tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post2680475302814908060..comments2023-10-30T09:37:03.456-05:00Comments on Vikes Geek: Running Issuesvikes geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-16163171624835243622007-12-13T15:54:00.000-06:002007-12-13T15:54:00.000-06:00"Jackson also seems to do well on keepers around t..."Jackson also seems to do well on keepers around the right end."<BR/><BR/>That's because he's right-handed and already facing in the best direction to take off running that way.<BR/><BR/>I'm also excited for the alternate explanation!Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06459312251088822284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-74773361834233920102007-12-13T09:47:00.000-06:002007-12-13T09:47:00.000-06:00VG,Those numbers do include runs to the outside bu...VG,<BR/><BR/>Those numbers do include runs to the outside but are _only_ runs by RBs, QB rushes aren't included.<BR/><BR/>Left/right end means outside to the left right.<BR/><BR/>Left/right tackle means "off tackle" type runs.<BR/><BR/>Mid/guard actually means between the guards.<BR/><BR/>Since they charted without knowing playcalls, its almost impossible to tell exactly where the RB was "supposed" to go.<BR/><BR/>http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol.php<BR/><BR/>Awaiting your other explanation, because I'm not terribly satisfied with mine.SL__72https://www.blogger.com/profile/05245232277476184867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-46180211337336962422007-12-13T08:03:00.000-06:002007-12-13T08:03:00.000-06:00Rastak,Your latter point is well taken.VGRastak,<BR/><BR/>Your latter point is well taken.<BR/><BR/>VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-55554572274788249382007-12-13T08:02:00.000-06:002007-12-13T08:02:00.000-06:00Cabrito,Patience grasshopper.I predict a column in...Cabrito,<BR/><BR/>Patience grasshopper.<BR/><BR/>I predict a column in the next 24 hours.<BR/><BR/>VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-20213168304610050792007-12-13T08:01:00.000-06:002007-12-13T08:01:00.000-06:00SL,Nice numbers. I agree that, absent the the lon...SL,<BR/><BR/>Nice numbers. I agree that, absent the the long Chester Taylor run on Sunday, the left side was not much better on running plays than the right side of the offensive line. What your season-long numbers indicate is that the Vikings' best option is to run behind Hutchinson and Birk. It does not surprise me in the least that McKinnie's numbers are low.<BR/><BR/>There should be three more statistics on your list. One for runs around the left end, one for runs around the right end, and one for runs by the quarterback. The Vikings tend to do well on runs around the right end, with Kleinsasser leading the way. It seems to be less the case around left end (save for one play on Sunday), where the Vikings generally appear to go without a blocking tight end to lead the way. Jackson also seems to do well on keepers around the right end.<BR/><BR/>VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-47974029531078739172007-12-13T07:52:00.000-06:002007-12-13T07:52:00.000-06:00Lichty,For those who believe that the Vikings' off...Lichty,<BR/><BR/>For those who believe that the Vikings' offense has arrived, the point is instructive. For large stretches of last season and this season, Childress was enamored with misdirection and delay plays--particularly plays that called for a dump off behind the line of scrimmage. Against the Lions, the Vikings did a better job integrating different plays into the offensive scheme. More on how that played out versus SF in the next column.<BR/><BR/>VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-30549015489084304292007-12-12T18:51:00.000-06:002007-12-12T18:51:00.000-06:00Well, I've read in more than a couple places that ...Well, I've read in more than a couple places that the 49ers did sell out against the run with corner blitzes denying the Vikings the edge and shutting down the run game. Also, the Vikings seemed to telegraph when they would run by sending Peterson in on almost exclusivly running plays. That last point concerns me but what also concerns me is why Jackson didn't rack up 300 yards if they were blitzing one or two conrners every play.Rastakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18056250693656890319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-47441741292235648832007-12-12T09:59:00.000-06:002007-12-12T09:59:00.000-06:00This is an interesting thread you've initiated, VG...This is an interesting thread you've initiated, VG. Like most Vikings fans, I'm very curious as to why our running attack fell flat last Sunday. I welcome the explanations offered by you and other bloggers. But please don't keep us in suspense any longer! What is the other explanation you've teased us with?Cabritohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06413035026045238243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-48298289998399349842007-12-11T12:22:00.000-06:002007-12-11T12:22:00.000-06:00I don't know that I agree about the right side bei...I don't know that I agree about the right side being the problem. Cook