My big takeaway is the Viking's D is going to have trouble stopping the run all year. Holes are there. The team could have used Suh in the middle. I get why they aren't signing him yet he'd help.
Just read a bunch of twitter posts complaining about running on the last drive, just before the field goal to take the lead. I have my problems with the performance and the play calling, but not there.
After the long throw to JJ to the 29, Vikings ran three straight times, for little gain. BUT this forced the Saints to burn all three time outs. Joseph kicks the FG and we go up by 3, giving the Saints the ball with 24 seconds left and ZERO timeouts. (Of course they took no time at all getting into a very long FG attempt, but that's another topic....)
I know it wasn't pretty and I know everyone wants to get the TD there, but one sack or one incompletion and the Saints probably win that game.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
After the long throw to JJ to the 29, Vikings ran three straight times, for little gain. BUT this forced the Saints to burn all three time outs. Joseph kicks the FG and we go up by 3, giving the Saints the ball with 24 seconds left and ZERO timeouts. (Of course they took no time at all getting into a very long FG attempt, but that's another topic....)
I know it wasn't pretty and I know everyone wants to get the TD there, but one sack or one incompletion and the Saints probably win that game.
This went exactly how KOC wanted it to go: worst case scenario, they get the ball with no timeouts and 24 seconds. Upside is maybe one of those runs go for the 1st down and you kneel your way to victory. Should have easily been ballgame. Complete cluster on D to allow that long throw, somebody fucked up in the secondary. Right in the middle of the field.
Quote: @StickyBun said:
@ MaroonBells said:
After the long throw to JJ to the 29, Vikings ran three straight times, for little gain. BUT this forced the Saints to burn all three time outs. Joseph kicks the FG and we go up by 3, giving the Saints the ball with 24 seconds left and ZERO timeouts. (Of course they took no time at all getting into a very long FG attempt, but that's another topic....)
I know it wasn't pretty and I know everyone wants to get the TD there, but one sack or one incompletion and the Saints probably win that game.
This went exactly how KOC wanted it to go: worst case scenario, they get the ball with no timeouts and 24 seconds. Upside is maybe one of those runs go for the 1st down and you kneel your way to victory. Should have easily been ballgame. Complete cluster on D to allow that long throw, somebody fucked up in the secondary. Right in the middle of the field.
QBs are finding it incredibly easy to find open spots in our zone.
But it begs the question: why did Aaron Rodgers struggle with it so much? You could argue that it was their banged up line, but so many of the pressures and sacks were coverage sacks...he couldn't find anyone open.
It seems to me that once we put our defense on film week 1, it was super easy to figure out how to beat it. Changes need to be made. Curious to hear the pressers this week.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
@ StickyBun said:
@ MaroonBells said:
After the long throw to JJ to the 29, Vikings ran three straight times, for little gain. BUT this forced the Saints to burn all three time outs. Joseph kicks the FG and we go up by 3, giving the Saints the ball with 24 seconds left and ZERO timeouts. (Of course they took no time at all getting into a very long FG attempt, but that's another topic....)
I know it wasn't pretty and I know everyone wants to get the TD there, but one sack or one incompletion and the Saints probably win that game.
This went exactly how KOC wanted it to go: worst case scenario, they get the ball with no timeouts and 24 seconds. Upside is maybe one of those runs go for the 1st down and you kneel your way to victory. Should have easily been ballgame. Complete cluster on D to allow that long throw, somebody fucked up in the secondary. Right in the middle of the field.
QBs are finding it incredibly easy to find open spots in our zone.
But it begs the question: why did Aaron Rodgers struggle with it so much? You could argue that it was their banged up line, but so many of the pressures and sacks were coverage sacks...he couldn't find anyone open.
It seems to me that once we put our defense on film week 1, it was super easy to figure out how to beat it. Changes need to be made. Curious to hear the pressers this week.
I think teams are just preparing for Donnatel's defense. Plenty of film out there on that over the years. He needs to tweak. And honestly, he probably doesn't have the total desired roster for a 3-4.
