing downs - which is why they are only carrying 4 pure D-linemen. The Vikings will need to have a plan to take them on, as Za'Darius nearly singlehandedly stopped the Vikings' passing game last year. They even spent the 12th overall pick in 2019 on Rashan Gary, but he barely played last year and might rotate in more this season. The Packers lost Blake Martinez in free agency, who was their primary ILB, and have replaced him with the injury prone Christian Kirksey. He looks like a big downgrade from Martinez, and they don't have much depth there, as Oren Burks didn't get much experience last year.
Green Bay does have a strong secondary, with Jaire Alexander and Adrian Amos leading up the squad. Alexander had a strong season taking on #1 WRs, and Kevin King finally took a big step up last year and was a top-notch playmaker, while getting burned in coverage a bit too often. Former UDFA Chandon Sullivan took over the nickel job midway through 2019 and rated pretty well. Darnell Savage was decent as a free safety, usually playing deep while Amos plays more near the front seven. The Packers love to use 3 safeties and will likely use Will Redmond on most passing downs.
Prediction: Packers 23, Vikings 13
This is a hard one to predict with a weird offseason and the Vikings having a lot of question marks on their roster. The Packers have some big question marks too, but they match up much better against Minnesota - the Vikings failed to upgrade their O-line and will likely give up tons of pressure, and no longer have Stefon Diggs, who had made many big plays against the Packers in his career. I think the Vikings can handle Green Bay's passing game, but their run defense was carved up in both 2019 games and now the Vikes are missing Joseph, Pierce, and Hunter. Oh, and there will be no fans to make things hard for the Packers offense.
(Oh, and by the way - my predictions here aren't counting on the PPA contest. I'd go over the maximum if they did)
Any thoughts?
Oh, and if you're new here, welcome to my PFF Depth Chart Previews. Here I take the Packers' depth chart, straight from the team's website, and assign Pro Football Focus' grades on each player (grade is mostly based on 2019, but their past is also included). With everything nicely color-coordinated, teams' strengths and weaknesses will become apparent. I'll also post the injury reports so we can tell who might be playing and who won't be. I will then give my thoughts on the matchup and make a prediction regarding who will win.
Injuries:
Vikings - None (DE Hunter placed on IR)
Packers
LB Randy Ramsey - Out
RT Billy Turner - Doubtful
DE Montravius Adams - Doubtful
S Raven Greene - Questionable
Line: Vikings -2.5
* My Thoughts *
This has been a strange offseason, and the atmosphere will also be off, since there will be no fans in the stands. It was also an odd offseason for the Packers, whilst coming off a phenomenal 13-3 season, they mostly sat out of free agency and opted to draft a QB, HB, and TE/FB in the first three rounds. You'd think the Packers would have gone all in (example: the Saints) on 2020, but it appears they've taken their foot off the gas. Despite that, this is still a talented team lead by a very good QB in Aaron Rodgers. He's no longer the best QB in the game at age 36, but he can still make some great throws and will turn the ball over at a minimal rate. He doesn't have a whole lot of established players to throw to, as Davante Adams (a top 10, maybe 5 WR) is their main receiver. Former UDFA Allen Lazard is locked into the #2 role after putting up a 35/477/3 line last year, but isn't a big playmaker. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has ranked near the bottom of the WR rankings for two straight years, and has failed to make an impact on the field. They cut Jimmy Graham, who was dead weight by this point, but their primary receiving TE is now Robert Tonyan... not sure how that will work out. Marcedes Brown is a very good blocking TE, though.
It is rather clear that HC Matt LeFleur's plan is to run the ball. Aaron Jones finally got the touches he deserved and exploded with production, resulting in over 1500 yards from scrimmage and a crazy 19 total TDs. Jamaal Williams will spell him on passing downs, but they spent a 2nd rounder on A. J. Dillon, who profiles as a poor man's Derrick Henry. It's not clear if he will have a role at this point. As for their offensive line, the Packers return stud LT Bahkitari, a really good sophomore in LG Elgton Jenkins, and the reliable C Corey Linsley. The right side has changed, as they've moved RG Billy Turner to RT, but he's hurt. Lane Taylor will take over RG permanently - he was their starting LG for 3 years before getting benched for Jenkins. The RT spot will likely be handled by Ricky Wagner, whose play has severely diminished since the Lions signed him.
On defense, the Packers had a very clear weakness against the running game... and they barely addressed the issue. Teams ran for 4.7 YPC against them, and DEs Dean Lowry and Tyler Lancaster had poor seasons against the run last year. Those two will line up next to stud NT Kenny Clark, who was a monster against the Vikings in their two matchups last year. He's their best weapon against the run. Against the pass, the Smith Bros., Preston and Za'Darius, will be at it again. The duo wrecked havoc and had a combined 25.5 sacks between the two of them. Sometimes they will rotate in at DE on passing downs - which is why they are only carrying 4 pure D-linemen. The Vikings will need to have a plan to take them on, as Za'Darius nearly singlehandedly stopped the Vikings' passing game last year. They even spent the 12th overall pick in 2019 on Rashan Gary, but he barely played last year and might rotate in more this season. The Packers lost Blake Martinez in free agency, who was their primary ILB, and have replaced him with the injury prone Christian Kirksey. He looks like a big downgrade from Martinez, and they don't have much depth there, as Oren Burks didn't get much experience last year.
Green Bay does have a strong secondary, with Jaire Alexander and Adrian Amos leading up the squad. Alexander had a strong season taking on #1 WRs, and Kevin King finally took a big step up last year and was a top-notch playmaker, while getting burned in coverage a bit too often. Former UDFA Chandon Sullivan took over the nickel job midway through 2019 and rated pretty well. Darnell Savage was decent as a free safety, usually playing deep while Amos plays more near the front seven. The Packers love to use 3 safeties and will likely use Will Redmond on most passing downs.
Prediction: Packers 23, Vikings 13
This is a hard one to predict with a weird offseason and the Vikings having a lot of question marks on their roster. The Packers have some big question marks too, but they match up much better against Minnesota - the Vikings failed to upgrade their O-line and will likely give up tons of pressure, and no longer have Stefon Diggs, who had made many big plays against the Packers in his career. I think the Vikings can handle Green Bay's passing game, but their run defense was carved up in both 2019 games and now the Vikes are missing Joseph, Pierce, and Hunter. Oh, and there will be no fans to make things hard for the Packers offense.
(Oh, and by the way - my predictions here aren't counting on the PPA contest. I'd go over the maximum if they did)
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.