Vikings at Titans Depth Chart Preview - 2024
Nov 16, 2024 19:42:56 GMT -6
Funkytown and Norse like this
Post by Danchat on Nov 16, 2024 19:42:56 GMT -6
After narrowly avoiding an upset to the Jags, will the Vikings play down to their competition again, or have a rare 'comfortable' win? Let's have a look at their roster.
Injury Report
Vikings
None
Titans
CB Sneed - Out
T Watson - Out
CB Hardee - Questionable
WR Boyd - Questionable
Point Spread: MIN -6
SuperSim Calculated Spread: MIN -10.5
* My Thoughts *
* The Titans are absolutely a team in flux, but so far their plan of adding a bunch of free agents to build around a young QB on a rookie deal has failed. Several of the additions have underachieved, but the primary factor is that Levis has taken a big step down after a middling rookie season. His Y/A has dropped from 7.1 to 5.9, Int% from 1.6% to an insane 4.6%, and his sack rate has hit 13%. He's hot garbage right now, but they have to keep playing him to see if he'll take any steps forward. NFL GMs were right to let him fall out of Round 1 when the draft community thought he was a surefire 1st rounder.
* The one big hit in free agency has been Tony Pollard, who is playing back near his prime level after his play took a dip in 2023. He's been used as a feature back until last week, as the Titans don't want to wear him down too fast. Tyjae Spears was supposed to compliment him as more of a passing game weapon, but he hasn't lived up to his rookie year hype so far.
* Tennessee had the worst OL in the game last year, and it's better by default, but still not good. Latham has looked like a rookie and might take until Year 2/3 until he breaks out. They've spent back-to-back picks on him and Skoronski who was supposed to be the classic "stud guard" first rounder, but instead hasn't been more than a slightly better-than-average starter. He needs to be better than this to justify the selection. Brunskill is starting at center over the injured Cushenberry, but despite overpaying him in FA, Brunskill has been the better player so far. Radunz is a middling RG whose run-blocking grades have plummeted since Henry left. RT has been a disaster with Petit-Frere getting benched for an unknown in Watson, but he's back starting again. He's horrible in pass pro, and whoever is rushing opposite Greenard should have success (I say it's Dallas Turner time!).
* There's nothing remotely dangerous in this Titans receiver group. Ridley is a fine starter but he's been massively overpaid and continues to be erratic. Boyd is a possession receiver who is past his prime, whereas Westbrook-Ikhine is a lesser Boyd-type in his prime. Okonkwo has continued to frustrate the fantasy community by never living up to his potential. One darkhorse name to watch is Josh Whyle, a 6'6" 250 lbs TE who has starter potential written all over him.
* Defensively, this unit is playing very well but they've been sabotaged by the rest of the team. They're 2nd in yards allowed per drive, 4th in plays and time of possession, and 10th in Score %. Unfortunately they don't generate turnovers and have the 3rd worst starting position in the game because of the offense turning over the ball twice per game.
* The defensive line is solid but not anything terrifying, with Jeffery Simmons only at 22 pressures and not having the type of year he usually does. Sweat has been a successful run stuffer as the 365 lbs man is hard to move, but as you'd expect he can't rush the passer. Joseph-Day is a middling starter, and we know the book on Lynch.
* Landry and Key aren't a bad edge duo, but ideally they would be edges #2 and #3 behind an alpha. They have no depth behind them, as rookie Harrell has only 2 pressures in 75 rushing snaps. They rely on sending blitzes over rushing just 4 men.
* The LB group has been an odd unit with their acqusition of Ernest Jones III just to trade him at the deadline (for a higher price, somehow). Despite being benched by the initial trade, Gibbens has been far-and-away the best guy in the group. Fun fact, he was a one-year starter at the University of Minnesota and a total nobody as a UDFA, but broke out as a starter for the Titans last year. Kenneth Murray was terrible as a Charger, and has been even worse in Tennessee. 1st round busts usually bust with their second team, no surprise here!
* Sneed was playing his worst football of his career before getting hurt. McCreary continues to be an under-the-radar quality slot CB, while they've plopped 5th round rookie Brownlee Jr into a full-time role and has struggled. Baker will fill in the other boundary spot and has one of the highest coverage grades in the NFL in his limited time playing. The safeties are nothing to write home about, Hooker is having a poor year while former Vikings UDFA Mike Brown mans the other spot.
Prediction: Vikings 23, Titans 9
It is tempting to make my prediction of an upset happen, but the Titans just don't have the guns to do anything against this Vikings defense. This Flores defense has given up 6.5 points per game to the previous two opponents who have had similarly questionable offenses. Levis has been abysmal with sacks and turnovers, and with their only hope being the run game I expect Flores to pack the box to stop it. Offensively, I'd expect more inconsistency from them as they face a respectable unit, but I suspect they will once again be sabotaged by their offense and give up points on short fields.
