Vikings vs 49ers, 07 Dec 2007 Pregame Analysis by Dave Stefano VikingsValhalla.com
Heading out to the city by the bay our boys in purple look to see if they can keep there momentum going. In the past these games tend to get ugly with Minnesota playing down to its opponents. Last year was no different and marked the worst game of the 2006 season with a 9-3 loss where the offense just floundered around and couldn’t score, (even if they paid for it). The defense was respectable holding the Frank Gore to just 41 yards but the ineptitude of the offense drug the team down.
So what is different this year? The defense still is #1 in the league against the run, and for most of the first half of the season, the Vikings offense had trouble scoring. Heck, there were more points scored by our defense than by our receiving corps.
But things have changed. We possess the #1 running game in the league with rookie sensation Adrian Peterson leading the league with 1197 yards total rushing. He is backed up by Chester Taylor, in what is with out a doubt the best tailback tandem in the league. This has given time for Coach Childress to mold Tarvaris Jackson into an efficient young quarterback.
Jackson’s progress has been evident in the last two games especially where he has managed routs over two playoff bound teams, the Giants and the Lions, possibly knocking the latter one out of the race. The offense has managed to score over 40 points in both those games versus good defenses, and T-Jack has had his first QB rankings into the 100’s.
So how will all of that translate on Sunday? It should mean the offense, facing the 23rd ranked defense, ranked 27th against the rush allowing 124 yards on average and 20th against the pass at 222.2 yards allowed should be able to almost move the ball at will.
The 49ers have two key injuries in just the wrong spot, cornerback Marcus Hudson (knee) has been ruled out for the game and cornerback Shawntae Spencer (quad) did not practice this week and was doubtful. Also, safety Mark Roman, who banged his ankle in practice Friday, was questionable. That should at least make Sidney Rice happy.
The only apparent challenge is against the man that will easily capture the Defensive Rookie of the Year, Patrick Willis. This guy leads the leagues in tackles and is a ball hawk.
Coach Childress had a colorful comment on San Francisco 49ers rookie LB Patrick Willis this week.
"I’ll tell you what, he is a rolling ball of butcher knives," Childress said. "He is everywhere. He’s a million-mile-an-hour guy."
Willis leads the 49ers with an astounding 128 tackles, 55 more than the next closest defender. He also has one sack, one forced fumble and four passes defended. It will be up to our offensive line and lead blockers to get a hat on him and keep him engaged and off of AP and Taylor.
Speaking of the line, the biggest test will once again come at right tackle where Ryan Cook will face 49ers DT Bryant Young. The Niners are one of the few teams playing a 3-4 and this should leave Ryan in a good position to block down on the run, and not have to worry as much about a speed rush on the pass. Cook has gone from suspect to solid this season and has been tested on an almost weekly basis.
The offense, rather than flounder like last year, should be able to dominate, and we should see another big game for Adrian Peterson, and more improvement from Tarvaris Jackson.
The Vikings defense will be facing a motivated and healthy Frank Gore, who is looking to avenge his embarrassment from last year. Last November, the Vikings held Gore to 41 yards in 19 carries, limiting him to a 2.2-yard average during a season in which he ran for team-record 1,695 yards at 5.4 yards per pop.
Gore hasn't had that kind of production this season - he's averaged 4.2 yards and gained 713 overall - but he'd like nothing better than to break through the Vikings defense and steal the thunder from rookie sensation Adrian Peterson.
"Last year, they kind of held me down," Gore said. "It's going to be a big challenge for me because a lot of the same people are coming back. But I'm ready. I love the competition. I'll go out there Sunday and give it my best, like I do every Sunday."
Pat Williams, who leads the defensive line in tackles, along with Kevin Williams to his side and E.J. Henderson backing them up have been able to shut down virtually all running backs this year from running up the middle. If Frank Gore wants to run and the Niners establish some sort of running game, he’ll have to do it from the edges.
The edges are going to be a little different the rest of the season with Ray Edwards now serving a 4 game suspension for testing positive for a steroid type substance last January, and coupled with Erasmus James being put back on IR for re-injuring his ACL in his left knee. Rookie Brian Robison and Jayme Mitchell will be having to pick up the slack.
Even with the #1 rush defense in the league holding teams to just barely over 70 yards per game, the Vikings D ranks only 24th because the passing D ranks dead last at 32nd. That stats is deceiving though, and the play of the group has improved significantly as of late with defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier’s mixing in of blitzes and different passing coverages to keep opposing quarterbacks confused. Probably the most important defensive stat is points against, where the Vikings rank 10th in the league and should only get better facing the last ranked offense in the league.
