Rams at Vikings Depth Chart Preview - 2021
Dec 25, 2021 22:58:10 GMT -6
Reignman, Funkytown, and 1 more like this
Post by Danchat on Dec 25, 2021 22:58:10 GMT -6
Coming off an ugly win against the Bears, the Vikings need to go on a run to make the playoffs. Will they faceplant, or give us false hope for another week?
Injury Report
Vikings
WR Thielen - Questionable
FB Ham - Questionable
RB Cook - COVID
Rams
NT Gaines - Questionable
RB Akers - Out
T Noteboom - COVID
T Whitworth - COVID
Line: Rams -3 (85% of money on Vikings)
My Thoughts
QB - Stafford is, unsurprisingly, having a better year since coming to LA and having McVay coach him and have better options at his disposal. He's still not good against good defenses, but the Vikings do not have that. I could see us notch a few sacks on some blitzes, but he will likely have his way with our poor pass defense.
HB - Michel seemed to have gotten a step up on Henderson, but Darrell wasn't at 100% health. Michel is playing better since his mediocre days in New England, but he's an unspectacular option. Their OL is more important than their actual backs.
WR/TE - Cooper Kupp was a solid receiver with Goff, but with Stafford, he's gone nuclear. He's posted a ludicrous 122/1625/14 line, and the Vikings have no way to cover him. Jefferson has operated as an inconsistent deep threat who is probably better than Below Average. Odell Beckham faces the Vikings a second time, since having an awful game with the Browns the first time. Still, he is capable of beating the likes of Dantzler for a big gain. The TE room is mostly empty since Gerald Everett left, as Higbee is having a middling season.
OL - This unit saw some young talent infused into the interior and they're clearly a top 10 unit. Whitworth is out, potentially leading to Bobby Evans at LT. Outside of that black hole, this unit is very good at pass protection. Allen has been a near-elite run blocker, but mediocre as a pass blocker. Havenstein is having a rebound year and is a O'Neill tier RT.
DL - Aaron Donald may be the best interior pass rusher ever, if not in the past 20 years. Good luck, Bradbury and Udoh. Quietly, NT Gaines is having a really strong year and will probably bully our interior OL. Robinson is a strong run stuffer, but brings little in the pass rush game.
ED/LB - Miller may only have 1 sack in 5 games as a Ram, but he's still a great pressure generator. Floyd is having another solid year, and they have a couple solid rotational guys in Okoronkwo and Hollins. The inside LB position is a problem, with Reeder having major issues in coverage and Jones having a hard time against the run.
DB - Ramsey may be the one CB who can handle Jefferson. If he can, that will allow the Rams' defense to do whatever they want. Nobody talks about Williams, but he's one of the best 2nd CBs in the NFL. Long Jr and Scott have played a lot of nickel and dime.
My Prediction: Rams 28, Vikings 16
This is a really good team, and with the way the Vikings have limped into a couple wins, they're due for a drubbing. The Rams look poised to dominate in the trenches and the Vikings offense concerns me.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Vikings
WR Thielen - Questionable
FB Ham - Questionable
RB Cook - COVID
Rams
NT Gaines - Questionable
RB Akers - Out
T Noteboom - COVID
T Whitworth - COVID
Line: Rams -3 (85% of money on Vikings)
My Thoughts
QB - Stafford is, unsurprisingly, having a better year since coming to LA and having McVay coach him and have better options at his disposal. He's still not good against good defenses, but the Vikings do not have that. I could see us notch a few sacks on some blitzes, but he will likely have his way with our poor pass defense.
HB - Michel seemed to have gotten a step up on Henderson, but Darrell wasn't at 100% health. Michel is playing better since his mediocre days in New England, but he's an unspectacular option. Their OL is more important than their actual backs.
WR/TE - Cooper Kupp was a solid receiver with Goff, but with Stafford, he's gone nuclear. He's posted a ludicrous 122/1625/14 line, and the Vikings have no way to cover him. Jefferson has operated as an inconsistent deep threat who is probably better than Below Average. Odell Beckham faces the Vikings a second time, since having an awful game with the Browns the first time. Still, he is capable of beating the likes of Dantzler for a big gain. The TE room is mostly empty since Gerald Everett left, as Higbee is having a middling season.
OL - This unit saw some young talent infused into the interior and they're clearly a top 10 unit. Whitworth is out, potentially leading to Bobby Evans at LT. Outside of that black hole, this unit is very good at pass protection. Allen has been a near-elite run blocker, but mediocre as a pass blocker. Havenstein is having a rebound year and is a O'Neill tier RT.
DL - Aaron Donald may be the best interior pass rusher ever, if not in the past 20 years. Good luck, Bradbury and Udoh. Quietly, NT Gaines is having a really strong year and will probably bully our interior OL. Robinson is a strong run stuffer, but brings little in the pass rush game.
ED/LB - Miller may only have 1 sack in 5 games as a Ram, but he's still a great pressure generator. Floyd is having another solid year, and they have a couple solid rotational guys in Okoronkwo and Hollins. The inside LB position is a problem, with Reeder having major issues in coverage and Jones having a hard time against the run.
DB - Ramsey may be the one CB who can handle Jefferson. If he can, that will allow the Rams' defense to do whatever they want. Nobody talks about Williams, but he's one of the best 2nd CBs in the NFL. Long Jr and Scott have played a lot of nickel and dime.
My Prediction: Rams 28, Vikings 16
This is a really good team, and with the way the Vikings have limped into a couple wins, they're due for a drubbing. The Rams look poised to dominate in the trenches and the Vikings offense concerns me.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.