How would you expose the Vikings?

Vikings, even at 9-2, have flaws they hope to fix before being further exposedThey returned from their brief Thanksgiving break Monday as one of four NFL teams with nine victories, owners of the second-best record in the NFC and an inside path to a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The 9-2 Vikings, though, are not without their flaws. What’s more, they’re making no attempt to gloss over them.
Whether because of hard-earned lessons from a 5-0 start followed by a 3-8 finish last year, or because they’ve taken on coach Mike Zimmer’s exacting nature, the Vikings seem in no hurry to tout their Super Bowl credentials at this point. Not with two critical road games coming up, a playoff spot still to be clinched and a few weaknesses to upgrade.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re 9-2, 11-0 or 2-9, going to focus on what we’re not doing well,” tight end Kyle Rudolph said. “That’s just kind of the way we go about things here, and it’s always better to go back and make corrections after a win. They’re a lot easier to make after wins, but wins don’t cover that up.”
Special teams was likely at the top of the list after the Vikings’ 30-23 victory over the Detroit Lions last Thursday, a game that could have caused the Vikings less anxiety had they not had a field goal and an extra point blocked.
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-even-at-9-2-have-flaws-they-hope-to-fix-before-being-further-exposed/460899043/

“I think a lot of guys come from powerhouse colleges where we’ve won a lot of games,” defensive end Brian Robison said. “It’s a lot harder to win ballgames in the NFL than it is in college for those big powerhouse colleges. So it’s hard for those guys to understand that it doesn’t matter who you’re playing. It doesn’t matter if it’s a winless team; it doesn’t matter if it’s an undefeated team. All of them are just as hard to get as the last one.”
And so the Vikings continue their process of winning games and showing up the next day for film review, knowing much of what they hear from their coach — about what they need to do better — isn’t going to change because of a victory.
“It just puts him in a little better mood,” Rudolph said.
Refinement isn’t glamorous, but the Vikings welcome it.
“We trust our process,” Keenum said. “No matter what the outcome may have been, no matter what the past , we’re letting all that go, because everything we want is right in front of us. We’ve got to take it a week at a time, but trust that process that’s been the same every week: It’s ‘learn from your mistakes, and get better.’ ”

Keep Minnesota's defense on the field by running/grinding successfully. Get ahead by 10 points and rush/blitz the passer. Successfully running on any defense opens up the passing game and makes the play calling unpredictable and harder to defend. 

Honestly, this formula works against most teams, not just the Vikings. I think, outside this messageboard, fans are much more happy with Keenum. MUCH more. I read that he was at the Timberwolves game the other night with Thielen and when they put Case's mug on the big screen, he got a huge and loud standing ovation. One of the T-Wolves reporters said it was the loudest she could remember in recent memory. 

The team is 9-2 which is amazing. But they aren't perfect....and neither are the other teams. One game at a time.

@"StickyBun" said: Keep Minnesota's defense on the field by running/grinding successfully. Get ahead by 10 points and rush/blitz the passer. Successfully running on any defense opens up the passing game and makes the play calling unpredictable and harder to defend. 

@"greediron" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Keep Minnesota's defense on the field by running/grinding successfully. Get ahead by 10 points and rush/blitz the passer. Successfully running on any defense opens up the passing game and makes the play calling unpredictable and harder to defend. 

Not sure that is a weakness of the Vikings, but yes, if a team could run on them, the defense would struggle some.  But that is why our defense is built to stop the run.  Or as Griff sez, stop the run so they can rush the passer.

@"StickyBun" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Keep Minnesota's defense on the field by running/grinding successfully. Get ahead by 10 points and rush/blitz the passer. Successfully running on any defense opens up the passing game and makes the play calling unpredictable and harder to defend. 

Not sure that is a weakness of the Vikings, but yes, if a team could run on them, the defense would struggle some.  But that is why our defense is built to stop the run.  Or as Griff sez, stop the run so they can rush the passer.

Not meaning to say its a weakness, more that its a way to beat the Vikings. That was my intent on that reply.

And just glad this thread wasn't about Matt Lauer...

I would target the corners without an x in their names

Short, quick passing game (and only go long when it is "set-up" by the corners getting closer to the WRs)... run between the tackles (if possible), because you can't run outside our defense.  On defense, if you can get pressure with your front 4, drop 7 into coverage vs. our receivers.  I'd go Cover-1, with man on the outside and zone in the middle.  If the Vikes' offense is going to beat me, their going to have to do it by sustaining drives with dink-and-dunk passing and a decent running game.  From the Vikings' perspective, I think we could do that... but we'd have to play mistake-free.  Any turnovers or penalties... and we're not going to score on that possession.  If a team can do that to us enough- while scoring themselves- we could be beaten.

For a full exposure of the Vikings team I might go with an F Stop of F/32 if I'm high up in the stands.

The reason the Vikings defense is consistently strong is because they do a great job at making in-game adjustments. Once an opposing offense starts setting up plays and targeting a weakness the defense pivots and takes it away. Its just a strong combination of the players fully grasping the system and play calling. So although it would be hard to completely expose the defense there are 2-3 things that could get an offense moving. 

1. Inside trap runs. Teams understand that you're not going to block Linval. But you can take advantage of his first step up field and trap him behind the play. That leaves Tom Johnson 1on1 with the RB which is advantageous. The Rams started doing this to some success but the Vikings quickly fixed the hole with a variety of substitutions and twists. 

