tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post3776185350629755495..comments2023-10-30T09:37:03.456-05:00Comments on Vikes Geek: Do Vikings Have Reason to Worry About Peterson's Production?vikes geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-70074015197567559482009-11-16T12:04:47.853-06:002009-11-16T12:04:47.853-06:00Lichty,
Long time.
I agree and I've been cal...Lichty,<br /><br />Long time.<br /><br />I agree and I've been calling for Peterson to be used in the passing game since he joined the team. One of the considerations the Vikings ought to afford themselves when deciding whether to re-sign Childress is the extent to which he is able to adapt. His stubborness rivals that of Tice and is particularly evident--quarterbacking aside--with respect to his use of Peterson. There is no reason not to use Peterson in the slot with Taylor in the backfield. None. But Childress refuses, so Vikings' fans will be left to wonder what might have been had Childress made full use of the talent on this team.<br /><br />VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-41468759720793149782009-11-16T10:25:29.759-06:002009-11-16T10:25:29.759-06:00Of course, the zone stretch is a poor match for an...Of course, the zone stretch is a poor match for an impatient runner, which does not designate a hole but rather calls for the runner to find creases.<br /><br />Not surprisingly, anecdotally it seems to me that the majority of Peterson's long runs are not to the point of attack but rather, him running into traffic and cutting back to the non-play side where contain is either abandoned, or inadequate to stop him from getting to the second and third level in a hurry.<br /><br />What that shows is that of course he needs to be utilized in the short passing game on screens and swings designed to get him into space. Would love to see him even lining up in slot with Taylor in backfield (although hard to wrestle that from Harvin who has been even better than I expected).J. Lichtyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830663908018116137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-48860510991832909352009-11-13T21:18:10.516-06:002009-11-13T21:18:10.516-06:00Maybe Jensen meant "since the Vikings last pl...Maybe Jensen meant "since the Vikings last played."<br /><br />VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-54304463081265236522009-11-13T11:04:40.136-06:002009-11-13T11:04:40.136-06:00This is funny in light of the nature of this post:...This is funny in light of the nature of this post:<br /><br />"Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson has improved his patience in waiting for holes to open up, writes Sean Jensen of the St. Paul Pioneer Press."<br /><br />Um, huh?Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06459312251088822284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-52779693012054370042009-11-12T15:23:06.900-06:002009-11-12T15:23:06.900-06:00ajj90-
Yes, the Vikings DO change their plan late...ajj90-<br /><br />Yes, the Vikings DO change their plan late in games, specifically when they have a lead. Frazier implements a soft cover-2 designed to bend (not break) and force the other team to eat clock by protecting the perimeters and far end of the field. Unfortunately, the secondary is such that opponents can throw short passes at/beyond the LBs and the defense allows a big play. I see poor angles and poor tackling on these plays, leading to too much scoring, and too quickly at that.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06459312251088822284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-16564925408649170612009-11-12T12:58:20.926-06:002009-11-12T12:58:20.926-06:00VG,
Agree totally that we might not be having thi...VG,<br /><br />Agree totally that we might not be having this conversation if Peterson was used more like Westbrook of the past in the screen game. I don't think it is a matter of the tread being off the tires of Peterson which I assumed was part of your thought based on your original post. I agree totally that he is mis/underused in the offense. Peterson has had tendencies in the past to be bottled up for stretches (albeit a lot shorter stretches then this year). I think it is feasible to think Peterson could go on a tear for 200+ yards rushing for a game or two and it would redirect our discussion on this team right back where it should be and that is why does the defense seem to give up so many points late in games? Why can't they put away the Ravens team with a dagger in the heart. Why does it have to come down to the wire against the Packers twice when the evidence suggests that the Vikings have the clear athletic advantage? Why do two late drive redzone turnovers become necessary for our defense to stop the Rams horrible offense. I haven't analyzed tape or anything but are the Vikings changing their defensive approach late in games? Is the defense getting tired late in games? Does the defense have tendencies that late in games is easy to figure out and defeat? These are my major concerns for a team that offensively averages pretty good/great numbers with or without the productivity potential fully being tapped from Adrian Peterson.ajj90https://www.blogger.com/profile/07319459280213342132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-55193600461892862082009-11-12T12:01:14.792-06:002009-11-12T12:01:14.792-06:00ajj90,
