09-19-2019, 03:28 PM
Last season the Vikings were the most disciplined team in the NFL, they had the fewest penalty yards in the NFC with just 779 on 92 penalties. But after two weeks of the 2019 season, they lead the NFC in penalty yards with 200 on 19 penalties and are also tied for second in the NFC with four turnovers.
Coach Mike Zimmer said this week that the team has to change those stats if they’re going to compete this season.
“We made too many mistakes, had some bad penalties and we have to make those corrections, get them corrected fast and then move forward,” he said. “Home game this week and time to get back with it, which we will.”
Yes the fact is the Vikings should have won that game at Lambeau Field. In the first half the Packers outgained the Vikings 230-209 but in the second half there was no contest as the Vikings outgained Green Bay, 212-105.
But that second half also had some real ugly moments for the Vikings offense, as they committed five penalties for 55 yards, lost a fumble and had Kirk Cousins throw an interception late in the fourth quarter.
Zimmer said that after watching the game film, he was not pleased with what he saw from his team.
“Undisciplined. I know [Garrett] Bradbury had two [penalties]. I think [Stefon] Diggs had two. I think [Adam] Thielen had two,” he said. “They got to start playing within the rules. And they know the rules, it’s their responsibility to do what they’re supposed to do.”
And for all the focus on Cousins, he is off to a much slower start than last year.
In two games in 2018 — a 24-16 win over San Francisco and a 29-29 tie at Green Bay — Cousins completed 55 of 84 passes for 669 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. This season through two games he has completed just 22 of 42 passes for 328 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
But if you want to find a big positive, the Vikings set out to improve their run game this season and that has been extremely effective.
Through two games last year they had rushed for just 184 yards on 50 attempts — a 3.7 yard per carry average. This year they have rushed for 370 yards on 65 attempts — a 5.7 yard per carry average.
The difference in the run game is night and day as they lead the NFC in rushing and are tied for the NFL lead in yards per carry.
http://www.startribune.com/the-cure-for-...560722172/
Coach Mike Zimmer said this week that the team has to change those stats if they’re going to compete this season.
“We made too many mistakes, had some bad penalties and we have to make those corrections, get them corrected fast and then move forward,” he said. “Home game this week and time to get back with it, which we will.”
Yes the fact is the Vikings should have won that game at Lambeau Field. In the first half the Packers outgained the Vikings 230-209 but in the second half there was no contest as the Vikings outgained Green Bay, 212-105.
But that second half also had some real ugly moments for the Vikings offense, as they committed five penalties for 55 yards, lost a fumble and had Kirk Cousins throw an interception late in the fourth quarter.
Zimmer said that after watching the game film, he was not pleased with what he saw from his team.
“Undisciplined. I know [Garrett] Bradbury had two [penalties]. I think [Stefon] Diggs had two. I think [Adam] Thielen had two,” he said. “They got to start playing within the rules. And they know the rules, it’s their responsibility to do what they’re supposed to do.”
And for all the focus on Cousins, he is off to a much slower start than last year.
In two games in 2018 — a 24-16 win over San Francisco and a 29-29 tie at Green Bay — Cousins completed 55 of 84 passes for 669 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. This season through two games he has completed just 22 of 42 passes for 328 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
But if you want to find a big positive, the Vikings set out to improve their run game this season and that has been extremely effective.
Through two games last year they had rushed for just 184 yards on 50 attempts — a 3.7 yard per carry average. This year they have rushed for 370 yards on 65 attempts — a 5.7 yard per carry average.
The difference in the run game is night and day as they lead the NFC in rushing and are tied for the NFL lead in yards per carry.
http://www.startribune.com/the-cure-for-...560722172/
