Get AP going and going early

by YanksVikes on Dec 8, 2009 8:08 PM CST

Is it me or does it feel like the team has shift from a run heavy team to pass heavy team

I know brett favre is playing well, and teh O line is having a tough time opening holes

but we have the best back in the game, we need to get him the ball more

im talking almost to the extent of just giving him the ball three straight times (unless it happens to be 3rd and long)

for a few series. We all know what kind of runner AP is. He gets 2,3,1,4,5,2,-1, then 50. But if AP is only getting the ball 12 times how many times will he break one for 50. The vikes will not go very far into the playoffs if AP isnt running well, against a good cincy D, it should be interesting how AP does.

Also i think the running plays being called are not very good we run too much to the right away from hutch and mt mckinnie. Also enough with the pitches out wide let AP bang inside teh tackles. Linemen like nothing better than just plowing forward instead of having to get pushed back on pass protection. They'd rather pound someone's head in. Like Greg Eastbrook says in his "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" include some misdirection, get the defense moving one way, so AP can cut back and embarrass some defenders.

Simply although AP hasnt been playing well you have to get him the ball in order to win in the playoffs

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Someone should do a graphic as to how many long runs ap has to the left and how many he has to the right side of the line. Of course, it has to be runs that actually went through a hole provided by Mac and Hutch.

But I think we are doing some good in keeping AP’s touches down. I would rather keep him healthy during the year so we can dominate the clock in playoff games while the other team’s RB is a little tired and banged up from a long season. But I am not happy if that comes at the cost of us losing the #1 seed and that all important home field advantage.

by Bjorno on Dec 8, 2009 8:50 PM CST via mobile reply actions

yeah true

but adside from the stellers when is the last time a team has benifited from HFA in th playoffs

by Vikant on Dec 8, 2009 10:48 PM CST up reply actions

the prior year for the 2007 patriots.

by dsludo on Dec 9, 2009 1:38 PM CST up reply actions

Kind of hope

…there is something to this Bryant McKinnie tipping run/pass. If not, I have to admit I am worried the guy is running while thinking too much. Last year, and even early this year, he ran with reckless abandon. I just don’t see that this year, or the hitting the hole as quick as he used to…. Maybe we miss Birk more than we think?

by PurpleJesus on Dec 8, 2009 9:24 PM CST reply actions

Maybe we miss Birk more than we think?

I wonder the same thing, especially from a physical standpoint. Sullivan hasn’t been able to drive defenders back like Birk did, but perhaps he can add some muscle yet in his youth.

by cutlassbob on Dec 8, 2009 10:22 PM CST up reply actions

i read

somewhere that birk has declined in production and is making baltimore look stupid for letting jason brown walk to st louis

by YanksVikes on Dec 8, 2009 10:57 PM CST up reply actions

Could very well be…do you happen to remember where it was? Personally, I wanted to sign Birk for a two year extension or something; play a year, do the mentoring thing, etc.

by cutlassbob on Dec 9, 2009 2:46 AM CST up reply actions

Go to Baltimore beatdown

You’ll hear about it there for sure. I read the same article and I believe they have in there.

by Grime on Dec 9, 2009 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

Even Brett wants more AD

Did you listen to his post-Arizona debacle presser? Brett is usually very PC in his pressers, so I was somewhat taken aback at listening to him criticize the “it was because of our tempo” comments (hello, wasn’t that Chilly’s comment?)…and then he went on later to make it perfectly clear that offense was ineffective because they couldn’t run the ball…maybe it was me, but I almost felt he was criticizing the play calling (I’ve heard he doesn’t really change plays much).

by lorenzo4 on Dec 9, 2009 9:45 AM CST reply actions

Pull AP out of the game

for the first half. Let CT get in there and do some damage. Then, in the second half, when the opposing D is starting to tire, swap out for a fresh AP and see how that matches up :)

Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!

by DCPurple on Dec 9, 2009 10:36 AM CST reply actions

That's a great and funny idea

but I think you’d need to have him in there a bit to keep warmed up. Now if we could just get a second set of O line men to jump in the second half as well :D

by Grime on Dec 9, 2009 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

Actually, I was serious

The title was the only funny bait :)

Hold AP back for the first half, we have Chester Taylor who was our #1 RB before AP came to town and CT is still capable of carrying the ball as a powerful #1. One of the reasons I love having CT on the team is that if AP is hurt, I’m not at all worried about our running game. Let CT get some game time in the first half, and wear down the D.

Then send in AP for the second and let him beat down an already tiring D.

It might mean activating Albert Young to sub for both CT and AP, when they need a breather, though.

by DCPurple on Dec 10, 2009 10:27 AM CST up reply actions

Argh! Hit the wrong button

To continue;

The reason I’m sniffing down this trail is that I think the Vikings need to shake things up again. Be less predictable. Changing up the running strategy is one way to throw the D off-balance.

by DCPurple on Dec 10, 2009 10:29 AM CST up reply actions

Run game controls the game

Lets start run blocking this 1, 2, 1 -2 yards is a bunch of crap. CT needs to be in the backfield along with AP we need get away from this pass heavy crap. Pass to set up the run if you have too but we should not be passing more than running. Not with AP & CT.
We need to run more in 3 & 4 receiver sets. Spread the defense out. We make it so oblivious sometimes. On another thought Warner ate us alive because of protection. On the other side Brett got rattled and ended up throwing picks. Passing teams like the Colts & Saints & Cards have to have pressure put on the QB. If not they kill you. We didn’t get pressure on Warner & with receivers like LF & AB they killed us. There’s a real good chance that will may play the Saints & the Cards again. We better get it figured out against those teams or the Vikes will be watching the Superbowl not playing in it.

by iowaron on Dec 9, 2009 11:36 AM CST reply actions

PLAY CALLING?

