Post by Funkytown on Sept 22, 2022 8:57:36 GMT -6
Improve efficiency on second down
Through two weeks of the season, only two teams have been worse than the Vikings on second down, per combined expected points added (EPA): the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders, who are a combined 0-4. Offensively, the Vikings rank 21st on second down, per EPA. And defensively, the Vikings rank 31st on second down.
Why is this the case? And what can be done to fix it?
To answer those questions, let’s assess the Vikings’ Week 2 matchup against the Eagles, beginning with the offense. The Vikings threw the ball 15 times on second down, gaining an average of 3.47 yards per attempt, a total that was 31st in the NFL. They ran the ball just four times, the fewest in the league.
Through two weeks of the season, only two teams have been worse than the Vikings on second down, per combined expected points added (EPA): the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders, who are a combined 0-4. Offensively, the Vikings rank 21st on second down, per EPA. And defensively, the Vikings rank 31st on second down.
Why is this the case? And what can be done to fix it?
To answer those questions, let’s assess the Vikings’ Week 2 matchup against the Eagles, beginning with the offense. The Vikings threw the ball 15 times on second down, gaining an average of 3.47 yards per attempt, a total that was 31st in the NFL. They ran the ball just four times, the fewest in the league.
Thought this whole "second down" issue was going to be fixed? So far, not so much. I just know whoskmoon has something to say about this...
Beyond more precision among the players on the field, one potential solution is diversifying the types of personnel. Per TruMedia, the Vikings are using 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers) 87.2 percent of the time on second down, the third most in the NFL. Considering O’Connell’s history with the Los Angeles Rams, this level of usage should not be a surprise. But given the roster, which features C.J. Ham, Irv Smith Jr. and Johnny Mundt, the Vikings could benefit from less predictable looks.
There’s also the possibility of more play action. The Vikings are currently using play action on 28.8 percent of their passes on early downs, 20th most in the league. Quarterback Kirk Cousins also has the league’s third-best passer rating on play-action passes (149.1), so it could help the Vikings add some deception.
There’s also the possibility of more play action. The Vikings are currently using play action on 28.8 percent of their passes on early downs, 20th most in the league. Quarterback Kirk Cousins also has the league’s third-best passer rating on play-action passes (149.1), so it could help the Vikings add some deception.
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Manage response to blitzes and pressure on quarterback
That Cousins suffers when he’s pressured is no secret.
From 2019 to 2021, he completed only 49.8 percent of his passes when under pressure, averaging only 5.96 yards per attempt. Interestingly, though, over that same three-year span, only three quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater) had a higher passer rating than Cousins when blitzed.
Juxtapose that history with what has happened this season.
When pressured, like in years past, Cousins has completed 46.2 percent of his passes for 6.65 yards per attempt. When blitzed this season, however, Cousins ranks fourth worst in the NFL among QBs in passer rating (51.5). The Eagles, not surprisingly, utilized the blitz against Cousins to great success.
“I think they did a nice job with timely all-out pressure,” O’Connell said.
Cousins admitted Wednesday that he did not handle the blitz well enough. After blitzing only 11.5 percent of the time in 2021, the 29th most in the NFL, the Eagles blitzed on 20.3 percent of the snaps in Week 2. Cousins said he knows it’s something the Vikings have to recognize and exploit.
“It’s something that we’ll see throughout the year and that we’ve seen a lot in the past,” he said. “It’s important to handle it well, and we didn’t handle it well enough on Monday night.”
They may have to start as early as this weekend. The Lions have blitzed on 25.7 percent of their snaps thus far in 2022, fourth most in the NFL.
That Cousins suffers when he’s pressured is no secret.
From 2019 to 2021, he completed only 49.8 percent of his passes when under pressure, averaging only 5.96 yards per attempt. Interestingly, though, over that same three-year span, only three quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes, Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater) had a higher passer rating than Cousins when blitzed.
Juxtapose that history with what has happened this season.
When pressured, like in years past, Cousins has completed 46.2 percent of his passes for 6.65 yards per attempt. When blitzed this season, however, Cousins ranks fourth worst in the NFL among QBs in passer rating (51.5). The Eagles, not surprisingly, utilized the blitz against Cousins to great success.
“I think they did a nice job with timely all-out pressure,” O’Connell said.
Cousins admitted Wednesday that he did not handle the blitz well enough. After blitzing only 11.5 percent of the time in 2021, the 29th most in the NFL, the Eagles blitzed on 20.3 percent of the snaps in Week 2. Cousins said he knows it’s something the Vikings have to recognize and exploit.
“It’s something that we’ll see throughout the year and that we’ve seen a lot in the past,” he said. “It’s important to handle it well, and we didn’t handle it well enough on Monday night.”
They may have to start as early as this weekend. The Lions have blitzed on 25.7 percent of their snaps thus far in 2022, fourth most in the NFL.
More at the link, including getting Cook and Mattison more touches.
O'Connell needs to average about 27 PPG the rest of the way to outscore Baby Kubes.
