motife
11-07-2007, 05:17 PM
Packers' Next Opponent: Making a huge splash
Experts see Peterson as next great running back
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 6, 2007
Bob McGinn
E-MAIL
Green Bay - Is Minnesota's Adrian Peterson some superhuman running back with the capability to almost single-handedly defeat the Green Bay Packers Sunday at Lambeau Field?
"You mean like he did last week to us?" an assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers said Tuesday. "Yeah, I think he can. If he gets on a roll and they keep themselves out of third-and-long predictable situations, it can be scary. Because I'll tell you right now, that's a big offensive line and they got it going against us."
The Vikings were 2-5, in last place in the NFC North and a 7-point underdog Sunday when they overcame a 14-10 deficit in the third quarter and stunned the Chargers, 35-17, at the Metrodome.
Now the Vikings find themselves a 6-point underdog in a stadium where they have won three of the last five meetings.
"Peterson is the next great running back in this league, if he's not there now," another San Diego assistant said. "Now he's still got to be able to do it every week for 16 weeks. I would take Green Bay. The Vikings are struggling at quarterback."
One of the coaches compared Peterson to O.J. Simpson. They're almost exactly the same size and both almost always were the fastest man on the field.
In Week 4, when the Packers prevailed at the Metrodome, 23-16, Vikings coach Brad Childress alternated Peterson and Chester Taylor. Even though Peterson gained 112 yards in that game, he carried merely 12 times and played just 24 snaps compared to Taylor's 40.
Childress apparently now thinks it's safe for his rookie stallion to play an entire game. In the last two games Peterson has 50 carries compared to 15 for Taylor, who has been reduced to a third-down role.
On Oct. 14, Peterson broke the club rushing record with 220 yards in 20 carries (11.2-yard average) during a 34-31 victory in Chicago. On Sunday, he carried a season-high 30 times for an NFL-record 296 yards.
"We played very well against him for probably the first 45 plays and then the kid just exploded on us," one of the Chargers aides said. "We didn't play very disciplined and put ourselves in bad positions.
"He's a very physical football player. He plays very hard. Like O.J., just downright speed. Turns the corner. Great ability to make a cut on a dime.
"But I've got to lean to Green Bay just for the fact it's Lambeau and it's November. It will be the first cold game for the Vikings. It will be interesting to see how they handle the weather."
OFFENSE
SCHEME
Coordinator Darrell Bevell calls the plays for Childress, a West Coast practitioner who is rushing 51.3% of the time despite seeing mostly eight-man fronts. The Vikings prefer running left, have had most of their long rushes from one-back sets and don't think twice about running in second-and-long situations. They're tied for ninth in giveaways (12), 14th in yards per game (334.6) and tied for 14th in points (20.8).
RECEIVERS
There isn't a legitimate starting WR on the roster. Maybe the best is rookie Sidney Rice (6 feet 3 1/2 inches, 200 pounds), a second-round pick. He has 4.51-second speed in the 40-yard dash, uses his size well on third down and in the red zone, isn't timid and improves each week. Veteran Bobby Wade (5-10, 186) not only lacks size but can't run (4.69), either. But Wade is a tenacious blocker, runs clever routes from the slot and accepts his complementary role. Troy Williamson (6-1 1/2, 203), the seventh pick in '05, can fly but his hands and toughness are questionable. Former Packer Robert Ferguson (6-1 1/2, 208) has nine catches and, with Wade, blocks well. TEs Visanthe Shiancoe (6-4 1/2, 250), Jim Kleinsasser (6-3, 272) and Jeff Dugan (6-4 1/2, 258) all play extensively. Shiancoe is a fine athlete with 4.65 speed, good hands and adequate feel. Kleinsasser, 30, is a strong, tenacious blocker.
OFFENSIVE LINE
After the Green Bay game the Vikings stopped rotating Artis Hicks (6-4 1/2, 335) and Anthony Herrera (6-2, 315) at RG and went with Herrera. It has been an upgrade, especially straight-ahead in the run game. Herrera is real aggressive and fairly athletic, too. RT Ryan Cook (6-6 1/2, 328) is big and not much else. A second-round pick in '06, the self-made Cook is a converted center without much agility or strength. LG Steve Hutchinson (6-4 1/2, 313) probably played his best two games the last two weeks. He has great intensity, focus, size and strength, but at 30 has lost some flexibility and will struggle against movement. LT Bryant McKinnie (6-8, 335) is in superb shape and having one of his best years. McKinnie does have problems with speed rushers but he will trash defenders who are stationary. C Matt Birk (6-4 1/2, 309), a former Pro Bowl player, is at the tail end of his career. He has more quickness left than strength.