2. Play action against the base defense. Teams have been working for years to keep the Vikings in their base defense and attacking the WLB through the air. Zimmer has done a good job hiding Gedeon but if a team gets moving, play action will make him vulnerable. Depending on coverage (man or C3) Gedeon is going to be covering a TE/slot receiver across the field or up the seam. If you attack it enough its bound to break. The Rams also attacked this effectively and almost had a big play down the field to Higgbee. Gedeon made it a tough throw but was beat.

3. Isolate the slot CB and challenge them up the seam. When you spread out the Vikings DB's and go 5-wide you're going to get Mac or Newman lined up over the receiver. If you catch them in zone you are going to be able to beat the slot CB up the seam with potentially no safety protecting against it. The Lions worked this at the end of the game last week and nearly had Tate for a 75 TD if Stafford didn't overthrow the ball. 

Stopping or slowing down the Vikings offense is an easier task. Shurmur has done a masterful job with calling plays but the personnel still leaves some holes. Ultimately you're going to force Shurmur to play to the Vikings weaknesses. 

1. The best teams are going to be able to completely take Thielen away. Fortunately Diggs is also a man beater but once you're shying away from a receiver it gets easier for DB's to make plays on the ball. Nobody has done it yet but taking away Thielen is going to force the Vikings to make tougher decisions. 

2. Take away the flats. All year the Vikings have taken advantage of the flats. 10-12 yards down the field they love comebacks and then expose a defense sitting on them with easy WR screens for 4-5 yard gains with the potential for more. If a team makes an emphasis on taking anything 10 yards and in away on the outside Rudy is going to have space over the middle. Case hasn't had to make many throws over the middle of the field all season and he's struggled with it. 

The offense is much better than last season since they run game has given them options. A season ago the Vikings were consistently putting themselves behind the chains with negative plays. Basically, the running game has been a beating drum with the passing game being a periodic cymbal crash. Take away the beating drum and I think it'd be a long day for the offense outside some very explosive plays. 

@"Geoff Nichols" said: The reason the Vikings defense is consistently strong is because they do a great job at making in-game adjustments. Once an opposing offense starts setting up plays and targeting a weakness the defense pivots and takes it away. Its just a strong combination of the players fully grasping the system and play calling. So although it would be hard to completely expose the defense there are 2-3 things that could get an offense moving. 

1. Inside trap runs. Teams understand that you're not going to block Linval. But you can take advantage of his first step up field and trap him behind the play. That leaves Tom Johnson 1on1 with the RB which is advantageous. The Rams started doing this to some success but the Vikings quickly fixed the hole with a variety of substitutions and twists. 

2. Play action against the base defense. Teams have been working for years to keep the Vikings in their base defense and attacking the WLB through the air. Zimmer has done a good job hiding Gedeon but if a team gets moving, play action will make him vulnerable. Depending on coverage (man or C3) Gedeon is going to be covering a TE/slot receiver across the field or up the seam. If you attack it enough its bound to break. The Rams also attacked this effectively and almost had a big play down the field to Higgbee. Gedeon made it a tough throw but was beat.

3. Isolate the slot CB and challenge them up the seam. When you spread out the Vikings DB's and go 5-wide you're going to get Mac or Newman lined up over the receiver. If you catch them in zone you are going to be able to beat the slot CB up the seam with potentially no safety protecting against it. The Lions worked this at the end of the game last week and nearly had Tate for a 75 TD if Stafford didn't overthrow the ball. 

Stopping or slowing down the Vikings offense is an easier task. Shurmur has done a masterful job with calling plays but the personnel still leaves some holes. Ultimately you're going to force Shurmur to play to the Vikings weaknesses. 

1. The best teams are going to be able to completely take Thielen away. Fortunately Diggs is also a man beater but once you're shying away from a receiver it gets easier for DB's to make plays on the ball. Nobody has done it yet but taking away Thielen is going to force the Vikings to make tougher decisions. 

2. Take away the flats. All year the Vikings have taken advantage of the flats. 10-12 yards down the field they love comebacks and then expose a defense sitting on them with easy WR screens for 4-5 yard gains with the potential for more. If a team makes an emphasis on taking anything 10 yards and in away on the outside Rudy is going to have space over the middle. Case hasn't had to make many throws over the middle of the field all season and he's struggled with it. 

The offense is much better than last season since they run game has given them options. A season ago the Vikings were consistently putting themselves behind the chains with negative plays. Basically, the running game has been a beating drum with the passing game being a periodic cymbal crash. Take away the beating drum and I think it'd be a long day for the offense outside some very explosive plays. 

Kidding.  We will see how the offense does this game.  Atlanta tends to take away the flats and outside, making teams work the middle.  Shurmur and Case will have their work cut out for them this week.

As to the defense, would love to hear more about how are defense adjusts.  Last year it was Robison learning the protections of the offense in the first drive or 2.  Seems similar now, but Robison isn't out there as much to be the coach on the field.  But the plan seems the same.  Take a drive or 2 to figure out the offense while playing rather conservative.  Then completely clamping down after that and often just eliminating most of what the offense does.  It is fascinating.

Dayum Guru....That was downright frightening. 

I thought this was going to be a Shiancoe thread.