Defensive Adjustment

Once again, the only LB I noticed yesterday was Kendricks. He was all over the field. Barr did nothing and continues to disappoint. Whether it's the role he is being asked to play by Zimmer, or just lack of production on his part, he's not worth the money he's getting paid. You are correct on the QB pressures from our Line. I've never seen Rodgers so comfortable at a Vikings home game. 

Problem is we don't have the ability to collapse the pocket from the interior and our run defense is Charmin soft. Losing Michael Pierce hurt and we don't have anybody with any pass rush ability at the other DT spot.  Unless Lynch can develop as a rookie, we are screwed. 

yeah, losing pierce hurt, Hunter out hurt also. Young corners.

youve gotta hit Rodgers early and often, even if it requires an extra step, or two....or three....maybe it pulls a flag...or two....who cares.  Send the message early.  Youve gotta at least get close enough to BREATHE on the guy.

when Zimmer was first hired he made a statement that when teams played the Vikings, “they will have known they were in for a fight.”  Wasnt that way yesterday.
He was supposed to be the coach to “light a fire under some asses”...where were all the “creative blitzes” we saw the first couple years?

any time a team hangs a forty burger on you, youre just not hustling enough

Remember how people used to brag about Zimmer's great record against Aaron Rodgers? I think at best it was something like 5-4, not exactly dominance, but Rodgers is on a 3 game winning streak now.

Some people hate to hear the term "window", but...the Vikings roster and salary cap sure look like they were  being planned and focused on being competitive 2017-2019. If they had won a championship (or even had a strong playoff record) in that stretch, Spielman would have had the latitude to clear out the expensive veterans and retool with a new plan, even with a poor season or two at first. But now it just seems like they are hoping for some magic and putting fingers in a dike that has multiple leaks.

I thought I had created a thread to discuss ideas on what they may do for adjustments but turns out i created another thread where people only further complained. Lesson learned.

@"Hawkvike25" said: I thought I had created a thread to discuss ideas on what they may do for adjustments but turns out i created another thread where people only further complained. Lesson learned.

People are complaining because the coaches don't make adjustments. The team isn't prepped before games. They hire Dom Capers and hint some 3-4 looks will be incorporated but they don't. Barr keeps getting coverage assignments on guys who are too quick for him, just as he has run for 6 seasons, even among perennial hints that they might use him as a pass rusher - but they don't.
What good is it for fans to suggest scheme adjustments when the real coaches keep trying the same things every game and every year?

@"Jor-El" said:

If they had won a championship (or even had a strong playoff record) in that stretch, Spielman would have had the latitude to clear out the expensive veterans and retool with a new plan, even with a poor season or two at first. But now it just seems like they are hoping for some magic and putting fingers in a dike that has multiple leaks.

But in regards to defensive adjustments the Vikings can make, aside from pray Hunter comes back soon, I think Zimmer FINALLY needs to unleash Barr. With the players we have (interior d-line, ha), there's not a ton we can do.
Barr has the measurements and flashes to be a difference maker. Yes I'm aware of his disappearing acts and his deficiencies. But what if Zimmer turned him loose next game, and had him blitzing with his hair on fire let's say 10 times. Even 5 times!

Scheme-wise I don't know the ins and outs of the Safety position, but maybe trust your 10 million dollar men to ballhawk a little more while the other guy stays home.
These are very aggressive moves and we'll likely give up way more big plays as a result, but we may just get more too. Turnovers and negative plays were far too rare last year and were nonexistent on Sunday.
If I were Zim I'd keep the same concepts as Week 1 in place for the next couple see how much we can improve. If we lose 2 more games or the D continues to look bad, that's when I'd start tinkering. If Washed Rivers carves us then I'll begin to panic.

@"Vanguard83" said: yeah, losing pierce hurt, Hunter out hurt also. Young corners.

youve gotta hit Rodgers early and often, even if it requires an extra step, or two....or three....maybe it pulls a flag...or two....who cares.  Send the message early.  Youve gotta at least get close enough to BREATHE on the guy.

when Zimmer was first hired he made a statement that when teams played the Vikings, “they will have known they were in for a fight.”  Wasnt that way yesterday.
He was supposed to be the coach to “light a fire under some asses”...where were all the “creative blitzes” we saw the first couple years?

any time a team hangs a forty burger on you, youre just not hustling enough

This is exactly right. Blitz big time early and don't let him get comfortable.You saw the 3rd down play late when he was called for intentional grounding, he couldn't deal with it, he was not prepared for it. I say blitz big and I am prepared to die with it.

@"Jor-El" said:

Remember how people used to brag about Zimmer's great record against Aaron Rodgers? I think at best it was something like 5-4, not exactly dominance, but Rodgers is on a 3 game winning streak now.

