quote:

ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: bohumm

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

Top #Vikings grades from MIN@DAL (minimum 15 snaps):

Offense
Rudolph: 86.8
Cook: 76.0
Cousins: 72.6
Diggs: 72.3
Elflein: 67.7
Bradbury: 67.2 (zero pressures allowed)

Defense:
Griffen: 78.9 (7 pressures, 4 stops)
Hunter: 74.0 (10 pressures)
Harris: 72.0
Barr: 70.9
Odenigbo: 69.5

(Nick Olson on Twitter)

Don't love PFF, don't hate PFF, but definitely don't trust PFF. Very hard to figure out how Mattison wasn't north of 70; equally hard to see how Barr was.

Mattison looked great, but his usage was pretty limited. How high of a score can you give to 8 carries for 52 yards, 1 reception for 2 yards, and only playing 14 snaps?

On the other hand, isn't there tremendous value in getting 9 yards per touch in limited action to facilitate having Dalvin on the field as much as possible but still giving rest? That's a weakness in the metric to me. I've heard my whole life about RBs needing to "get a lather" before they're effective. Usage is a weird metric, I know, but productivity is paramount in my book.

Did Anthony Barr really produce more?

Yes....how did the Dallas TEs and RBs look all game? Barr was roaming the middle with Kendricks and played almost every down.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

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.
Justis Mosqueda@JuMosq

NFC playoff odds per 538:

GB 94%
SF 91%
NO 90%
MIN 86%
SEA 82%
PHI 61%
-
DAL 48%
LAR 21%
CAR 18%
CHI 5%
DET 1%

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
.
Justis Mosqueda@JuMosq

NFC playoff odds per 538:

GB 94%
SF 91%
NO 90%
MIN 86%
SEA 82%
PHI 61%
-
DAL 48%
LAR 21%
CAR 18%
CHI 5%
DET 1%

It was nice seeing NO lose to ATL. Would be especially nice to see them crash and burn with Brees playing and Teddy on the bench.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

Regarding the Vikings attempting a pitch to Dalvin Cook late in the game:

Why would you EVER pitch the ball outside on a run play on your fifteen yard line? Hand the damn ball off and get your two yards. That reminded me of the infamous Giants/Eagles in 1978 with Joe Pisarcik muffing a hand off with thirty seconds to go and the Eagles out of time outs. Shortly after that, teams started the victory kneel down with under two minutes to go in the game. Personally, I would like the NFL to eliminate the kneel down and require teams to at least try to make positive yardage on a play or the clock automatically stops. In fact, I think the clock should stop if the defense causes the opposing offense negative yards on a play with under two minutes to go. Kneeling down is like deliberately striking out in baseball. It makes no sense. Rather than kneel down, just let the clock run out if the opposing team is out of timeouts. No team has EVER fumbled a kneel down play to my knowledge and they probably never will.

quote:

ORIGINAL: odin

I thought Erin was going to be called for intentional grounding and a resulting safety ...nope, bogus roughing the passer call.

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
.
Justis Mosqueda@JuMosq

NFC playoff odds per 538:

GB 94%
SF 91%
NO 90%
MIN 86%
SEA 82%
PHI 61%
-
DAL 48%
LAR 21%
CAR 18%
CHI 5%
DET 1%

It was nice seeing NO lose to ATL. Would be especially nice to see them crash and burn with Brees playing and Teddy on the bench.

I'd prefer to see them crash and burn next year AFTER Teddy moves on to another team.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

quote:

ORIGINAL: odin

I thought Erin was going to be called for intentional grounding and a resulting safety ...nope, bogus roughing the passer call.

Rodgers' take on the call:

“I must say, it’s nice to be on this side of one of those calls. I feel like we still are owed a few more before we’re even. I didn’t feel like that was a real tough call, though.”

Hah!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
.
Justis Mosqueda@JuMosq

NFC playoff odds per 538:

GB 94%
SF 91%
NO 90%
MIN 86%
SEA 82%
PHI 61%
-
DAL 48%
LAR 21%
CAR 18%
CHI 5%
DET 1%

It was nice seeing NO lose to ATL. Would be especially nice to see them crash and burn with Brees playing and Teddy on the bench.