certainly isn't capable of dominating defenders the way McKinnie can, but from what I've seen he also doesn't get "beaten" as often as McKinnie. Coming into the game, here is how the Vikings rushing has faired as measured by adjusted line yards and their rank):<BR/><BR/>Left End: 4.38 (13th)<BR/>Left Tackle: 4.09 (22nd)<BR/>Mid/Guard: 4.69 (3rd)<BR/>Right Tackle: 3.91 (22nd)<BR/>Right End: 3.99 (19th)<BR/><BR/>Here are where the RBs are going:<BR/>LE: 15%<BR/>LT: 12%<BR/>MG: 52%<BR/>RT: 8%<BR/>RE: 12%<BR/><BR/>While the right side is slightly worse, it isn't bad enough to be "the" problem. When I was watching I thought it just looked like they weren't playing very well as a group. It looked like maybe they kind of just took the day off...SL__72https://www.blogger.com/profile/05245232277476184867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-32280705988147136972007-12-11T12:19:00.000-06:002007-12-11T12:19:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.SL__72https://www.blogger.com/profile/05245232277476184867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-59375603389410256562007-12-11T11:22:00.000-06:002007-12-11T11:22:00.000-06:00j. litchy,I completely agree. The best runs to th...j. litchy,<BR/><BR/>I completely agree. The best runs to the right will happen when the entire O-line pushes left and a lone WR (or two) on the right provide the only blocking. I suppose FB Tony Rishardson or TE Kleinsasser could be put into motion to help block as well, but the point is to get the whole defense to move left, which shouldn't be tough considering who the C, LG and LT are.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06459312251088822284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-88423513072701241302007-12-11T10:56:00.000-06:002007-12-11T10:56:00.000-06:00I didn't have a chance to watch the game on Sunday...I didn't have a chance to watch the game on Sunday, but perhaps my tortured existence as a Michigan fan who watched his team struggle to run against otherwise wretched run defenses of NW, Mich State and Wisc. is that sometimes the problem is schematic.<BR/><BR/>I know the Vikes have been using a zone stretch philosphy this year. That scheme is fairly easy to defeat if no misdirection is used. A defense merely has to slant to the gaps in the direction the play is going, forcing the Oline to caught up in the first level and having to come accross too many bodies to create engagement with the defenders on that level.<BR/><BR/>For example, it will be difficult for Birk to block a defender on a running play left if all of the defenders are shooting gaps to the left of the olinemen. In short, Birk has to be faster to the spot against a player with a head start. I saw this time and time again with Michigan, and only some great elusiveness in the backfield from Mike Hart made the numbers look respectable.<BR/><BR/>The way to defeat this slanting/cheeating is misdirection. Counters and play action kill a slanting defense and allow for a lot of yards away from the slant - something Michgan refused to do. <BR/><BR/>I am saying this only as a way that the zone stretch gets easily defeated, and not based upon anything that actually happened on Sunday - it is just something to look for when watching the game.J. Lichtyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02244118118256406595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-3547732254732476672007-12-11T09:10:00.000-06:002007-12-11T09:10:00.000-06:00VG,I agree that the Vikings struggled to run block...VG,<BR/><BR/>I agree that the Vikings struggled to run block effectively on Sunday. I do believe that the right side of the line is a weakness. (Specifically, converted center Ryan Cook.)<BR/><BR/>I still believe that the 49ers are a strong defense stuck with a totally pathetic offense. But, I wanted to point out that the statement suggesting that the 49ers have a poor rush defense is somewhat incorrect.<BR/><BR/>The 49ers are among the bottom six teams in the entire NFL for yards allowed per game. However, you'll notice that there are only two teams with more rush attempts against their defense (Jets, Dolphins). Personally, I believe that this illustrates that the 49ers generally get behind early and opposing teams simply run the ball to control the game. (This would be easy to believe, considering the team's poor offensive performance.)<BR/><BR/>Also, you'll notice that the 49ers are right around the middle of the pack for rush allowed rushes greater than twenty and forty yards. (I think that these plays are a core part of the Vikings explosive run attack.)<BR/><BR/>I'm not arguing that the Vikings were perfect or anything, because they were far from it. We need to consistently block the run well, and our special teams need to improve. I'm just trying to point out that there probably is not one reason alone for the general lack of rushing success on Sunday. It very well could be a combination of several things. (Poor run blocking, solid defense, etc.)<BR/><BR/>Just trying to put another point of view out there. Keep up the good work!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18192120742564077335noreply@blogger.com