But times are different now. Zim is going to have to find a pass rush and teach his corners how to play at this level. Otherwise, Rodgers won't be the only one to dominate this defense. 

Between the pandemic year, my age and what I saw, this team is just not evolving fast enough.  From my standpoint Zim, Spielman, oh hell , the whole org needs to step it up.  If this is where we are at after nearly six decades, this just aint going to get done it done.  We need some urgency out there, we can't waste time, I have done my part now, someone else needs to step up and carry it home.   I can only consume so many more six packs or buy  more jerseys, the names change but the numbers stay the same.  We need to win one for the AL.

@"BigAl99" said: Between the pandemic year, my age and what I saw, this team is just not evolving fast enough.  From my standpoint Zim, Spielman, oh hell , the whole org needs to step it up.  If this is where we are at after nearly six decades, this just aint going to get done it done.  We need some urgency out there, we can't waste time, I have done my part now, someone else needs to step up and carry it home.   I can only consume so many more six packs or buy a more jerseys, the names change but the numbers stay the same.  We need to win one for the AL.

I just don’t think there was any adjustment that Zimmer
could have did against a HOF caliber QB. 
We are personnel limited on defense.  Our CBs being young, inexperienced, etc. adds a
large constraint to the defense.  Our
Dline without Hunter and with a brand new to scheme Ngakoue has one notable
player an offense has to account for.  If
we run a vanilla scheme, I assume reads are easier for both the offense and
defense.  If we run a complicated blitz
scheme, it probably doesn’t affect Rodgers much, but does affect our young
defenders.  I think we’re probably
screwed against top offenses/top QBs.

Our defense will look better against worse
QBs/offenses.  I think our biggest need
is just to get everyone up to speed in as few of games as possible.  I’d probably switch to a lot more blitzing to
try and minimize the amount of time our CBs have to maintain coverage and hope
for turnovers.

@"medaille" said: I just don’t think there was any adjustment that Zimmer could have did against a HOF caliber QB.  We are personnel limited on defense.  Our CBs being young, inexperienced, etc. adds a large constraint to the defense.  Our Dline without Hunter and with a brand new to scheme Ngakoue has one notable player an offense has to account for.  If we run a vanilla scheme, I assume reads are easier for both the offense and defense.  If we run a complicated blitz scheme, it probably doesn’t affect Rodgers much, but does affect our young defenders.  I think we’re probably screwed against top offenses/top QBs.

Our defense will look better against worse
QBs/offenses.  I think our biggest need
is just to get everyone up to speed in as few of games as possible.  I’d probably switch to a lot more blitzing to
try and minimize the amount of time our CBs have to maintain coverage and hope
for turnovers.

@"Hawkvike25" said:

@"medaille" said: I just don’t think there was any adjustment that Zimmer could have did against a HOF caliber QB.  We are personnel limited on defense.  Our CBs being young, inexperienced, etc. adds a large constraint to the defense.  Our Dline without Hunter and with a brand new to scheme Ngakoue has one notable player an offense has to account for.  If we run a vanilla scheme, I assume reads are easier for both the offense and defense.  If we run a complicated blitz scheme, it probably doesn’t affect Rodgers much, but does affect our young defenders.  I think we’re probably screwed against top offenses/top QBs.

Our defense will look better against worse
QBs/offenses.  I think our biggest need
is just to get everyone up to speed in as few of games as possible.  I’d probably switch to a lot more blitzing to
try and minimize the amount of time our CBs have to maintain coverage and hope
for turnovers.

I like the idea of blitzing more too. Frankly I'm not seeing much of a need for two (listed) DT's on 3rd and 5 or longer as the DT's are going to be really bad this year. Being creative with who blitzes I think will be the key to having a solid defense. Hopefully we see some of this in the next few games

Well, I sure hope they make some adjustments because Rivers threw for only one less yard than Rodgers on Sunday. I think they need to play 2 deep with their safeties more often to protect the young CB's. Also, like many have already stated find a way to pressure Rivers, he will make mistakes if you do.

Indy WR Parris Campbell runs a 4.31MIN CB Cam Dantzler runs a 4.64
Hold on to your butts

@"pattersaur" said:

Indy WR Parris Campbell runs a 4.31MIN CB Cam Dantzler runs a 4.64 Hold on to your butts

@"1VikesFan" said: Well, I sure hope they make some adjustments because Rivers threw for only one less yard than Rodgers on Sunday. I think they need to play 2 deep with their safeties more often to protect the young CB's. Also, like many have already stated find a way to pressure Rivers, he will make mistakes if you do.

The Colts' offensive line is one of the best in the NFL, with 3 recent #1 picks, 2 All-Pro players, and good returning starters at all 5 positions. If the Vikings don't have some creative way to apply more pressure than they did in week 1, Rivers will be able to set up his rocking chair in the backfield and relax while he studies our secondary.