Thoughts Week 3

[jackal]

Our defense is doing what I thought they would do..they playing out a learned system.. we are a fast, strong team with a lot of talent ...
we still need to improve but IMO we are a very good defense right now. Next season we should get even better again. I would like to see
Exum get some more time. I think he is the best natural athlete to team up with Harrison.


A.P. is getting better at running behind his blocks.. Matt Kalil is shoving people around and getting downfield on some blocks....

Wallace is getting more comfortable...

I was glad to see use the power running formation and eat some clock in this game..

Barr is a bad man he really knocked the stuffing out of Rivers ...I think we are close to being a playoff team.. We still surrender points
a little to easy ...

[DK Sweets]

We still surrender points a little to easy ...

We're number 4 in scoring defense...

[mansquatch]

I agree that we need some more plays out of Teddy if we want to be a serious playoff contender. However, yesterday in my mind is not the best litmus test in terms of his overall playmaking. When your RB is doing what AP did to SD yesterday and your defense is playing the way it was, you do not need your QB to light it up and most likely you are not going to ask him to.

Against stronger opponents thing will play out differently. Next week in Denver is going to be a huge test for the team. Denver's defense will provide an enormous challenge.

[dead_poet]

I just have to take a moment to express my love and appreciation for a couple of things in this game. Both are related and worthy of reflection.

1) Chad Greenway's pick-6. Not so much for his being at the right place at the right time but the massive convoy that followed him down the field (players both on and off the field), essentially escorting him into the end zone. It's crystal clear how much respect the players and coaches have for him. This will be his final season as a professional football player and I'm super excited he was able to do this one more time. Said Harrison Smith afterwards:

“Once we saw it was Chad with the ball,” Smith said, “we were all like, ‘We have to get him in the end zone.’ Everybody loves him. He’s our guy.”

2) The Vikings' defensive reaction when Trae Waynes got in on some action. After a couple of solid plays on his few "actionable" opportunities, I routinely saw teammates coming up to him on the field and slapping his helmet and showing their enthusiasm. They know how big of a moment this was for him. This also goes back to the Trattou interception as well. I haven't seen a defense this "tight" (for lack of a better word) in quite some time.

Anyway, those were a couple of things that stuck out to me in a very positive way in this one.

[Raptorman]

Teddy. Not happy with the bottom line.
Speaking of lines. The O-line needs to continue to get better or we will see more of this type of game from Teddy.
More lines. Zach Line. Not sure how, but I missed the part of the game were he scored. For the year. 2 rushes, 2 yards. 2 TD's.
Defensive Line. They seem to be doing a pretty good job. Next week at Denver will be a good test. Hoping they can do to Manning what they did to Stafford.
Defense. If they keep holding teams to under 17 Points per game the Vikings should end up winning about 10-12 games. It's always good to see them score points.

The fact that this team can score 31 points when the QB has a crappy day should bode well for the future.

[Mothman]

I just have to take a moment to express my love and appreciation for a couple of things in this game. Both are related and worthy of reflection.

1) Chad Greenway's pick-6. Not so much for his being at the right place at the right time but the massive convoy that followed him down the field (players both on and off the field), essentially escorting him into the end zone. It's crystal clear how much respect the players and coaches have for him. This will be his final season as a professional football player and I'm super excited he was able to do this one more time. Said Harrison Smith afterwards:
2) The Vikings' defensive reaction when Trae Waynes got in on some action. After a couple of solid plays on his few "actionable" opportunities, I routinely saw teammates coming up to him on the field and slapping his helmet and showing their enthusiasm. They know how big of a moment this was for him. This also goes back to the Trattou interception as well. I haven't seen a defense this "tight" (for lack of a better word) in quite some time.

Anyway, those were a couple of things that stuck out to me in a very positive way in this one.

Thanks for pointing them out. I noticed the same things but didn't quite make the connections you did so thanks for "connecting the dots" a bit more. The defense does seem like a tight group. It was definitely easy to see their respect and admiration for Greenway after that play.

[losperros]

I just have to take a moment to express my love and appreciation for a couple of things in this game. Both are related and worthy of reflection.

1) Chad Greenway's pick-6. Not so much for his being at the right place at the right time but the massive convoy that followed him down the field (players both on and off the field), essentially escorting him into the end zone. It's crystal clear how much respect the players and coaches have for him. This will be his final season as a professional football player and I'm super excited he was able to do this one more time. Said Harrison Smith afterwards:
2) The Vikings' defensive reaction when Trae Waynes got in on some action. After a couple of solid plays on his few "actionable" opportunities, I routinely saw teammates coming up to him on the field and slapping his helmet and showing their enthusiasm. They know how big of a moment this was for him. This also goes back to the Trattou interception as well. I haven't seen a defense this "tight" (for lack of a better word) in quite some time.

Anyway, those were a couple of things that stuck out to me in a very positive way in this one.

Very well said. It warmed my heart the way Greenway was escorted down the field during his INT return and the way he was treated on the sidelines by the team.

I saw how the D was constantly supporting Trae Waynes. Great stuff. It's the part of football that comes from "building character."

This Vikings defense really seems united.

[PurpleMustReign]

Very well said. It warmed my heart the way Greenway was escorted down the field during his INT return and the way he was treated on the sidelines by the team.

I saw how the D was constantly supporting Trae Waynes. Great stuff. It's the part of football that comes from "building character."

