Cbz40
The Grand Poobah
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October 17, 2007
Pass first
For those of you that worry about the pass defense and laud the run defense of the Cowboys, this week will provide, in the Vikings, a defense where the disparity between the two is about as prominent as possible. Minnesota’s run defense, anchored by big DTs Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, is ranked second in the NFL. The pass defense is dead last giving up a shade under 300 yards per game and an opponents completion percentage of 65.7.
So what gives?
“I think that’s what they’ve tried to establish, a run defense that teams can’t run on, and force them to throw the ball,” said Cowboys coach Wade Phillips. “We’ve seen as many passes as any in the league probably, and they’re gonna see a lot because they can stop the run. And people know that so they’re gonna try and throw it on them.
“(Opponents) are gonna make yardage. So what they’ve gotta do and we’ve gotta do and what every team’s gotta do that gets passed on a whole lot is make plays.”
Give the Vikings this: They have. We’re going to take the last 16 games, during which the Vikings are 5-11, as an example.
In those, Minnesota has 23 interceptions. In eight games, they have multiple picks, and they are 5-3 in those games. So basically, that says that they almost need to force mistakes to win.
The Vikings have also allowed 300 yards passing or more an eye-opening seven times in those 16 games, yet have found a way to win two of those games. How? That’s right, with forced mistakes. Matt Leinart threw two picks against the Cardinals last November, Brian Griese threw two more last week – with both going over three bills – and the Vikings won both those contests.
What it all means is that if Tony Romo avoids mistakes at the hands of ball-hawking DBs Antoine Winfield, Dwight Smith and Darren Sharper (17 combined INTs in '06 and '07), he should be in for a big day. And if he slips up and throws picks – a problem that went away until garbage time in the New England game – the Vikings can compete.
Posted by Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 7:15 PM (E-mail this entry)
Pass first
For those of you that worry about the pass defense and laud the run defense of the Cowboys, this week will provide, in the Vikings, a defense where the disparity between the two is about as prominent as possible. Minnesota’s run defense, anchored by big DTs Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, is ranked second in the NFL. The pass defense is dead last giving up a shade under 300 yards per game and an opponents completion percentage of 65.7.
So what gives?
“I think that’s what they’ve tried to establish, a run defense that teams can’t run on, and force them to throw the ball,” said Cowboys coach Wade Phillips. “We’ve seen as many passes as any in the league probably, and they’re gonna see a lot because they can stop the run. And people know that so they’re gonna try and throw it on them.
“(Opponents) are gonna make yardage. So what they’ve gotta do and we’ve gotta do and what every team’s gotta do that gets passed on a whole lot is make plays.”
Give the Vikings this: They have. We’re going to take the last 16 games, during which the Vikings are 5-11, as an example.
In those, Minnesota has 23 interceptions. In eight games, they have multiple picks, and they are 5-3 in those games. So basically, that says that they almost need to force mistakes to win.
The Vikings have also allowed 300 yards passing or more an eye-opening seven times in those 16 games, yet have found a way to win two of those games. How? That’s right, with forced mistakes. Matt Leinart threw two picks against the Cardinals last November, Brian Griese threw two more last week – with both going over three bills – and the Vikings won both those contests.
What it all means is that if Tony Romo avoids mistakes at the hands of ball-hawking DBs Antoine Winfield, Dwight Smith and Darren Sharper (17 combined INTs in '06 and '07), he should be in for a big day. And if he slips up and throws picks – a problem that went away until garbage time in the New England game – the Vikings can compete.
Posted by Albert Breer http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/standing/icons/email.gif at 7:15 PM (E-mail this entry)
