Vikings at Chargers Depth Chart Preview 2021
Nov 13, 2021 13:16:50 GMT -6
Funkytown and Oracle Bone Diviner like this
Post by Danchat on Nov 13, 2021 13:16:50 GMT -6
The Vikings limp into this game 3-5, facing a Chargers team that usually plays close games. Are we doomed to see another game go to the wire and lose?
Injury Report
Chargers
LB Tranquill - COVID
S Adderely - Questionable
WR Allen - Questionable
CB Davis - Doubtful
RB Jackson - Doubtful
CB Smith - Out
LB Bosa - Questionable
S Webb - Questionable
Vikings
C Bradbury - COVID
DE Willekes - COVID
LB Connelly - COVID
LB Barr - Out
CB Breeland - Questionable
DT Pierce - Out
Line: Chargers -3 (55% of money on Chargers)
My Thoughts:
QB - After drawing plenty of doubt in the draft process, Herbert has destroyed his doubters and looks like a bona fide franchise QB. With a much better OL to support him, Herbert has maximized his weapons. Backed by HC Staley's ultra-aggressive mindset, the Chargers have been going for it on 4th down at a very high rate. This aggressive mindset has backfield a few times this year, and they're only 14th in points scored. Still, Herbert is capable of ripping this defense apart.
HB - Austin Ekeler has continued to be a dangerous runner who is more than just a scat back, already totaling 480 yards on the ground and 325 through the air. Rountree has done nothing with his carries, but the Chargers pass the ball enough that they won't bother to give him carries if they don't need to.
WR/TE - Mike Williams was having a breakout year (470 yards and 6 TDs in his first 5 games), but then suffered a knee injury and hasn't been the same since. He might be back to 100%, but the Chargers have plenty of other weapons to throw to. Keenan Allen is on pace for another 100+ catch season, and should have little problem getting open against our secondary. Guyton and Palmer have been fine as backup WRs. At TE, the Chargers have been rotating heavily between Cook, Parham, and Anderson. Cook has been an above average receiver, as he always has been, while the 6'9" Parham will be used in the redzone frequently. Anderson is having a breakout year as a blocking TE.
OL - Philip Rivers wishes he had this OL. Rookie Rashawn Slater ranks in the top 10 for PFF's tackles, as he's rock solid in both phases of the game. Feiler, a FA addition I wanted the Vikings to sign, is having a strong year, sandwiched in between two great blockers. Linsley is PFF's #3 center and has become dominant since 2019; the Packers should have paid up to keep him. Meanwhile, Schofield is a middling blocker who can hold up in the passing game, but stinks against the run. Former Viking Norton has been getting whipped at RT. They had signed Bryan Bulaga, but he can't stay healthy whatsoever.
DL - Opposing offenses have keyed in to LA's awful run defense and they've been getting ripped apart, giving up the most rush yards in the NFL. DEs Covington and Tillery have been constantly blasted back by all O-linemen. Former Viking Joseph is still getting good marks from PFF, but in reality he is not playing well, showing his age now at 33. They don't have much on the bench, as Jones is having a career-worst year and Gaziano is a PS guy.
ED - Joey Bosa hasn't been elite so far this year, but he's still a force to be reckoned with. However, he's the only above average pass rusher this team has, as Tillery is second in pressures, a good 15 behind Bosa. Nwosu has done little this season and does not help in the run game. Fackrell has been a solid rotational guy, but that's all he is at this point in his career.
LB - This unit was supposed to be headed by Kenneth Murray and Drue Tranquill, but both are not on the active roster. Instead, Kyzir White will have to hold down the fort, and while he has tackled well, he is just one guy. UDFA Ogbongbemiga will likely start alongside him and will struggle to stop the run.
CB - LA's pass defense has been statistically good, but that is partly because of their trash run defense, and now they're banged up. Chris Harris is no longer in his prime and is like Patrick Peterson - he can still cover, but he will struggle against the better WRs. 2nd rounder Samuel Jr. has been solid in coverage, but is missing tackles left and right. Campbell will likely start in the slot, and should be a target of Cousins since he hasn't covered well this year. Former Viking practice squadee Kemon Hall is the next man up, so they should field more 4 WR sets to try and get him on the field.
S - Derwin James is finally healthy, but he's not playing to his elite standards. He's been beatable in coverage and is simply average in the run game. Adderely is a prospect I liked a lot in the 2020 class and he is playing coverage well in the FS role, but he is part of the missed tackles crisis LA is having.
Prediction: Chargers 37, Vikings 26
It is time the Vikings finally lose a game by double digits. While this Chargers' defense looks bad on paper, the Vikings have not been playing or coaching well enough on offense to truly take advantage. Meanwhile, I could see the Chargers take a big lead early that forces the Vikings to run less, causing them to be less efficient. I could also see a poor performance attributed to "distractions" with the COVID situation and Cook's situation.
