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Progression November 8, 2021
In each NFL contest, we get
the opportunity to learn a great deal from the teams that we play that we can
incorporate into our makeup. Teams always observe success where the
strongest franchises then try to incorporate that success into their own.
We also get to learn a great deal about our own players, which now must be
addressed, as these players are either progressing, regressing, or worst yet ...
they are just apathetic & they
just don't care ... except seeing all those big checks. Maybe you haven't
notices but this Vikings franchise now rests at 3-5 on this 2021 season where
they actually haven't lost a game yet. Let that sink in. I've never
seen a season like this before & if this franchise has you on the edge of
your seat like never before ... then you see it too. Blaming Head Coach
Mike Zimmer for any of this is tantamount to seeing politics as both pristine
& pure as all you can do is draw your simpleton conclusion to a mass of
unexplained events.
It was great to see all you knuckleheads in Baltimore with my son.
Yeah! I was there.
As for the Raven's, what was seen on the field was quite telling. On 3rd
down they would specifically run a high percentage play to set up the following
4th down play. That 3rd down play had two key objectives which was to
deplete our defense, just a little bit more, as well as to gain as many yards as
they could. Even a small gain would set up 4th down, which was the focus
of their efforts. even if they were unsuccessful on converting that 3rd
down. So what happened, the Viking defense would stop the Ravens short of
the line of gain or 3rd down, setting up 4th & either 1, 2 or 3 yards to
go. Then you'd see our defense celebrating thinking that they'd would now
see the ball punted back to them. It was odd watching the Raven's fans
having a laugh at our expense, watching those Viking defenders celebrating on
the field, as they knew what was coming. Regardless of where the Raven's
were on the field, they were running that "4th & short" play as
for the Raven's, that's a high percentage play, because they held a distinct
advantage.
Just about all game long, you'd see Nick Vigil run onto the field in our base
defense, setting up 2nd & 6 yards to go. Then the Raven's sent in
their 3rd wide receiver sending Vigil off the field being replaced by Mackensie
Alexander in our nickel package, giving the advantage to the Raven's as they had
no intention of throwing the ball. Too many times the Ravens "Short &
Touch" posses just fell incomplete, however Lamar Jackson did have that
long pass down the right side which he practices almost exclusively. Maybe
he got to use his entire body mechanics which had a predictable result however
the Vikings failed to defense that pass too, setting up a pass interference
& a Raven's touchdown just before the half. Regardless, as after that
1st down play, the Ravens still have 3 more downs to secure that next 1st down
& move the chains. All year long, without all that beef cake known as
Michael Pierce in the middle, we had little hope of stopping that inside run
& this day would be no different.
In yesterday's 2nd half, as well as just about our entire season, the Viking's
have failed to secure 1st downs, especially in key moments. The preference
is to instead run our stretch run game, which was stuffed down our throats
versus the Raven's run defense, except for that one successful left-side Cook
run. Neither Klint Kubiak, nor Kirk Cousins had ever even considered a
different approach to our game plan as they are stuck into their failing easily
read & anticipated concept. We are very similar to the Raven's in that
Lamar Jackson is incapable of heeding into the short passing game. Kirk
Cousins is incapable of securing 1st downs, when it matters most, which results
in severe defensive depletion ... which ultimately serves up
"L's" as outcomes.
Keep in mind that just 1 first down in any drive means: 1. Punts that
follow end up deep into their end (Zimmer's preferred game of field
position). 2. It allows the defense to recharge meaning that they will be
fresher & not be depleted where the offense will not be able to walk over
& upon our defense. 3. The more 1st downs that you secure, the more
the defense that your facing will deplete meaning additional scoring
opportunities. 4. Most importantly of all, it takes scoring time away from
opposing teams, especially from time consuming running teams. In other
words, if Mike Zimmer was able to secure a 2-point conversion, with just over 1
minute left in regulation with 1 time out, the Vikings would have won that
game. However, they were not prepared for this endeavor however the
Raven's just handled us the blue print.
