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StickyBun · 01-07-2020, 02:49 PM

Bring up the long pass from Cousins to Thielen to the NO's 2 in OT. O'Neill knew he was getting no help and would have to man up against Cam Jordan. Wrestled his ass wide of the pocket letting Cousins rip it deep. Jordan is a beast and he kept him off his QB. These are the plays that win close football games. Also see Irv Smith Jr. just stone his guy in pass protect:

https://www.vikings.com/video/can-t-miss-play-cousins-uncorks-a-dime-to-thielen

01-07-2020, 03:07 PM

Kline played well too, which let Bradbury help Elf a lot. Really, my only complaint with the Line was getting annihilated every time they did the toss left play. I counted 6 times they ran that play. 2 worked but one was called back by the terrible holding call on Thielen. The rest were negative plays. In including 2 in 1st and goal.

Ironically, traditional handoffs running left did much better. But this team still is far more effective rushing to the right or up the gut. You can't just abandon running off Left Tackle, but I sure hope Stefanski calls it just enough to keep the 9ers Defense honest.

I've watched the game 3 times now and the O-Line really did a nice job. Some key blitz pickups, some clean pockets, room to run. Weird playcalling killed more drives than performance, IMO.

01-07-2020, 03:21 PM

I'll use this opportunity to mention yet again how painfully wrong about #75. He got 1 All Pro vote this year. He'll get much more next year. He's been a rock star. Find a LT in the draft and leave O'Neill where he is. When you have the likes of Jordan and Hunter lining up on the left, you need two quality OTs.

01-07-2020, 03:23 PM

I know they're trying to break tendencies by running left, and I'm sure thats what they were doing at the goal-line in ot with that toss left to Cook that lost yards.

But at some point you have to take a Belichek approach to things. Keep doing whats working until they show they can stop it.

Peyton should have done that with Hill too.

01-07-2020, 04:46 PM

How about a text book play and tackle from our backup WLB?

https://twitter.com/MattAndersonNFL/stat...68288?s=20

01-07-2020, 04:58 PM

Quote: @MaroonBells said:
How about a text book play and tackle from our backup WLB?

https://twitter.com/MattAndersonNFL/stat...68288?s=20

I remember this play from the game. i quick had to look to see who made that impressive stop.

01-07-2020, 04:58 PM

Quote: @"BarrNone55" said:
I'll use this opportunity to mention yet again how painfully wrong about #75. He got 1 All Pro vote this year. He'll get much more next year. He's been a rock star. Find a LT in the draft and leave O'Neill where he is. When you have the likes of Jordan and Hunter lining up on the left, you need two quality OTs.

I'll take some of that crow as well. But, in our defense, there were serious questions about whether his weight was legit, having gained a ton of it in a short time to switch from 230 lb. tight end to 290 lb. tackle. And he just wasn't very good at the Senior Bowl. Now, while I've always believed that the Senior Bowl--especially practice week--is the single best scouting measure for predicting success in the NFL, it's certainly not 100%.

I'm not sure what I think about moving him or keeping him on the right. I tend to think it's best to just leave him, but are we selling him short by doing that? What if the transition is not a problem for him? Sure wasn't for Tyron Smith. I'm guessing he would be for it, considering the money difference. I think I'd try in training camp, and if he struggles at all, just forget about it.

01-07-2020, 05:05 PM

@MaroonBells said:

Quote:
How about a text book play and tackle from our backup WLB?

https://twitter.com/MattAndersonNFL/stat...68288?s=20

How about the textbook defensive formation? That is about as basic as a 4-3 looks presnap lol...

That tricky, tricky Mike Zimmer defense... :p

(it stood out because i'm so conditioned to think Gideon as the 3rd backer in a 4-3, us in a 2 backer formation going Nickle or Heavy Nickle and because Wilson replaced Kendicks/Barr when they went down.)

01-07-2020, 05:11 PM

Wilson definitely popped on Sunday...

Someone name Ben is about to get Wally Pipped me thinks.

And I agree with you MB regarding O'Neill. He'd be stupid not to consider LT move with the $$$ over there. A ;ot will depend on FA and Draft.

I hate the thought of a rook LT starting with a team that can make playoff runs...

01-07-2020, 05:33 PM

Quote: @StickyBun said:
Bring up the long pass from Cousins to Thielen to the NO's 2 in OT. O'Neill knew he was getting no help and would have to man up against Cam Jordan. Wrestled his ass wide of the pocket letting Cousins rip it deep. Jordan is a beast and he kept him off his QB. These are the plays that win close football games. Also see Irv Smith Jr. just stone his guy in pass protect:

https://www.vikings.com/video/can-t-miss-play-cousins-uncorks-a-dime-to-thielen

also Kirk stepped up into a pocket before releasing the throw. the interior of the OL gave him the room and the confidence to step into that throw which is huge in terms of accuracy and delivering a dart instead of a floater.