Defensive adjustments and the genius of Zimmer

[greediron]

http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/1...s-defense/

The Rams figured out different ways to create mismatches, getting
receivers alone on linebackers on several occasions for explosive plays.
Last week the Lions attempted to use some of the same concepts that
beat the Vikings’ defense early on, but were thwarted.

“They tried to run two of those roll out screens yesterday and we got
hurt with them earlier in the year – I think San Francisco had one and
probably the Rams had one and there was someone else, so we’ve had to
make adjustments on how we’re playing that. Yesterday I think they lost
yards on both of them,” Zimmer said on Monday.

I have said it often, we are very fortunate to have a head coach that can adjust like Zimmer can.  After having to many coaches that would continue getting beat over the head by the same concepts, we have a coaching staff that can adjust midseason.  Really in the course of a week, since the Rams game exposed some ways to beat our coverage, Zimmer and crew have changed and adjusted. 

I said it after the Rams game, McVay won round 2 because he was very motivated to beat us and spent lots of time designing plays to beat Zimmer's D.  I can't wait for round 3.  Zimmer will have that advantage this time.  Having some new wrinkles or designs to stop their offense.  That ability to self scout, be critical of your own design and adjust just isn't that common in coaching.

“Every Monday we come in we start on the other team after we’re done all
this stuff and then we’ll sit down and we’ll look at plays that hurt
us,” Zimmer said. “We’ll go back through the season and look at plays
that hurt us and kind of see if there’s a pattern going on. We’re kind
of constantly doing that.

[Guest]

Good post, greed. That old dog can learn new tricks. It was obvious that the Rams had something that worked against the Viking's defense, more than just good players. They discovered and exploited something. It was a great chess move by McVay, lets face it: he's bright also. Flip was shoving it right back to the Rams defense but Minnesota just could not stop them offensively. I'd expect that to not happen again for a potential playoff Round 3. 

If Reiff can stay healthy for the rest of the season, Compton (gulp, can't believe I'm saying that) returns, and O'Neill keeps progressing, Minnesota will have an ok line to deal with moving forward. Cook is back. Diggs will return soon. Should be good to go for the stretch run and whatever that may entail. All the offensive toys back and a more competent O-line helps Flip be unpredictable.

[Guest]

Zimm mentioned the route by Gurley on Barr for a TD.  I am certain most of us were disparaging Barr in one way or another on that play, but Zim mentioned in another article
http://www.1500espn.com/news/2018/11/mik...nse-track/

“That was a scheme thing,” Zimmer said. “So we’ve had to change up a lot
of things that we’ve done. Luckily, our best players have been able to
execute it. Part of it is having enough confidence to call some of these
things and still be good against the run.”

So Barr was playing it right, RBs would tend to bend that route in or out and he was ready to break that way based on their scheme.  But the stutter step and go by the RB wasn't something they had a plan for. 

And as you say Sticky, McVay is a brilliant offensive mind.  Every D has holes and now that people are copying Zim's D, they have more practice and more motivation to solve it.  So our coaches have to keep innovating and have done a good job of adjusting midstream.

[Guest]

After having been a coach for many years (and been both an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator), there is simple rule for scheming against the other guy: whoever has the chalk last, wins.
In other words, whatever you draw up, I can draw up something to stop/exploit it.  Then you counter with something else... and then I adjust again.  

[Guest]

@pumpf said:
After having been a coach for many years (and been both an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator), there is simple rule for scheming against the other guy: whoever has the chalk last, wins.
In other words, whatever you draw up, I can draw up something to stop/exploit it.  Then you counter with something else... and then I adjust again.  

And why I have never wanted to be a coordinator.  I got no chalk.  Or in other words, I don't have the creativity.