Vikings vs Bucs Preview
From ESPN Insider found at http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfl/scouting?gameId=250911016
Why To WatchLife after Randy Moss begins in Minnesota on Sunday, and expectations couldn't be any higher. The window of opportunity is closing quickly for head coach Mike Tice and the Vikings. As we have found out during Tice's tenure; getting off to a fast start doesn't ensure a successful season. However, with new ownership and so much money spent in the offseason to upgrade an ailing defense, a win in front of the home crowd sure would help to ease the burden.
How good is the upgraded defense with five imported starters? Can QB Daunte Culpepper keep up his torrid pace without Moss as his go-to-target? Does anyone want to step up as the Vikings' starting running back? Sunday's opener should help to answer these questions regarding one of the 2005 favorites to win the NFC.
Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden is starting to feel some heat of his own. The Bucs are trying to shovel out of a big salary cap hole while also righting the ship following a 5-11 season. Young talent has been added at key offensive skill positions, but can Brian Griese really stay healthy for an entire 16-game NFL season?
When the Buccaneers have the ball
Rushing: Tampa Bay is in the process of overhauling its offensive line. While the unit has a lot of young talent to be excited about for the future, things could get ugly early on this season. Rookie Dan Buenning appears to have won the job at left guard, which means he will line up next to another first-year starter in Anthony Davis at left tackle. John Wade is the elder-statesman at center and Kenyatta Walker also has good starting experience at right tackle, but ROG Jeb Terry is another first-year starter sandwiched between those two.
With a rookie starter at running back in Cadillac Williams, the Buccaneer offense could be an adventure early this season. Williams does not possess great size, but he's a slippery and tough running back who can break off big runs if he has a viable crease to hit.
Generating running room against the Vikings defense won't be nearly as easy as it has been in past seasons. NT Pat Williams is a big addition in the middle of the unit. Not only will his presence open up room for UT Kevin Williams, it also will help to free up linebackers to roam on the second level. Look for the Vikings to start Darrion Scott -- a DT/DE 'tweener with great size at the DE position -- and use him on obvious running downs before replacing him with rookie pass-rush specialist Erasmus James.
With Scott, Kenechi Udeze (LDE), Kevin Williams and Pat Williams wreaking havoc up front, the new-and-improved Viking linebacker corps of Napoleon Harris, Sam Cowart and E.J. Henderson should have the room they need to roam sideline-to-sideline in run support. Furthermore, with Antoine Winfield and Fred Smoot serving as lock-down corners on the perimeter; look for DSs Corey Chavous and Darren Sharper to be cheated up and heavily involved versus the run.
Passing: Griese gave the Buccaneer passing game a shot in the arm last season, as he had multi-touchdown games in seven of his 10 starts. However, he has always been a brittle quarterback. He does not lack toughness, but he simply has trouble staying healthy. Furthermore, he has a strong tendency of throwing the ball up for grabs and making too many mental errors when consistently put under pressure.
With three first-year starters in front of him and a rookie running back behind him, Griese could be in for a punishing opener on Sunday. The Vikings get great pressure from Kevin Williams at the UT position. Furthermore, with Udeze, Scott, James and Lance Johnstone rotating in-and-out at the defensive end positions, the Vikings should have no problem pressuring Griese with a four-man rush.
Griese has a decent supporting cast to throw to if he has time. Joey Galloway provides some speed opposite emerging star Michael Clayton. However, neither player has the explosive burst to threaten Winfield or Smoot vertically. Ike Hilliard is a viable option as the team's No. 3 receiver but the Vikings have one of the league's better nickel cornerbacks in Brian Williams, who will use his size and strength to smother the smaller and more delicate Hilliard at the line.
TE Anthony Becht offers little in the passing game, which means Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman must serve as reliable underneath outlets for Griese in order to prevent a meltdown when the Vikings' pass rush starts to get to him.
When the Vikings have the ball
Rushing: Michael Bennett is expected to start but will be limited because of a neck injury suffered in the preseason. Mewelde Moore is also coming off an ankle injury and likely will only be used in the return game. As a result, Moe Williams will have to carry more of the load for a depleted Vikings' running back unit. Williams is a consummate pro who has carved an excellent niche as a short-yardage runner, third-down specialist and special teams' contributor. However, Williams' lack of speed and explosiveness really limits the Vikings' offensive potential in this game.
