Formations
by AZVikesfan on Jan 5, 2009 10:20 AM CST
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PrintWhen the Vikings lined up for a crutial 3rd and 2 when the game was still close yesterday, they lined up in an offset backfield with AP and a fb. They have used this same formation a number of times this year, and ALWAYS run the ball to the weak side of the formation....AP always gets the ball and runs to the opposite side following the fb. Ok, yes....it did work earlier in the year on the goaline and AP walked in for 6. That was nice. Then I saw it work again against the Bears on that Sunday night....picked up a first down, gain of about 5 or so. Then I saw them try it in person here in AZ against the Cards.....stuffed for no gain.
So there it was again yesterday, when a first down would have put us in or near field goal range and kept the drive alive and potential for the lead. They run it, and AP is stuffed for a loss.....punt.
If I as a casual fan sitting at home with my buddies can recognize a formation and what play is going to happen, I'm guessing that an NFL defense that has been watching film and scouting us can do the same. Why would they run the EXACT play out of this formation again??? At least run it the other direction for a change, or play action...? It seems very uncreative for an NFL offensive coordinator to not mix it up a little more, especially in the playoffs.
I don't claim to be an offensive guru myself, but I don't think it takes a genius to know that you better mix things up when you only run ONE play the SAME way out of a formation that you get into only once or twice per game.
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I commented on this same thing yesterday.
It is an awesome play and has worked more than you’ve noted. However, having never ran anything else out of it to that point in the game was a huge mistake, as the Eagles were prepared. The Tahi block at the point of contact was missed, but the Eagles were in position to stuff it regardless.
That is one area Childress and Bevell must improve. Their lack of creativity and long term game planning leaves the Vikings in more difficult situations than necessary.
Slot offtackle
…in the Tecmo Super Bowl game was a great play, but the formation and motion always gave it away since there was nothing else in the playbook with similar motion. I don’t think that game very accurately represented whichever team/coach used that play, but I suppose that Childress isn’t the first coach to go to the well too many times. I heard or read something to that effect about Miami’s use of the wildcat this season, too.
Yeah, they dipped into the wildcat too often against Baltimore. Didn’t help them at all, or fool anybody.
Anyways, next season, can we PLEASE get more AP and Chester in the backfield at the same time? Childress was always talking about how they’d be a two-headed monster on the field together after we drafted Peterson, and I can count the number of times I’ve seen it on one hand.
Neither block as well as a FB
I’m a little disappointed that we’ve only seen that a few times, but I suppose that Chester does not block as well as a FB and Peterson does not pass block well enough on 3rd down to justify it much. The #2 would be just as tired as the #1 RB whenever a sub was required, too. Both in the backfield would at least end the clear telegraphing of Taylor in the backfield = passing; AP = running, but there must be better ways of solving that problem. Why not give Chester every 3rd series or something instead?
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