QUARTERBACKS
Kelly Holcomb (6-2 1/2, 216) started against the Packers but he's out with a neck injury. The Vikings want raw Tarvaris Jackson (6-2, 232) to play but he had to leave late in the first half Sunday with a concussion. Apparently expecting Jackson (50.6 rating) to sit, the Vikings signed 34-year-old Koy Detmer (6-1, 195), who was thought to have retired after serving as the Eagles' No. 3 last year. That leaves Brooks Bollinger (6-1, 205), a five-year veteran with nine starts for the Jets in '05 (72.9 rating). A former Badger, Bollinger has third-string size, arm, accuracy and touch. He also holds the ball too long. Bollinger, who scored a 23 on the Wonderlic intelligence test in '03, isn't as controlled as Holcomb but is much more athletic.
RUNNING BACKS
Peterson (6-1 1/2, 220) lines up 8-to-9 yards deep, picks up steam and attacks. Each week, he is reading better and waiting longer for his blocks. He has 4.40 speed, can run through tackles or elude them. An adequate receiver, he shows toughness in blitz pickup. Taylor (5-10 1/2, 213) doesn't have impressive speed (4.65) but runs low, shows some dart and almost always falls forward. Plus, he's a capable receiver. Long-time Chiefs FB Tony Richardson (6-1 1/2, 238) might be 35 but he's still a physical blocker, a solid receiver and change-of-pace rusher.
DEFENSE
SCHEME
First-year coordinator Leslie Frazier combines the "Tampa-2" zone scheme that he picked up from Tony Dungy in Indianapolis with the blitz package that he learned from Jim Johnson in Philadelphia. Frazier blitzed the Packers more on passes (37.5%) than any opponent so far. Like Johnson, he loves blitzing on passing downs. The Vikings rank tied for fifth in takeaways (18), 10th in points allowed per game (19.3) and 22nd in yards allowed per game (346.0).
DEFENSIVE LINE
DT Kevin Williams (6-5, 311) and NT Pat Williams (6-3, 340) make inside running almost impossible. Kevin, who demands double-teaming, probably is as hard to move as Green Bay's Ryan Pickett but possesses far better quickness and speed (4.85). Pat, who is 35, plays with a chip on his shoulder, doesn't think he can be beat and usually isn't. LE Kenechi Udeze (6-3, 281) and RE Ray Edwards (6-4 1/2, 276) are evenly matched; Udeze plays the run slightly better and Edwards rushes slightly better. Each has speed in the low 4.8s, gives good effort and would rank as an average starter.
LINEBACKERS
E.J. Henderson (6-1, 245), back in the middle after two seasons on the weak side, has 12 tackles for loss, six more than anyone else on the roster, and is having a great season. He's a punishing tackler and a disruptive blitzer, and is diagnosing plays better than ever before. His deep coverage is so-so. The second-best starter, SLB Ben Leber (6-3, 244), has been so effective that he now splits the nickel job alongside Henderson with WLB Chad Greenway (6-2 1/2, 242). Leber has good speed, is disciplined and is a fairly complete player. Greenway, the 17th pick in '06, uses his 4.65 speed to chase all over the field. However, he isn't all that physical, misses too many tackles and can be fooled. He has a bright future but his game needs tightening.
SECONDARY
The Vikings would struggle against the Packers' spread offense if LC Antoine Winfield (5-8 1/2, 180) were to sit out a second straight game with a hamstring injury. He's iffy. Winfield, 30, shadowed Donald Driver in Week 4. He has astonishing toughness for his size and still can run and cover. Rookie nickel back Marcus McCauley (6-0 1/2, 203) replaced Winfield and kept getting burned deep. His speed is fine and he will hit, but foes have picked on him and his confidence might be down. RC Cedric Griffin (6-0, 203), a second-round pick in '06, also is rugged in run support but has been too inconsistent in coverage. The release Tuesday of veteran Ronyell Whitaker means the No. 4 CB becomes Charles Gordon (5-10, 180), a typical Cover-2 player with discipline and limited speed. Former Packer SS Darren Sharper (6-1 1/2, 210), 32, generally lines up deep and has had fewer play-making chances. FS Dwight Smith (5-9 1/2, 201) returned Sunday from a two-game injury absence and was a major factor. He's short but finds the ball and will hit.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Former Packer K Ryan Longwell, 33, beat the Bears with a career-long 55-yard FG and is 11 of 14 overall. Despite his age, Longwell is vastly improved on kickoffs. P Chris Kluwe, who has a quick getaway, ranks 10th in gross average (44.7 yards) and 22nd in net (36.5). Two weeks ago, he signed a six-year, $8.3 million extension containing a $1.7 million signing bonus. Against the Chargers, RB Mewelde Moore had a long punt return and WR Aundrae Allison had a long kickoff return.
