Vikes @ Colts - Wk 2

[Uncle]

You could argue that w/ the way Hughes & Hill played vs Green Bay in Wk 1, Dantzler was our best CB out there....so if "Needle" is out, hopefully Gladney is up to speed...

We knew our "taller" CB's (Hill & Dantzler) might have problems against smaller, shiftier WR's like D Adams...and with the Colts having some smaller, shiftier WR's in Hilton & Campbell, it might be better suited to start Hughes & Gladney anyway. Hill is libel to get smoked right at the line if he plays press and Rivers will check down all day long if Hill plays off 10 yds. 

[skol61]

Uncle I always appreciate your takes-
Interested in what you think the impact of Williams coaching with us and Rhodes practicing against our offense will have for us?

I personally believe Zimmer runs the defense, and Williams is well aware of his style. So I think Williams wins on that one. As for Rhodes, I believe we win on that one, and expect our WR's to win on that one.

I wouldn't place money on it.... But today I'm sadly betting on a Colts by 6 points.

[Uncle]

skol - just curious, who is the "Williams" you mentioned? I don't know of any individual w/ the last name of Williams on our coaching staff or the Colts staff.

As far as Rhodes history practicing against our offense, I don't think it'll have much of an impact. Sure, he knows the basics from what he went up against in TC and practice the last few seasons, but our WR's are somewhat different other than Thielen.

Rhodes and the rest of the Colts secondary run a zone scheme, meaning Rhodes and Rock Ya-sin on the other side won't be playing press against Bisi, Thielen or Jefferson. The Colts have a sneaky-good slot CB in Kenny Moore - he's small but solid, and I wouldn't expect Jefferson to get open too much, leaving Bisi and Thielen to get the majority of non-RB/TE targets on the outside on underneath routes. I don't think the Colts will let anybody get beat deep, sort-of rendering the roll-out play-action passes that Cousins/Kubiak strive-in somewhat moot. Cousins and Kubiak will have to be patient and use the Vikings offensive playmakers will have to use YAC for big-gain chunk. To that end, Jefferson is excellent moving in space after catching it in-stride, so I would expect some slants/tunnels/pick-plays to try and free-up Jefferson for YAC receptions.

The Colts DL is decent and they did get to the Jags QB last week. I would expect a few sacks against Cousins in this one with DeForest Buckner probably getting the best of Bradbury or Elf. On offense, the Vikings are going to have to get more creative - I don't think they can simply play straight-up football too a high degree of success w/ Indy and expect to win. They need something other than outside zone running plays and chuck-it-up to Thielen plays; they'll need some sweeps, perhaps a tunnel screen to Irv Smith to get him going or try to isolate Smith on one of their other LB's not named Leonard.

On defense, even without Marlon Mack we're going to get run on as their OL is one of the better units in the NFL - no weaknesses and our DL can't stop the run worth a lick. Rivers loves to operate out of shotgun and utilize the RB's in the short-passing game, so I would expect a similar game-plan to last week vs Green Bay where Rodgers methodically drove the Packers down the field and wasn't pressured at all. If Zimmer and company don't find any different looks to get pressure on Rivers, he'll pick you apart like Rodgers did. I do expect Harry to be creeping up near the line of scrimmage more in this game, too, as Rivers won't be attempting many downfield passes.

Also, we need more Gladney and Hughes in there as Hilton and Campbell are both more D Adams clones - shifty WR's (esp Hilton), and present matchup problems for Hill & Dantzler getting beat out of breaks and off the line. Hill and Dantzler are more-suited to the big-bodied WR types like DK Metcalf, who they can play more press and hang with down the field. If we see more Hughes and Gladney, I would hope to see more Barr/Harrison at the Line blitzing to try and up the pressure.

The good thing about Rivers is that he does have a tendency to throw bad picks...last week vs the Jags both of his picks were just bad throws and he wasn't under pressure. I think if Zimmer uses Gladney and Hughes more in press coverage, he's libel to get a pick or two from Rivers in the process and we'll need to capitalize on those opportunities once we get them.

