Vikings at Packers Depth Chart Preview - W8 2020
Oct 30, 2020 20:12:15 GMT -6
Funkytown, Oracle Bone Diviner, and 1 more like this
Post by Danchat on Oct 30, 2020 20:12:15 GMT -6
The Vikings have officially entered into tank mode after a pathetic effort against the Falcons. Now they must face the Packers again, with the odds stacked fully against them. Let's see how the Packers' depth chart is doing:
Injury Report
Packers
K Crosby - Questionable
LT Bakhtiari - Questionable
HB Ervin - Questionable
HB Jones - Out
S Greene - Questionable
CB King - Out
DL Lancaster - Questionable
TE Lovett - Questionable
FS Savage - Questionable
Vikings
(CB Hughes on IR)
HB Cook - Questionable
WR Chisena - Questionable
CB Hill - Out
* My Thoughts *
I'll [try to] be more brief since this is our 2nd matchup against the Packers. Rodgers has recently looked like a younger version of himself - he had a nearly flawless game against the Vikings defense Week 1, and there's no reason to believe that will change this week. He's got his trusty weapon Davanate Adams healthy, and the Vikings' CB group more closely resembles a XFL team's, at least compared to what they had Week 1. Lazard may or may not come off the IR, but Valdes-Scantling will likely be able to get open - he did various times Week 1, but has poor hands. Shepard and Taylor will also get some snaps but they're just PS material. If the Packers are able to find a WR like Will Fuller or Michael Gallup on the trade market, watch out!
Aaron Jones will be out this week, likely making Jamaal Williams the feature back. He's a below average runner, but he's a top notch receiver and pass protector. They would be better off giving 2nd round rookie A.J. Dillon the ball, but they didn't give him many chances against the pathetic Texans last week. TE Robert Tonyan has taken over the job and has the speed to get by LBs, he's just never gotten a chance to do much thanks to being a poor blocker. Veteran Marcedes Lewis has been a phenomenal blocking TE for Green Bay.
The Packers survived the Texans last week even without LT Bakhtiari, but he looks to play this week. C Linsley is PFF's #1 rated center this year. 4th year UDFA Lucas Patrick is playing quality football since taking over Lane Taylor, who was hurt in the Week 1 matchup. Billy Turner has been the primary week link, as he's been a very poor run blocker. It goes without saying that this line should dominate the Vikings' soft D-line, especially with Ngakoue off the roster. Rodgers should have all day when Zimmer doesn't blitz, but even if he blitzes a lot like he did in Week 1, our terrible CBs can't cover anybody. I don't envy the gameplanning for this matchup.
Efficiency-wise, the Packers defense has been rather mediocre. It was quite clear even from Week 1 that their run defense was not good, but their pass defense has surprisingly disappointed as well. Their D-line has a cornerstone in Kenny Clark, but the rest of the DEs have disappointed. Lowry and Lancaster are subpar starters, though it's possible Keke could steal Lancaster's job since he's just coming back from an injury. OLB Preston Smith has been a complete non-playmaker this year, with just 0.5 sacks and 12 tackles in 6 starts. The inside linebacker position has been a mess, with Christian Kirksey stinking and getting hurt (what a surprise), leading to UDFA Krys Barnes stepping in. He's been below average, but not bad. Last week they started 6th rounder ILB Kamal Martin (Minnesota grad), but they love using a 3rd safety over a 2nd ILB. OLB Rashan Gary has looked the part of a bust, as he's a poor run stopper and hasn't generated much pressure.
On the positive side of things, Za'Darius Smith is still a one man wrecking crew with 6 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 11 QB hits. Meanwhile CB Jaire Alexander has been PFF's #1 CB in the NFL - since he struggled Week 1 vs Thielen, he has been a lockdown CB having good games against Calvin Ridley, Mike Evans, and Will Fuller. Josh Jackson has filled in as the #2 CB with King hurt, but he's struggled against #2 WRs. If he gets put on Jefferson or Thielen 1-on-1, he's in big trouble. Chandon Sullivan has been a league average nickel CB, which is a fine outcome for the former UDFA. FS Savage missed last week's game, and hasn't started off his sophomore year well, as PFF has him near the bottom in coverage and tackling. SS Amos' play is also at a career low, but is still a solid coverage safety. Will Redmond will play around 50-60% of the snaps as a 3rd safety, but he's been a terrible run defender. It may be wise to run on them when they are set in a dime formation with Redmond in the game.
Note that Packers' kicker Mason Crosby is kicking with a bad non-kicking leg, and may not be 100%. They may sign a practice squad kicker and elevate him for the game.