I'd prefer to see them crash and burn next year AFTER Teddy moves on to another team.

Teddy is now the backup again with Brees starting. Maybe we can all root for the Saints opponents now.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kgdabom

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

Regarding the Vikings attempting a pitch to Dalvin Cook late in the game:

Why would you EVER pitch the ball outside on a run play on your fifteen yard line? Hand the damn ball off and get your two yards. That reminded me of the infamous Giants/Eagles in 1978 with Joe Pisarcik muffing a hand off with thirty seconds to go and the Eagles out of time outs. Shortly after that, teams started the victory kneel down with under two minutes to go in the game. Personally, I would like the NFL to eliminate the kneel down and require teams to at least try to make positive yardage on a play or the clock automatically stops. In fact, I think the clock should stop if the defense causes the opposing offense negative yards on a play with under two minutes to go. Kneeling down is like deliberately striking out in baseball. It makes no sense. Rather than kneel down, just let the clock run out if the opposing team is out of timeouts. No team has EVER fumbled a kneel down play to my knowledge and they probably never will.

A year or two ago I started a campaign to stop the clock any time in the last five minutes when the offense loses yardage. Would completely eliminate the kneel down and make for more excitement.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

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.
are we interested in this guy? - bucs cut vernon hargreaves and he's going on waivers - former 1st round pick in his fourth year - 5th year option picked up for 2020 at $9m....

jaleel looks like he's gained some weight to be joseph's back-up - together with stephen they did a great job stuffing the run in dallas...add watts to the mix next season and i think dt is a position we don't have to rush into next draft...also, very possible we let joseph go after this season....

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bruce Johnson

quote:

ORIGINAL: thebigo

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

quote:

ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer

.
.
Justis Mosqueda@JuMosq

NFC playoff odds per 538:

GB 94%
SF 91%
NO 90%
MIN 86%
SEA 82%
PHI 61%
-
DAL 48%
LAR 21%
CAR 18%
CHI 5%
DET 1%

It was nice seeing NO lose to ATL. Would be especially nice to see them crash and burn with Brees playing and Teddy on the bench.

I'd prefer to see them crash and burn next year AFTER Teddy moves on to another team.

Teddy is now the backup again with Brees starting. Maybe we can all root for the Saints opponents now.

I'm already there, just don't want to see a 2019 crash and burn lead to a Drew Brees retirement and a Teddy long term deal there.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kgdabom

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

Regarding the Vikings attempting a pitch to Dalvin Cook late in the game:

Why would you EVER pitch the ball outside on a run play on your fifteen yard line? Hand the damn ball off and get your two yards. That reminded me of the infamous Giants/Eagles in 1978 with Joe Pisarcik muffing a hand off with thirty seconds to go and the Eagles out of time outs. Shortly after that, teams started the victory kneel down with under two minutes to go in the game. Personally, I would like the NFL to eliminate the kneel down and require teams to at least try to make positive yardage on a play or the clock automatically stops. In fact, I think the clock should stop if the defense causes the opposing offense negative yards on a play with under two minutes to go. Kneeling down is like deliberately striking out in baseball. It makes no sense. Rather than kneel down, just let the clock run out if the opposing team is out of timeouts. No team has EVER fumbled a kneel down play to my knowledge and they probably never will.

A year or two ago I started a campaign to stop the clock any time in the last five minutes when the offense loses yardage. Would completely eliminate the kneel down and make for more excitement.

quote:

ORIGINAL: CPAMAN

Regarding the Vikings attempting a pitch to Dalvin Cook late in the game:

Why would you EVER pitch the ball outside on a run play on your fifteen yard line? Hand the damn ball off and get your two yards. That reminded me of the infamous Giants/Eagles in 1978 with Joe Pisarcik muffing a hand off with thirty seconds to go and the Eagles out of time outs. Shortly after that, teams started the victory kneel down with under two minutes to go in the game. Personally, I would like the NFL to eliminate the kneel down and require teams to at least try to make positive yardage on a play or the clock automatically stops. In fact, I think the clock should stop if the defense causes the opposing offense negative yards on a play with under two minutes to go. Kneeling down is like deliberately striking out in baseball. It makes no sense. Rather than kneel down, just let the clock run out if the opposing team is out of timeouts. No team has EVER fumbled a kneel down play to my knowledge and they probably never will.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

