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Looking ahead to Minnesota

OptimisticTexan said:
I’m very certain that the Vikings defense will be expecting Slowick to try and establish the run, I seriously might trot out 4 wideouts and a TE to run quick hit patterns. I believe CJ has the ability to make the quick read and throw to try and get the Vikings defense off balance or having to use an early timeout to get the right personnel on the field. My thinking is to avoid trying to force the run and winding up with 2nd and long which allows the Vikings defense to start pinning their ears back. I’d rather see Slowick having his receivers pin their ears back.
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Using the short passing game to open up the running game is a staple of this type of offense. Makes sense.
 
A few things or keys I'm looking for or want to see:

On offense...

* How does Juice hold up? I think he may be physically compromised. But the C is important for mental reasons, too. If we have to go to Green, I think it's a long shot to win, especially if Juice exits early on. More broadly, how does the o-line perform against an excellent front seven...with a D-coord that likes to blitz and mix up the looks?

* I'd like to see Stroud on the move or try something different against a very aggressive D. A handful of designed rollouts, option game, or even infrequent RPO or wildcat. Just get the D on their heels a bit and give them some things they aren't prepared for.

* I think (hope) this is the game Dell breaks out. I'm not that afraid of the Vikes secondary. Smith is a grizzled vet, but I don't think he's the same guy any more. Could be wrong. Another grizzled vet out at CB in Gilmore, but again, what are his wheels like at roughly 33 or 34? Dell needs to put him in the shake and bake machine and show us those quicks he had last year. If he doesn't show it this week...not time to panic per se...but my level of concern will rise. I have a feeling he will break at least one big one.

* Lastly - the run game. Akers will be the guy on the spot. I wanted him as #2...but not "the guy". Hoping he can handle the role with aplomb. He doesn't have to kill it...but his YPA needs to be 4+ if we hope to see the best this offense can give. He should also be in the mix in the pass game as well.

On defense....

* I hope this D turns Darnold's carriage back into a pumpkin at noon. This Cinderella needs to be sent back home from the Royal Ball and be made to clean the floors!

* Aaron Jones has looked good for the Vikes on the ground, but the early results on run D suggest we can limit the damage. That will be important to put Darnold in as many 3rd and longs as possible.

* This goes without saying...but plays of 20+ by air need to be severely limited. Zero is probably asking too much...but we can't have Jefferson go 97 yards for a score, either. Jefferson will get his...just keep him in front and tackle well...and don't let anyone else go off. Addison not playing should help some.

I'll put this under D - but Fairbairn is a weapon! Use him as such and don't turtle late in the half either.


Early in the week...I was feeling this was a Vikings win...but starting yesterday I just started to have a good feeling. I do think this is a pick-em overall, but give me 23-20 Texans in a nailbiter with Fairbairn making a long one late to take the win. Let's go Texans!
 
Porky said:
A few things or keys I'm looking for or want to see:

On offense...

* How does Juice hold up? I think he may be physically compromised. But the C is important for mental reasons, too. If we have to go to Green, I think it's a long shot to win, especially if Juice exits early on. More broadly, how does the o-line perform against an excellent front seven...with a D-coord that likes to blitz and mix up the looks?

* I'd like to see Stroud on the move or try something different against a very aggressive D. A handful of designed rollouts, option game, or even infrequent RPO or wildcat. Just get the D on their heels a bit and give them some things they aren't prepared for.

* I think (hope) this is the game Dell breaks out. I'm not that afraid of the Vikes secondary. Smith is a grizzled vet, but I don't think he's the same guy any more. Could be wrong. Another grizzled vet out at CB in Gilmore, but again, what are his wheels like at roughly 33 or 34? Dell needs to put him in the shake and bake machine and show us those quicks he had last year. If he doesn't show it this week...not time to panic per se...but my level of concern will rise. I have a feeling he will break at least one big one.

* Lastly - the run game. Akers will be the guy on the spot. I wanted him as #2...but not "the guy". Hoping he can handle the role with aplomb. He doesn't have to kill it...but his YPA needs to be 4+ if we hope to see the best this offense can give. He should also be in the mix in the pass game as well.

On defense....

* I hope this D turns Darnold's carriage back into a pumpkin at noon. This Cinderella needs to be sent back home from the Royal Ball and be made to clean the floors!

* Aaron Jones has looked good for the Vikes on the ground, but the early results on run D suggest we can limit the damage. That will be important to put Darnold in as many 3rd and longs as possible.