WLB Derrick Brooks' ability to stay unblocked and pursue in space will prevent Williams from ripping off many long runs in this game. Bennett has much more speed and can provide more of the home-run threat, but it is anyone's guess if he can hold up throughout the game. If he does, Bennett certainly gives the Vikings more explosiveness in their spread attack.
The Vikings have a great size advantage up front in the running game. The key will be for their offensive line to consistently get in position in order to exploit that advantage. Bucs' LDT Chris Hovan will certainly look to pay back his former team in his first game back in Minnesota. If Hovan plays to his potential and gives a greater effort than he did in his final two seasons with the Vikings, he could give rookie ROG Marcus Johnson some trouble.
Passing: The depleted running back position also negatively affects the Vikings in the passing game. While Williams has excellent hands and route running skills as an underneath receiver, he's not fast or explosive to separate from Brooks in man-to-man coverage, which will take away one of the security blankets for QB Daunte Culpepper in the passing game. Bennett is explosive after the catch but he's not a great route runner and the team likely will limit his playing time in the passing game as a result of his neck injury. Moore has great versatility as a receiver out of the backfield when healthy, but as mentioned; his role will likely be limited to the return game.
With Moss gone, the production of the passing game is to be spread out much more. Nate Burleson is clearly the No. 1 receiver but Culpepper also has decent weapons to throw to in WRs Marcus Robinson, Travis Taylor and rookie Troy Williamson, as well as TE Jermaine Wiggins and H-Back Jim Kleinsasser.
The Bucs will continue to use a Cover 2 look as their primary coverage in the secondary. Brooks certainly helps because of his ability to keep the Viking running backs in check. With Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly healthy, the Bucs also have the cornerback play to match up in this zone scheme, so long as DSs Dexter Jackson and Jermaine Phillips do their job in deep-halves coverage. However, the versatility of the Vikings' passing attack could give the Bucs some trouble.
Look for new offensive coordinator Steve Loney to spread things out with three-receiver looks, as well as two-tight, two-receiver, one-back looks that will put pressure on the Bucs' safeties and linebackers. If RDE Simeon Rice and the Bucs' front-four can't get to the quarterback on their own, Culpepper should have an efficient showing spreading the ball around to eight or nine different targets.
Why To WatchLife after Randy Moss begins in Minnesota on Sunday, and expectations couldn't be any higher. The window of opportunity is closing quickly for head coach Mike Tice and the Vikings. As we have found out during Tice's tenure; getting off to a fast start doesn't ensure a successful season. However, with new ownership and so much money spent in the offseason to upgrade an ailing defense, a win in front of the home crowd sure would help to ease the burden.
How good is the upgraded defense with five imported starters? Can QB Daunte Culpepper keep up his torrid pace without Moss as his go-to-target? Does anyone want to step up as the Vikings' starting running back? Sunday's opener should help to answer these questions regarding one of the 2005 favorites to win the NFC.
Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden is starting to feel some heat of his own. The Bucs are trying to shovel out of a big salary cap hole while also righting the ship following a 5-11 season. Young talent has been added at key offensive skill positions, but can Brian Griese really stay healthy for an entire 16-game NFL season?
When the Buccaneers have the ball
Rushing: Tampa Bay is in the process of overhauling its offensive line. While the unit has a lot of young talent to be excited about for the future, things could get ugly early on this season. Rookie Dan Buenning appears to have won the job at left guard, which means he will line up next to another first-year starter in Anthony Davis at left tackle. John Wade is the elder-statesman at center and Kenyatta Walker also has good starting experience at right tackle, but ROG Jeb Terry is another first-year starter sandwiched between those two.
With a rookie starter at running back in Cadillac Williams, the Buccaneer offense could be an adventure early this season. Williams does not possess great size, but he's a slippery and tough running back who can break off big runs if he has a viable crease to hit.
Generating running room against the Vikings defense won't be nearly as easy as it has been in past seasons. NT Pat Williams is a big addition in the middle of the unit. Not only will his presence open up room for UT Kevin Williams, it also will help to free up linebackers to roam on the second level. Look for the Vikings to start Darrion Scott -- a DT/DE 'tweener with great size at the DE position -- and use him on obvious running downs before replacing him with rookie pass-rush specialist Erasmus James.
