Here are my miscellaneous thoughts about the Packer game.
- The Result: True story. When the score was 26-21, my dark thoughts made me think that Cousins would throw an interception. Then I thought, it will probably tip off Treadwell's hands and totally ruin him as Viking. Next play interception and at first I thought it tipped off of Thielen and I thought at least it was not Treadwell. Then the camera kept following Treadwell and I realized that my worse thought had come true. Then my wife walked in and I told her the game was over. But the Vikings proved to be what I hope they will be. They fought and fought and played better and better. So, yes it was a tie but after the Vikes went into my dark thoughts, Cousins, etc. pulled me back. Yes, it was a tie but it showed a character that I did not expect -- a character that will pay dividends throughout the season.
- Cousins: Speaking of Cousins, he masterfully addressed all my concerns about him during crunch time. In the fourth quarter and overtime, Cousins was a perfect 9-of-9 passing for 160 yards and three touchdowns and a maxed-out NFL passer rating of 158.3. And he made his best passes during crunch time -- passes we have not seen for many years. I was really impressed.
- Cousins -- More Thoughts: Cousins made some elite throws but I think only a few wide receivers make the Thielen TD catch and only a few more track the ball like Diggs. So, I thought about how much Thielen and Diggs improves a QBs performance. I did a little research ut I am not sure how much it illuminates this premise. Here are the facts to consider: (a) Cousins (Redskins last year): 64.3 completion % and 93.0 QB rating v. Cousins (Vikings) 65.5% and 108.7. (b) Keenum (Broncos): 59.3 and 73.7 v. Keenum (Vikings last year) 67.6% and 98.3. © Bradford (Cardinals) 60.7% and 55.6 v. Bradford (Vikings 2016) 71.6% and 99.3. (d) Alex Smith (Chiefs) 67.5% and 104.7 v. Smith (Washington) 71.1% and 100.1. It early to make such comparisons, but I wanted to think about how much Thielen and Diggs improves a QBs stats.
- Carlson Family. Bad weekend as Daniel missed three FGs and his brother Anders missed one in the Auburn 1 point loss. While looking at this, I found this little nugget: "Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson reacts after missing a field goal in overtime to give Wisconsin the 34-31victory during the Outback Bowl Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla." Maybe it is a Wisconsin thing....... Frankly, I think kickers have to have different mentality -- mentally they are like cornerbacks or baseball relievers -- they have to be able to forget their last kick. Carlson admits that he can't.
- Carlson -- More Thoughts: I think the Carlson failure requires a re-assessment of Priefer. He has shown he can't assess the mental make-up of kickers. His kick coverage teams seem to be underperforming the past couple of season. Carlson, Walsh, --- three strikes and you are out and Wile may be that third strike.
- Linval Joseph: Why was Joseph in on a couple of third and longs on Green Bays opening draft with a less than mobile Rodgers? There were some stranger than normal defensive personnel groupings.
- Linebackers: This unit has definitely become the weak link. I am not sure what is happening with Kendricks as he seems not to be analyzing plays fast and therefore he is slow to react. And, in a contract year, Barr has disappeared. You can spin this two different ways (which shows how easy it is to spin things). Kendricks is not playing well because he has been paid. On the other hand, Barr is not playing hard because he is afraid of injury in a contract year. Just speculation but Barr and Kendricks needs to revert to their form. TE are killing the Vikings: Jimmy Graham averaged 15.8 yards per reception against the Vikings; George Kittle averaged 18.0 yards per reception. Though not always a linebacker's responsibility, TE killing the Vikings is just a bad look for that unit.
- Other Thoughts: I was disappointed by Brent Jones; I was impressed by O'Neill (though he needs to anchor better); and I was generally happy with Alexander though he slipped a bit as the game went on. Last thing, I found this interesting: According to Pro Football Focus, Rodgers took an average of just 2.24 seconds before throwing on Sunday, down from his 2.65-second average in Week 1 and his 2.55-second average last year. He completed 21 of his 23 passes when he released the ball in 2.5 seconds or less, posting a passer rating of 105.4 on those throws.
Some really good observations there. The one comment on the kick coverage though; I believe the Vikings were one of the best last season.
I think that Joseph was playing on 3rd downs because the refs were allowing the Packers to hold our DL. The only pass-rush "move" that had a chance to be successful was a bull rush (when lateral movement couldn't be negated by holding). In fact, isn't that how we drew their sole holding penalty- by bull-rushing and getting "tackled"?