That's whatcha call the "Double Doink"
Quote: @StickyBun said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ StickyBun said:
@ MaroonBells said:
After the long throw to JJ to the 29, Vikings ran three straight times, for little gain. BUT this forced the Saints to burn all three time outs. Joseph kicks the FG and we go up by 3, giving the Saints the ball with 24 seconds left and ZERO timeouts. (Of course they took no time at all getting into a very long FG attempt, but that's another topic....)
I know it wasn't pretty and I know everyone wants to get the TD there, but one sack or one incompletion and the Saints probably win that game.
This went exactly how KOC wanted it to go: worst case scenario, they get the ball with no timeouts and 24 seconds. Upside is maybe one of those runs go for the 1st down and you kneel your way to victory. Should have easily been ballgame. Complete cluster on D to allow that long throw, somebody fucked up in the secondary. Right in the middle of the field.
QBs are finding it incredibly easy to find open spots in our zone.
But it begs the question: why did Aaron Rodgers struggle with it so much? You could argue that it was their banged up line, but so many of the pressures and sacks were coverage sacks...he couldn't find anyone open.
It seems to me that once we put our defense on film week 1, it was super easy to figure out how to beat it. Changes need to be made. Curious to hear the pressers this week.
I think teams are just preparing for Donnatel's defense. Plenty of film out there on that over the years. He needs to tweak. And honestly, he probably doesn't have the total desired roster for a 3-4.
Front 7 isnt playing like I had hoped it would and the DB's we all questioned coming into the season.
Hunter has been a big disappointment imo while Z has been good, even dominating at times.
I think Kendricks is a question mark at thus point and the 3 DL we field are not top caliber (not one of them).
They may be why Kendricks hasn't been making splash plays that often this year.
does anybody see the title of this thread and think of Albuddah?
What's the only difference for the Vikings between last year and this year? ResultsThe 2021 Vikings, through four games, were outscoring opponents by a slim 94-92 margin. They had allowed 389 yards per game on defense, and they had played two games that came down to a last-minute score.
The 2022 Vikings, through four games, are outscoring opponents by a slim 86-80 margin. They have allowed 394.5 yards per game on defense, and they have played two games that came down to a last-minute score.
It is an oversimplification, but not a stretch, to say this: The only fundamental difference so far between the 2021 Mike Zimmer-coached Vikings and the 2022 Kevin O'Connell-coached Vikings is the final result.
Last year's team was 1-3 through four games, earning the consolation prize as perhaps the best NFL team with a losing record at that point in the season. In those two down-to-the-wire games, the Vikings lost in overtime to the Bengals after a Dalvin Cook fumble and lost to the Cardinals after Greg Joseph missed a chip shot field goal.
This year's team is 3-1 through four games, earning the right to feel more fortunate than good to be in that position. In those two down-to-the-wire games, Kirk Cousins rallied the Vikings with a last-minute TD against the Lions while Joseph's late 47-yard field goal Sunday in London provided the final margin against the Saints.
In the ultra-close NFL, where the majority of games seem to go down to the final minutes, is there already a detectible benefit to O'Connell's approach that is helping the Vikings perform better when it matters most?
Or is the sample size too small, giving rise to the idea that these results will eventually even out and pull the Vikings back toward .500 just as they were lifted up toward that mark as things went their way later in the 2021 season?
And should we be concerned that the statistics and in-game approach from O'Connell have produced at least 59 minutes of uneven, clock management-challenged, pull-your-hair-out football almost every week that look very similar to the Zimmer-ball that got the coach fired?
Or should fans (and the Vikings themselves) be heartened to know that they are already 3-1 despite playing one great game, one lousy game and two mediocre (at best) games — with the prospect of better days ahead as players settle into new roles and systems?
These questions will get answers as the season goes on. For now, we're left with the classic mantra of Zimmer's mentor, Bill Parcells: " You are what your record says you are."
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-difference-kevin-oconnell-mike-zimmer-results-randball/600212535/
Clock management challenged? I actually think we've been pretty good in that regard.
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