Hello, My fello Viking Brothers (Sisters?)…..Why is it that us as fans, that do not possess the “Great Football Minds”…can easily see the Gaping holes in our offensive scheme.. Adrian has the potential to be one of the Greatest backs of all time. Our O line, is not horrible. If Defenses come in with the “our main goal is to stop the run” philosiphy, why to we lay out our plan on a SIlver platter?…. If we are going to push forward deep into the Post season, Chilly and CO. need to get some mis-direction out there and open things up for AP, enough of the AP, and Mcninnie showing signs of Run or Pass……We are as predictable as a Naughty text message from TIger Woods.
Thoughts?? SKOL

by PURPLEPUSSYEATER on Dec 9, 2009 12:18 PM CST reply actions

Signs are good this week

It looks better for AD and the Vikings from my perspective this week. The Bengals are a tough team to run on, so the challenge will be big.

by medicineball on Dec 9, 2009 3:32 PM CST reply actions

Up the

gut running has produced the least yardage from what I’ve seen. That’s also where the Oline has to provide the opening, which I don’t think is happening enough.

by jshep on Dec 9, 2009 8:00 PM CST reply actions

Play idea

Use the five starting offensive linemen, plus another one as a third tackle, and all four tight ends. Have AD take the snap wildcat-style.

by medicineball on Dec 9, 2009 8:38 PM CST reply actions

Run vs Pass

You have to take what the defense is giving.. If opponets defense have 8-9 in box and are dead set to stop the run, we would be stupid to keep forcing the run. Against AZ we did not go deep early to kee[ their defense honest. Chilly is always MORE conservative with play calling on away games. Hopefully we will do better this week. Bengals will be no pushover and their run game scares me. But I predict a VIKINGS win !!!!!

by WVVikings on Dec 10, 2009 5:44 AM CST reply actions

Same all year

I haven’t seen any difference in play calling , O-line blocking, or AP’s run style all year. I have watched every snap of every game in slow motion and have seen AP run hard into no hole all year. He changes direction and gets caught. Once in a while he or the line break it open. I believe the O-Line was working on the issue when all of a sudden Brett starting killing the 8-9 man box fronts with his passing. From that point on the rush offense never improved. We should be able to make 3 yards against an 8-9 man box. You only have 4 defensive players on each side of center. Block them properly and a hole will appear. Thats the secret. Watch Cincy this Sunday. They run block no matter how many you stack.

Now I believe this coaching staff knows way more than I do. They know if our line can or can not run block. They know who’s injured and who is not. They have coached AP and CT for three years. I’m not going to 2nd guess their decisions on which players are best for which situation. What I am going to keep pondering is why the O-Line can’t properly block for the running backs.

Lets get back to basics. Use two plays to get into a 3rd and short situation. Now the defense is cooked. Even a short pass will burn them deep or the running game will burn them for a first.. I don’t care how we get to 3rd and short but two solid runs is not a bad way to get there.

by lifelongvike on Dec 10, 2009 7:24 AM CST reply actions

+1

It’s irritating for me to see AP slam into the backs of our O-line on almost every play, I can imagine how frustrating it must be for him. If he’s hitting those guys, it means he’s expecting a lane to open up for him by the time he reaches that point, and the lane isn’t there. That’s not a choice AP is making, that’s the play that’s called, and that means the O-line holding up their end of the play.

When CT is put in, the opposing D’s unstack the box and you see CT bust out for 7-10 yards on a regular basis.The O-line is able to create the necessary holes and lanes when they aren’t trying to cope with 2 or more player each.

by DCPurple on Dec 10, 2009 10:40 AM CST up reply actions

Solution

1. At the beginning of the game, run pass plays in which most of the receivers stay deep, and AD swings out for a short pass to get him going.

2. Use more two tight-end formations.

3. Give Favre more “run-only” plays and limit his ability to audible.

4. Give Chester Taylor more time and more carries.

by medicineball on Dec 10, 2009 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

Option 1 – I like that one because AP has been improving his receiving and can start to be effective that way.

Option 2 – Telegraphs the intent, but so what. Not much they can do about it.

Option 3 – I don’t know if it’s possible to limit Favre from audibling on the line, the team is going to do what Favre says, regardless of what Chilly is yelling.

I think that against the Cards, we saw the old gunslinger poke his head out. Favre saw that the run game was bottled up and started airing it out more than he should have. Instead of pounding the ball, he kept throwing, in spite of it being obvious that he and his receivers weren’t clicking and his own accuracy was off. Rather that recognize that, accept that and go back to ground-pounding, he kept trying to force it through the air.

Not that it would have made much difference, the Cards were simply playing in top form and the Vikings, as a team, weren’t. But it probably would have saved 2 INTs and their consequences.

4 – Definitely.

by DCPurple on Dec 11, 2009 8:53 AM CST up reply actions

No one can be both a Yankees and a Vikings fan

It’s like a peanut butter and onion sandwich

by mjmrad on Dec 10, 2009 1:02 PM CST reply actions

+28

by virginia viking on Dec 10, 2009 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

Completely agree.

It’s just wrong.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all." -Earl Weaver

by fischean on Dec 10, 2009 6:41 PM CST up reply actions

well i am

im from new york so there is the yankee thing

and i hate the giants, so usually i have to hear my freinds say how great the giants are
but not this year

everytime the vikings win a game, i wear either my having jersey or peterson jersey to school
but arent u twins fans thrilled that we took granderson from your division?

by YanksVikes on Dec 10, 2009 6:55 PM CST up reply actions