* This goes without saying...but plays of 20+ by air need to be severely limited. Zero is probably asking too much...but we can't have Jefferson go 97 yards for a score, either. Jefferson will get his...just keep him in front and tackle well...and don't let anyone else go off. Addison not playing should help some.

I'll put this under D - but Fairbairn is a weapon! Use him as such and don't turtle late in the half either.


Early in the week...I was feeling this was a Vikings win...but starting yesterday I just started to have a good feeling. I do think this is a pick-em overall, but give me 23-20 Texans in a nailbiter with Fairbairn making a long one late to take the win. Let's go Texans!
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I'm surprised we haven't seen more max protect, given the lines pass-blocking struggles. He's simply too valuable to increase his exposure.
 
Harrison Smith, Stephan Gilmore, Charles Metellus, Cameron Bynum.

Pretty slow secondary.

If the Texans can get the run game going. Then they can expose their speed.

Key is getting them out of those high shell looks, bringing them down and taking shots.

CJ is elite!
 
I'm sure the Texans will have a good plan for the Vikings offense. Starting with doubling Jefferson everywhere. My concern is I don't want to see the Texans play solid defense for most of the play, only to breakdown when the play goes off schedule.. Darnold torched the Niners with three 10+ yard scrambles for 1st downs. Both Viking RBs are threats as check down options. Stay disciplined and don't let these guys extend drives.
 
Lucky said:
I'm sure the Texans will have a good plan for the Vikings offense. Starting with doubling Jefferson everywhere. My concern is I don't want to see the Texans play solid defense for most of the play, only to breakdown when the play goes off schedule.. Darnold torched the Niners with three 10+ yard scrambles for 1st downs. Both Viking RBs are threats as check down options. Stay disciplined and don't let these guys extend drives.
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Discipline has not been a strong moniker of this year's team so far.
 
If we beat these Vikings we will definitely start getting the type love the undeserving Cowturds get from the national media. Let’s Go Toros!!

Make a statement!
 
Mangler said:
If we beat these Vikings we will definitely start getting the type love the undeserving Cowturds get from the national media. Let’s Go Toros!!

Make a statement!
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Ain't gonna happen today. We will lose in a big way just as the Cowturds did against the Saints last week.. It is a long season and we will turn things around but today will not be our day. A hyped up Vikings team at home will be too hard to overcome! Especially a hyped up Greenard!

Actually our Texans have gotten plenty of love from the press but the press isn't ready to crown them champions yet and that is as it should be!
 
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corry said:
All 3 phases coming out bad.

Stroud needs help man.

Slowik’s play calling is so bad. Why isn’t Tunsil blocking Greenard? What are we doing?
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Not sure Slowik play calling is problem but rather follow through by players.
 
corry said:
All 3 phases coming out bad.

Stroud needs help man.

Slowik’s play calling is so bad. Why isn’t Tunsil blocking Greenard? What are we doing?
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To think we were all concerned Bobby Slowik would coach somewhere else this season. He didn't call the best game last Sunday but I think his overall track record from last season tells me we should give him the benefit of the doubt. I think the whole team deserves that at this point. Let's see how we do against the Jags next week. Both our team and the Jaguars are desperate for a win but especially the Jaguars. Their loss on Sunday was even more embarrassing than ours. Let's hope our team doesn't overlook or get overconfident against the Jags or it is likely not to go well where our team is concerned!
 
badboy said:
Not sure Slowik play calling is problem but rather follow through by players.
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He could have made calls that negated some of the pressure inside. Calling plays to move the pocket and calling more play action passes would have been a good way to adjust when the offensive line just was not run or pass blocking well.
 
steelbtexan said:
Bottom line is last game was an entire organizational failure.
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You want to know what the #1 thing I got from this game? We need to turn NRG into the nightmare that was experienced in US Bank Stadium last Sunday. Reliant once was like that in the beginning. Even with a losing team. We'd take pride in getting opponents to false start. That noise needs to come back, but louder. Need an honest to god homefield advantage.
 
Lucky said:
You want to know what the #1 thing I got from this game? We need to turn NRG into the nightmare that was experienced in US Bank Stadium last Sunday. Reliant once was like that in the beginning. Even with a losing team. We'd take pride in getting opponents to false start. That noise needs to come back, but louder. Need an honest to god homefield advantage.
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YES!!! Quoted for truth! I used to live in Minnesota so I had a lot of friends at the stadium. They kept saying how loud it was. Loudest that they’ve had ever.
 
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