Vikings defense

That's a good reminder...

I watch this D and I dont say to myself that's a stifling, ball-hawking, dominating D. But then they're usually right there - at the top 5 of the most important statistics.

Zimm had a more aggressive game-plan yesterday - probably to rattle/confuse a rook qb. I'd like to see it more often. 

@"purplefaithful" said: That's a good reminder...

I watch this D and I dont say to myself that's a stifling, ball-hawking, dominating D. But then they're usually right there - at the top 5 of the most important statistics.

Zimm had a more aggressive game-plan yesterday - probably to rattle/confuse a rook qb. I'd like to see it more often. 

I'd like to see more ball hawking myself.  I saw several games this week where the D literally took the ball away or punched it out of the offensive players hands.  We need more of that attitude.

I liked the defense on the safety.

Crowd that line and bring everyone FAST. If the offense can get the ball past the line of scrimmage you can really hurt a defense but it's got to be real hard to do anything with the whole team charging at you.

@"purplefaithful" said: That's a good reminder...

I watch this D and I dont say to myself that's a stifling, ball-hawking, dominating D. But then they're usually right there - at the top 5 of the most important statistics.

Zimm had a more aggressive game-plan yesterday - probably to rattle/confuse a rook qb. I'd like to see it more often. 

I think that's just a lack of objectivity. No offense to you, PF, because we all do it, myself included. Couple years ago I would get so frustrated when we couldn't get off the field on 3rd down. Man, I hate that. But that year we weren't just the best in the NFL on 3rd downs, we were something like the best in 40 years. So....something to consider....

You see the same sort of thing in people evaluating Rick Spielman. God, he missed on Ponder and Treadwell! He's awful! Fire him!

....until you look around the NFL and see who they've been drafting. By comparison, the Vikings have had exceptionally good drafts. Like top 5 good for the last several years. 

The D is crazy good. don't remember all the stats, but they have been dominant this year.
It was mildly frustrating to watch the DBs giving a cushion to the WRs yesterday.  But as we were lamenting it, I brought up the fact that it is better to play zone against a run threat QB.  So like in Chicago, we were playing off to keep the mobile QB from killing us with his feet.
Best thing about Zimmer is that he is able to adjust.  We don't just run the cover 2 and hope for the best.  He actually has a plan and more often than not, it is a damn good one.

Hopefully they can beat a good team on the road sometime with this defense. 

Bend but don't Break works for the Cheatriots because of the GOAT.  The other 2 Defenses on that list are attacking. Getting TO's and 3 & Outs.

I have nothing against Bend but don't Break. SeaHags are good at it too. But you need the Offense we saw yesterday  to compliment it. The Offense we've seen on the Road this year against good teams ain't gonna cut it w/ a BNB Defense. Need more momentum and field position shifts.

Again, not critical of the style, just needs the Offense to play the same way it did yesterday against legit Playoff Contenders.

I like seeing them fired up. Smith screaming on the sidelines knowing he should have had that interception was a good thing to see. The safety was great as well. They know they can do better. I love the karate kicks too. 

When Harrison almost made that beautiful interception at the sideline, he was shown on TV getting up yelling "AAWWWWW!!!!!...........FUCK!!!!!!!!!!"

@"FSUVike" said: Bend but don't Break works for the Cheatriots because of the GOAT.  The other 2 Defenses on that list are attacking. Getting TO's and 3 & Outs.

I have nothing against Bend but don't Break. SeaHags are good at it too. But you need the Offense we saw yesterday  to compliment it. The Offense we've seen on the Road this year against good teams ain't gonna cut it w/ a BNB Defense. Need more momentum and field position shifts.

Again, not critical of the style, just needs the Offense to play the same way it did yesterday against legit Playoff Contenders.

Is it really a "bend but don't break" defense?  The Vikings are 4th in total yards allowed (292 ypg)...  5th in pass defense (204 ypg)...  9th in rush defense (88 ypg)...  and 4th in points allowed (14.6 ppg).  We are also top 10 in 3rd down defense at 34%.

The defense is still dominant.  You can argue they should get more turnovers, but that's about the only valid argument against this defense.

I wouldn’t call it a bend but don’t break defense, but I
would call it more conservative and less risky. 
Less going for explosive stops and TOs, that might lead to big plays.

