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How Minnesota Vikings Can Best Mike McCarthy

Let’s Reid between the lines…

The Minnesota Vikings are heavy favorites against the Cowboys at home. Dallas only has two wins this year, but Head Coach and former division rival Mike McCarthy will try his best to steal a win and cool down his hot seat. Here’s how the Vikings can get their fourth straight victory:

COMMITMENT TO THE RUN GAME

The 2020 Vikings are clearly a run-first team. Heck, they even run the ball when it seems inappropriate to do so. Either way, pounding the ground is how the Minnesota offense tends to win games. 

If Cook doesn’t have open lanes against the Cowboys defensive line right away, the Vikings need to be patient and persistent. In their last game, Dallas only gave up 46 rushing yards to the Steelers.

In an interview this week, Rick Spielman voiced his approval of feeding the run against Chicago, even when the going was tough. Expect the Vikings to do the same today… they should be able to wear down the Cowboys defensive line.

HARASS THEM WITH THE BLITZ

Ever since the Cowboys lost Dak Prescott to an ankle injury, they’ve had a quarterback carousel. At one point, they were starting seventh round pick Ben DiNucci, who you’ve probably never heard of.

This week, Dallas will send out former Cincinnati signal caller Andy Dalton. He’s much more experienced than DiNucci, but 33 year old Dalton is not the quarterback he once was.

Every Dallas quarterback has looked uncomfortable in the pocket this year, and the Vikings should amplify the issue via a frequent blitz. Even if the Vikings defense can’t put Dalton on the ground, they can probably force him into some rushed throws. If it ends up being a close game, a costly turnover could seal the Cowboys fate and give way to another Vikings win.

TIGHTEN UP ON SPECIAL TEAMS

The last thing you want to do on special teams is give up a return touchdown… the Vikings did that against the Bears. The second to last thing you want to do is have a punt blocked… the Vikings had that happen twice the week before.

Mike Zimmer was noticeably angry with special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf on the sidelines last week. The second year coordinator definitely wants to stay on Zimmer’s good side, so I’m hopeful he made significant changes this week.

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Vikings Play Calling Cringeworthy on Third Down

Let’s Reid between the lines…

Minnesota has one of the best play callers of the past two decades in Gary Kubiak. So why is he calling conservative run plays on third and long? I have to believe the mastermind can come up with something more creative that might actually generate a first down.

Running the ball on third and extra long is ineffective. Some teams try it occasionally to catch defenses off guard, but the Vikings do it so often that it’s become predictable. 

Sure, Dalvin Cook might break loose once in a blue moon and pick up the first down, but that’s a real rarity. More than likely, he’ll be tripped up a few yards downfield and it’ll be time to punt. If this team wants to hang with the big boys, these wasted plays need to stop.

I’m starting to wonder if Kubiak is actually the one dialing up this play. Mike Zimmer could be so concerned about Cousins throwing a costly pick, that he isn’t allowing Kubiak to use the pass in these situations.

While it wouldn’t be smart to throw hail marys on third and twenty, couldn’t we please at least sling a pass near the line to gain. A fifteen to twenty yard strike is well within Cousins’ abilities, and he has at least four excellent options to throw to. The right play call could easily get someone open and make for a low-risk pass.

Every drive matters for a team with playoff aspirations. The Vikings have gotten away with these cringeworthy run calls on third down, but they need to keep their drives alive by throwing the ball going forward.

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Vikings Need to Bring The Blitz

The Vikings defense flustered the Chicago Bears with their blitz and earned a rare Monday Night Football win. To keep winning, the Purple defense should employ the blitz more often.    

The Vikings are fielding their weakest defensive line of recent memory. Everson Griffen is now a Detroit Lion, and Danielle Hunter is sidelined with a neck injury. Without these star players rushing the passer, Mike Zimmer is looking outside the defensive line to create pressure.

We’re seeing safety Harrison Smith charging into the backfield, Eric Kendricks storming through the A-gap, and even some corner blitzes. With versatile players like these, Zimmer and the coaching staff should use them even more.

When it comes to the young and unproven D-line, rotation is key. When you have eight defensive linemen active on gameday, you’d be smart to use them all. The coaching staff is following this logic so far, and it needs to continue throughout the playoff push.

