Lions at Vikings Depth Chart Preview W5 2021
Oct 9, 2021 11:05:54 GMT -6
Funkytown, suncoastvike, and 1 more like this
Post by Danchat on Oct 9, 2021 11:05:54 GMT -6
The Vikings get an easy matchup after a tough first four games on the schedule. Will they take advantage of the Lions' terrible roster, or will they fall victim to complacency?
Line: Vikings -10 (56% of bets on Lions)
Injury Report
Vikings
WR Smith-Marsette - Out
DT Pierce - Out
RB Cook - Questionable
Lions
TE Hockenson - Questionable
LT Sewell - Questionable
OLB Flowers - Questionable
RB Swift - Questionable
RB Williams - Questionable
I think it's worth adding their IR list, which is really long for Week 5:
With Hockenson and Sewell on the more doubtful side of questionable, they now have their starting LT, C, WR1, top backup T, a strong pass rushing OLB, and 2 of their 3 top CBs on the IR. This roster was already bad, but now it's barren.
*My Thoughts*
QB - Jared Goff is seeing his PFF rating decline, which is no surprise as he's no longer got McVay telling him what to do, a far worse OL, and no weapons to throw to. Well, he has decent RBs and a good TE, but his WR corps is easily the worst in the NFL. He hasn't been bad for Detroit, but he's a below average QB who the Rams were no longer willing to pay. He's capable enough to put some points on the board, but there are no excuses for the Vikings to not limit him heavily.
RB - This is the strong position on the team, as the Swift/Williams combo have been productive so far. Swift has been a top notch receiving RB in his NFL career, and could be targeted as their #1 receiver. He's struggled to run between the tackles, however, but that is where Williams has exceeded for a while now. He's picked up from where he left off in Green Bay and has actually received more carries than Swift.
WR - There's not much here to talk about. Kalif Raymond was the Titans' 4th WR last year and caught a deep ball against the Vikings last year, but he is a role player in the #1 WR spot. Cephus has been good for some garbage time yards, but he runs a 4.65 '40 and has trouble getting open. St. Brown hasn't looked particularly good in his first few games. Benson has gotten some run as the 4th receiver and has accomplished nothing.
TE/FB - Hockenson is a very talented TE and has a chance to have a 1000 yard season if they throw to him enough, but he may not play. That leaves blocking TE Darren Fells as the only guy on the roster, and they don't have a backup plan prepared. FB Cabinda is a LB who was moved to FB and PFF hasn't liked his play.
OL - On paper this looked like a good unit to start the year, but down LT Decker, C Ragnow, and probably T Sewell, this is looking bad. C Evan Brown has never started a game in the NFL before. RT Matt Nelson is a practice squad caliber player who has gotten rocked the first four weeks, and should have no hope against Hunter. LG Jackson was a day 1 starter, but his play has tailed off after a strong start to the 2020 season. He's been a sieve in pass protection. RG "Big V" Vaitai has moved from RT to RG and hasn't fared well, as his run blocking grade has been poor.
DL - The Lions moved to a 3-4 defense following Patricia's departure. They acquired Brockers from the Rams, but he's been a flop so far. He was already known for bringing zero pass rush, but his run defense has slipped as well. Nick Williams is a long-time backup who is playing like one. The rookie McNeill has been a quality run stuffer, but he hasn't even played 100 snaps yet. Penisini has the rare Abysmal grade and hasn't improved much from his poor 2020 campaign.
LB - Initially the Lions had a strong pass rushing duo in Flowers and Okwara, but the latter just had an Achilles rupture. Flowers is 50-50 to play, leaving former Dolphin 1st round bust Charles Harris to man the unit. Austin Bryant may get the start, who has been somewhat productive when out there. Detroit blew up their ILB position, now having former Saint Anzalone and longtime special teamer Reeves-Maybin starting. Anzalone was clearly more suited to be a nickel LB, as he's been terrible at tackling and has allowed 100% of the passes thrown his way to be completed.
CB - With Okudah and Melifonwu out, the Lions are throwing practice squad guys out there. Oruwariye has experience, but has been beaten by the Jefferson-Thielen duo before. UDFAs AJ Parker and Bobby Price will start too, who are complete unknowns to me. PFF has graded them poorly in coverage, to nobody's surprise.
S - Tracy Walker is perhaps the Lions' best defensive player with the OLBs out, as he's been a decent free safety, who excels at zoning out deep balls. Will Harris, on the other hand, currently has an Abysmal rating for the 2021 season.