@"Wetlander" said:

@"FSUVike" said: Bend but don't Break works for the Cheatriots because of the GOAT.  The other 2 Defenses on that list are attacking. Getting TO's and 3 & Outs.

I have nothing against Bend but don't Break. SeaHags are good at it too. But you need the Offense we saw yesterday  to compliment it. The Offense we've seen on the Road this year against good teams ain't gonna cut it w/ a BNB Defense. Need more momentum and field position shifts.

Again, not critical of the style, just needs the Offense to play the same way it did yesterday against legit Playoff Contenders.

Is it really a "bend but don't break" defense?  The Vikings are 4th in total yards allowed (292 ypg)...  5th in pass defense (204 ypg)...  9th in rush defense (88 ypg)...  and 4th in points allowed (14.6 ppg).  We are also top 10 in 3rd down defense at 34%.

The defense is still dominant.  You can argue they should get more turnovers, but that's about the only valid argument against this defense.

interesting tidbit on the grading of the great bear defense
https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-vikings-among-highest-graded-teams-for-giants-performance
Even with a backup quarterback, the Bears were favored in this
matchup because of their defense. Chicago is thought to have the best
defensive unit in the league, but they allowed the Raiders to score the
first 17 points of the game. Wimpy arm tackles and inconsistent pressure
marred this performance. Chase Daniel was decent, and Allen Robinson
had a breakout game, but the main takeaway for Chicago in this one is
that the Raiders marched 97 yards down the field on 13 plays for a
game-winning score.
So maybe they were a bit hyped up for the Vikings game and then came out flat after traveling?  Nah, we don't allow excuses like that around here.

@"Wetlander" said:

@"FSUVike" said: Bend but don't Break works for the Cheatriots because of the GOAT.  The other 2 Defenses on that list are attacking. Getting TO's and 3 & Outs.

I have nothing against Bend but don't Break. SeaHags are good at it too. But you need the Offense we saw yesterday  to compliment it. The Offense we've seen on the Road this year against good teams ain't gonna cut it w/ a BNB Defense. Need more momentum and field position shifts.

Again, not critical of the style, just needs the Offense to play the same way it did yesterday against legit Playoff Contenders.

Is it really a "bend but don't break" defense?  The Vikings are 4th in total yards allowed (292 ypg)...  5th in pass defense (204 ypg)...  9th in rush defense (88 ypg)...  and 4th in points allowed (14.6 ppg).  We are also top 10 in 3rd down defense at 34%.

The defense is still dominant.  You can argue they should get more turnovers, but that's about the only valid argument against this defense.

@"FSUVike" said:

@"Wetlander" said:

@"FSUVike" said: Bend but don't Break works for the Cheatriots because of the GOAT.  The other 2 Defenses on that list are attacking. Getting TO's and 3 & Outs.

I have nothing against Bend but don't Break. SeaHags are good at it too. But you need the Offense we saw yesterday  to compliment it. The Offense we've seen on the Road this year against good teams ain't gonna cut it w/ a BNB Defense. Need more momentum and field position shifts.

Again, not critical of the style, just needs the Offense to play the same way it did yesterday against legit Playoff Contenders.

Is it really a "bend but don't break" defense?  The Vikings are 4th in total yards allowed (292 ypg)...  5th in pass defense (204 ypg)...  9th in rush defense (88 ypg)...  and 4th in points allowed (14.6 ppg).  We are also top 10 in 3rd down defense at 34%.

The defense is still dominant.  You can argue they should get more turnovers, but that's about the only valid argument against this defense.

How about Time of Possession? What happened that made the Historically Great 3rd Down Defense now just a TOP 10 one?

Look, Roster Construction is my passion. And there's an effing ton of capital on that side of the ball. 

Is it wrong to want to see Game-Changing plays like TO's or 3 & Outs that Flip the Field?

Apparently....

We are 8th with 35%

Pats are 1st with 13%

That's right, 13%

Barr became only the 3rd player in NFL history to record both a safety & an interception in the same game!!!

The defensive stat that stands out to me (and really irks me) is this:

14 plays, 75 yards, 7 points, 7:16 time of possession

Chicago's first drive starting with Trubisky and finishing with Daniels.

Zimmers vaunted defense had no plan, no fire, no heart on that drive.
I believe if the defense had a 3 and out on the first drive, or even 3 and out after the quarterback switch, that game would have a different outcome