Take nothing from the Tenn game, Minny was looking forward to this one. I don’t think we win, unless our MVP QB returns [Wayens, Newman and Munnerlyn cannot cover our WRs]; but we just need to keep it close so we have the chance if a couple more big plays/turnovers go our way. Burnett, Rollins and Gunter will play better on D.
Minn’s best pass rush occurs when Hunter comes in at DE and their best rusher, Griffen, lines up inside [in this case right over Lane Taylor]. This can easily be stopped by running quick tempo between 2d and 3rd down. If Vikes get Hunter in early to combat this; A Minny right DL of Hunter/Griffen can be run over.
If GB runs right, YOU RUN AT ROBISON, if ya try to run around him a TE or WR must seal him off or forget about it.
This is the week we see what Taylor has got. Last week was a classic: young guy going up “one of the best DTs.” Well, Jackson was one of the best DTs in Denver’s system, and now nothing more than a typical big time FA, ya know, one of those guys that Ted’s critics criticize Ted for not signing, whose salary and expectations are exceeded only by disappointment in their play. Minn has one of the best 3 DT rotations, it helps that one is out. If Taylor cannot not devote 100% of his attention to his blocks, but instead uses valuable mental energy to focus on silent snap counts and wondering who he’s supposed to block, because he has a lack of sureness in his blocking responsibility, it will be along night. Confusing Taylor will be Zimmer’s focus and NO ONE wants to be the object of Zimmer’s focus. The key for Taylor is that if he’s not sure who to block, he at least picks someone and does it well. I hope Barclay got some LG reps this week.
One thing GB can do to keep Taylor clean is when passing on 1st or 2d down is play 1 TE In-line right. Minny plays their base D with the NT at zero/or zero shade and the 3 tech lines-up strong side with the weak side DE playing 9 tech. In other words, no one is lined up over Taylor. This make it very easy on Taylor because if a Blitz goes through GB’s left A or B gap Taylor has no confusion. It’ll be interesting to see if Zimmer counters with a 4-6 concept and line-up his DL strong to GB’s weak side. Of course his Safeties and MLB need to crash if GB tries to run strong side.
I think Rodgers has one more week of preseason excuse because he had half the snaps in practice and camp this year than in years past. But Rodgers should be sharper this week than last. If he doesn’t regain his MVP sharpness by game 4; then we must come to grips we don’t have an elite guy at QB anymore.
Preaseason is over for the coaching staff now and crowd noise is no excuse. Last week, we had a delay penalty to start a quarter [never saw that before]; a delay penalty after a TO [are you friggin kidding me?]; and the OL pass blocking during a run play at goal line is also crazy [Though I see no way this was not on Rodgers]. When this much dysfunction is so starkly evident there is probably consistent confusion occurring on most plays that we don’t see.
I think like in Jax; we’ll be in nickel all day; because our 5th DB is way better than our 3rd DLman. Though Datone may see some snaps at DE in base. And Ringo in his first 7 snaps played well for a 2nd yr late pick [3 Bs, 3 low Cs and 1 F-Haven’t gone through the entire game yet], so he might play some DE in the base as well. We can control Peterson like we did w/ Jax where we had 10 or 11 TFLs because Capers was uncharacteristically one gapping. IF Peterson gets 1 yard, he’ll probably get 7-10; but that’s okay, even an occasional 30 or 40 is okay as long as we stop the TDs. Zimmer knows what Capers doesn’t want, throwing. So our D must aggressively one gap for run and if Bradford drops back go get him. One good thing is that Bradford can’t run and he had 10 fumbles in 14 games last year.