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Rams-Vikings: Seven for Sunday
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_c4f193b3-baba-5e5e-883f-896d7411f5ae.html
Over the years QB Shaun Hill has gone 4-0 against the Rams, posting passer ratings of 100-plus in three of those contests. So after watching him win games against them, the Rams now want him to win games for them. But there is lots of uncertainty. After throwing only 16 passes the past three seasons for Detroit, can Hill adjust quickly to regular-season game speed? And it’s not like we saw a lot of him in the preseason — he had his moments but threw only 17 times, the fewest of any of the four QBs in camp.
DEFENDING AP
Although the running styles are different, Adrian Peterson has similarities to a pair of the all-time greats. As was the case with Barry Sanders, you can absolutely stop Peterson for a quarter, a half, five carries, 10 carries — but then he’ll rip off a long game-changing run. It takes an all-day commitment of swarming to the football against him. And like the late, great Walter Payton, Peterson initiates contact — he doesn’t run away from it. If your heart isn’t into tackling, Peterson will tear the heart out of your defense.
MORE THAN AP
Don’t expect the same ultra-conservative Minnesota offensive approach that played out at the Dome two years ago. Not with Norv Turner calling plays. Not with Cordarelle Patterson and Greg Jennings at wide receiver. Not with Kyle Rudolph at tight end. The Vikings will test the Rams defense on every level. And Turner remains one of the league’s better play-callers. Patterson has deep speed and also is used on gadget plays carrying the football. Beware of Rudolph; Turner always likes to get his tight ends involved.
STORMING THE CASSELL
If Peterson’s running puts the Vikings in a lot of second-and-short, third-and-short situations, the Rams won’t have much of a chance to unleash #SackCity, their heralded pass rush. And if the Vikings can keep the Rams and Gregg Williams guessing, Matt Cassell has enough skill to do some damage. “Matt’s a smart, veteran quarterback,” Rams LB James Laurinaitis said. “And he’s been throwing the ball really well in preseason.” Cassell is more than a pocket passer, he can scramble effectively.
KICKOFF ALERT
What Patterson does best is return kickoffs. As a rookie, Patterson set franchise records for kickoff return yards (1,393) and kickoff return average (32.4 yards). He took two of those returns to the house, including an NFL record 109-yard return for a TD last October against Green Bay. Couple that with the fact that the Rams’ kickoff return unit sprung some leaks in the preseason — opponents averaged 27.3 yards per return — and there is cause for concern for special teams coordinator John Fassel’s crew.
MINNY UP FRONT
For years when facing the Vikings defense, you were used to seeing Jared Allen wreaking havoc on the edge and the Williams Wall — the unrelated Pat and Kevin Williams — in the middle at tackle. Well, they’re all gone now. Three of Minnesota’s four starters up front are new, as are all four backups. It’s a young group with good potential, but it’s an inexperienced unit. The Vikings will move rookie LB Anthony Barr up front in passing situations and pair him with Allen’s successor, Everson Griffin, at DE.
SECONDARY CONCERNS?
The Vikings finished 31st in pass defense a year ago and still have what a couple weak spots on the back end. No. 3 corner Josh Robinson struggled with penalties and injury a year ago as a starter but now comes off the bench in the nickel. He plays outside, with starter Captain Munnerlyn — the former Carolina Panther — sliding inside to cover the slot. And at strong safety, Robert Blanton has claimed the job almost by default and missed time in camp with a hamstring injury. He has only three career starts.