Here's an observation of my own, which I haven't seen anywhere else: it was either late in the 4th quarter (or OT), and Rodgers attempted an RPO. He bobbled and dropped the ball on a 2nd down and short. I'm guessing that he was going to run it himself, just to show everyone what a warrior he was. The commentators commented that he might have been trying to throw it- and maybe he was. But the way he handled it, it sure did seem to me that he was trying to tuck it away in preparation for a run. Like I said: leave it to him to try to make himself the hero. But he dropped it and had to fall on it (losing yards). And on the next play he was sacked by Alexander, taking them out of FG range. That bit of selfishness on Rodger's part cost them the game.
Quote: @pumpf said:
I think that Joseph was playing on 3rd downs because the refs were allowing the Packers to hold our DL.
This. Zimmer was super nova pissed about this as he said they 'held us all game'.
Quote: @VikingOracle said:
Here are my miscellaneous thoughts about the Packer game.
- The Result: True story. When the score was 26-21, my dark thoughts made me think that Cousins would throw an interception. Then I thought, it will probably tip off Treadwell's hands and totally ruin him as Viking. Next play interception and at first I thought it tipped off of Thielen and I thought at least it was not Treadwell. Then the camera kept following Treadwell and I realized that my worse thought had come true. Then my wife walked in and I told her the game was over. But the Vikings proved to be what I hope they will be. They fought and fought and played better and better. So, yes it was a tie but after the Vikes went into my dark thoughts, Cousins, etc. pulled me back. Yes, it was a tie but it showed a character that I did not expect -- a character that will pay dividends throughout the season.
So, VO, you're admitting that play was all your fault. Thanks for fessing up. Next time try to envision Treadwell actually catching it and taking it to the house for the win! B)
Nice write-up, but I personally don't blame the coaches for Carlson's misses. It sounds like he's nailing the kicks in practice, but tightens up in games. Can't have a guy play great Tuesday through Saturday, and flop on Sundays.
Quote: @pumpf said:
I think that Joseph was playing on 3rd downs because the refs were allowing the Packers to hold our DL. The only pass-rush "move" that had a chance to be successful was a bull rush (when lateral movement couldn't be negated by holding). In fact, isn't that how we drew their sole holding penalty- by bull-rushing and getting "tackled"?
Here's an observation of my own, which I haven't seen anywhere else: it was either late in the 4th quarter (or OT), and Rodgers attempted an RPO. He bobbled and dropped the ball on a 2nd down and short. I'm guessing that he was going to run it himself, just to show everyone what a warrior he was. The commentators commented that he might have been trying to throw it- and maybe he was. But the way he handled it, it sure did seem to me that he was trying to tuck it away in preparation for a run. Like I said: leave it to him to try to make himself the hero. But he dropped it and had to fall on it (losing yards). And on the next play he was sacked by Alexander, taking them out of FG range. That bit of selfishness on Rodger's part cost them the game.
Yeah, I'm not sure if he wanted to run or not, but that play looked strange. It was stupid he didn't hand it off. I totally agree he looked to be trying too hard, and he screwed up. He knew it too from the look on his smug face.
Quote: @HappyViking said:
@ pumpf said:
I think that Joseph was playing on 3rd downs because the refs were allowing the Packers to hold our DL. The only pass-rush "move" that had a chance to be successful was a bull rush (when lateral movement couldn't be negated by holding). In fact, isn't that how we drew their sole holding penalty- by bull-rushing and getting "tackled"?
Here's an observation of my own, which I haven't seen anywhere else: it was either late in the 4th quarter (or OT), and Rodgers attempted an RPO. He bobbled and dropped the ball on a 2nd down and short. I'm guessing that he was going to run it himself, just to show everyone what a warrior he was. The commentators commented that he might have been trying to throw it- and maybe he was. But the way he handled it, it sure did seem to me that he was trying to tuck it away in preparation for a run. Like I said: leave it to him to try to make himself the hero. But he dropped it and had to fall on it (losing yards). And on the next play he was sacked by Alexander, taking them out of FG range. That bit of selfishness on Rodger's part cost them the game.
Yeah, I'm not sure if he wanted to run or not, but that play looked strange. It was stupid he didn't hand it off. I totally agree he looked to be trying too hard, and he screwed up. He knew it too from the look on his smug face.
That would be that "I love me" syndrome...
Quote: @StickyBun said:
@ pumpf said:
I think that Joseph was playing on 3rd downs because the refs were allowing the Packers to hold our DL.
This. Zimmer was super nova pissed about this as he said they 'held us all game'.
The problem with this argument is that I noticed it on the first series -- the 3rd and 17. The 7th play of the game. Then I noticed it again on another drive and similar situation. It was my very first "thought" on the game.
Miscellaneous Thoughts Vikings at Packers | VikeFans.com
Breaking down the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay packers, VikingOracle is a member and guest writer at VikeFans.com
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Heya Oracle great input here! Thanks for your thoughts. I also agree on Barr disappearing. I don't know what to make of Kendricks other than it's a long season and I believe he will emerge in the coming weeks.
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