Vikings at 49ers Depth Chart Preview 2021
Nov 27, 2021 18:00:05 GMT -6
Reignman and Funkytown like this
Post by Danchat on Nov 27, 2021 18:00:05 GMT -6
The Vikings are back in business at 5-5, but now face the 49ers in what is the most important matchup left on the schedule (playoffs-wise). Can they pull out a 3rd win in a row, or finally succumb to the clutches of defeat?
Injury Report
Vikings
DE Griffen - Out (Reserve NF-Illness)
G Davis - Questionable
S Bynum - Questionable
S Metellus - Questionable
49ers
RB Hasty - Out
DT Hurst - Doubtful
RB Mitchell - Questionable
Line: 49ers -3 (66% of money on Vikings)
My Thoughts:
QB - Garoppolo has looked like a very average QB this year. It looked like he may get benched for Lance when he was hurt, but the rookie looked unprepared (which should have been no surprise). The 49ers love to run the ball, and mostly use Garoppolo as
a game manager. He's played better once Kittle returned to the lineup, and he could be poised for a strong day with his receivers and OL healthy.
RB - The Shanihanigans return! Kyle's father Mike always had a penchant for being erratic with his RB usage, and Kyle has followed suit by making 6th rounder rookie Eli Mitchell their primary back. They traded up for Trey Sermon in the 3rd round, but they
have kept him on the bench for the rookie from LA Tech. He's a speedier back who has played well, but they prefer to use other options in the passing game. Wilson is a power runner who will get goal line carries.
WR/TE - Deebo Samuel wasn't healthy for most of 2020, and now he's back, with a whopping 1100+ scrimmage yards in just 10 games. Samuel is a marvel with the ball in his hands, so the Vikings should try to be physical with him at the line of scrimmage. 2020 1st rounder
Aiyuk was having a disappointing season until the past two weeks. He's an explosive route runner with home-run potential. The other WRs are pedestrian at best. They'll go with FB and multi TE sets to compliment the run game, with George Kittle leading the way. He's healthy and
is back to his old self - the Vikings do very well against TEs, so this will be a fun matchup to watch. Dwelley is a decent blocking TE.
OL - LT Trent Williams became the highest paid OL in the NFL this offseason, and he is having one of the best seasons in PFF's history of grading. He has a 98.5 run blocking grade, which is more than I've ever seen for any blocker. The rest of the line is pretty good, with
Alex Mack still going at age 36 and Tomlinson having one of his best years. LG Brunskill has been bad in the pass blocking game and could be exploited. With stalwart RT McGlinchey down, 5th rounder Jaylon Moore is starting in his place and he's struggled badly. The Vikings could take advantage of that if they weren't missing their whole DL.
DL - I had thought the 49ers played a 3-4 defense, but after watching some film, I found they mostly play 4-3 with some hybrid looks. This keeps Bosa in as a 4-3 DE, which makes the most sense for him, but also maximizes positioning for other players. Bosa has 10 sacks and
is a pressure generator, but they lack a true #2 rusher to compliment him. Arik Armstead is a fantastic run stuffer and pushes the pile from the inside. The 49ers will use Ebukam and Key as 4-3 DEs on passing downs and flex them as LBs at times, but neither have been all that effective this year.
Jones is a quality run stuffer, and Omenihu's play has dropped since being traded from Houston.
LB - The 49ers had been missing Dre Greelaw for most the season, so it remains to be seen if he will be ready for a full-time role. He's a very good coverage LB, and he compliments Warner well, who is a well-rounded LB who can tackle and cover at a high level.
CB - This unit is mediocre according to PFF, but they've allowed the 3rd fewest passing yards in the NFL. Moseley is the de facto top CB with Richard Sherman gone, and he has fared decently. Josh Norman, on the other hand, is past his prime and has been getting beat. His career has followed a
similar trajectory as Xavier Rhodes'. Nickel CB Williams is not having the best year. Due to injuries, Lenior and Johnson have played over 150 snaps and have been decent.
S - Free safety Jimmie Ward is having a great season, and recently had a 2 interception game against the Rams. Tartt recently came off the IR and hasn't been playing up to his past standards, but when he's 100% he is a bruising SS.
My Prediction: 49ers 30, Vikings 23
I know I have predicted the Vikings to lose 2 weeks in a row and they didn't, but circumstances are different now. The Vikings are playing with practically no DL against a run-heavy team that has gotten healthy. I just don't see how we are going to stop the run or rush the passer in this one.
