keasley45
Well-known member
3-1 feels good. We were also 3-1 at the same point last year when we gradually began to see exactly who and what our team was when it ran into a string of more challenging competition.
What is different? We have a defense that I think we can comfortably say is one of the best in the league. No smoke, no mirrors.
But on offense, although we are overall more balanced and efficient, we have also shown a jeckyll and hyde tendency on the ground that is concerning. We are one of the better teams in the league when it comes to generating medium to long gains. We are also one of the worst in the league when it comes to runs for zero gain and runs for negative yards. This reality has come against defenses that have ranked in the lower half of the league. Our wins have come against the 18th, 23rd and 28th ranked defenses in total yards. Tampa sports the 5th best rush defense and despite a loss, stonewalled the Eagles ground game (both Hurts and Barkley). They also have the 9th best pass defense. Overall, they are 4th in the league. Up to now, the best we have gone against was the 9ers at 14, a game we lost, and the cardinals rush defense at 9, who did a decent job at stopping us situationally.
Mac wants a hard nosed, run first offense and it seems we are well on the way to achieving that. We are more physical, more balanced and play great complimentary ball. However, unless our defense and special teams are elite, there will be ganes when our pass attack will be forced to carry us. It looks like this week will shape up to be one of those games.
Fingers crossed that our re-tooled offense (o line, Kubiak, and Sam) are up to the task Andy that when the competition gets tough, that we can maintain our ability to function through the air. The knock on Sam and what was shown late season last year when a Vikings offense that looked unstoppable at times laid consecutive eggs closing out the season is that if you force him into the quick passing game, he can struggle. That fact was dissected by analysts, by Minny fans and by many a YouTube reviewer who analyzed Sams game when the trade was announced. I think today will shed some light on whether the issue is Sam, or whether it was more poor play calling and a failing OLine that did Minny in in the wildcard round. This year I think I recall seeing that like last year in Minnesota, Sam is near tops in the league in longer passes. That's not to say we or he can't pass short, but it remains to be seen how functional that aspect of our attack can be.
Have a feeling this game will give us a better feeling of who and what we are on offense.if we play well, even in a loss, it bodes well for the rest of the season. If we lay and egg and our offense is stymied... It's still early, but I think the season and our prospects for a deep playoff run will look a lot less rosey.
The run game needs to get going, and function against a strong defense. Like the passing game, we have struggled to manufacture consistent short gains when we need them and have lived off of the longer outside zone runs. Inside zone? Not so much and especially not to the right side. The line needs to give Sam enough time, and Kubiak and Sam need to evolve the short passing attack.
Fingers crossed...
What is different? We have a defense that I think we can comfortably say is one of the best in the league. No smoke, no mirrors.
But on offense, although we are overall more balanced and efficient, we have also shown a jeckyll and hyde tendency on the ground that is concerning. We are one of the better teams in the league when it comes to generating medium to long gains. We are also one of the worst in the league when it comes to runs for zero gain and runs for negative yards. This reality has come against defenses that have ranked in the lower half of the league. Our wins have come against the 18th, 23rd and 28th ranked defenses in total yards. Tampa sports the 5th best rush defense and despite a loss, stonewalled the Eagles ground game (both Hurts and Barkley). They also have the 9th best pass defense. Overall, they are 4th in the league. Up to now, the best we have gone against was the 9ers at 14, a game we lost, and the cardinals rush defense at 9, who did a decent job at stopping us situationally.
Mac wants a hard nosed, run first offense and it seems we are well on the way to achieving that. We are more physical, more balanced and play great complimentary ball. However, unless our defense and special teams are elite, there will be ganes when our pass attack will be forced to carry us. It looks like this week will shape up to be one of those games.
Fingers crossed that our re-tooled offense (o line, Kubiak, and Sam) are up to the task Andy that when the competition gets tough, that we can maintain our ability to function through the air. The knock on Sam and what was shown late season last year when a Vikings offense that looked unstoppable at times laid consecutive eggs closing out the season is that if you force him into the quick passing game, he can struggle. That fact was dissected by analysts, by Minny fans and by many a YouTube reviewer who analyzed Sams game when the trade was announced. I think today will shed some light on whether the issue is Sam, or whether it was more poor play calling and a failing OLine that did Minny in in the wildcard round. This year I think I recall seeing that like last year in Minnesota, Sam is near tops in the league in longer passes. That's not to say we or he can't pass short, but it remains to be seen how functional that aspect of our attack can be.
Have a feeling this game will give us a better feeling of who and what we are on offense.if we play well, even in a loss, it bodes well for the rest of the season. If we lay and egg and our offense is stymied... It's still early, but I think the season and our prospects for a deep playoff run will look a lot less rosey.
The run game needs to get going, and function against a strong defense. Like the passing game, we have struggled to manufacture consistent short gains when we need them and have lived off of the longer outside zone runs. Inside zone? Not so much and especially not to the right side. The line needs to give Sam enough time, and Kubiak and Sam need to evolve the short passing attack.
Fingers crossed...
