The 9/20/09 Game in Numbers

by KC Viking on Sep 21, 2009 11:17 AM CDT Comment 3 comments

Here are some of the key numbers which explained why things happened as they did, illustrated what was done well and/or poorly and may be harbingers of what is to come.

11/28: This is how many times the Vikings passed on first downs. It's almost exactly the same as last week (11/27). Does this mean that the Vikings' coaches were equally afraid of Cleveland's and Detroit's secondaries?

0/3: This is how Favre and his receivers fared on deep passes. This is one fewer attempt than last week which could mean that the coaches are really babying Favre's surgically repaired arm or that they aren't creative or imaginitive to play the Browns and Lions any differently. The first attempt was made early in the 2nd quarter, and the next 2 attempts were back-to-back in the 3rd quarter. The last one was called back due to a 5-yard defensive penalty. WIthout a doubt, the Vikings need to throw deep more often than this in order to keep defenses off the LOS and in the box to stop the run. Even though AP is capable of breaking several tackles per game, if we want to see him play this well for many more years to come, it would be wise to use the passing game to reduce the number of potentially damaging hits on our favorite running back.

2: This is the number of Copycat plays and the number of yards gained on those plays (unless I misinterpreted a play on the play-by-play which didn't seem to add up...then it would be 1 play for 1 yard, yay). It's also the number of interceptions by Chad Greenway and the number of penalties called on RT Phil Loadholt.

3/11: The Vikings' 3rd down conversion % against an absolutely putrid team (4/11 if penalties count) Only 2 were thrown short of the 1st down marker without gaining the needed amount of yards (in bold).

3-3 (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short middle to 87-B.Berrian to DET 48 for 11 yards
3-14 (3:49) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short middle to 29-C.Taylor to MIN 36 for 9 yards
3-1 28-A.Peterson left tackle to DET 48 for -1 yards
3-14 (10:13) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass incomplete deep middle to 81-V.Shiancoe.
3-5 (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short left to 12-P.Harvin to DET 39 for 10 yards (26-L.Delmas).
3-7 (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short middle to 12-P.Harvin to DET 34 for 10 yards
3-5 4-B.Favre pass incomplete short left to 81-V.Shiancoe
3-8 (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass incomplete deep left to 81-V.Shiancoe. PENALTY on DET-40-M.Manuel, Illegal Contact, 5 yards, enforced at DET 32 - No Play.
3-13 (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre sacked at MIN 20 for -6 yards
3-8-DET 35 (10:44) (Shotgun) 4-B.Favre pass short left to 12-P.Harvin to DET 28 for 7 yards
3-2 29-C.Taylor left tackle to DET 25 for no gain

4: He was 23/27 with 2 TDs and no interceptions. The other 3 bright spots were Chad Greenway, Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin.

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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“0/3: This is how Favre and his receivers fared on deep passes…………..WIthout a doubt, the Vikings need to throw deep more often than this in order to keep defenses off the LOS and in the box to stop the run. "

I’ll say it again, statistics are good for discussion but they are in no way self conclusory. Football is a chess match – not a math game.

We are the vikings.......resistance is futile.

by Hoss-Drone on Sep 21, 2009 9:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Chess club and math club

usually have many of the same people because they go hand in hand (logical/sequential/mathematical). If the opponent stacks the line or puts 8+ in the box, then one should challenge the D at its weakest point (in the secondary).

by KC Viking on Sep 21, 2009 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

Those were very interesting stats, KC, thanks for taking the time to watch for them and compile it.

I’m hesitant about drawing conclusions from them, however, because in football, the numbers are like looking in a rear-view mirror; they only show you what happened in the past. To assume the future is going to be just like the past is to deny the human capacity to do better, to be better. It assumes people will continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. Grant some do this, but those don’t usually last too long in the NFL.

And numbers don’t capture human will power. Numbers couldn’t predict, or even capture the sheer brutal power of AP’s 64 yard run against the Browns and the impact that will have on every CB and Safetey in the NFL who watches it. It can’t begin to predict what will happen on the day that Favre really feels like he has something to prove to himself and others on the field.

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 Sep 24, 2009 9:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs