Week 1 Vikings discussion thread

[GB-Brandon]

It's weird having no news from the JSO. So Turner is hurt, and so was Wagner, but Wagner's back? How badly is Turner hurt? Who the hell is the backup RT?

Who won the starting WR jobs? Who's the starting TE? Is Dillon just a slug?

From what I know and have heard Tonyan is the starting TE. Lazard and Adams are the starting receivers with MVS as the 3rd. Turner will most likely not be a go. Wagner should be a go. If Wagner can’t go the move would be to move Lane Taylor E. Jenkins out to Right Tackle.

Dillion is not a slug but is buried behind Jones and Williams.

[RashanGary]

You never know what you have with the young corners. Guys develop and become stars. It’s no sure thing that they’re bad players. But still..... Rodgers and Lafleur almost have to test that corner group early and often to see if they’re ready.

I’m pretty sure we’re gonna see a lot of 3 WR looks early just to test the Vikings boundary youth out of the gate.

With that, Jones is obviously your running back. And you almost need a TE/H-back type in there to really threaten those defensive ends with a run option. Tonyan, Jamaal Williams and Mercedes are our three more polished blocking/Swiss army types.

Adams
MVS
Lizard
Tonyan/Jamaal/Mercedes/swerv
Jones

Tonyan has a traditional TE skillset
Mercedes has a blocking TE skill set with a little pass catching ability
Jamaal is unique, being he best pass blocking back in football, really opening up the passing game and allowing Jones to get some deep opportunities against linebackers. I also think he could run block like a FB if he ever had the chance, and might now with the deep stable of backs
Swerv is a different kind of Swiss Army knife. More like a Deebo Samuel type. That would put additional threat on the Vikings shallow cornerback group


I expect to see all four of our most experienced versatility players matched with the 3 WR sets. If the Vikings go small, I expect our tackles to lean on their pass rushers and wear them down with the run game. If they go a little bigger, I’d expect to see some matchup problems with really good pass catching backs on linebackers.

I have an idea what the packers have and some ideas of what the Vikings have. They’ll play around and see which matchups work best, but I think a heavy dose of 3WR sets is very likely in week 1

[RashanGary]

I’d say just line up and pass the ball, but those edge rushers make that impossible. So that’s where the blocking pieces we have need to be inserted and some wear em out and keep em off balance run game needs to be a part of the equation.

[texaspackerbacker]

Not a word about Sternberger, RG and GBB. Is he hurt or has he fallen that far in the depth charts? I had a low opinion of the guy, and I haven't heard of anything he's done to change that.

I don't expect Rodgers to use TEs any more than he ever has. I do expect some big plays to WRs, though, as the Vikings try to tighten up against the run. And I do NOT expect a low scoring game. 38-20 Packers sounds about right.

[George Cumby]

The big question I have about this game is this:

Will the Vikings still pipe in high volume crowd noise to speakers above the Packer sideline?

Lol.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

It's weird having no news from the JSO. So Turner is hurt, and so was Wagner, but Wagner's back? How badly is Turner hurt? Who the hell is the backup RT?

Who won the starting WR jobs? Who's the starting TE? Is Dillon just a slug?

You must’ve missed the news: A while ago, the German Shepherd outlawed scribes from reporting the depth chart, injuries and the such. Covid has permitted secrecy in the NFL. Ole GB-Brandon was like, Gute is trying to mask the Packers’ suckness.

The Detroit Lions have been posting mini-Hard Knocks vids on the YouTube. As a result, I’ve learned more about the Lions this summer than our beloved Pack. For example, Patrica talks like he’s black. Can’t say a sentence without using the word “man.” Also, the Lions boycotted a practice before the Pack. Don’t ask me why they - and the Pack - boycotted practice. Too FYI.

[RashanGary]

Kirksey 4.58 and Greene 4.51 are incredibly fast at the LB position (4.55 average)
Amos 4.56 and Savage 4.36 are incredibly fast at the safety position (4.46 average)
Alexander 4.38 and King 4.43 are incredibly fast at the CB position (4.41 average)

That’s probably the fastest base defense in the NFL.

Sullivan 4.6 slows things down a bit when he’s in at nickel. I’m excited to see Savage fly around this year. I could see a ton of cover 1 with savage roaming the deep middle and Alexander/King being able to run with anyone on the outside. Frees up that extra box defender on early downs to stop the run. Then a lot of cover 2 on third down cuz our pass rush only needs 4 to get home.