Maybe you missed the highlights yesterday but the difference maker on the field
was #42 Patrick Ricard who is listed as a 6-3 300# FB/DL. In fact his most
versatile role was at Tight End as he was crushing line backers & anything
else in his way ... sometimes crushing as many as 2 players per play. All
the while, I'm fingertips away from our own #51 Wyatt Davis, walking around in
his brand new uniform ... getting it just a bit dusty. What follows is a
dining scream in my ears ... "Why isn't our 6-4 315# Wyatt Davis on the
field playing TE on 1st down, & all short running downs, when it is
paramount that we have to do everything possible to secure that 1st
down"? If
"Klint-Kubiak-is-in-his-Brain-Dead-1st-Down-Stretch-Play-Mode", we've
got to adjust our approach as your present TE design isn't cutting it. Do
I care if Wyatt can catch the ball or not, as he's going to be identified as
eligible (hey for years we've had defensive backs with hands of stone ... so
what's the difference)? Are you telling me that he's not tough enough to
pancake just about anything in his way? Are you telling me that Ohio
State's premier line blockers are not quick enough? Does Wyatt have a
streak of yellow running down his back? Is he happy pulling splinters our
of his ass? Oh, I know ... he can't pass block for the likes of
Check-Down-Prima-Donna-Kirk-Cousins" who's just simply afraid to throw the
ball down the field to maybe the best receiving corps in the league (I know,
he's saving it up for marriage)?
Yesterday wasn't all bad. In fact ... it was a gift. Do you know how
bad Klint Kubiak's play calling & lack if adjustments combined with Kirk
Cousins inept ... or I simply don't care ... play had to be for the Raven's to
be able to win yesterday? That game was lost because these two failed to
convert 1st downs in the second half. After watching the Cowboys get
spanked, do you really think that they are on their way to the Super Bowl?
After playing them, do you really think this Raven's team is on their way to the
Super Bowl as they could have easily have secured their 4th loss of the season
yesterday. How many hits did Lamar take yesterday? I guess it's a
good thing that this Vikings team cannot stop the run.
New Mike Zimmer Rule: Klint Kubiak & Kirk Cousins don't get to run
their offense, as they'd like to run it, until they secure at least one (1)
first down on every drive starting the drive from our side of the 50 yard
line. Maybe it should be on every drive. Maybe that's what Irv Jr.
meant by an unstoppable offense? Oh yeah, five catches for Osborn, Thielen
& Jefferson combined exposes that the one that touches the ball on offense
on almost every down ... is the problem. How is it that our offensive
coordinator could not adjust for all those outside run zone blitzes & how
might Wyatt Davis help in this regard?
Which brings the spot light directly onto Michael Pierce who's should not be
allowed to be under the radar. Michael opted out of our 2020 season, which
was a disaster leaving the center of our defensive line exposed without
Joseph. The result was that we couldn't stop the run in 2020 & neither
Watts or Richardson can stop the run as the center of that line was a
sieve. Now, Michael's injured & hasn't played since our 3rd game
versus the Sea-Holes. In my opinion, Pierce's final nine games of this
2021 should be on Spielman's radar where, as of today, regardless of this kids
talent, he should be on the trading block right along Kirk Cousins. On my
first day, I was told that I had secured the grade of "F-Failure" ...
on my last day my report recorded an A. Hey, it's your choice but our
spent money will be better suited toward draft picks, cash or whatever we can
get as we are here to achieve one thing only. You cannot build this into
an elite defense without having known that your investment, is secure upon that
field. That 2020 season opt-out was your wake up
call.