Still, I wouldn't be surprised if this game comes down to a missed FG attempt by either team, each with their own rich history of bad special teams.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Chargers
LB Tranquill - COVID
S Adderely - Questionable
WR Allen - Questionable
CB Davis - Doubtful
RB Jackson - Doubtful
CB Smith - Out
LB Bosa - Questionable
S Webb - Questionable
Vikings
C Bradbury - COVID
DE Willekes - COVID
LB Connelly - COVID
LB Barr - Out
CB Breeland - Questionable
DT Pierce - Out
Line: Chargers -3 (55% of money on Chargers)
My Thoughts:
QB - After drawing plenty of doubt in the draft process, Herbert has destroyed his doubters and looks like a bona fide franchise QB. With a much better OL to support him, Herbert has maximized his weapons. Backed by HC Staley's ultra-aggressive mindset, the Chargers have been going for it on 4th down at a very high rate. This aggressive mindset has backfield a few times this year, and they're only 14th in points scored. Still, Herbert is capable of ripping this defense apart.
HB - Austin Ekeler has continued to be a dangerous runner who is more than just a scat back, already totaling 480 yards on the ground and 325 through the air. Rountree has done nothing with his carries, but the Chargers pass the ball enough that they won't bother to give him carries if they don't need to.
WR/TE - Mike Williams was having a breakout year (470 yards and 6 TDs in his first 5 games), but then suffered a knee injury and hasn't been the same since. He might be back to 100%, but the Chargers have plenty of other weapons to throw to. Keenan Allen is on pace for another 100+ catch season, and should have little problem getting open against our secondary. Guyton and Palmer have been fine as backup WRs. At TE, the Chargers have been rotating heavily between Cook, Parham, and Anderson. Cook has been an above average receiver, as he always has been, while the 6'9" Parham will be used in the redzone frequently. Anderson is having a breakout year as a blocking TE.
OL - Philip Rivers wishes he had this OL. Rookie Rashawn Slater ranks in the top 10 for PFF's tackles, as he's rock solid in both phases of the game. Feiler, a FA addition I wanted the Vikings to sign, is having a strong year, sandwiched in between two great blockers. Linsley is PFF's #3 center and has become dominant since 2019; the Packers should have paid up to keep him. Meanwhile, Schofield is a middling blocker who can hold up in the passing game, but stinks against the run. Former Viking Norton has been getting whipped at RT. They had signed Bryan Bulaga, but he can't stay healthy whatsoever.
DL - Opposing offenses have keyed in to LA's awful run defense and they've been getting ripped apart, giving up the most rush yards in the NFL. DEs Covington and Tillery have been constantly blasted back by all O-linemen. Former Viking Joseph is still getting good marks from PFF, but in reality he is not playing well, showing his age now at 33. They don't have much on the bench, as Jones is having a career-worst year and Gaziano is a PS guy.
ED - Joey Bosa hasn't been elite so far this year, but he's still a force to be reckoned with. However, he's the only above average pass rusher this team has, as Tillery is second in pressures, a good 15 behind Bosa. Nwosu has done little this season and does not help in the run game. Fackrell has been a solid rotational guy, but that's all he is at this point in his career.
LB - This unit was supposed to be headed by Kenneth Murray and Drue Tranquill, but both are not on the active roster. Instead, Kyzir White will have to hold down the fort, and while he has tackled well, he is just one guy. UDFA Ogbongbemiga will likely start alongside him and will struggle to stop the run.
CB - LA's pass defense has been statistically good, but that is partly because of their trash run defense, and now they're banged up. Chris Harris is no longer in his prime and is like Patrick Peterson - he can still cover, but he will struggle against the better WRs. 2nd rounder Samuel Jr. has been solid in coverage, but is missing tackles left and right. Campbell will likely start in the slot, and should be a target of Cousins since he hasn't covered well this year. Former Viking practice squadee Kemon Hall is the next man up, so they should field more 4 WR sets to try and get him on the field.
S - Derwin James is finally healthy, but he's not playing to his elite standards. He's been beatable in coverage and is simply average in the run game. Adderely is a prospect I liked a lot in the 2020 class and he is playing coverage well in the FS role, but he is part of the missed tackles crisis LA is having.
Prediction: Chargers 37, Vikings 26
It is time the Vikings finally lose a game by double digits. While this Chargers' defense looks bad on paper, the Vikings have not been playing or coaching well enough on offense to truly take advantage. Meanwhile, I could see the Chargers take a big lead early that forces the Vikings to run less, causing them to be less efficient. I could also see a poor performance attributed to "distractions" with the COVID situation and Cook's situation.
Still, I wouldn't be surprised if this game comes down to a missed FG attempt by either team, each with their own rich history of bad special teams.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.