Vikings Message Board.Com

Vikes win by a field goal at home.

Vikings 69
Jags 3

Bernard Berrian signs a contract Friday and suits up Sunday to catch 17 passes for 255 yards and 4 TDs.

Channeling my inner ThatGuy.

J. Kapp 11 wrote:Vikings 69
Jags 3

Bernard Berrian signs a contract Friday and suits up Sunday to catch 17 passes for 255 yards and 4 TDs.

Channeling my inner ThatGuy.

Where is our optimistic "Ray of Sunshine" anyway?

Justin Blackmon - WR - Jaguars

Justin Blackmon sustained his ankle injury during Wednesday's practice.

The Jaguars are holding their breath as they wait to see if Blackmon's ankle swells up overnight.
Source: Florida Times Union

How do you guys think the Jaguars will attack the Vikings? I expect them to do a fair amount of running to keep some pressure off Gabbert but I'm thinking they will go after the middle of the Vikings defense, especially Brinkley, rookie Harrison Smith and whoever else is playing safety (since neither Raymond or Sanford were particularly strong against the pass last season). Since Brinkley isn't intended to be part fo the Vikes defense in passing situations, they may try attacking him through the air on first and second down.

Any thoughts?

Mothman wrote:How do you guys think the Jaguars will attack the Vikings? I expect them to do a fair amount of running to keep some pressure off Gabbert but I'm thinking they will go after the middle of the Vikings defense, especially Brinkley, rookie Harrison Smith and whoever else is playing safety (since neither Raymond or Sanford were particularly strong against the pass last season). Since Brinkley isn't intended to be part fo the Vikes defense in passing situations, they may try attacking him through the air on first and second down.

Any thoughts?

First impression is same as yours: run game. The Vikings' fierce Front Four has shown weakness since the days of the Williams Wall. I expect them to attack up the middle with a heavy dose of the run game and see if they can win at the LOS to keep pressure off Gabbert. Blackmon is an obvious concern. If he's out, I don't see them having much success at all through the air (he actually made Gabbert look good in the preseason), allowing the Vikings to really attack the run game with Winfield and Smith. I don't expect many deep shots. From what I've gathered in the preseason, they're doing a lot of quick drops and get the ball out of Gabbert's hands quickly. It'll be essential to rattle his cage early and have him hearing footsteps. Really hope the home crowd is into it from the beginning and can help the defense.

Shut down the run game and force the ball in Gabbert's hands. That's what I would do. Of course, if I was the Jags, I'd employ a similar strategy. Ponder needs to get the ball out quickly and our receivers need to create some separation to allow him to doso. He held onto the ball too long in that last preseason game. Hopefully he's learned from that and can advance the offense while scoring TDs in the red zone.

dead_poet wrote: First impression is same as yours: run game. The Vikings' fierce Front Four has shown weakness since the days of the Williams Wall. I expect them to attack up the middle with a heavy dose of the run game and see if they can win at the LOS to keep pressure off Gabbert. Blackmon is an obvious concern. If he's out, I don't see them having much success at all through the air (he actually made Gabbert look good in the preseason), allowing the Vikings to really attack the run game with Winfield and Smith. I don't expect many deep shots. From what I've gathered in the preseason, they're doing a lot of quick drops and get the ball out of Gabbert's hands quickly. It'll be essential to rattle his cage early and have him hearing footsteps. Really hope the home crowd is into it from the beginning and can help the defense.

Shut down the run game and force the ball in Gabbert's hands. That's what I would do. Of course, if I was the Jags, I'd employ a similar strategy. Ponder needs to get the ball out quickly and our receivers need to create some separation to allow him to doso. He held onto the ball too long in that last preseason game. Hopefully he's learned from that and can advance the offense while scoring TDs in the red zone.

If Blackmon is in I expect them to attack through the air early. Test a secondary that was so horrible last season. Maybe build up some confidence in their young QB early in the season.

If that doesn't work I expect the run game to take over. I expect MJD to at least split carries. Remember, he wasn't injured or anything, just holding out and he's already gone back to practice.

dead_poet wrote:First impression is same as yours: run game. The Vikings' fierce Front Four has shown weakness since the days of the Williams Wall. I expect them to attack up the middle with a heavy dose of the run game and see if they can win at the LOS to keep pressure off Gabbert. Blackmon is an obvious concern. If he's out, I don't see them having much success at all through the air (he actually made Gabbert look good in the preseason), allowing the Vikings to really attack the run game with Winfield and Smith. I don't expect many deep shots. From what I've gathered in the preseason, they're doing a lot of quick drops and get the ball out of Gabbert's hands quickly. It'll be essential to rattle his cage early and have him hearing footsteps. Really hope the home crowd is into it from the beginning and can help the defense.

I hope so too.

I agree that they will probably want to get the ball out of Gabbert's hands quickly. That's why I'd go right at Brinkley. The Vikings seem to consider him a run stopper and blitzer first so I'd test his abilities as a pass defender early and often. If they have someone who can test the safeties, I'd try that too but slow-developing deep plays might be problematic if they want to protect Gabbert.

The Vikes d-line could almost win this game for them if they have a big day. Stop the run, pressure Gabbert and there should be rewards to reap.

I'm not sure how to attack the Jaguars defense but I agree that ponder needs to get the ball out quickly. I'd pass quite a bit on first down too (and not just short stuff). The Jaguars could be tough to run against so the Vikes may need to loosen up their defense to really get Gerhart (and possibly AD) going.

I wish I could watch this game live. I may have to subscribe to the NFL's Game Rewind service and watch it after the fact.

Drat.

Justin Blackmon - WR - Jaguars

Jaguars WR Justin Blackmon practiced fully on Thursday one day after sustaining an ankle injury.
Source: Jacksonville Jaguars on Twitter

A pretty good preview/breakdown of the upcoming game:

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/09/06/38 ... -0-at.html

Their conclusion? Here it is:

Though both teams are pocked with question marks, the Vikings are home and probably worthy of their four-point favorite status. Even if Peterson's return from injury and Jones-Drew's rustiness cancel each other out, it appears that Ponder is closer to ready for primetime and the availability of Harvin gives him an advantage Gabbert simply doesn't have. Allen figures to wreak at least intermittent havoc as well, which will probably cause at least one crucial - and decisive - mistake.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Vikings 17, Jaguars 10

well in about 15 -16 days we should now a lot about the vikings

2-0 they really improved the roster and have to do that again probably two more off seasons to have a real shot at a ring

1-1 improved a little and we should give the coaches two years at least

0-2 coaches should be fired at the end of the season we will be lucky to win two games

jackal wrote:well in about 15 -16 days we should now a lot about the vikings

2-0 they really improved the roster and have to do that again probably two more off seasons to have a real shot at a ring

1-1 improved a little and we should give the coaches two years at least

0-2 coaches should be fired at the end of the season we will be lucky to win two games

So if they go 0-2 and then win the next 10 games the coaches should be fired at the end of the season?

Easy to be a good defense when you played the explosive offensive systems of IND, TEN, and HOU 2x a year.

Cliff wrote:So if they go 0-2 and then win the next 10 games the coaches should be fired at the end of the season?

If they do that, the coaches should get a ticker tape parade.

Eli wrote: If they do that, the coaches should get a ticker tape parade.