10-28-2018, 04:19 PM
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense has turned things around over the last three weeks in every area.
Following a performance in which Mike Zimmer’s club allowed 556 total yards to the Los Angeles Rams, they have not given up 300 yards through the air or 100 yards on the ground to either the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets.
But this week the Vikings’ defense will be truly tested by an explosive offense for the first time since going up against the Rams.
The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles have some noticeable things in common (beyond a top-notch quarterback): They have a terrific backfield, a complex run attack and a running back who is exceptional in the passing game.
Alvin Kamara averages 4.6 yards per rush and already has 40 receptions at 9.1 yards per catch — a strong follow up to his 86-catch rookie season. Quarterback Drew Brees as a 112.9 rating when throwing his way since Kamara joined the NFL.
In the divisional playoff matchup between the Vikings and Saints, Kamara had four catches 62 yards and one touchdown but only ran 21 times for 66 yards between the opener and playoff game.
“He’s a good runner,” Zimmer said of Kamara. “He reminds me of Eric Dickerson in the way he runs. He’s got a little bit of an upright lean, but he’s physical, catches the ball well out of the backfield, and has got the good stop and starts. None of our players know who Eric Dickerson is, but I do.”
Mark Ingram is the thunder to Kamara’s lightning. While he’s off to a slow start at 3.0 yards per carry, the veteran back averages 4.5 per rush in his eight-year career. And don’t sleep on Ingram in the passing game. He had 60 catches last year at 8.9 yards per catch.
Brees’s NFL NextGen passing chart is filled with excellence, but he has been especially terrific behind the line of scrimmage and that’s largely due to Kamara and Ingram in the passing game.
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/1...ra-ingram/
Following a performance in which Mike Zimmer’s club allowed 556 total yards to the Los Angeles Rams, they have not given up 300 yards through the air or 100 yards on the ground to either the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets.
But this week the Vikings’ defense will be truly tested by an explosive offense for the first time since going up against the Rams.
The New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles have some noticeable things in common (beyond a top-notch quarterback): They have a terrific backfield, a complex run attack and a running back who is exceptional in the passing game.
Alvin Kamara averages 4.6 yards per rush and already has 40 receptions at 9.1 yards per catch — a strong follow up to his 86-catch rookie season. Quarterback Drew Brees as a 112.9 rating when throwing his way since Kamara joined the NFL.
In the divisional playoff matchup between the Vikings and Saints, Kamara had four catches 62 yards and one touchdown but only ran 21 times for 66 yards between the opener and playoff game.
“He’s a good runner,” Zimmer said of Kamara. “He reminds me of Eric Dickerson in the way he runs. He’s got a little bit of an upright lean, but he’s physical, catches the ball well out of the backfield, and has got the good stop and starts. None of our players know who Eric Dickerson is, but I do.”
Mark Ingram is the thunder to Kamara’s lightning. While he’s off to a slow start at 3.0 yards per carry, the veteran back averages 4.5 per rush in his eight-year career. And don’t sleep on Ingram in the passing game. He had 60 catches last year at 8.9 yards per catch.
Brees’s NFL NextGen passing chart is filled with excellence, but he has been especially terrific behind the line of scrimmage and that’s largely due to Kamara and Ingram in the passing game.
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/1...ra-ingram/