The 49ers up and coming top drafted QB, Alex Smith has a shoulder injury and is probably done for the season. Trent Dilfer has been playing in his place but has done no better. The team gave up 6 turnovers and an equal amount of sacks last week against Carolina. The San Francisco offensive line is reported to have problems picking up blitzes, something the Vikings D thrives on to create disruption and turnovers. All of this pointed to an expected rout.
Can the Vikings score over 40 points three weeks in a row and cement their standing as the most dangerous team in the NFC? We’ll see.
This is one of those games I fear the most, a let down by the team, then playing down to their opponents on the way to the big choke.
Now that I've got that out of my system, the reality is that we should see a 40 point effort again from the O, and the D will want to keep the Niners at least losing by 30, and Frank Gore under 50 yards of rushing.
I hope you enjoyed the full breakdown, and more importantly the game.
DE Erasmus James is out, as he will be placed on injured reserve with another ACL injury. S Mike Doss (hamstring) and S Tank Williams (knee) are both doubtful after missing all three practices this week. OL Artis Hicks (back), linebacker E.J. Henderson (illness) and WR Troy Williamson (concussion) are questionable. DT Spencer Johnson (groin), RB Adrian Peterson (knee), LB Dontarrious Thomas (groin) and CB Antoine Winfield (hamstring) are probable.
For the San Francisco 49ers, CB Marcus Hudson (knee) is out. CB Shawntae Spencer (quad) is doubtful. WR Arnaz Battle (ankle), Mark Roman and QB Alex Smith (shoulder/forearm) are questionable. RB Frank Gore (ankle), WR Jason Hill (groin), QB Shaun Hill (finger), LB Derek Smith (groin) and CB Donald Strickland (knee) are probable.
While there certainly isn't a "key" game in any season... they are all key. This one is definately one to watch to see if the emotional intensity is there. Of course the Giants and Lions were going to bring out the best...but now, on the road, on grass, late game, vs. a team that sux... will they put all that aside and take care of business?
My opinion is a team that can run and stop the run is much less likely to suffer a let down... but let's not kid anyone. We've been fans a long time and it's all too fresh a wound McNown's hapless Cardinals hail mary to shut us out of the playoffs a few years ago.
This is the worst of the 4 teams left. OK, a "must" win. Who knows what the Bears or Broncos will bring. We have to win the ones we're supposed to win. Over a TD favorite on the road? Been a long time since we've had that cushion in the eyes of Vegas.
I usually would be really worried about a game like this, but for some reason Im not worried at all, I expect a blowout, and I hope they prove me right!!!
The Williams Wrecking Crew each had a pick - Lovin' it.
defense was strong through the game...
I thought Play calling for the offense in the second was very poor... looked to me like they were playing "not to loose". It scares me when the coaches do that... I would rather have them run up the score.
Kudos to Taylor w/100+ game! (first time we have seen Peterson visibly frustrated. ) Betting he comes back stronger next week.
BigGun wrote: First half looked great.I agree completely.
The Williams Wrecking Crew each had a pick - Lovin' it.Spencer may even get credited with an interception too. He initially did, then it was changed to a fumble recovery, but may be re-categorized after all the official stats are reviewed. And don't you think the Williams' were giving the defensive backs grief on the way home for having more interceptions than they did?
defense was strong through the game...I thought they were playing extremely conservative in the second half, prevent-like with no concerted efforts at heavy blitzing and disruption. --- Just my opinion.
I thought Play calling for the offense in the second was very poor... looked to me like they were playing "not to lose". It scares me when the coaches do that... I would rather have them run up the score.The first half seemed very pass happy, but other than the 84 yard Taylor run, the Vikes looked to be switching their normal approach of winning from the power run game. Between Chet and AP, they only had a total of 22 rushing attempts. That is almost half of what the Bevell had been calling. I wonder who's benefit that was for, the Vikes to know that they indeed can survive by the pass if needed, T-Jack's education and grooming, or was it for Chicago, Washington, Denver, and the NFC playoff teams to think about? I suspect all of them.
Kudos to Taylor w/100+ game! (first time we have seen Peterson visibly frustrated. ) Betting he comes back stronger next week.I hope you are right about Adrian. I sure wouldn't mind him putting another 200+ yard performance together against the team he first did it. I would also like to see a game this year where Chet and AP both topped 100.
It was a good victory. The boys should enjoy for the plane ride back and film watch, then get to getting ready to defeat the Bears. "One game at a time."
You see him every home game in the Metrodome normally riding a motorized something or grabbing a cheerleaders pom poms or harassing the apposing team... Yes we all know I’m talking about Ragnar…
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