This Vikings defense really seems united.

The enterouge that Greenway had was better than the INT, imo. That was awesome.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[dead_poet]

Minnesota Vikings

– Teddy Bridgewater (-0.8 ) had his worst-graded game of the season, where he went 13-for-24 for 121 yards and an one interception. Bridgewater struggled to push the ball downfield against the Chargers, where he only completed two passes out of seven on throws over 10 yards; the Chargers where able to limit the Vikings to short passes all game long.

– While Bridgewater had his worse game of the season, Adrian Peterson (+3.5) performed at a level that was reminiscent of 2012. Peterson had the highest elusive rating in Week 3 at 272.5, thanks to 5.45 yards after contact and 10 forced missed tackles in the run game.

– Rookie CB Trae Waynes (+2.3) saw his first action of the season after Xavier Rhodes (CB -1.4) had to leave the game with a concussion. In the preseason, Waynes struggled to adapt to the NFL game, but in Week 3, he only allowed four catches on nine targets for 32 yards. He also only allowed four yards after the catch, as he was able to keep the Chargers’ receivers in front of him.

Top performers

FS Harrison Smith (+5.2)

HB Adrian Peterson (+3.6)

DE Everson Griffen (+3.1)

C Joe Berger (+2.6)

LB Anthony Barr (+2.5)

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... in-grades/

[Foghorn Leghorn]

One thought and one thought only, get Sendejo off the field. He is a phyiscal and athletic liability. Exum or Blanton please step up and take the job! It cannot be that hard.

[VikingLord]

Teddy had a lot of overthrown and missed a lot of open receivers but he tended to settle down a bit after a while. It was pretty much the AD and defensive show today.

I'm concerned about Bridgewater right now. He seems tentative and appears to lack the sort of cool confidence that he displayed towards the end of last season. While it is great to see the Vikings crush an opponent on the scoreboard, Bridgewater's errant throws and/or failure to attempt a throw are starting to remind me of "He Who Shall Not Be Named".

The funny part is, all other things being equal I'd probably blame the offensive line for the lack of production and erratic play at QB, but to be honest that unit hasn't played all that bad, at least not compared to what we saw from the Lions and Chargers' lines the last two weeks where both Stafford and Rivers looked like they were in a WWE match for stretches of the game. Bridgewater has had time and still delivered some ducks or, failed to deliver at all.

It could be the looks defensive coordinators are throwing at him, at least in the case of the failure to see an open guy, but the poor throws are harder to explain. To me it looks like Teddy has lost some of his mojo. Vikes definitely are going to need a lot more from Bridgewater.

On the plus side, AD looked a lot more like the AD of yore, and the defense looked like a cohesive group that really likes playing together. They have made huge strides forward since the debacle against the 49ers.

[DK Sweets]

Since we're talking about Chad's INT return and how awesome that was to see, it's important to note that his 82-year-old grandfather was in attendance for the first time yesterday, so it was a great moment on multiple levels.

[IrishViking]

I'm concerned about Bridgewater right now. He seems tentative and appears to lack the sort of cool confidence that he displayed towards the end of last season. While it is great to see the Vikings crush an opponent on the scoreboard, Bridgewater's errant throws and/or failure to attempt a throw are starting to remind me of "He Who Shall Not Be Named".

The funny part is, all other things being equal I'd probably blame the offensive line for the lack of production and erratic play at QB, but to be honest that unit hasn't played all that bad, at least not compared to what we saw from the Lions and Chargers' lines the last two weeks where both Stafford and Rivers looked like they were in a WWE match for stretches of the game. Bridgewater has had time and still delivered some ducks or, failed to deliver at all.

It could be the looks defensive coordinators are throwing at him, at least in the case of the failure to see an open guy, but the poor throws are harder to explain. To me it looks like Teddy has lost some of his mojo. Vikes definitely are going to need a lot more from Bridgewater.

On the plus side, AD looked a lot more like the AD of yore, and the defense looked like a cohesive group that really likes playing together. They have made huge strides forward since the debacle against the 49ers.

I'll agree with you except for one thing, I think the pass blocking has been subpar. It appears that roughly once per set of downs a defender goes unblocked to Teddy it its not part of the offensive scheme to let him. Teddy does need to get better but I do take solace because using "Voldemort" as an example I remember seeing happy feet run out of a perfect pocket on multiple occasions to either be sacked or throw an interception. Teddy hasn't done that yet.

[chicagopurple]

Kudos Irish Vike for honoring the immortal Freddy M!

as many have stated, Bridgewater has been disappointing. He now has over a years experience, AND AP taking up the vast majority of the Defences attention with pretty good pass protection (better then I expected), yet his technique and decisions are not looking very good. He hasnt even faced top notch defences yet.

How did we do so poorly vs the 49érs? I have watched their games and they just arent ery good.

Defence is pretty snazzy over all, better then I had hoped for, same for SPec Teams.

[James]

I have to also agree that the passing blocking isn't doing Teddy any justice. Losing both Sully and Loadholt hurt, and it's showing. Atleast Teddy has been able to manage the game pretty good. He's been a better game manager than our previous 1st round QB. Norv Turner will need to game plan different ways to get this passing offense going. We don't need the deep ball too much but we need some quick slants or screens to get guys like Wallace and Johnson going in the passing game. We're going against a stingy Denver Broncos defense next week. Best believe they're going to force Teddy to throw once they start keying in on Peterson.