Mike Zimmer really likes to rush the passer, and he is known for his famed double A-gap blitz. For non football minds, this is when two players (typically linebackers) try to rush past the center on both sides simultaneously. By overwhelming the center, the tactic creates instant quarterback panic.

Zimmer used this look frequently when he first came to Minnesota, but he has unleashed it less in recent years. I saw him “send the dogs” with great efficacy on Monday night, so he should trust the proven method more going forward.

The tradeoff of blitzing is having fewer men in pass coverage, but this hasn’t haunted the Vikings yet. Some of the most successful teams in the league are known for their persistent, exotic blitzes, so more is more in this scenario.

Rushing the quarterback won’t always put sacks on the stat sheet, but it creates an unstable pocket to throw from and a chain reaction of bad passes and picks. One pick can be the difference in winning a game — and one game can be the difference in making the playoffs.

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Vikings Should Not Have Ousted Elf

Let’s Reid between the lines…

Vikings right guard Pat Elflein missed the last seven weeks with a thumb injury, and he was finally activated off injured reserve Friday. Before he had a chance to compete for his old spot on the offensive line, the right guard was released by the Vikings in a shocking move Saturday.

It’s no secret Pat Elflein has struggled through his first four years in the league. He’s been tried at three positions along the offensive line and been a liability at each. This season, he was plugged in at right guard but went down in the season opener. It was a small sample size, but Elf didn’t look great in the few reps he had.

Because of Elfein’s injury, we saw a new face at right guard. Dru Samia became the starter and was constantly overmatched by opposing defensive linemen. He was giving up so much pressure that fans took to Twitter and awkwardly begged for an Elflein return.

Before Elflein could come off injured reserve and retake the role, Samia himself went down. The second-stringer was replaced by third-string rookie Ezra Cleveland, and this proved to be the beginning of the end for Elf. Ezra was shaky at first, but he has shown tremendous growth in only a couple weeks. Fans are hopeful he will be starting for years to come.

The decision to cut Elflein is surprising, as it saves no cap space and eliminates much needed depth. In the event of another injury, nobody wants to see Samia thrown back into the fire. It was appropriate to let Ezra Cleveland keep the starting gig, but a dangerous decision to oust Elf.

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Could New Vikings Defense Pave a Path to Playoffs?

Let’s Reid between the lines…

Analysts everywhere are giving Dalvin Cook all of the credit for the Vikings wins over Detroit and Green Bay. Cook has earned this hype, but Minnesota’s defense is also worthy of a standing ovation.

The Vikings defense looks completely different than it did last year. Half a dozen veterans were let go via free agency in the offseason. Some remaining household names like Danielle Hunter and Anthony Barr have also been lost to injury. 

With so much loss on defense, the Vikings are fielding some new young guns. This underdog defense struggled early in the season due to covid and morale lowering losses. After the bye week, this defense started finding their footing.

The young players are making some flashy plays. Whether it’s strip sacks by DJ Wonnum, near-interceptions by Kris Boyd, or tackles-for-loss by Jeff Gladney, these guys can play and are improving every week.

Their strong performance has also opened up opportunities for players like Eric Kendricks and Harrison Smith who both had interceptions against the Lions.

With how well the Vikings offense is playing right now, a trustworthy defense is just what the team needs. By limiting their opponents’ ability to score, the defense is giving the team a chance to win every week. If this defense keeps smothering opponents, they could even pave a path to the playoffs.

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A Winning Strategy to Defeat the Detroit Lions

Let’s Reid between the lines…

The Vikings game plan worked wonders last week against Green Bay. Because of Kirk Cousins’ recent struggles, most of the game went through Dalvin Cook. Detroit will be expecting a heavy dose of the run game, so Minnesota should stick to their known winning formula but add some twists.

Dalvin Cook is an elite player, but he’s not the only talented running back the Vikings have. Hopefully Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak recognizes this and makes better use of Minnesota’s other backs. Alexander Mattison has been used a bit this season, but I’d like to see more use of him, plus some carries for Mike Boone.

It’s no secret to Detroit that the Vikings will ride the run game, so a key will be HOW Minnesota runs the ball. Sometimes the Vikings get a little vanilla in their rushing attack, namely, they use too much inside zone and give up if it’s not working. The Lions will likely load the box and try to plug up the middle. I’d like to see Minnesota use some outside zone, pitches, and counters to give Cook and Mattison more room to run.

