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Play Calling

JR44
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One thing that I think got lost in the less than stellar QB play is the play calling seemed to be on a completely other level that what we have become use to.  I kept asking myself during the game if that was really the Vikings calling those plays.  It was incredibly refreshing to see more passes on 1st down and not the standard run on 1st and 2nd and then throw on 3rd and long.  Loved seeing 4 WR sets and a more aggressive approach.  Kene and Chandler both had great games, which I think was really helped out by the wide open offensive strategy.  Cook, JJ and Thielen are going to really excel in this system.  I think we definitely carry 6 WRs this year. 

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#1 · Aug 15, 11:46 AM
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Agreed. I am so ready for Jefferson to go nuclear this year and yesterday was encouraging seeing some of the running lanes. I think— provided he can stay mostly healthy— that Dalvin is going to remind everyone this season that he belongs in that conversation for best RB in the game. I know Zim gave him a lot of touches but I think KO will give him higher quality touches and put him in better situations. That plus the improved O-line and I really think he’ll smash this year. Excited for this offense. 

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#2 · Aug 15, 12:04 PM
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Absolutely.  It was refreshing to see that play calling.  Interesting, we are going to have a hard time nailing down the 6 WRs for this team

Jet-Adam-KJ-ISM are locks, but who do you pick for 2 out of:

Nailor-Wilson-Chisena-Mitchell-Johnson

Wilson has a lot of sneaky game, plus PR/KR abilities
Nailor is a rookie with a high ceiling and a lot of speed
Mitchell showed good hands, route running, yesterday
Bisi is reliable, solid, strong route runner
Dan could be the fastest.  Plays well on special teams

I bet it will be Wilson and Nailor.  Wilson the vet, Nailor the rookie, both can play PR.  I hope we can stash Mitchell.  Let Bisi and Dan find teams with less stacked WR rooms

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#3 · Aug 15, 12:53 PM
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It's still early, but I'm not sure Bisi makes this roster in 22

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#4 · Aug 15, 1:00 PM
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@"purplefaithful" said: It's still early, but I'm not sure Bisi makes this roster in 22
Like @Skodin said he’d be a better fit on a team without as much WR talent as the Vikings have. The top 3 are locked in and ISM has shown more in a year than Bisi ever has, so he’s in too. For the 5th wideout spot I think the Vikings will lean towards upside versus steady hand. That would be Nailor. The muffed punt (KR? I forget) by Nailor wasn’t great yesterday though. Wilson vs Johnson are fighting for the last spot I bet.
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#5 · Aug 15, 1:05 PM
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@"JR44" said: One thing that I think got lost in the less than stellar QB play is the play calling seemed to be on a completely other level that what we have become use to.  I kept asking myself during the game if that was really the Vikings calling those plays.  It was incredibly refreshing to see more passes on 1st down and not the standard run on 1st and 2nd and then throw on 3rd and long.  Loved seeing 4 WR sets and a more aggressive approach.  Kene and Chandler both had great games, which I think was really helped out by the wide open offensive strategy.  Cook, JJ and Thielen are going to really excel in this system.  I think we definitely carry 6 WRs this year. 
PFF agrees...  Pretty big difference from last year...even if it's 2nd teamers vs 2nd teamers
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#6 · Aug 15, 1:36 PM
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There were a lot of points left out there. Coulda shoulda had at least 2 more TD's. If the defense can hold up their end, this team has a chance.

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#7 · Aug 15, 3:30 PM
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@"badgervike" said:
@"JR44" said: One thing that I think got lost in the less than stellar QB play is the play calling seemed to be on a completely other level that what we have become use to.  I kept asking myself during the game if that was really the Vikings calling those plays.  It was incredibly refreshing to see more passes on 1st down and not the standard run on 1st and 2nd and then throw on 3rd and long.  Loved seeing 4 WR sets and a more aggressive approach.  Kene and Chandler both had great games, which I think was really helped out by the wide open offensive strategy.  Cook, JJ and Thielen are going to really excel in this system.  I think we definitely carry 6 WRs this year. 
PFF agrees...  Pretty big difference from last year...even if it's 2nd teamers vs 2nd teamers



Yeah, yeah, only 1 preseason game but,,,

5th in pass blocking and 4th in coverage (without PP and Harry)?  Pinch me.

