Post by Funkytown on Nov 9, 2021 15:45:49 GMT -6
Another doozy around the corner. YAY!
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Some stuff about the matchup, from The Athletic:
Link:
theathletic.com/2943367/2021/11/08/10-vikings-observations-why-couldnt-they-get-the-ball-in-justin-jeffersons-hands-more-often-vs-the-ravens/
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Some stuff about the matchup, from The Athletic:
- Time for our weekly check-in on where the Vikings stand across the league. In expected points per play, they rank ninth on defense and 19th on offense.
- Cousins frequently talks about teams that play with two high safeties as one that takes away all deep-shot possibilities from teams, which makes next week’s game a fascinating matchup. The Chargers hired Brandon Staley over the offseason, the defensive coordinator who built a great Rams defense with a deceptive scheme designed to take away deep shots and let teams have checkdown passes and 5-yard runs with the theory that offenses won’t be able to consistently put together 12-play drives to beat them.
I’m not sure whether that makes this a great or terrible matchup for the Vikings. You could argue that they’re a checkdown team anyway, so maybe going against a team that gives the Vikings what they’re good at should bode well for them. Or you could say that the Vikings not having the possibility for a deep passing attack means we’re going to see the same struggling offense that’s been on the field the last month.
If there’s a place to attack the Chargers, it’s on the ground. They rank dead last in EPA/play against the run in part because they have five defensive backs on the field on 60 percent of their snaps, using light boxes to ensure you don’t beat them deep.
- The Chargers defense is the only one that ranks worse than the Vikings against the run via EPA/play. While the Vikings defense ranks No. 9 overall, it’s via a stark difference. Against the run, they’ve been terrible. But they boast the fourth-best passing defense, according to the stat.
That’s a major testament to a secondary that has gone through a number of injuries, but it is also concerning about the front seven. The Vikings spent money in the offseason revamping the defensive line with the hopes of stopping the run, but they still struggle there.
Certainly, Michael Pierce’s elbow injury has played a role, but one player doesn’t make for the second-worst run defense.
- Cousins frequently talks about teams that play with two high safeties as one that takes away all deep-shot possibilities from teams, which makes next week’s game a fascinating matchup. The Chargers hired Brandon Staley over the offseason, the defensive coordinator who built a great Rams defense with a deceptive scheme designed to take away deep shots and let teams have checkdown passes and 5-yard runs with the theory that offenses won’t be able to consistently put together 12-play drives to beat them.
I’m not sure whether that makes this a great or terrible matchup for the Vikings. You could argue that they’re a checkdown team anyway, so maybe going against a team that gives the Vikings what they’re good at should bode well for them. Or you could say that the Vikings not having the possibility for a deep passing attack means we’re going to see the same struggling offense that’s been on the field the last month.
If there’s a place to attack the Chargers, it’s on the ground. They rank dead last in EPA/play against the run in part because they have five defensive backs on the field on 60 percent of their snaps, using light boxes to ensure you don’t beat them deep.
- The Chargers defense is the only one that ranks worse than the Vikings against the run via EPA/play. While the Vikings defense ranks No. 9 overall, it’s via a stark difference. Against the run, they’ve been terrible. But they boast the fourth-best passing defense, according to the stat.
That’s a major testament to a secondary that has gone through a number of injuries, but it is also concerning about the front seven. The Vikings spent money in the offseason revamping the defensive line with the hopes of stopping the run, but they still struggle there.
Certainly, Michael Pierce’s elbow injury has played a role, but one player doesn’t make for the second-worst run defense.
- A game between the Vikings and Chargers would usually mean a battle between the two worst special teams in the league. But while the Chargers remain at the bottom of that phase again this season, Minnesota’s special teams have actually made significant progress.
Boosted by the return of Kene Nwangwu, the Vikings returned a kickoff for a touchdown and converted a fake punt Sunday. Plus, kicker Greg Joseph has quietly steadied his inconsistencies and has made 17 of 21 field-goal attempts this season to go with 17 of 18 point-after attempts.
Boosted by the return of Kene Nwangwu, the Vikings returned a kickoff for a touchdown and converted a fake punt Sunday. Plus, kicker Greg Joseph has quietly steadied his inconsistencies and has made 17 of 21 field-goal attempts this season to go with 17 of 18 point-after attempts.
theathletic.com/2943367/2021/11/08/10-vikings-observations-why-couldnt-they-get-the-ball-in-justin-jeffersons-hands-more-often-vs-the-ravens/
... and neither is this Chris guy.