Experts see Peterson as next great running back
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 6, 2007
Bob McGinn
Green Bay - Is Minnesota's Adrian Peterson some superhuman running back with the capability to almost single-handedly defeat the Green Bay Packers Sunday at Lambeau Field?
"You mean like he did last week to us?" an assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers said Tuesday. "Yeah, I think he can. If he gets on a roll and they keep themselves out of third-and-long predictable situations, it can be scary. Because I'll tell you right now, that's a big offensive line and they got it going against us."
The Vikings were 2-5, in last place in the NFC North and a 7-point underdog Sunday when they overcame a 14-10 deficit in the third quarter and stunned the Chargers, 35-17, at the Metrodome.
Now the Vikings find themselves a 6-point underdog in a stadium where they have won three of the last five meetings.
"Peterson is the next great running back in this league, if he's not there now," another San Diego assistant said. "Now he's still got to be able to do it every week for 16 weeks. I would take Green Bay. The Vikings are struggling at quarterback."
One of the coaches compared Peterson to O.J. Simpson. They're almost exactly the same size and both almost always were the fastest man on the field.
In Week 4, when the Packers prevailed at the Metrodome, 23-16, Vikings coach Brad Childress alternated Peterson and Chester Taylor. Even though Peterson gained 112 yards in that game, he carried merely 12 times and played just 24 snaps compared to Taylor's 40.
Childress apparently now thinks it's safe for his rookie stallion to play an entire game. In the last two games Peterson has 50 carries compared to 15 for Taylor, who has been reduced to a third-down role.
On Oct. 14, Peterson broke the club rushing record with 220 yards in 20 carries (11.2-yard average) during a 34-31 victory in Chicago. On Sunday, he carried a season-high 30 times for an NFL-record 296 yards.
"We played very well against him for probably the first 45 plays and then the kid just exploded on us," one of the Chargers aides said. "We didn't play very disciplined and put ourselves in bad positions.
"He's a very physical football player. He plays very hard. Like O.J., just downright speed. Turns the corner. Great ability to make a cut on a dime.
"But I've got to lean to Green Bay just for the fact it's Lambeau and it's November. It will be the first cold game for the Vikings. It will be interesting to see how they handle the weather."
OFFENSE
SCHEME
Coordinator Darrell Bevell calls the plays for Childress, a West Coast practitioner who is rushing 51.3% of the time despite seeing mostly eight-man fronts. The Vikings prefer running left, have had most of their long rushes from one-back sets and don't think twice about running in second-and-long situations. They're tied for ninth in giveaways (12), 14th in yards per game (334.6) and tied for 14th in points (20.8).
RECEIVERS
There isn't a legitimate starting WR on the roster. Maybe the best is rookie Sidney Rice (6 feet 3 1/2 inches, 200 pounds), a second-round pick. He has 4.51-second speed in the 40-yard dash, uses his size well on third down and in the red zone, isn't timid and improves each week. Veteran Bobby Wade (5-10, 186) not only lacks size but can't run (4.69), either. But Wade is a tenacious blocker, runs clever routes from the slot and accepts his complementary role. Troy Williamson (6-1 1/2, 203), the seventh pick in '05, can fly but his hands and toughness are questionable. Former Packer Robert Ferguson (6-1 1/2, 208) has nine catches and, with Wade, blocks well. TEs Visanthe Shiancoe (6-4 1/2, 250), Jim Kleinsasser (6-3, 272) and Jeff Dugan (6-4 1/2, 258) all play extensively. Shiancoe is a fine athlete with 4.65 speed, good hands and adequate feel. Kleinsasser, 30, is a strong, tenacious blocker.
OFFENSIVE LINE
After the Green Bay game the Vikings stopped rotating Artis Hicks (6-4 1/2, 335) and Anthony Herrera (6-2, 315) at RG and went with Herrera. It has been an upgrade, especially straight-ahead in the run game. Herrera is real aggressive and fairly athletic, too. RT Ryan Cook (6-6 1/2, 328) is big and not much else. A second-round pick in '06, the self-made Cook is a converted center without much agility or strength. LG Steve Hutchinson (6-4 1/2, 313) probably played his best two games the last two weeks. He has great intensity, focus, size and strength, but at 30 has lost some flexibility and will struggle against movement. LT Bryant McKinnie (6-8, 335) is in superb shape and having one of his best years. McKinnie does have problems with speed rushers but he will trash defenders who are stationary. C Matt Birk (6-4 1/2, 309), a former Pro Bowl player, is at the tail end of his career. He has more quickness left than strength.