If the ground game doesn’t work, Cousins will have to throw the ball. That doesn’t mean he should be slinging it deep downfield, as he’s struggling with picks this year. It sounds boring, but he should stick with short screen passes and “dink and dunks” right over the middle. Once Cook or Mattison gets the ball in space, they’ve proven capable of turning a boring pass into a highlight-reel play.

The Detroit Lions are probably Minnesota’s weakest opponent in the division. This is the perfect opportunity for the Vikings to ride the run, tally another win, and continue the march to the postseason.

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An Unpopular Opinion About Dalvin Cook

Let’s Reid between the lines…

Against the Packers, Dalvin Cook had what could be the best game of his career. Cook was coming off of a groin injury, and the Vikings were extremely lucky that the injury wasn’t re-aggravated. But, their luck could run out if they don’t start using second-stringer Alexander Mattison more, especially if they get into the playoffs.

Let’s start off by recognizing Dalvin Cook’s talent. The fourth-year running back is nothing short of a prolific player, and he could become the best Vikings running back of all time. Yes, I believe Cook’s ability to contribute in both the run and pass game puts him a step above former Vikings running back, Adrian Peterson. Naturally, the Vikings want to use Cook a lot.

However, Cook is only a threat when he’s at full strength.

For three years, the concern about Cook has been his durability. The concern is warranted, as Dalvin tore an ACL early in his rookie season and has been plagued with injuries ever since. As an insurance policy, Minnesota drafted running back Alexander Mattison last year.

Surprisingly, Mattison has been almost as effective as Cook. Considering their similar build and running style, maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise.

Last season, Mattison ran at a pace of 4.58 yards per attempt compared to Cook who averaged 4.34 YPA. Anything above 4 YPA is excellent in the NFL, so Mattison looked like the steal of the draft. Those numbers proved not to be a fluke, as he continues to gash defenses and is currently averaging 4.44 YPA. The two players perform so similarly that sometimes play-by-play announcers don’t even notice when Mattison subs in for Cook. 

In a way, the Vikings have twin running backs. Yet, they’re putting all the wear and tear on one.

In the Green Bay game, Cook got 30 carries, while Mattison only had three. I understand favoring your highly-paid superstar a bit, but at a 10:1 ratio? That doesn’t add up. The longer the Vikings use Cook disproportionately, the greater the risk of losing him to injury.

When the team renewed Cook’s contract this September, there were talks of limiting his snap count to try to keep him healthy. I thought it was a good idea, but that strategy seems to have gone out the window.

Considering Kirk Cousins’ struggles with the passing game, it makes perfect sense for Minnesota to ride their running backs. The Vikings overused Cook against Green Bay and are lucky he didn’t get hurt. It’s time to start playing Cook less and Mattison more.

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Vikings vs. Packers Week 7: The Norse Awakens

Let’s Reid between the lines…

Against all odds, the Minnesota Vikings went into Green Bay and blew up the Packer defense like the Star Wars rebellion destroying the Death Star. With this single but significant victory over their biggest division rival, there is renewed hope throughout the North.

The Vikings defense showed as much fight as I’ve ever seen. It didn’t matter that they were down to their 7th-string corner (Mark Fields) by the fourth quarter. Nor did it matter when a cleat punctured Fields’ lung and he had to be replaced by a backup safety. Excuses were left in the locker room, and the tenacious unit shut down the Packers offense. Impressive, most impressive.

Aaron Rodgers and Co. underestimated the Purple rebellion, especially when it came to the run game. Running back Dalvin Cook scored four touchdowns in one game. That hasn’t been done by a Viking since Ahmad Rashad in 1979. Like a freedom fighter, Cook sliced and diced the Green Bay defense as if wielding a lightsaber.

Some will call the win lucky, but in my experience, there is no such thing as luck. The Vikings have a storied past and this season has been rough, but our team is resilient. We don’t roll over like the New York Jets and admit defeat when there are almost ten games left to play. Instead, we fight.

We go into every game, knowing a victory could be the spark that lights the fire that burns the old narrative down. Tanking will never align with our values.

The team has already compiled too many wins to #TankForTrevor, so we may as well let that old storyline die.

While making the playoffs is unlikely, so was yesterday’s win, and it’s too early to count this team out. There’s plenty of work to be done, but this battered team has a glimmer of hope, and rebellions are built on hope.