[jklowan]

Packers 2020 Depth Chart: Week 1 vs. Vikings

Offense

WR: Davante Adams | Equanimeous St. Brown
LT: David Bakhtiari | Yosh Nijman
LG: Elgton Jenkins | Jon Runyan
C: Corey Linsley | Lucas Patrick
RG: Lane Taylor | Lucas Patrick
RT: Billy Turner | Rick Wagner
TE: Marcedes Lewis | Robert Tonyan | Jace Sternberger/Josiah Deguara
WR: Allen Lazard | Malik Taylor
WR: Marquez Valdes-Scantling | Equanimeous St. Brown
QB: Aaron Rodgers | Tim Boyle | Jordan Love
RB: Aaron Jones | Jamaal Williams | Tyler Ervin/AJ Dillon

---

Defense

DE: Dean Lowry | Montravius Adams
NT: Kenny Clark | Montravius Adams
DE: Tyler Lancaster | Kingsley Keke
OLB: Preston Smith | Randy Ramsey | Jonathan Garvin
ILB: Christian Kirksey | Ty Summers
ILB: Oren Burks | Ty Summers
OLB: Za’Darius Smith | Rashan Gary
CB: Jaire Alexander | Chandon Sullivan | Ka’dar Hollman
CB: Kevin King | Josh Jackson | Parry Nickerson
S: Adrian Amos | Will Redmond | Vernon Scott
S: Darnell Savage Jr. | Raven Greene


Looks like RT, NT, DE and ILB has very little depth

[GB-Brandon]

I’d say just line up and pass the ball, but those edge rushers make that impossible. So that’s where the blocking pieces we have need to be inserted and some wear em out and keep em off balance run game needs to be a part of the equation.

Expect a lot of J. Williams on passing downs to help out in pass protection and especially at RT with chips etc. This is why I don’t expect to see much of Dillion other then to possibly give Jones a breather on run plays. They trust Williams more then anyone in pass protection situations.

[George Cumby]

Burks "Parkerats Love to Hate Me" is starting?

[texaspackerbacker]

Interesting that they don't even list a fullback in the depth chart, 3 WRs instead. I like that, I think.

[RashanGary]

Expect a lot of J. Williams on passing downs to help out in pass protection and especially at RT with chips etc. This is why I don’t expect to see much of Dillion other then to possibly give Jones a breather on run plays. They trust Williams more then anyone in pass protection situations.

I do expect a lot of this. Sort of like the way John Kuhn manned that third down spot for years. Pass pro. Pass pro. Pass pro. The three most important qualities of a running back in clear passing situations.

Rodgers has said a few times last year that he loved his chemistry with both Jones and Williams. He said last year it’s been a while since he had a running back he really had that with.

Tonyan, Stergberger and Deguara have a long way to go before 12 can say he has chemistry with them. I don’t expect the Packers to be too gung ho about getting the green players on the field in week 1.

Not only is Williams an elite pass protector. He’s also incredibly savvy in the screen game. He’s always been a good pass catcher and Rodgers said Williams has made a big jump in that area. With so much inexperience in Stergberger, Tonyan and Deguara, the experience of Williams and chemistry with 12 really comes to the forefront. I would not be the least bit surprised to see Williams play some Hback type role with Jones on the field as RB. Or Hback with Ervin at RB too. Kind of a creative way to use your most NFL ready blocking/catching prospect. Hides the inexperience at TE and allows 12 to build chemistry before they have to do it in game action.

[RashanGary]

Damon Harrison saying he might let twitter decide his next spot. Must not be getting any blow away offers. Green Bay has been in contact with him.

Packers fans blowing up Twitter to get him here.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Just a reminder: I have dibs on the official week 1 GameDay thread.

Don’t want to give ThunderDan the opportunity to start the GD thread for 19 str8t weeks. TD thinks he’s so much better than us all cos he has season tickets.

[RashanGary]

Rick Wagner has been a Lane Taylor level starting RT for the last 7 years. Outside of last years injury riddled season he’s graded out as a solid starter on Pff. He’s 30. Turning 31 in October.

He’s healthy. For now. And Billy Turner is coming back.

Guy has played a lot of good NFL football. If that’s our biggest concern, and it is, we're no where near the level of uncertainty as the Patriots starting Marshmallow Newhouse at LT last year. Let's RELAX! Bakh will hold down the left side and Wagner will.get a little help. No worries!