With Scott, Kenechi Udeze (LDE), Kevin Williams and Pat Williams wreaking havoc up front, the new-and-improved Viking linebacker corps of Napoleon Harris, Sam Cowart and E.J. Henderson should have the room they need to roam sideline-to-sideline in run support. Furthermore, with Antoine Winfield and Fred Smoot serving as lock-down corners on the perimeter; look for DSs Corey Chavous and Darren Sharper to be cheated up and heavily involved versus the run.
Passing: Griese gave the Buccaneer passing game a shot in the arm last season, as he had multi-touchdown games in seven of his 10 starts. However, he has always been a brittle quarterback. He does not lack toughness, but he simply has trouble staying healthy. Furthermore, he has a strong tendency of throwing the ball up for grabs and making too many mental errors when consistently put under pressure.
With three first-year starters in front of him and a rookie running back behind him, Griese could be in for a punishing opener on Sunday. The Vikings get great pressure from Kevin Williams at the UT position. Furthermore, with Udeze, Scott, James and Lance Johnstone rotating in-and-out at the defensive end positions, the Vikings should have no problem pressuring Griese with a four-man rush.
Griese has a decent supporting cast to throw to if he has time. Joey Galloway provides some speed opposite emerging star Michael Clayton. However, neither player has the explosive burst to threaten Winfield or Smoot vertically. Ike Hilliard is a viable option as the team's No. 3 receiver but the Vikings have one of the league's better nickel cornerbacks in Brian Williams, who will use his size and strength to smother the smaller and more delicate Hilliard at the line.
TE Anthony Becht offers little in the passing game, which means Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman must serve as reliable underneath outlets for Griese in order to prevent a meltdown when the Vikings' pass rush starts to get to him.
When the Vikings have the ball
Rushing: Michael Bennett is expected to start but will be limited because of a neck injury suffered in the preseason. Mewelde Moore is also coming off an ankle injury and likely will only be used in the return game. As a result, Moe Williams will have to carry more of the load for a depleted Vikings' running back unit. Williams is a consummate pro who has carved an excellent niche as a short-yardage runner, third-down specialist and special teams' contributor. However, Williams' lack of speed and explosiveness really limits the Vikings' offensive potential in this game.
WLB Derrick Brooks' ability to stay unblocked and pursue in space will prevent Williams from ripping off many long runs in this game. Bennett has much more speed and can provide more of the home-run threat, but it is anyone's guess if he can hold up throughout the game. If he does, Bennett certainly gives the Vikings more explosiveness in their spread attack.
The Vikings have a great size advantage up front in the running game. The key will be for their offensive line to consistently get in position in order to exploit that advantage. Bucs' LDT Chris Hovan will certainly look to pay back his former team in his first game back in Minnesota. If Hovan plays to his potential and gives a greater effort than he did in his final two seasons with the Vikings, he could give rookie ROG Marcus Johnson some trouble.
Passing: The depleted running back position also negatively affects the Vikings in the passing game. While Williams has excellent hands and route running skills as an underneath receiver, he's not fast or explosive to separate from Brooks in man-to-man coverage, which will take away one of the security blankets for QB Daunte Culpepper in the passing game. Bennett is explosive after the catch but he's not a great route runner and the team likely will limit his playing time in the passing game as a result of his neck injury. Moore has great versatility as a receiver out of the backfield when healthy, but as mentioned; his role will likely be limited to the return game.
With Moss gone, the production of the passing game is to be spread out much more. Nate Burleson is clearly the No. 1 receiver but Culpepper also has decent weapons to throw to in WRs Marcus Robinson, Travis Taylor and rookie Troy Williamson, as well as TE Jermaine Wiggins and H-Back Jim Kleinsasser.
The Bucs will continue to use a Cover 2 look as their primary coverage in the secondary. Brooks certainly helps because of his ability to keep the Viking running backs in check. With Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly healthy, the Bucs also have the cornerback play to match up in this zone scheme, so long as DSs Dexter Jackson and Jermaine Phillips do their job in deep-halves coverage. However, the versatility of the Vikings' passing attack could give the Bucs some trouble.
Look for new offensive coordinator Steve Loney to spread things out with three-receiver looks, as well as two-tight, two-receiver, one-back looks that will put pressure on the Bucs' safeties and linebackers. If RDE Simeon Rice and the Bucs' front-four can't get to the quarterback on their own, Culpepper should have an efficient showing spreading the ball around to eight or nine different targets.
posted by Stew at 2:30 PM
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