Top 7 teams in rushing yards per game:

Baltimore
San Francisco
Minnesota
Houston
Dallas
Seattle
Carolina

Pretty good correlation this year between running ability and winning, though some could be due to trying to run time off the clock after establishing a lead.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dana Turner

I also like the idea of teams having to try to gain yards in the final two minutes of each half. I believe it would add a positive dimension to the game. It's at least an option that should be explored if it hasn't already been.

quote:

ORIGINAL: GopherFan34

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dana Turner

I also like the idea of teams having to try to gain yards in the final two minutes of each half. I believe it would add a positive dimension to the game. It's at least an option that should be explored if it hasn't already been.

What would happen is, you would see a bunch of QB sneaks. Same result. Why would you punish your defense if they made a stop, to turn around and risk a fumble?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dana Turner

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

Top 7 teams in rushing yards per game:

Baltimore
San Francisco
Minnesota
Houston
Dallas
Seattle
Carolina

Pretty good correlation this year between running ability and winning, though some could be due to trying to run time off the clock after establishing a lead.

Hey J, that's a lot like the chicken and the egg analogy, but in this case it's not what is happening. As the league trys to turn the NFL in to a three wing circus with balls flying all over the place and pass interference being in the spot light, teams realize it's still the same old adage. If you can pound on a team, humiliate them with the ground game, make the defensive players tackle the tougher guys, and get layed on by the heavier guys, teams will wear down. We didn't get to see in in KC because we went away from it to start the game. I don't know how that game would have turned out if we had actually came out moving forward instead of retreating, but we've seen what happens when we do exhort our will on teams, the proof is there for all of those teams.

When the running game is working in conjunction with the passing game, it's a beautiful thing to watch. I know it's pretty to see a completed pass for 25 yards down field, but the truth is, at least for me, I love to see a 12 yard run where guys are just getting after it. It's not about the RB, watch what is going on around the play and you see tons of action. The pass play is a couple guys down field, the guy catches it and a guy makes a tackle. Really, two different forms of action going on. Me, I prefer the big bodies flying all over the place, RB's cutting off the perfect block, stuff like that.

On the flip side of that is the defense stopping the run. For me that is also some of the most exciting stuff happening in a game. When you see a DT slice through and cut a RB down for a two yard loss or a LB fill the gap and stuff the RB. I think that is what football was really meant to be about, sorta like Rugby, and I really enjoy the symphony of trench play.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dana Turner

quote:

ORIGINAL: GopherFan34

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dana Turner

I also like the idea of teams having to try to gain yards in the final two minutes of each half. I believe it would add a positive dimension to the game. It's at least an option that should be explored if it hasn't already been.

What would happen is, you would see a bunch of QB sneaks. Same result. Why would you punish your defense if they made a stop, to turn around and risk a fumble?

There are probably a ton of good opinions on both sides of this issue. I just feel it could add a different dimension to the game, it will never happen, so it's no biggy.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dana Turner

quote:

ORIGINAL: GopherFan34

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dana Turner

I also like the idea of teams having to try to gain yards in the final two minutes of each half. I believe it would add a positive dimension to the game. It's at least an option that should be explored if it hasn't already been.

What would happen is, you would see a bunch of QB sneaks. Same result. Why would you punish your defense if they made a stop, to turn around and risk a fumble?

There are probably a ton of good opinions on both sides of this issue. I just feel it could add a different dimension to the game, it will never happen, so it's no biggy.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jbusse

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pager

J Johnson had one of the lowest PFF grades? Considering how we shut down the run game, I'm surprised by that. I don't know how often he was in on obvious passing downs.

Jaleel played 43 snaps 60%

Armon Watts PFF grade of 77.3 on 7 snaps.