I agree with the assessment that Peterson ...ajj90,<br /><br />I agree with the assessment that Peterson can be credited with a great deal of Favre's success--though probably not to the same degree. Even in the face of blitzes, Favre is able to get rid of the ball. That's simply something that lesser quarterbacks such as Tarvaris Jackson struggle to do. It certainly helps Favre, however, to have the defense pre-occupied.<br /><br />You might be right regarding whether it is too early to worry about AP's production. But, then again, we are one-half of the way through the season. And if the question cannot be raised now, then when? <br /><br />Last year, teams were allowed to show zero respect for the Vikings' passing game. This year, they are at least required to play man. That still allows teams to cheat in the box if they are willing to give up the hot read. As long as that is Kleinsausage, that's a fair trade. When it's Percy Harvin, that's another story, however. If Peterson is not going to break out under such conditions, under what conditions ought we expect such a break-out?<br /><br />I suspect that, once the season is over, the Vikings will reveal that Peterson played much of this season with some form of leg injury. That would help explain the dramatic drop-off after week one and the team's unwillingness to make better use of him.<br /><br />VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-30621815773311778422009-11-12T11:51:27.867-06:002009-11-12T11:51:27.867-06:00Peter,
I agree. Teams are still daring the Vikin...Peter,<br /><br />I agree. Teams are still daring the Vikings to pass. At some point, logic should will out and compel teams to guard against the pass. If and when that happens, Peterson ought to run wild.<br /><br />There are two aspects to Peterson's game that remain troubling, however. One has little to do with Peterson, the other is simply inexplicable.<br /><br />Although Peterson is prolific whenever permitted to be part of the screen game, he still rarely is involved in such plays. There is no reason not to run 8-10 screens to Peterson every game.<br /><br />Equally confounding is Peterson's persistence in running into the line rather than picking his hole. Understanding the immediacy of the situation, it is still difficult to comprehend Peterson's utter lack of impatience when running between the tackles. Moreover, it is curious that the Vikings remain completely willing to call rushing plays between the tackles--where Peterson is at his weakest and most prone to injury--while refusing to expand Peterson's role on screen plays, where he arguably is at his best and least likely to get injured.<br /><br />VGvikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-90025713117708538572009-11-12T11:47:18.344-06:002009-11-12T11:47:18.344-06:00It is far too early to get worried about Peterson&...It is far too early to get worried about Peterson's production. Teams are figuring out that you can't give up your gap assignments when trying to catch Peterson so there isn't as many opportunities to hit the outside when an inside run is called like in years passed. Teams used to over-pursue Peterson which made a bounce out easier. Peterson has opened the door to let Favre have possibly the best start in his entire career. If you told me that Favre would have 16 touchdowns and only 3 INT's (two of them were bobbled passes) at this point of the season I wouldn't believe it. I credit Peterson for that production.ajj90https://www.blogger.com/profile/07319459280213342132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-27359992890496421082009-11-12T09:22:30.898-06:002009-11-12T09:22:30.898-06:00My hope is that any team that's able to effect...My hope is that any team that's able to effectively shut Favre down will have opened the door to Peterson and will pay dearly. It seems that opponents continue to pick Favre as their poison, but if Favre does throw nearly 4000 yards and 30+ touchdowns, he'll have opponents' defensive attention in the playoffs. That SHOULD let Peterson shine.<br /><br />If my optimism hurts me again this year, I might be a much more passive fan of the team for a few years.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06459312251088822284noreply@blogger.com