The Colts style does resemble Zimmer's in that it's fundamentals, but the Colts have the advantage at the line of scrimmage on both sides, which is why we need more mis-direction plays on both sides. I don't think you'll see Xavier take on Thielen 1-on-1 all the way down the field without help from Malik Hooker over the top, so if anything, Rhodes will give a 10-yd cushion to Thielen and Cousins will have to settle for taking advantage of dinking/dunking his way down the field. I think the game will probably be decided on YAC abilities of the Vikings (getting Cook, Mattison, Jefferson and even Irn Smith in space) and if Rivers gives us any turnovers.

Here's a highlight video of the Colts in-action last week against Jacksonville, a game in which Jacksonville surprisingly won. Jax deployed more of that short-crosser, dink-n-dunk style and Jax QB played extremely well with no mistakes. Pay close attention to the 9:55 mark on the TD toss to Cole that gave Jax the lead for good: Rhodes was matched up against the Jags WR Cole in the slot (not a good spot for Rhodes) and he thought it was a running play and "bit" hard, allowing Cole to freely release all the way across the field for an easy TD grab - sound familiar? Cousins and Kubiak need to exploit that "weakness" in Rhodes again with fake handoffs and Jefferson or Thielen doing crossing routes over the middle, but we need to really establish a threatening running game first before Rhodes will bite.

[skol61]

Uncle- OMG!!! I'll admit, I'm going to have to reread this 4 more times, But it suddenly FEELS like FOOTBALL!!
Fantastic analysis.

As for Williams- I meant Alan, I'ld forgotten he was let go by Zimmer.
Thanks!

[Viking Horn]

[WisconsinVike]

Sept 16, 2020 16:37:28 GMT -6 Viking Horn said:

Sure hope Rhodes is practicing his fake hamstring pull all week

Then he'll have his "excuse" ready when he gets torched by Adam

[purplevein]

The rib injury to rookie cornerback Cameron Dantzler is supposedly just a minor tweak, according to Zimmer.

[IceRatz16]

Sept 16, 2020 19:33:10 GMT -6 purplevein said:

The rib injury to rookie cornerback Cameron Dantzler is supposedly just a minor tweak, according to Zimmer.

"Minor tweak", just like Danielle Hunter?

[OkieDokie]

PAT ELFLEIN
C, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Vikings placed RG Pat Elflein on injured reserve.
Elflein started as the Vikings’ right guard in Week 1 against the Packers. Minnesota's 2019 fourth-round pick, Dru Samia, and second-round rookie Ezra Cleveland are candidates to replace Elflein in the interim. Cleveland remains the team's long-term view at tackle.

SOURCE: Field Yates on Twitter
Sep 17, 2020, 4:33 PM ET

[OkieDokie]

JACK DOYLE
TE, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Colts TE Jack Doyle (ankle) didn't practice Thursday.
That marks Doyle's second straight missed practice. Doyle caught 3-of-4 targets for 49 yards in the Colts' Week 1 loss to Jacksonville. If he misses this week's game against the Vikings, TE Mo Alie-Cox would likely play starter's snaps for Indy. Cox played 39 percent of the team's Week 1 snaps and drew two targets, catching both for 20 yards.

RELATED: Mo Alie-Cox
SOURCE: George Bremer on Twitter
Sep 17, 2020, 4:08 PM ET
PREVIOUSNEXT

[OkieDokie]

MICHAEL PITTMAN
WR, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Michael Pittman was added to the Colts' Thursday injury report with a toe issue, getting in a limited session.
Mid-week additions are never good news. A toe, meanwhile, is something that can linger. Pittman's Friday status will be key. Another limited session would have him tentatively on track for his A+ matchup in the Vikings. Even with that good setup, Pittman can't be trusted as a WR4 regardless of his health.

Sep 17, 2020, 4:40 PM ET

[OkieDokie]

[wmpurple]

Tell you what: if we lose in the same embarrassing manner to Indy as we did to GB, I will start to root against us from gameday 3 onwards.

[vikingfan52]

Sept 17, 2020 13:16:47 GMT -6 IceRatz16 said:

Sept 16, 2020 19:33:10 GMT -6 purplevein said:

The rib injury to rookie cornerback Cameron Dantzler is supposedly just a minor tweak, according to Zimmer.

"Minor tweak", just like Danielle Hunter?

What can you believe coming out of there mouths. Just like politicians.tell them what you want to hear,

[vikingfan52]

Sept 17, 2020 16:24:51 GMT -6 OkieDokie said:

They can always hang on the bottom.lets hope last week will not be the norm