Can the Vikings Keep from Getting Gore-d This Sunday?

…an O-line that gives Favre the time he needs to throw the ball over 20yds and not just check it down. Besides that, I want to see the Vikings drive the ball and execute well in the 1st and 2nd half.

Is that too much to ask? We’ll see, but I hope this team is starting to believe in itself and realize now is the time to step up with the talent they have!

Peterson is running much better this year in terms of picking holes and using blockers on plays that he does NOT break open. I have not looked at the stats, but it appears to me that if you were to take away his huge runs, his average yards per carry would still be much higher than they were his 1st 2 seasons. I think Bienemy is starting to get through….

Buffalo is not a very easy place for a visiting team to play. Depending on the weather, it could be even more hostile than the Metrodome. When did Hill play in Buffalo?

While I agree that Kevn and Pat Williams are important in “stuffing” the run, the real key to preventing a back from breaking long runs is the Middle Linebacker. Henderson was out of position alot against the Lions. And he has more rust to shake off than anyone. So I am thinking the real key on Sunday with respect to the running games is going to be the play of Henderson and Willis, which in turn puts the spotlight on whomever is supposed to block those guys. For us, I think that means Herrera and Hutch have to be at the top of their game, cuz I suspect Willis will be. I hope EJ is.

Go Vikes!

As it has always been with our beloved Vikings, offensive blocking or lack-there-of, is the weakest link. Gary Zimmermen, and Ron Yary were the best. But since 1962 to 2009 is a long long time to have only 2 great offensive linemen. True running teams have two great O-linemen on the same team at the same time. That is something the Vikings don’t seem to grasp or understand. Having two or three good running backs wont do much good if they don’t get any help in the blocking department.

As good as Peterson is, he could look alot better, (as could all of the running backs), with better blockers up front. Therefor if we expect Peterson to get 200 yards a game, we should give him the best blocking we can.

The same goes for Favre and the wide-recievers. If the QB doesn’t have time to look over every reciever. That restricts our weapons by 3 or 4 fold.

The offensive line is the ignition, that starts the offense in motion, on every play.

Randall McDaniel? Ed White? Matt Birk? Mick Tinglehoff? Korey Stringer? Hutchinson? Jeff Christy?

Berrian could have his first big game of the year.

I expect the vikes to struggle on the first two drives. MS will have a game plan to stop us initially. Where we need to excel and have to this point is in the 3rd and 4th. This is when Loadholt and the O line start to push people around. Last week AD only had 92 yards but did not carry the ball much in the 4th.

To win keep it close in the 1st half no mistakes and one or two scores for us. Then blow them out in the 3rd and 4th. D keeps us in the game no big plays against us in the first half then the pressure is on the passing game of the 9ers in the second…here come the turnovers.

Expect Farve 200 yds 2 td’s AD 150 2 td’s

The runners that have gotten us in the past are all quick, off-tackle guys that go wide on those stretch runs. Gore is VERY much a strong, between the tackles runner. He’s a good receiver on their screens though…that’s where I’d worry about him. Overall, I expect us to be able to contain him on Sunday though.

Vikes by 7-10 points, IMO.

i am not afraid of Gore. Anyone that saw Gore’s runs against Seattle should know that such a play would be impossible against our defense. It was pretty embarrassing to watch (until I realized I hate Seattle).

Gore will be held to 50 yards or less and it will come down to Shaun Hill to put up some yardage, something he hasn’t done much of in his career.

PS, It should be mentioned that Peterson is only a boom or bust player when facing 8 and 9 man fronts. If teams felt like putting 7 guys in the box against us, the rest of the league would see just how booming he could be.

The Vikings have had several weeks now to figure out this new offense, and our new weapons. I look for some “wild cat stuff” this weekend. That will give that box thing something to think about. The key is (as always), the O-Line. It all starts, or ends, with them. The Vikings should manage at least 23 or 24 points.

The Niners are no joke. The are for real. And they will come here to play their best game. They are very good on defense. But the Vikings have (or should have) a much better offense this year. This game will be a good test for our Vikes. Childress has to shift gears for this one. Lets see if the players can play at the next, higher level, on defense, and on offense.

Vikes – 24
Niners – 17

to winning this game and getting AP a chance to run is the 10 to 20 yard passing game…running routes behind the LB’s to slow their rush and to back the DB’s off the line.
The Vikes need to run some more screens as well to slow the pass rush…doing this until it slows them, Do you folks recall the Pats game were they continued to burn us with these…even so much as running them back to back on plays! Vinny and Harvin are a big key to getting behind the LB’s…lets hope we see some of this early to give AP the room he needs.