As you will recall, this 2021 draft class was a bust? It's a good thing "Christian
Darrisaw Doesn't Exist". Sure Camryn Bynum is making rookie
mistakes out there (Hoping that the Hit Man tears him a new one) but did you see
that stretch-out yesterday? I guess Camryn left his hands of stone at
home. In years past, when Harrison Smith was listed as out, it meant that
this game was lost however we weren't playing a team known for tossing the pig
down the field ... so it's too early to access THE THING. Then of course,
the long anticipated touches of Kene Nwangwu where there for us all to see ...
and there is one thing for certain ... you cannot teach speed ... which he has
in spades. Kubiak has got to find a way to get the ball into his hands and
Mike Zimmer has to unleash this kid so that he can return the kick that fall at
least 8 yards deep into the end zone like they did with Cordarrelle Patterson
years ago. Could you imagine Kirk Cousins maintaining his focusing (screw
the time invested in the fake) on Kene blocking on one side, setting up a
developing screen to Dalvin on the other side of the field, followed by a
breaking Kene down the field release for an open field pass? Mind numbing
... isn't it? You might also consider reserving K.J. Osborn from punt
returning as your 3rd primary stud wide receiver. I know, since Cousins
isn't throwing the ball to his receivers, & that you'd like to get K.J. some
well deserved touches but that thought process is like seeing a elephant hanging
from the side of a cliff ... holding onto a butter-cup-dandelion.
You need to take command from trying to develop Tight Ends, other than Irv Jr
& Conklin, into directing our energy into securing those 1st downs by
changing this insanity. Allow "The Hungry" & all that
jubilant youth ... to control the
outcome.
As for Mike Zimmer, you still have all the pieces right at your fingertips
however you might consider dressing Kellen Mond, as he might have an interest in
actually securing 1st downs. When it comes to self interest, everything
done has been in Kirk Cousins direct self interest. We secure Sean
Mannion, taking up a valuable 53-man roster spot, to provide a buffer between
Cousins & Mond, which does nothing to motivate anyone. The outcome is
now clear. As for backup quarterbacks, what is Mannion providing of actual
substance, except providing Zulgad with useless verbiage & fodder in what
you are expected to do & what you must do? Yes, we all know the
theories ... but for the offensive performance thus far ... someone's head has
to roll. "Scare Them" ... as they are just kids ... by quaking
that quarterbacks room from complacency into absolute action. When you
allow Cousins to consistently record "3-&-Outs", which results in
absolute defensive depletion, it shifts the focus away from his inept play &
onto defensive failures ... game after game. After Barr's two blown TD coverage's
.... followed by his incredible interception in overtime, what did we get?
A smashed right side stretch play, losing 9 yards, followed by an inept 2nd down
play, gaining very little. On 3rd & long, Thielen & Jefferson were
found crossing for that same ball, in the same exact location, while Cousins
dealt with a left side blitz (why were they in the exact same location on that
play)? This is beyond unacceptable which might explain the reflex
non-verbal "Body-Language-Chirping", as "The Thing" ... is
out of control.
In a standoff, to get someone's attention, you don't shoot, hoping that both of
your bullets don't run true. Instead you find an alternative ... to
redirect the focus onto something of value & of meaning that resolves the
standoff into your favor. Mannion, being secured on the practice squad
& not on the original 53 man roster, in on a tether, as his money isn't
guaranteed. He also may not be in great demand giving him a way back as a
protected player on our practice squad. Based upon Cousins performance, he
could also re-establish himself back onto the 53 man roster. Either way,
there is a price to be paid for complacency & losing is not
acceptable. Sometimes, it is the innocent that are placed into the
crossfire ... which is unfortunate ... but something has to be
done.
It's like big city politics where either the votes never changes or there is
free reign to stuff ballot boxes ... all at your expense. It's never about
who votes but rather it's about who counts & who controls. You just
stand as one & that is very little versus absolute greed & power that
are allowed to redirect abysmal failure onto someone or something else. It
is never money that's the problem as that is always the go-to redirect.
Why pay for a bridge that you can pay for ... for three times as
much.
So you think that I'm off base. Then ask this one question. What
could "Russel Wilson" do with the NFL talent that's been assembled by
this Vikings franchise? Are you awake yet?
The Viking Ghost Writer
http://MyVikingBlood.org
Date: November 8, 2021
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