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Pushoff 2010: The Williams Wall
January, 16, 2010 Jan 16
2:30
PM ET
By Kevin Seifert
We’re less than 24 hours away from Sunday’s divisional playoff game at the Metrodome. If you’re late to the party, you can catch up on all of our “Pushoff 2010” coverage simply by clicking here. I wanted to throw one final nugget your way before you go to bed dreaming of this Dallas-Minnesota matchup.
Surely you recall our Williams Wall discussion this summer. The NFL suspensions of Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams still haven’t been resolved yet, so they’re free to play throughout the Vikings’ playoff run.
The Vikings limited Pat Williams’ playing time earlier this season, and he’s now playing with a brace on his arm because of an elbow injury. Minnesota’s run defense “slipped” to the No. 2 overall slot in the NFL this season, one behind Green Bay, but the Williams Wall still ensured they led the NFL in rush defense up the middle.
Opponents tested the middle of the Vikings’ defense this season 160 times this season, gaining 481 yards. Both figures were the lowest among NFL teams this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Why such a long-winded statement of fact?
The Cowboys enter this game with the NFL’s best average (4.5 yards) in rushes up the middle. As we discussed earlier Saturday when examining the Percy Harvin-David Buehler matchup, it’s a strength-on-strength issue that should be fascinating to watch.
Can the Cowboys make hay against the middle of the Vikings’ line? Or will they have to adjust and run more outside the tackles? I’ll meet you Sunday at the Metrodome, where we’ll all find out.
Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Williams Wall, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams, Pushoff 2010
Pushoff 2010: Harvin vs. Buehler
January, 16, 2010 Jan 16
10:00
AM ET
By Kevin Seifert
If you’re into special teams matchups, there will be a fascinating dynamic in play Sunday at the Metrodome.
Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner this season, but he was almost a non-factor during the second half of the season as opponents intentionally kicked away from him via squibs or short, high kicks. Here is how Harvin’s season broke down:
Games 1-8: 30.7-yard average on 28 returns, two touchdowns
Games 9-16: 21.1-yard average on 14 returns, no touchdowns
The Vikings have had eight kickoffs returned by blockers over that stretch, including five by tight end Jeff Dugan. Lately, they’ve been using punt returner Darius Reynaud as an upback to give them a more explosive alternative.
On the other hand, the Cowboys employ kickoff specialist David Buehler, who has one of the strongest legs in the NFL. Buehler led the league with 29 touchbacks during the regular season and had three last week in the Cowboys’ wild-card playoff victory over Philadelphia.
I, for one, will be interested to see if the Cowboys will let Buehler kick deep or if they’ll join previous Vikings opponents and keep the ball away from Harvin. I bet the Vikings would be more than willing to let Harvin return the ball from relatively deep in the end zone.
Speaking to Minnesota reporters this week, special teams coordinator Brian Murphy said Harvin will use the lettering of Vikings logo in the end zone as a “warning track” for returning the ball. But Harvin has also been told to judge whether a deep kick is still returnable based on hang time and trajectory.
“Not all of them are going to be touchbacks,” Murphy said. “We need to take advantage of it when it is a returnable ball.”
Just another nugget to consider with the opening kickoff 27 hours away.
January, 16, 2010 Jan 16
2:30
PM ET
By Kevin Seifert
We’re less than 24 hours away from Sunday’s divisional playoff game at the Metrodome. If you’re late to the party, you can catch up on all of our “Pushoff 2010” coverage simply by clicking here. I wanted to throw one final nugget your way before you go to bed dreaming of this Dallas-Minnesota matchup.
Surely you recall our Williams Wall discussion this summer. The NFL suspensions of Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams still haven’t been resolved yet, so they’re free to play throughout the Vikings’ playoff run.
The Vikings limited Pat Williams’ playing time earlier this season, and he’s now playing with a brace on his arm because of an elbow injury. Minnesota’s run defense “slipped” to the No. 2 overall slot in the NFL this season, one behind Green Bay, but the Williams Wall still ensured they led the NFL in rush defense up the middle.
Opponents tested the middle of the Vikings’ defense this season 160 times this season, gaining 481 yards. Both figures were the lowest among NFL teams this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Why such a long-winded statement of fact?
The Cowboys enter this game with the NFL’s best average (4.5 yards) in rushes up the middle. As we discussed earlier Saturday when examining the Percy Harvin-David Buehler matchup, it’s a strength-on-strength issue that should be fascinating to watch.
Can the Cowboys make hay against the middle of the Vikings’ line? Or will they have to adjust and run more outside the tackles? I’ll meet you Sunday at the Metrodome, where we’ll all find out.
Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Williams Wall, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams, Pushoff 2010
Pushoff 2010: Harvin vs. Buehler
January, 16, 2010 Jan 16
10:00
AM ET
By Kevin Seifert
If you’re into special teams matchups, there will be a fascinating dynamic in play Sunday at the Metrodome.
Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner this season, but he was almost a non-factor during the second half of the season as opponents intentionally kicked away from him via squibs or short, high kicks. Here is how Harvin’s season broke down:
Games 1-8: 30.7-yard average on 28 returns, two touchdowns
Games 9-16: 21.1-yard average on 14 returns, no touchdowns
The Vikings have had eight kickoffs returned by blockers over that stretch, including five by tight end Jeff Dugan. Lately, they’ve been using punt returner Darius Reynaud as an upback to give them a more explosive alternative.
On the other hand, the Cowboys employ kickoff specialist David Buehler, who has one of the strongest legs in the NFL. Buehler led the league with 29 touchbacks during the regular season and had three last week in the Cowboys’ wild-card playoff victory over Philadelphia.
I, for one, will be interested to see if the Cowboys will let Buehler kick deep or if they’ll join previous Vikings opponents and keep the ball away from Harvin. I bet the Vikings would be more than willing to let Harvin return the ball from relatively deep in the end zone.
Speaking to Minnesota reporters this week, special teams coordinator Brian Murphy said Harvin will use the lettering of Vikings logo in the end zone as a “warning track” for returning the ball. But Harvin has also been told to judge whether a deep kick is still returnable based on hang time and trajectory.
“Not all of them are going to be touchbacks,” Murphy said. “We need to take advantage of it when it is a returnable ball.”
Just another nugget to consider with the opening kickoff 27 hours away.
