Vikings at Panthers Depth Chart Preview 2021
Oct 15, 2021 22:09:16 GMT -6
Reignman, Funkytown, and 2 more like this
Post by Danchat on Oct 15, 2021 22:09:16 GMT -6
After escaping a close brush with disaster, the Vikings face a decent Panthers team on the road. Can they get to 3-3 before the bye week, or keep the drama rolling with another loss?
Injury Report
Vikings
TE Ellefson - Out
DT Pierce - Out
Panthers
LB Thompson - Out
HB McCaffrey - Out
LB Martin - Out
Line: Vikings -2.5 (56% of money on Vikings)
* My Thoughts *
QB - I've watched some film on Darnold as a Panther, and while he is playing better than he was with the Jets, he's still a below average starting QB. It doesn't help that their OL has been bad at pass protection, and that has forced him to make some bad choices while under pressure. They have wisely given him more chances to run the ball, which has been an underrated trait of his, and he has been cashing in TDs in the redzone with his legs.
RB - With McCaffrey out yet again, rookie Chuba Hubbard will carry the load. While Hubbard had put some big highlights up at Oklahoma State, he has been merely average in his few games as a pro. Still, against the Vikings porous run defense, he should thrive. Royce Freeman is a dependable backup who can handle himself in the passing game. Carolina has upped their FB usage since McCaffrey went down, so expect to see Ricci in often.
WR/TE - Darnold was reuinted with Robby Anderson, who had a strong season with Bridgewater last year, but so far has not connected with him as much as expected. Instead, he's peppered DJ Moore with a 29% target share, and he has produced. Moore has always been underrated and he was my main Justin Jefferson comp - great route runner with quality speed and great hands. Rookie Terrace Marshall Jr. was behind Jefferson at LSU and has a very high ceiling, but hasn't produced at a high level yet. Ian Thomas is consistently ranked at the bottom of TEs every year and is usually a non-factor. They do have 3rd rounder Tommy Tremble, who should overtake Thomas at some point.
OL - This unit has mostly been a disappointment. They started with Cameron Erving at LT, but that predictably failed, which has made them move Moton to LT (for the first time) and 3rd round rookie Brady Christensen will play RT. Moton is the one anchor on the line, but Christensen has struggled in his first few starts. LG Dennis Daley is in the same spot as Oli Udoh - both were 2019 6th rounders who were natural tackles moved to guard. Daley has been weak against the pass so far. Miller, starting in Elflein's stead, has been consistently mediocre throughout his career. Paradis is a passable center, but he was signed to be better than that.
DL - This defense has been playing much better than what PFF gives them credit for. Brian Burns is a menace who is a pressure machine, but is a smaller DE who can be beat in the run game. Morgan Fox is the opposite, a stout run stuffer who plays like a 3-4 DE. Gross-Matos, a 2020 2nd rounder, has heaps of raw talent but hasn't realized it yet. On the interior, Derrick Brown is a having a much better sophomore season and has been pushing the pocket around. DaQuan Jones is an underrated run stuffer who has been key to Carolina's run repellence. Their backup DTs are nothing to write home about.
LB - The Panthers have wisely used Haason Reddick as a hybrid pass rusher/4-3 LB, which has resulted in 6.5 sacks already! Basically, they're using him like how the Vikings should have used Barr for the past 7 years. Shaq Thompson is their captain and preimer 3 down LB, but he's hurt, which is a huge loss. Jermaine Carter has come out of nowhere in his 4th season as an every down player and has been decent, but filling Thompson's shoes is a big ask.
CB - Despite their moves to acquire Henderson and Gilmore, this unit has problems. Donte Jackson is a quality starter, but AJ Bouye is past his prime and Henderson is still green and getting beat often. Nickel CB Rashaan Melvin has been getting picked on as well. After 3 straight weeks of playing some of the worst CBs in football, I will be interested to see how the Vikings WRs do against legitimate competition.
S - Jeremy Chinn is better than his rating, as he's sturdy tackler. He was the one to have the back-to-back fumble return TDs vs the Vikings last year. With Juston Burris hurt, relative unknown Sean Chandler fills in SS. The 4th year UDFA has filled in well so far.