Prediction: Packers 41, Vikings 30
It's hard to imagine the Vikings' defense stopping Rodgers & Company after the Week 1 fiasco. Not only is this defense so bad they allowed 40 points against Atlanta, but both those games were at home! Green Bay may be banged up substantially compared to Week 1, but so are the Vikings. Their defense should give up some points, especially since they don't have the DBs to cover both Thielen and Jefferson, but asking for a win here is laughable after the atrocity against the Falcons. Zimmer's teams usually have poor weeks coming off the bye (2-4 record), and it wouldn't be surprising if the team gives up on him / Cousins.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Packers
K Crosby - Questionable
LT Bakhtiari - Questionable
HB Ervin - Questionable
HB Jones - Out
S Greene - Questionable
CB King - Out
DL Lancaster - Questionable
TE Lovett - Questionable
FS Savage - Questionable
Vikings
(CB Hughes on IR)
HB Cook - Questionable
WR Chisena - Questionable
CB Hill - Out
* My Thoughts *
I'll [try to] be more brief since this is our 2nd matchup against the Packers. Rodgers has recently looked like a younger version of himself - he had a nearly flawless game against the Vikings defense Week 1, and there's no reason to believe that will change this week. He's got his trusty weapon Davanate Adams healthy, and the Vikings' CB group more closely resembles a XFL team's, at least compared to what they had Week 1. Lazard may or may not come off the IR, but Valdes-Scantling will likely be able to get open - he did various times Week 1, but has poor hands. Shepard and Taylor will also get some snaps but they're just PS material. If the Packers are able to find a WR like Will Fuller or Michael Gallup on the trade market, watch out!
Aaron Jones will be out this week, likely making Jamaal Williams the feature back. He's a below average runner, but he's a top notch receiver and pass protector. They would be better off giving 2nd round rookie A.J. Dillon the ball, but they didn't give him many chances against the pathetic Texans last week. TE Robert Tonyan has taken over the job and has the speed to get by LBs, he's just never gotten a chance to do much thanks to being a poor blocker. Veteran Marcedes Lewis has been a phenomenal blocking TE for Green Bay.
The Packers survived the Texans last week even without LT Bakhtiari, but he looks to play this week. C Linsley is PFF's #1 rated center this year. 4th year UDFA Lucas Patrick is playing quality football since taking over Lane Taylor, who was hurt in the Week 1 matchup. Billy Turner has been the primary week link, as he's been a very poor run blocker. It goes without saying that this line should dominate the Vikings' soft D-line, especially with Ngakoue off the roster. Rodgers should have all day when Zimmer doesn't blitz, but even if he blitzes a lot like he did in Week 1, our terrible CBs can't cover anybody. I don't envy the gameplanning for this matchup.
Efficiency-wise, the Packers defense has been rather mediocre. It was quite clear even from Week 1 that their run defense was not good, but their pass defense has surprisingly disappointed as well. Their D-line has a cornerstone in Kenny Clark, but the rest of the DEs have disappointed. Lowry and Lancaster are subpar starters, though it's possible Keke could steal Lancaster's job since he's just coming back from an injury. OLB Preston Smith has been a complete non-playmaker this year, with just 0.5 sacks and 12 tackles in 6 starts. The inside linebacker position has been a mess, with Christian Kirksey stinking and getting hurt (what a surprise), leading to UDFA Krys Barnes stepping in. He's been below average, but not bad. Last week they started 6th rounder ILB Kamal Martin (Minnesota grad), but they love using a 3rd safety over a 2nd ILB. OLB Rashan Gary has looked the part of a bust, as he's a poor run stopper and hasn't generated much pressure.
On the positive side of things, Za'Darius Smith is still a one man wrecking crew with 6 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 11 QB hits. Meanwhile CB Jaire Alexander has been PFF's #1 CB in the NFL - since he struggled Week 1 vs Thielen, he has been a lockdown CB having good games against Calvin Ridley, Mike Evans, and Will Fuller. Josh Jackson has filled in as the #2 CB with King hurt, but he's struggled against #2 WRs. If he gets put on Jefferson or Thielen 1-on-1, he's in big trouble. Chandon Sullivan has been a league average nickel CB, which is a fine outcome for the former UDFA. FS Savage missed last week's game, and hasn't started off his sophomore year well, as PFF has him near the bottom in coverage and tackling. SS Amos' play is also at a career low, but is still a solid coverage safety. Will Redmond will play around 50-60% of the snaps as a 3rd safety, but he's been a terrible run defender. It may be wise to run on them when they are set in a dime formation with Redmond in the game.
Note that Packers' kicker Mason Crosby is kicking with a bad non-kicking leg, and may not be 100%. They may sign a practice squad kicker and elevate him for the game.
Prediction: Packers 41, Vikings 30
It's hard to imagine the Vikings' defense stopping Rodgers & Company after the Week 1 fiasco. Not only is this defense so bad they allowed 40 points against Atlanta, but both those games were at home! Green Bay may be banged up substantially compared to Week 1, but so are the Vikings. Their defense should give up some points, especially since they don't have the DBs to cover both Thielen and Jefferson, but asking for a win here is laughable after the atrocity against the Falcons. Zimmer's teams usually have poor weeks coming off the bye (2-4 record), and it wouldn't be surprising if the team gives up on him / Cousins.
Any thoughts?