No Quarterback? How about a Wildback?

By MikeBullock  |   Monday, August 10, 2009  |  Comments( 1 )

Minnesota Vikings
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Reports of inconsistent play and bizarre injuries are coming out of Mankato regarding the signal callers of the Minnesota Vikings. Journalists at the camp have made comments about Sage Rosenfels throwing lame ducks, they’ve watched Tarvaris Jackson injure himself not once, but twice and seen too many interceptions to rave about the signal callers. So, what’s a Viking fan to do?

Pray for the Wildback.

The week before Kick Off 2009, Rob “tackling isn’t a priority” Ryan will be doing his best to devise a Cleveland defensive scheme to stop the Viking offense. He’ll look long and hard at Adrian Peterson, then spend hours reviewing game film of the purple passing attack. After years in the AFC West, where his defenses gave away big run plays like it was stimulus money, Ryan will most likely decide it’s best to hone in on Peterson and stack eight in the box.

Fast forward to Gameday as the Vikings offense takes the field. Minnesota’s offensive coordinator, Darrel Bevel will come out and play a little conservative. A few runs up the gut, a swing pass, a slant to TE Visanthe Shiancoe and Ryan’s new defense will hold its own.

Just as the Dawg Pound settles into a semblance of confidence, something happens that Ryan will simply have no answers for in his family playbook.

The Vikings send out a new personnel package. Tavaris Jackson runs towards the sideline, but stops in the ‘X’. Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson set up in the pro set in the backfield. Then Percy Harvin trots out and lines up in the QB spot in shotgun.

Now, Ryan’s game plan goes out the window. Stack eight and watch Harvin toss the ball to a wide-open Bernard Berrian. Drop into zone and wait for Peterson or Harvin to gash you for five plus yards at a time. Contain the edges and let Taylor tear a hole in the middle. Any way you slice it, the Vikings nail a positive play every time.

Sure Ryan has seen this formation and even practiced against it in Oakland. But let’s face it; Michael Bush, Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden have nothing on the horned trio from Minnesota.

In fact, let’s forget the running backs all together. How do you game plan for Percy Harvin? A wise old Defensive Coordinator once said, “The best you can hope for is to take their best playmaker out of the game and force the other ten guys to beat you.”

Well, who is their best playmaker? Peterson, right now. But once you focus on him, Harvin will make you pay.

The first round draft pick out of Florida reportedly ran a 4.23 40-yard-dash in college. No linebacker in the league can keep up with that. So, do you dedicate a cornerback to shadow him? Roderick Hood? Corey Ivy? Hank Poteat? Not a chance. Put two men on him, a CB under and Safety over, and you might neutralize him, but now you have nine guys left to stop Berrian, Wade, Shiancoe, Taylor and Peterson. Maybe the late, great Jim Johnson could stop this offense, but Rob Ryan can only pray to the Almighty that it isn’t an utter blowout (something Hood experienced last November in Phoenix). There’s simply too much for the Dawg’s to handle.

The addition of Wildback Percy Harvin will guarantee the Vikings outscore the Browns and if the Williams Wall stands (baring “waterpillgate”), the Browns offense won’t fair much better.

While the ‘any given Sunday’ bit still holds true, the smart money says chalk up a win for the guys with the horns and their newly crowned Wildback. Sorry Cleveland, better luck next time.
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