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#8 · Aug 15, 11:20 PM
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@"RS Express" said:
@"badgervike" said:
@"JR44" said: One thing that I think got lost in the less than stellar QB play is the play calling seemed to be on a completely other level that what we have become use to.  I kept asking myself during the game if that was really the Vikings calling those plays.  It was incredibly refreshing to see more passes on 1st down and not the standard run on 1st and 2nd and then throw on 3rd and long.  Loved seeing 4 WR sets and a more aggressive approach.  Kene and Chandler both had great games, which I think was really helped out by the wide open offensive strategy.  Cook, JJ and Thielen are going to really excel in this system.  I think we definitely carry 6 WRs this year. 
PFF agrees...  Pretty big difference from last year...even if it's 2nd teamers vs 2nd teamers



Yeah, yeah, only 1 preseason game but,,,

5th in pass blocking and 4th in coverage (without PP and Harry)?  Pinch me.



We may have been without PP and Harry...but we also weren't covering Davante...

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#9 · Aug 16, 7:39 AM
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@"badgervike" said:
@"RS Express" said:
@"badgervike" said:
@"JR44" said: One thing that I think got lost in the less than stellar QB play is the play calling seemed to be on a completely other level that what we have become use to.  I kept asking myself during the game if that was really the Vikings calling those plays.  It was incredibly refreshing to see more passes on 1st down and not the standard run on 1st and 2nd and then throw on 3rd and long.  Loved seeing 4 WR sets and a more aggressive approach.  Kene and Chandler both had great games, which I think was really helped out by the wide open offensive strategy.  Cook, JJ and Thielen are going to really excel in this system.  I think we definitely carry 6 WRs this year. 
PFF agrees...  Pretty big difference from last year...even if it's 2nd teamers vs 2nd teamers



Yeah, yeah, only 1 preseason game but,,,

5th in pass blocking and 4th in coverage (without PP and Harry)?  Pinch me.



We may have been without PP and Harry...but we also weren't covering Davante...


Or Renfro and Waller. These stats are fun but really don't means a whole lot at this point.

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#10 · Aug 16, 8:38 AM
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@"badgervike" said:
@"RS Express" said:
@"badgervike" said:
@"JR44" said: One thing that I think got lost in the less than stellar QB play is the play calling seemed to be on a completely other level that what we have become use to.  I kept asking myself during the game if that was really the Vikings calling those plays.  It was incredibly refreshing to see more passes on 1st down and not the standard run on 1st and 2nd and then throw on 3rd and long.  Loved seeing 4 WR sets and a more aggressive approach.  Kene and Chandler both had great games, which I think was really helped out by the wide open offensive strategy.  Cook, JJ and Thielen are going to really excel in this system.  I think we definitely carry 6 WRs this year. 
PFF agrees...  Pretty big difference from last year...even if it's 2nd teamers vs 2nd teamers



Yeah, yeah, only 1 preseason game but,,,

5th in pass blocking and 4th in coverage (without PP and Harry)?  Pinch me.



We may have been without PP and Harry...but we also weren't covering Davante...


I know, but it's been a while since our pass blocking and coverage looked competent even against scrubs. 

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#11 · Aug 16, 10:46 PM
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I have to chuckle at this thread.  Everyone bitches about running on first down.  But looking at the highlights, 2 or 3 of the big runs by Chandler and Kene were on 1st down.  Just so easy to have confirmation bias and bitch about the job someone else is doing.

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#12 · Aug 17, 11:34 AM
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@"greediron" said: I have to chuckle at this thread.  Everyone bitches about running on first down.  But looking at the highlights, 2 or 3 of the big runs by Chandler and Kene were on 1st down.  Just so easy to have confirmation bias and bitch about the job someone else is doing.
Isn't that the point of passing more on 1st down so it is not automatically expected and it opens up the run.   While I was watching the game it seemed that those big holes were there on 1st down, because we had the defense more spread out and they were uncertain of what was coming at them.  
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#13 · Aug 17, 1:15 PM
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@"JR44" said:
@"greediron" said: I have to chuckle at this thread.  Everyone bitches about running on first down.  But looking at the highlights, 2 or 3 of the big runs by Chandler and Kene were on 1st down.  Just so easy to have confirmation bias and bitch about the job someone else is doing.
Isn't that the point of passing more on 1st down so it is not automatically expected and it opens up the run.   While I was watching the game it seemed that those big holes were there on 1st down, because we had the defense more spread out and they were uncertain of what was coming at them.  
Or we have an offensive line that doesn't get overwhelmed immediately.  Balance is the key, but if you look at stats I think many successful teams ran more than the Vikings on first down.  Scheme and play calling are a big part, but if you have Cook/Mattison/... and aren't running the ball, you are not doing it right.

A successful run on first down opens up the offense.  An incompletion really limits that series.  What is a higher probability, a 4 yard run or a 4 yard pass?  

But the point is, people will bitch and say they can predict the offense every time it fails.  But when Kene or Chandler get a good gain on first, they are saying we should trade Mattison.

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#14 · Aug 17, 2:00 PM
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