Any thoughts?
Injury Report
Vikings
None
Titans
CB Sneed - Out
T Watson - Out
CB Hardee - Questionable
WR Boyd - Questionable
Point Spread: MIN -6
SuperSim Calculated Spread: MIN -10.5
* My Thoughts *
* The Titans are absolutely a team in flux, but so far their plan of adding a bunch of free agents to build around a young QB on a rookie deal has failed. Several of the additions have underachieved, but the primary factor is that Levis has taken a big step down after a middling rookie season. His Y/A has dropped from 7.1 to 5.9, Int% from 1.6% to an insane 4.6%, and his sack rate has hit 13%. He's hot garbage right now, but they have to keep playing him to see if he'll take any steps forward. NFL GMs were right to let him fall out of Round 1 when the draft community thought he was a surefire 1st rounder.
* The one big hit in free agency has been Tony Pollard, who is playing back near his prime level after his play took a dip in 2023. He's been used as a feature back until last week, as the Titans don't want to wear him down too fast. Tyjae Spears was supposed to compliment him as more of a passing game weapon, but he hasn't lived up to his rookie year hype so far.
* Tennessee had the worst OL in the game last year, and it's better by default, but still not good. Latham has looked like a rookie and might take until Year 2/3 until he breaks out. They've spent back-to-back picks on him and Skoronski who was supposed to be the classic "stud guard" first rounder, but instead hasn't been more than a slightly better-than-average starter. He needs to be better than this to justify the selection. Brunskill is starting at center over the injured Cushenberry, but despite overpaying him in FA, Brunskill has been the better player so far. Radunz is a middling RG whose run-blocking grades have plummeted since Henry left. RT has been a disaster with Petit-Frere getting benched for an unknown in Watson, but he's back starting again. He's horrible in pass pro, and whoever is rushing opposite Greenard should have success (I say it's Dallas Turner time!).
* There's nothing remotely dangerous in this Titans receiver group. Ridley is a fine starter but he's been massively overpaid and continues to be erratic. Boyd is a possession receiver who is past his prime, whereas Westbrook-Ikhine is a lesser Boyd-type in his prime. Okonkwo has continued to frustrate the fantasy community by never living up to his potential. One darkhorse name to watch is Josh Whyle, a 6'6" 250 lbs TE who has starter potential written all over him.
* Defensively, this unit is playing very well but they've been sabotaged by the rest of the team. They're 2nd in yards allowed per drive, 4th in plays and time of possession, and 10th in Score %. Unfortunately they don't generate turnovers and have the 3rd worst starting position in the game because of the offense turning over the ball twice per game.
* The defensive line is solid but not anything terrifying, with Jeffery Simmons only at 22 pressures and not having the type of year he usually does. Sweat has been a successful run stuffer as the 365 lbs man is hard to move, but as you'd expect he can't rush the passer. Joseph-Day is a middling starter, and we know the book on Lynch.
* Landry and Key aren't a bad edge duo, but ideally they would be edges #2 and #3 behind an alpha. They have no depth behind them, as rookie Harrell has only 2 pressures in 75 rushing snaps. They rely on sending blitzes over rushing just 4 men.
* The LB group has been an odd unit with their acqusition of Ernest Jones III just to trade him at the deadline (for a higher price, somehow). Despite being benched by the initial trade, Gibbens has been far-and-away the best guy in the group. Fun fact, he was a one-year starter at the University of Minnesota and a total nobody as a UDFA, but broke out as a starter for the Titans last year. Kenneth Murray was terrible as a Charger, and has been even worse in Tennessee. 1st round busts usually bust with their second team, no surprise here!
* Sneed was playing his worst football of his career before getting hurt. McCreary continues to be an under-the-radar quality slot CB, while they've plopped 5th round rookie Brownlee Jr into a full-time role and has struggled. Baker will fill in the other boundary spot and has one of the highest coverage grades in the NFL in his limited time playing. The safeties are nothing to write home about, Hooker is having a poor year while former Vikings UDFA Mike Brown mans the other spot.
Prediction: Vikings 23, Titans 9
It is tempting to make my prediction of an upset happen, but the Titans just don't have the guns to do anything against this Vikings defense. This Flores defense has given up 6.5 points per game to the previous two opponents who have had similarly questionable offenses. Levis has been abysmal with sacks and turnovers, and with their only hope being the run game I expect Flores to pack the box to stop it. Offensively, I'd expect more inconsistency from them as they face a respectable unit, but I suspect they will once again be sabotaged by their offense and give up points on short fields.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.