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Rams at Vikings: Seven for Sunday
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_2dfaa837-7162-5d6b-8f4d-6a5a585177ce.html
Both teams have defensive-oriented head coaches: Jeff Fisher of the Rams and Mike Zimmer of the Vikings. Both teams are built on strong running games with marquee backs: Adrian Peterson of Minnesota and Todd Gurley of St. Louis. Both teams have top 10 defenses: The Rams are sixth in total defense; the Vikings seventh. Neither team does much with the forward pass, with the Rams ranked 32nd and the Vikings 30th in passing offense. And both are trying to work their way into the NFC playoff picture.
FLAG FOOTBALL
In what figures to be a close game, the team that makes the fewest mistakes could come out the winner. And if that’s the case, give the edge to Minnesota — at least in the area of penalties. Minnesota is the NFL’s least-penalized team this season, both in terms of penalties assessed (39) and penalty yards (340). Zimmer’s squad was among the league’s least-penalized teams last year as well. Although the Rams are doing better in this area this year, they have totaled 21 penalties for 168 yards the past two Sundays.
THE GREAT AP
Peterson logged his third 100-yard rushing game of the season last week in Chicago, and is well on his way to a 1,500-yard season at age 30. Matt Asiata frequently replaces Peterson on third down, and Jerick McKinnon occasionally will spell him in the base offense. But Peterson remains the man who makes the Minnesota offense run; he’s still a big play waiting to happen. Realistically speaking, the Rams hope to contain him; they’re not going to shut him down.
TEDDY’S TIME
So far, QB Teddy Bridgewater hasn’t made that second-year leap as was hoped for by the Vikings. In fact, his statistics are very similar to what he posted last year as a rookie. He doesn’t have ideal arm strength, but is very accurate. He is poised and patient in the pocket, far beyond his experience level in the NFL. He’s not big on scrambling, but is effective when using his legs. More caretaker than playmaker at this point, Bridgewater might have gained confidence with his fourth-quarter comeback vs. Chicago.
DIGGS EMERGES
Speedster Mike Wallace leads the Vikings with 26 catches, but is averaging only 11.2 yards per catch and hasn’t provided the big plays the team hoped for when they obtained him in a trade with Miami in March. Another speedster, Cordarrelle Patterson, has almost fallen off the depth chart with only two catches (for 10 yards) this season. But Stefon Diggs has saved the passing game. After being inactive for the first three games, he has 25 catches for 419 yards in four contests. He’s a polished route runner for a rookie.
PASS-RUSH TANDEM
Overall, the Vikings are in the middle of the road when it comes to rushing the passer. But they have an effective, if unheralded, tandem in DE Everson Griffen and DT Tom Johnson. Griffen and Johnson have combined for 25 sacks since the start of the 2014 season — that’s the fifth-highest total for an end-tackle tandem in the league over that span. The Rams’ duo of DE Robert Quinn and DT Aaron Donald is tied for second in that time period, with 29 sacks. Griffen has been playing with a painful neck injury.
LINEBACKER ISSUES
While the Rams are banged up at defensive end, the Vikings have health concerns at linebacker — the strongest unit on their squad. Middle ’backer Eric Kendricks, who’s tied for second on the team in tackles (50), second in sacks (four), and second in tackles for loss (six), is out because of injured ribs. Strong side LB Anthony Barr, another of the team’s top defenders, is questionable (back issue). In part because of the talent at linebacker, this is a fast-flowing defense.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_2dfaa837-7162-5d6b-8f4d-6a5a585177ce.html
Both teams have defensive-oriented head coaches: Jeff Fisher of the Rams and Mike Zimmer of the Vikings. Both teams are built on strong running games with marquee backs: Adrian Peterson of Minnesota and Todd Gurley of St. Louis. Both teams have top 10 defenses: The Rams are sixth in total defense; the Vikings seventh. Neither team does much with the forward pass, with the Rams ranked 32nd and the Vikings 30th in passing offense. And both are trying to work their way into the NFC playoff picture.
FLAG FOOTBALL
In what figures to be a close game, the team that makes the fewest mistakes could come out the winner. And if that’s the case, give the edge to Minnesota — at least in the area of penalties. Minnesota is the NFL’s least-penalized team this season, both in terms of penalties assessed (39) and penalty yards (340). Zimmer’s squad was among the league’s least-penalized teams last year as well. Although the Rams are doing better in this area this year, they have totaled 21 penalties for 168 yards the past two Sundays.
THE GREAT AP
Peterson logged his third 100-yard rushing game of the season last week in Chicago, and is well on his way to a 1,500-yard season at age 30. Matt Asiata frequently replaces Peterson on third down, and Jerick McKinnon occasionally will spell him in the base offense. But Peterson remains the man who makes the Minnesota offense run; he’s still a big play waiting to happen. Realistically speaking, the Rams hope to contain him; they’re not going to shut him down.
TEDDY’S TIME
So far, QB Teddy Bridgewater hasn’t made that second-year leap as was hoped for by the Vikings. In fact, his statistics are very similar to what he posted last year as a rookie. He doesn’t have ideal arm strength, but is very accurate. He is poised and patient in the pocket, far beyond his experience level in the NFL. He’s not big on scrambling, but is effective when using his legs. More caretaker than playmaker at this point, Bridgewater might have gained confidence with his fourth-quarter comeback vs. Chicago.
DIGGS EMERGES
Speedster Mike Wallace leads the Vikings with 26 catches, but is averaging only 11.2 yards per catch and hasn’t provided the big plays the team hoped for when they obtained him in a trade with Miami in March. Another speedster, Cordarrelle Patterson, has almost fallen off the depth chart with only two catches (for 10 yards) this season. But Stefon Diggs has saved the passing game. After being inactive for the first three games, he has 25 catches for 419 yards in four contests. He’s a polished route runner for a rookie.
PASS-RUSH TANDEM
Overall, the Vikings are in the middle of the road when it comes to rushing the passer. But they have an effective, if unheralded, tandem in DE Everson Griffen and DT Tom Johnson. Griffen and Johnson have combined for 25 sacks since the start of the 2014 season — that’s the fifth-highest total for an end-tackle tandem in the league over that span. The Rams’ duo of DE Robert Quinn and DT Aaron Donald is tied for second in that time period, with 29 sacks. Griffen has been playing with a painful neck injury.
LINEBACKER ISSUES
While the Rams are banged up at defensive end, the Vikings have health concerns at linebacker — the strongest unit on their squad. Middle ’backer Eric Kendricks, who’s tied for second on the team in tackles (50), second in sacks (four), and second in tackles for loss (six), is out because of injured ribs. Strong side LB Anthony Barr, another of the team’s top defenders, is questionable (back issue). In part because of the talent at linebacker, this is a fast-flowing defense.
