Originally posted by thl408:
A Few Key Matchups
- NaVarro Bowman vs #28 RB Adrian Peterson
Hide your kids.....Bow is back! Two premier players make a comeback. They should collide a few times.
- Jordan Devey vs #73 DT Sharrif Floyd
Devey is a surprise starter after a preseason trade. Sharrif Floyd, entering his third season, is often the featured 3-tech in MIN's 4-3 Under front (shown below) and had a strong 2014. They have butted heads when Devey started for NE and will probably go 1v1 many times.
2014 - Week 2 (Devey is the RG #65)
- Torrey Smith vs #30 LCB Terence Newman
The 37 year old CB came over from CIN as a free agent during the offseason. They have gone head to head when Newman was with CIN and TSmith with BAL.
- Aaron Lynch vs #68 RT T.J. Clemmings
Lynch is looking to establish himself as the teams' best edge rusher. Vikings lost their solid six year veteran right tackle Phil Loadholt to an Achilles injury in preseason. Rookie 4th round pick T.J. Clemmings is now the starter.
Reasons to boooo the Vikings
- In the 1987 playoffs, the Vikings upset a heavily favored 49ers team in the Divisional Round, 36-24.
- In the last encounter, the Vikings defeated the visiting 49ers 24-13 on September 23, 2012.
- The Vikings made one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history by acquiring Herschel Walker, which helped provide the Cowpies with assets to build their 90's dynasty. Draft picks that resulted in the selections of Emmitt Smith, Alvin Harper, Darren Woodson, and Russell Maryland (indirectly).
Hide yo kids
LET'S GO NINERS!
So fired up!
Things I'll be watching for.
1. Scheme, scheme, and more scheme!
2. Nickel and Dime personnel choices (is Tartt and/or Ward coming in for Bowman and Wilhoite)
3. Lynch and Brooks...will be moved around a ton? Attacking OL weaknesses?
4. Pre and post-snap schemes used to create confusion.
5. How much is Miller used? How much is Ellington used?
6. QB outlets, RB's as primary receivers, moving of the launch points, quick-easy QB-friendly designs, underneath crossing routes, quick slants, post patterns, seam routes with TE's again, progression reads, in shotgun or under C mostly, RO, etc.
7. Where are we attacking in the run game...to the left mostly? How many two-back sets (no FB) with Hyde + Bush/Davis/Hayne
8. ST personnel...Ward/Tartt and McCray as the gunners? Who's back there in the return game.
9. Pass protection on 3-5-7 step drops.
10. Number of blitzes...from whom...from where...how many fakes = dropped back in coverage instead
11. DL personnel rotation and effectiveness
12. DL mostly staying at the LOS and two-gapping or attacking gaps and making plays in the backfield
13. Overall game plan = control the TOP, efficient passing game couples with a dominant run game with a few explosive plays, winning the TO battle, conservative vs. looking to put the nail in the coffin, etc.?
Any more?