Prediction: Vikings 30, Lions 17
The Vikings have lost "trap" games like this before, but we have a long history of beating up on the Lions and this roster is a new kind of terrible. No excuses.
Any thoughts?
Line: Vikings -10 (56% of bets on Lions)
Injury Report
Vikings
WR Smith-Marsette - Out
DT Pierce - Out
RB Cook - Questionable
Lions
TE Hockenson - Questionable
LT Sewell - Questionable
OLB Flowers - Questionable
RB Swift - Questionable
RB Williams - Questionable
I think it's worth adding their IR list, which is really long for Week 5:
With Hockenson and Sewell on the more doubtful side of questionable, they now have their starting LT, C, WR1, top backup T, a strong pass rushing OLB, and 2 of their 3 top CBs on the IR. This roster was already bad, but now it's barren.
*My Thoughts*
QB - Jared Goff is seeing his PFF rating decline, which is no surprise as he's no longer got McVay telling him what to do, a far worse OL, and no weapons to throw to. Well, he has decent RBs and a good TE, but his WR corps is easily the worst in the NFL. He hasn't been bad for Detroit, but he's a below average QB who the Rams were no longer willing to pay. He's capable enough to put some points on the board, but there are no excuses for the Vikings to not limit him heavily.
RB - This is the strong position on the team, as the Swift/Williams combo have been productive so far. Swift has been a top notch receiving RB in his NFL career, and could be targeted as their #1 receiver. He's struggled to run between the tackles, however, but that is where Williams has exceeded for a while now. He's picked up from where he left off in Green Bay and has actually received more carries than Swift.
WR - There's not much here to talk about. Kalif Raymond was the Titans' 4th WR last year and caught a deep ball against the Vikings last year, but he is a role player in the #1 WR spot. Cephus has been good for some garbage time yards, but he runs a 4.65 '40 and has trouble getting open. St. Brown hasn't looked particularly good in his first few games. Benson has gotten some run as the 4th receiver and has accomplished nothing.
TE/FB - Hockenson is a very talented TE and has a chance to have a 1000 yard season if they throw to him enough, but he may not play. That leaves blocking TE Darren Fells as the only guy on the roster, and they don't have a backup plan prepared. FB Cabinda is a LB who was moved to FB and PFF hasn't liked his play.
OL - On paper this looked like a good unit to start the year, but down LT Decker, C Ragnow, and probably T Sewell, this is looking bad. C Evan Brown has never started a game in the NFL before. RT Matt Nelson is a practice squad caliber player who has gotten rocked the first four weeks, and should have no hope against Hunter. LG Jackson was a day 1 starter, but his play has tailed off after a strong start to the 2020 season. He's been a sieve in pass protection. RG "Big V" Vaitai has moved from RT to RG and hasn't fared well, as his run blocking grade has been poor.
DL - The Lions moved to a 3-4 defense following Patricia's departure. They acquired Brockers from the Rams, but he's been a flop so far. He was already known for bringing zero pass rush, but his run defense has slipped as well. Nick Williams is a long-time backup who is playing like one. The rookie McNeill has been a quality run stuffer, but he hasn't even played 100 snaps yet. Penisini has the rare Abysmal grade and hasn't improved much from his poor 2020 campaign.
LB - Initially the Lions had a strong pass rushing duo in Flowers and Okwara, but the latter just had an Achilles rupture. Flowers is 50-50 to play, leaving former Dolphin 1st round bust Charles Harris to man the unit. Austin Bryant may get the start, who has been somewhat productive when out there. Detroit blew up their ILB position, now having former Saint Anzalone and longtime special teamer Reeves-Maybin starting. Anzalone was clearly more suited to be a nickel LB, as he's been terrible at tackling and has allowed 100% of the passes thrown his way to be completed.
CB - With Okudah and Melifonwu out, the Lions are throwing practice squad guys out there. Oruwariye has experience, but has been beaten by the Jefferson-Thielen duo before. UDFAs AJ Parker and Bobby Price will start too, who are complete unknowns to me. PFF has graded them poorly in coverage, to nobody's surprise.
S - Tracy Walker is perhaps the Lions' best defensive player with the OLBs out, as he's been a decent free safety, who excels at zoning out deep balls. Will Harris, on the other hand, currently has an Abysmal rating for the 2021 season.
Prediction: Vikings 30, Lions 17
The Vikings have lost "trap" games like this before, but we have a long history of beating up on the Lions and this roster is a new kind of terrible. No excuses.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.