Minnesota’s chances may be slim, but never tell me the odds. Don’t forget that another playoff berth was added to each conference this year, which means there’s an additional spot up for grabs.

We saw the Norse awaken in week seven, so let’s trust the team to tame the Lions in week eight. This is the way.

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Packers Preview: Vikings Fans Have Plenty To Watch For

Let’s Reid between the lines…

Thanks to a very rough start to the season, the Minnesota Vikings are heavy underdogs against the Green Bay Packers. A Vikings victory is highly unlikely, but still possible. Regardless of the outcome of the game, there will be plenty of interesting storylines in this division collision.

WIN-WIN SITUATION

Win or lose, the Vikings come out of this game as winners. Oddly enough, they probably are more like winners if they lose. Huh? Losing aligns most with the tanking mentality, which looks to be where the team is headed with a 1-5 record. Racking up losses is no fun during the season, but it positions the team high in the upcoming NFL draft.

If the Vikings manage to beat the 5-1 Rodgers-led Packers, it would either mean Green Bay forfeited, or Minnesota played an epic game. Although a Vikings win worsens their future draft pick, it gives fans mega bragging rights for taking down a Super Bowl contender.

YOUNG GUNS

The injury bug and Covid-19 invaded team headquarters during the bye week. Consequently, the Vikings defense is depleted at several positions. This Green Bay game will be a great opportunity for rookies to get some experience and make a name for themselves

Minnesota is down their top two corners, so it’ll be up to rookies Jeff Gladney and Cam Dantzler to fill the voids. Both have seen action this season, but Rodgers and Co. provide a special challenge. A solid performance could earn either player higher rank when the regular starters return.

The Vikings are also shorthanded at linebacker, so rookie Troy Dye will get the first start of his NFL career. He played sparingly back in week two, but a foot injury took him out before we had a chance to see much. I’m excited to see how the fourth-round pick does in this trial-by-fire situation.

POST-BYE VIBES

Plenty of drama occurred on social media during the bye week. Fan-crafted trade proposals, fake news, and general angst towards the team spiraled to no end. I am very curious how the players will respond, namely those who fans talked about wanting to trade (Thielen, Smith, Harris, Rudolph). Hopefully the off-field drama doesn’t affect their play… at least not negatively. If they do perform poorly or look disinterested, trades may materialize.

Cousins was of course also mentioned on social media. Ravaged, shamed, or verbally abused would probably be better descriptors than ‘mentioned’… Let’s see how he responds to the criticism. A resounding road victory would silence some of his haters, so perhaps he’ll play with some extra pep in his step. A bye week can do a wary quarterback a lot of good.

Even if you’ve rightfully given up your Super Bowl dreams, there’s still plenty to watch for against the Packers.

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Vikings Fans: Don’t Take The Bait

Let’s Reid between the lines…

The Vikings recent struggles have turned social media into a ****show. A losing record can bring out the worst in a fanbase and put people in a tank-cut-trade state of mind. During this time of despair, we should proceed with caution on social media.

Earlier this week, I read reports of Harrison Smith being upset with the Vikings and unfollowing the team on Twitter. Surely, this was a bad sign for his future in Minnesota.

I took the bait and proceeded to retweet the Smith news, thinking a trade was imminent. 

I should have been suspicious, as the report originated from a questionable source. The author later tweeted an apology for having potentially spread fake news.

While it’s true that Smith is not currently following the Vikings on Twitter, nobody knows if he ever did. Even if he had followed the team, something so small should never warrant this much drama. 

This was an all-stop moment for me. It made me realize… with the way the season is going, myself and fellow Vikings fans are craving big news, good or bad, and getting drug into needless drama. I challenge fans not to take the bait in situations like Smith’s.

Fortunately, there are many reputable sources for Vikings news. Vikings.com (the official Minnesota Vikings website) and their social media platforms are the most legitimate. They do however tend to release news slower than other outlets and rarely include contract details. 

Trusted network sources include Courtney Cronin (ESPN), Adam Schefter (ESPN), Ian Rapoport (NFL Network), and Mike Garafolo (NFL Network). They tend to be in closest contact with the team and usually get news out the fastest.

I write my own blog and am a contributing senior writer at Vikings Territory. These sources are more local and provide a fabulous trifecta of news, analysis, and opinion.

Speculation in sports is fine and dandy, but make sure you’re not mistaking fake news for fact.

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