More Vikings vs Falcons

More Vikings/Falcons breakdown from ESPN Insider found at http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/features/take2?gameId=251002001 on ESPN Insider.

The challenge for the Falcons defense in this matchup will be playing with both aggressiveness and discipline at the same time because of QB Daunte Culpepper's ability to create with his feet. When the Falcons played the Eagles and QB Donovan McNabb two weeks ago, defensive coordinator Ed Donatell blitzed on 62 percent of the Eagles offensive snaps, which is one of the highest single-game percentages fans will ever see in the NFL. However, the Eagles are a one-dimensional passing offense with no commitment to running the ball out of base formations. The Vikings are different conceptually than Philadelphia in terms of formations, personnel and play calling. This makes it more difficult for the Falcons to blitz as frequently.

• The foundation of the Falcons' offense is the running game. Atlanta runs a zone-blocking scheme that predominantly features two-back personnel formations with FB Justin Griffith acting as the lead blocker. One of the main purposes of using zone-based blocking schemes is it gets the defensive front seven moving laterally, stretching them horizontally and creating lanes for the back to cut through. RB Warrick Dunn is very good at finding the creases at the line of scrimmage and he has great quickness. That will put a lot of pressure on Minnesota's defenders to stay disciplined and fill the correct gap. That doesn't bode well for the Vikings. Minnesota's second and third level defenders -- their linebackers and safeties do not do a good job fitting into their gaps and playing with the needed discipline to minimize running lanes. If the Vikings' defense cannot put QB Michael Vick and the Atlanta offense into manageable third-down situations, they will not be able to get to their pressure packages. That will allow Vick to play at his pace rather than having him rush his decisions.

• Atlanta's designed quarterback movement works off the same initial run action as the zone running game. The threat of Vick rolling out and getting on the perimeter, where he is most dangerous, forces the backside defenders to stay at home rather than pursuing down the line of scrimmage. This stretches the run front, and provides large cut back lanes in the Falcons running game. There was a great example of that last week against the Bills: On a zone run left, the backside linebacker was clearly responsible for defending Vick and he reacted hard. When Dunn cut back to the right, the linebacker had vacated the area because of Vick. The result was a 20-yard run for Dunn.

• The Falcons handle third-and-long a little differently than most other teams in the NFL, which run a lot of multiple-receiver sets in those situations. Atlanta predominantly stays with their base two-back one tight end personnel group, especially if offensive coordinator Greg Knapp anticipates blitz. Even more interesting are the formations they use with their base personnel. They will at times align FB Justin Griffith on the wing outside TE Alge Crumpler with RB Warrick Dunn on the other side of the formation off the shoulder of the offensive tackle. This widens the offensive front, which in turn stretches the defensive front. This makes it tougher to blitz since there is no short corner and creates running lanes for Vick.

• Minnesota opened last week's game with three wide receivers and one back against a Saints defense that plays a lot of press-man coverage, and attacked with the pass. The result on the play was a 24-yard touchdown pass to WR Travis Taylor, who beat Saints CB Mike McKenzie on a corner route. More importantly, the throw clearly brought back Culpepper's confidence. Keeping that in mind, look for the Vikings to try to get Culpepper into a rhythm by throwing early.

• Vikings TE Jim Kleinsasser plays with a mean streak and he can block defensive ends one-on-one in the running game, which gives Minnesota's run game a lot of flexibility both on inside and perimeter runs. On a 28-yard run last week, Kleinsasser did an outstanding job of sealing Saints DE Darren Howard even though Howard was initially aligned outside of him. This is one of the toughest blocks a tight end can make and Kleinsasser executes it consistently.

• Culpepper is not a pure timing, rhythm and anticipation passer, as he has a tendency to wait until his receivers come out of their breaks before delivering the ball. A by-product of his approach is it causes him to hold onto the ball a little longer. This is one reason that Culpepper, despite his tremendous running ability, gets sacked so much. The Falcons consistently generate pressure with their down four and the Vikings offensive line is struggling in pass protection so Culpepper will need to speed up his process and get rid of the ball quicker.

• The Falcons' defense predominantly plays with eight men in the box in normal down and distance situations, and FS Bryan Scott is almost always the eighth man. Atlanta will try to disguise this by moving Scott around a lot before the snap of the ball. It will be interesting to see if the Falcons stay with this approach considering the uncertainty at corner. DC Jason Webster is due back, but the more single safety coverage Atlanta plays, the more its corners have to hold up on islands.

• Falcons OLBs Demorrio Williams and Keith Brooking are aggressive and this can be both a positive and a negative. Last week against the Bills, the Falcons run defense was gashed by a number of runs that had similar characteristics: One, a lot of action in the backfield making the linebacker's reads hindered and two misdirection elements. Brooking and Williams, being as reactive as they are, often initially react too quickly only to be out of position when the play comes back to the other side. With Culpepper's ability to move, Brooking and Williams must play with better discipline this week or they will again find themselves.

Special TeamsMinnesota's kick return teams have been nothing short of dreadful in their first three games. They are averaging only 16.5 yards per kickoff return, last in the league. Their punt return team's average of 7.4 yards per return doesn't rank them much higher. The Vikings have used five different players on kickoff returns and only Koren Robinson is giving them any kind of respectable production. Atlanta's cover teams are just middle of the road at this point, but they could play a big role in keeping an explosive Vikings' offense pinned deep in its own territory with a strong performance.

The Vikings signed PK Paul Edinger in the offseason to replace veteran Morten Andersen. His only miss has been a 33-yard attempt that hit the right upright last week. He has converted six of his seven attempts and showed some ability to make a long field goal by converting on a field goal attempt from 53 yards. However, that field goal was inside the dome and the Vikings would like to see him get his kickoffs deeper.

Matchups• Atlanta QB Michael Vick vs. Minnesota FS Darren Sharper• Minnesota ROG Marcus Johnson vs. Atlanta UT Rod Coleman• Minnesota RB Mewlede Moore vs. Atlanta MLB Ed Hartwell• Atlanta TE Alge Crumpler vs. Minnesota SLB Napoleon Harris• Atlanta ROG Kynan Forney vs. Minnesota UT Kevin Williams

Scouts' EdgeMinnesota isn't as bad as it appeared over the first two weeks of the season or as good as it appeared last week. It's a middle-of-the-road team right now. The problem for the Vikings this week is they face an Atlanta team that is among the best in the NFC. Look for the Falcons' front seven to shut down Minnesota's ground game by getting into gaps and disrupting plays in the backfield. That will force Culpepper to carry the offense once again. The fact that he will have to make some big plays to keep the Vikings in this game and the ability of Atlanta's front four to get to him is a recipe for disaster. In addition, Atlanta's superior special teams should help it win the battle of field position putting even more pressure on Culpepper. A lot of stalled drives and possibly costly turnovers are the likely result. On offense, the Falcons will do what they do best. Control the clock with the running game and lean on Vick for a couple of big plays. Prediction: Falcons 24, Vikings 17