Prediction: Vikings 20, Panthers 17
While the Vikings did play like crap last week, I have a feeling they are going to rebound. The Panthers have not been the same team with McCaffrey out of the lineup, and the Vikings defense is playing better lately. While Carolina does appear to be the better coached team, I suspect we'll see a better gameplan from the Vikings offense that will eek out another win.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Vikings
TE Ellefson - Out
DT Pierce - Out
Panthers
LB Thompson - Out
HB McCaffrey - Out
LB Martin - Out
Line: Vikings -2.5 (56% of money on Vikings)
* My Thoughts *
QB - I've watched some film on Darnold as a Panther, and while he is playing better than he was with the Jets, he's still a below average starting QB. It doesn't help that their OL has been bad at pass protection, and that has forced him to make some bad choices while under pressure. They have wisely given him more chances to run the ball, which has been an underrated trait of his, and he has been cashing in TDs in the redzone with his legs.
RB - With McCaffrey out yet again, rookie Chuba Hubbard will carry the load. While Hubbard had put some big highlights up at Oklahoma State, he has been merely average in his few games as a pro. Still, against the Vikings porous run defense, he should thrive. Royce Freeman is a dependable backup who can handle himself in the passing game. Carolina has upped their FB usage since McCaffrey went down, so expect to see Ricci in often.
WR/TE - Darnold was reuinted with Robby Anderson, who had a strong season with Bridgewater last year, but so far has not connected with him as much as expected. Instead, he's peppered DJ Moore with a 29% target share, and he has produced. Moore has always been underrated and he was my main Justin Jefferson comp - great route runner with quality speed and great hands. Rookie Terrace Marshall Jr. was behind Jefferson at LSU and has a very high ceiling, but hasn't produced at a high level yet. Ian Thomas is consistently ranked at the bottom of TEs every year and is usually a non-factor. They do have 3rd rounder Tommy Tremble, who should overtake Thomas at some point.
OL - This unit has mostly been a disappointment. They started with Cameron Erving at LT, but that predictably failed, which has made them move Moton to LT (for the first time) and 3rd round rookie Brady Christensen will play RT. Moton is the one anchor on the line, but Christensen has struggled in his first few starts. LG Dennis Daley is in the same spot as Oli Udoh - both were 2019 6th rounders who were natural tackles moved to guard. Daley has been weak against the pass so far. Miller, starting in Elflein's stead, has been consistently mediocre throughout his career. Paradis is a passable center, but he was signed to be better than that.
DL - This defense has been playing much better than what PFF gives them credit for. Brian Burns is a menace who is a pressure machine, but is a smaller DE who can be beat in the run game. Morgan Fox is the opposite, a stout run stuffer who plays like a 3-4 DE. Gross-Matos, a 2020 2nd rounder, has heaps of raw talent but hasn't realized it yet. On the interior, Derrick Brown is a having a much better sophomore season and has been pushing the pocket around. DaQuan Jones is an underrated run stuffer who has been key to Carolina's run repellence. Their backup DTs are nothing to write home about.
LB - The Panthers have wisely used Haason Reddick as a hybrid pass rusher/4-3 LB, which has resulted in 6.5 sacks already! Basically, they're using him like how the Vikings should have used Barr for the past 7 years. Shaq Thompson is their captain and preimer 3 down LB, but he's hurt, which is a huge loss. Jermaine Carter has come out of nowhere in his 4th season as an every down player and has been decent, but filling Thompson's shoes is a big ask.
CB - Despite their moves to acquire Henderson and Gilmore, this unit has problems. Donte Jackson is a quality starter, but AJ Bouye is past his prime and Henderson is still green and getting beat often. Nickel CB Rashaan Melvin has been getting picked on as well. After 3 straight weeks of playing some of the worst CBs in football, I will be interested to see how the Vikings WRs do against legitimate competition.
S - Jeremy Chinn is better than his rating, as he's sturdy tackler. He was the one to have the back-to-back fumble return TDs vs the Vikings last year. With Juston Burris hurt, relative unknown Sean Chandler fills in SS. The 4th year UDFA has filled in well so far.
Prediction: Vikings 20, Panthers 17
While the Vikings did play like crap last week, I have a feeling they are going to rebound. The Panthers have not been the same team with McCaffrey out of the lineup, and the Vikings defense is playing better lately. While Carolina does appear to be the better coached team, I suspect we'll see a better gameplan from the Vikings offense that will eek out another win.
Any thoughts?
I think that makes me 17-5 since the start of 2020!
... and neither is this Chris guy.