QUARTERBACKS
Kelly Holcomb (6-2 1/2, 216) started against the Packers but he's out with a neck injury. The Vikings want raw Tarvaris Jackson (6-2, 232) to play but he had to leave late in the first half Sunday with a concussion. Apparently expecting Jackson (50.6 rating) to sit, the Vikings signed 34-year-old Koy Detmer (6-1, 195), who was thought to have retired after serving as the Eagles' No. 3 last year. That leaves Brooks Bollinger (6-1, 205), a five-year veteran with nine starts for the Jets in '05 (72.9 rating). A former Badger, Bollinger has third-string size, arm, accuracy and touch. He also holds the ball too long. Bollinger, who scored a 23 on the Wonderlic intelligence test in '03, isn't as controlled as Holcomb but is much more athletic.
RUNNING BACKS
Peterson (6-1 1/2, 220) lines up 8-to-9 yards deep, picks up steam and attacks. Each week, he is reading better and waiting longer for his blocks. He has 4.40 speed, can run through tackles or elude them. An adequate receiver, he shows toughness in blitz pickup. Taylor (5-10 1/2, 213) doesn't have impressive speed (4.65) but runs low, shows some dart and almost always falls forward. Plus, he's a capable receiver. Long-time Chiefs FB Tony Richardson (6-1 1/2, 238) might be 35 but he's still a physical blocker, a solid receiver and change-of-pace rusher.
DEFENSE
SCHEME
First-year coordinator Leslie Frazier combines the "Tampa-2" zone scheme that he picked up from Tony Dungy in Indianapolis with the blitz package that he learned from Jim Johnson in Philadelphia. Frazier blitzed the Packers more on passes (37.5%) than any opponent so far. Like Johnson, he loves blitzing on passing downs. The Vikings rank tied for fifth in takeaways (18), 10th in points allowed per game (19.3) and 22nd in yards allowed per game (346.0).
DEFENSIVE LINE
DT Kevin Williams (6-5, 311) and NT Pat Williams (6-3, 340) make inside running almost impossible. Kevin, who demands double-teaming, probably is as hard to move as Green Bay's Ryan Pickett but possesses far better quickness and speed (4.85). Pat, who is 35, plays with a chip on his shoulder, doesn't think he can be beat and usually isn't. LE Kenechi Udeze (6-3, 281) and RE Ray Edwards (6-4 1/2, 276) are evenly matched; Udeze plays the run slightly better and Edwards rushes slightly better. Each has speed in the low 4.8s, gives good effort and would rank as an average starter.
LINEBACKERS
E.J. Henderson (6-1, 245), back in the middle after two seasons on the weak side, has 12 tackles for loss, six more than anyone else on the roster, and is having a great season. He's a punishing tackler and a disruptive blitzer, and is diagnosing plays better than ever before. His deep coverage is so-so. The second-best starter, SLB Ben Leber (6-3, 244), has been so effective that he now splits the nickel job alongside Henderson with WLB Chad Greenway (6-2 1/2, 242). Leber has good speed, is disciplined and is a fairly complete player. Greenway, the 17th pick in '06, uses his 4.65 speed to chase all over the field. However, he isn't all that physical, misses too many tackles and can be fooled. He has a bright future but his game needs tightening.
SECONDARY
The Vikings would struggle against the Packers' spread offense if LC Antoine Winfield (5-8 1/2, 180) were to sit out a second straight game with a hamstring injury. He's iffy. Winfield, 30, shadowed Donald Driver in Week 4. He has astonishing toughness for his size and still can run and cover. Rookie nickel back Marcus McCauley (6-0 1/2, 203) replaced Winfield and kept getting burned deep. His speed is fine and he will hit, but foes have picked on him and his confidence might be down. RC Cedric Griffin (6-0, 203), a second-round pick in '06, also is rugged in run support but has been too inconsistent in coverage. The release Tuesday of veteran Ronyell Whitaker means the No. 4 CB becomes Charles Gordon (5-10, 180), a typical Cover-2 player with discipline and limited speed. Former Packer SS Darren Sharper (6-1 1/2, 210), 32, generally lines up deep and has had fewer play-making chances. FS Dwight Smith (5-9 1/2, 201) returned Sunday from a two-game injury absence and was a major factor. He's short but finds the ball and will hit.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Former Packer K Ryan Longwell, 33, beat the Bears with a career-long 55-yard FG and is 11 of 14 overall. Despite his age, Longwell is vastly improved on kickoffs. P Chris Kluwe, who has a quick getaway, ranks 10th in gross average (44.7 yards) and 22nd in net (36.5). Two weeks ago, he signed a six-year, $8.3 million extension containing a $1.7 million signing bonus. Against the Chargers, RB Mewelde Moore had a long punt return and WR Aundrae Allison had a long kickoff return.