Offensively this unit should be able to get the ball to Jefferson and Thielen, but the run game could get shut down.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Vikings
DE Griffen - Out (Reserve NF-Illness)
G Davis - Questionable
S Bynum - Questionable
S Metellus - Questionable
49ers
RB Hasty - Out
DT Hurst - Doubtful
RB Mitchell - Questionable
Line: 49ers -3 (66% of money on Vikings)
My Thoughts:
QB - Garoppolo has looked like a very average QB this year. It looked like he may get benched for Lance when he was hurt, but the rookie looked unprepared (which should have been no surprise). The 49ers love to run the ball, and mostly use Garoppolo as
a game manager. He's played better once Kittle returned to the lineup, and he could be poised for a strong day with his receivers and OL healthy.
RB - The Shanihanigans return! Kyle's father Mike always had a penchant for being erratic with his RB usage, and Kyle has followed suit by making 6th rounder rookie Eli Mitchell their primary back. They traded up for Trey Sermon in the 3rd round, but they
have kept him on the bench for the rookie from LA Tech. He's a speedier back who has played well, but they prefer to use other options in the passing game. Wilson is a power runner who will get goal line carries.
WR/TE - Deebo Samuel wasn't healthy for most of 2020, and now he's back, with a whopping 1100+ scrimmage yards in just 10 games. Samuel is a marvel with the ball in his hands, so the Vikings should try to be physical with him at the line of scrimmage. 2020 1st rounder
Aiyuk was having a disappointing season until the past two weeks. He's an explosive route runner with home-run potential. The other WRs are pedestrian at best. They'll go with FB and multi TE sets to compliment the run game, with George Kittle leading the way. He's healthy and
is back to his old self - the Vikings do very well against TEs, so this will be a fun matchup to watch. Dwelley is a decent blocking TE.
OL - LT Trent Williams became the highest paid OL in the NFL this offseason, and he is having one of the best seasons in PFF's history of grading. He has a 98.5 run blocking grade, which is more than I've ever seen for any blocker. The rest of the line is pretty good, with
Alex Mack still going at age 36 and Tomlinson having one of his best years. LG Brunskill has been bad in the pass blocking game and could be exploited. With stalwart RT McGlinchey down, 5th rounder Jaylon Moore is starting in his place and he's struggled badly. The Vikings could take advantage of that if they weren't missing their whole DL.
DL - I had thought the 49ers played a 3-4 defense, but after watching some film, I found they mostly play 4-3 with some hybrid looks. This keeps Bosa in as a 4-3 DE, which makes the most sense for him, but also maximizes positioning for other players. Bosa has 10 sacks and
is a pressure generator, but they lack a true #2 rusher to compliment him. Arik Armstead is a fantastic run stuffer and pushes the pile from the inside. The 49ers will use Ebukam and Key as 4-3 DEs on passing downs and flex them as LBs at times, but neither have been all that effective this year.
Jones is a quality run stuffer, and Omenihu's play has dropped since being traded from Houston.
LB - The 49ers had been missing Dre Greelaw for most the season, so it remains to be seen if he will be ready for a full-time role. He's a very good coverage LB, and he compliments Warner well, who is a well-rounded LB who can tackle and cover at a high level.
CB - This unit is mediocre according to PFF, but they've allowed the 3rd fewest passing yards in the NFL. Moseley is the de facto top CB with Richard Sherman gone, and he has fared decently. Josh Norman, on the other hand, is past his prime and has been getting beat. His career has followed a
similar trajectory as Xavier Rhodes'. Nickel CB Williams is not having the best year. Due to injuries, Lenior and Johnson have played over 150 snaps and have been decent.
S - Free safety Jimmie Ward is having a great season, and recently had a 2 interception game against the Rams. Tartt recently came off the IR and hasn't been playing up to his past standards, but when he's 100% he is a bruising SS.
My Prediction: 49ers 30, Vikings 23
I know I have predicted the Vikings to lose 2 weeks in a row and they didn't, but circumstances are different now. The Vikings are playing with practically no DL against a run-heavy team that has gotten healthy. I just don't see how we are going to stop the run or rush the passer in this one.
Offensively this unit should be able to get the ball to Jefferson and Thielen, but the run game could get shut down.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.