Vikings/ Steelers pre-game thoughts
This will be the big test for the Vikings. The teams they have beaten this year have records of 9-4 (Which they needed three D/ST TD'S), 5-8, 4-9(3X), 3-10 (3X). They get the Steelers at home, with Kevin Williams back in the line-up.
I don't really see Jerome Bettis having a field day against the Williams' inside. The Vikings will be able to rotate depth inside with Spencer Johnson and CJ Moseley. Erasmus James does struggle against the run, some so it wouldn't shock me to have them line-up Spencer Johnson and Darrion Scott at end on obvious running downs.
Keith Newman will be a loss because he is their best blitzing line-backer, and has been adequate in coverage. Napoleon Harris can be effective as a blitzer, but is awful in coverage. Raonall Smith is a good player, if healthy here.
The Vikings really haven't seen a Speed-Back like Willie Parker since Warrick Dunn who tore them apart. So this is an area of concern. But Parker is fumble-prone, so that should be watched. The Vikings LB corps has been more effective as of late.
Big Ben could be pressured as the Steelers aren't great at the Tackle Position, so James and Johnstone have a chance to do some damage. The Steelers also don't have great consistency at Wide Receiver other than Hines Ward. I expect the Steelers to try to run all day long, I'm thinking around 40 carries. So that will determine the ball-game.
Don't be surprised to see Ciatrick Fason get more of a chance on Offense. The Vikings like his hard running style. I have a hard-time seeing the Vikings run the ball efficently against the Steelers. But the Vikings small o-line interior does match-up a bit better against a 3-4. Pittsburth's strength is stopping the run on the perimeter, that's where the Vikings will run, and inconsistently I might add.
If I was the Vikings I would go to a lot of three and four receiver sets to try to take advantage of the Steelers depleted CB core. This would also make it more difficult to blitz for Pittsburgh.
I don't really see Jerome Bettis having a field day against the Williams' inside. The Vikings will be able to rotate depth inside with Spencer Johnson and CJ Moseley. Erasmus James does struggle against the run, some so it wouldn't shock me to have them line-up Spencer Johnson and Darrion Scott at end on obvious running downs.
Keith Newman will be a loss because he is their best blitzing line-backer, and has been adequate in coverage. Napoleon Harris can be effective as a blitzer, but is awful in coverage. Raonall Smith is a good player, if healthy here.
The Vikings really haven't seen a Speed-Back like Willie Parker since Warrick Dunn who tore them apart. So this is an area of concern. But Parker is fumble-prone, so that should be watched. The Vikings LB corps has been more effective as of late.
Big Ben could be pressured as the Steelers aren't great at the Tackle Position, so James and Johnstone have a chance to do some damage. The Steelers also don't have great consistency at Wide Receiver other than Hines Ward. I expect the Steelers to try to run all day long, I'm thinking around 40 carries. So that will determine the ball-game.
Don't be surprised to see Ciatrick Fason get more of a chance on Offense. The Vikings like his hard running style. I have a hard-time seeing the Vikings run the ball efficently against the Steelers. But the Vikings small o-line interior does match-up a bit better against a 3-4. Pittsburth's strength is stopping the run on the perimeter, that's where the Vikings will run, and inconsistently I might add.
If I was the Vikings I would go to a lot of three and four receiver sets to try to take advantage of the Steelers depleted CB core. This would also make it more difficult to blitz for Pittsburgh.
posted by Stew at 8:53 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home