Week One Game Day therad: Packers At Minnesota Football Team Vikings

[Beast]

On offense, I want us to run the ball and test their DL to see if they can stop it, and even if they can, start early and try to wear them down over the length of the game. Plus usually their defensive seems set up for coverage and stop the pass, and they got two very good speed rushers, while we have not have one very good OT right now, so demand them prove they can stop the run and make their day about being physical, just like the 49ers did to us.

That being said, they only have two true Safeties on their 53 man roster (unless they sign some vets this week), and while they might be the best duo of Safeties in the NFL, what happens if we put 4 WRs on the field? They have to put some of their 6 CBs on the field, which includes 3 drafted rookies, one second year guy and two second year guys, that's a lot of inexperience, and if he's willing to help, we got their old CB coach who might not the coverage of the system and the DBs better than anyone else. 

So run the ball to hammer that DL and make sure the speed rusher can't get started, but using their DB lack of depth and lack of experience against them could lead to some big plays. 

On Packers defense, all about attack that OL, and trying to not let RB Cook get out of the backfield, as if he gets out, it's a foot race just to corral him, even more to tackle. They'll.make some plays, just got to control their OL most of the time.

[Krauser]

4 hours ago, Beast said:

while they might be the best duo of Safeties in the NFL, what happens if we put 4 WRs on the field?

Zimmer basically never plays dime — well under 100 snaps total in 6 seasons combined since he took over.

He’ll play nickel against anything with 3+ WRs. Vikings non-CB nickel coverage group is one of the best in the league — Kendricks, Barr, Harris and Smith. He’s not going to take one of them off in order to add a 4th CB or a 3rd S (they don’t even have a backup safety yet, though one will be added soon no doubt) just to counter a WR4 (ESB?).

Running the ball is definitely the best plan against the Vikings right now, despite the inexperienced CB group. They have only unproven (Watts) or mediocre (Stephen, Johnson) early down DTs, and their DEs are either banged up (Hunter) or bad against the run (either Ngakoue or Odenigbo, or both if Hunter is out). Zimmer likes to use a lighter box but if the DL can’t hold up, he’ll have to bring Smith down to help with the run, or add an extra LB (LB3 is Eric Wilson, who’s good in coverage and as a blitzer, but not great against the run). 

Early reports on the young CBs have been positive. They may not be much of a weakness compared to last year, when Rhodes was a liability, and the rest of the group was only OK as a whole. But the first few weeks for the new group will no doubt be a learning curve, and starting with Rodgers will be a tough challenge for them. 

Even so, the run defense is almost certainly going to be a mess for the first month, and maybe beyond. They’re lacking not just experience but talent at DT. So that’s probably the weak spot. 

[ThatJerkDave]

I want the Packers to score 69 points and hold the ball for 420 minutes.

 

 

[Beast]

7 hours ago, Krauser said:

Zimmer basically never plays dime — well under 100 snaps total in 6 seasons combined since he took over.

He’ll play nickel against anything with 3+ WRs. Vikings non-CB nickel coverage group is one of the best in the league — Kendricks, Barr, Harris and Smith. He’s not going to take one of them off in order to add a 4th CB or a 3rd S (they don’t even have a backup safety yet, though one will be added soon no doubt) just to counter a WR4 (ESB?).

Running the ball is definitely the best plan against the Vikings right now, despite the inexperienced CB group. They have only unproven (Watts) or mediocre (Stephen, Johnson) early down DTs, and their DEs are either banged up (Hunter) or bad against the run (either Ngakoue or Odenigbo, or both if Hunter is out). Zimmer likes to use a lighter box but if the DL can’t hold up, he’ll have to bring Smith down to help with the run, or add an extra LB (LB3 is Eric Wilson, who’s good in coverage and as a blitzer, but not great against the run). 

Early reports on the young CBs have been positive. They may not be much of a weakness compared to last year, when Rhodes was a liability, and the rest of the group was only OK as a whole. But the first few weeks for the new group will no doubt be a learning curve, and starting with Rodgers will be a tough challenge for them. 

Even so, the run defense is almost certainly going to be a mess for the first month, and maybe beyond. They’re lacking not just experience but talent at DT. So that’s probably the weak spot. 

Great breakdown and thank you for that.

But everyone is talking about trying to pass it on them, and as you point out, Zimmer would probably prefer that as they're set up to get after the pass (just like Packers defensive is), why pass it, If you can attack their weakness by running it.

Packers are probably going to be trying 3 OLB formation with Clark and Z. Smith on the inside as DTs and P. Smith and Gary on the outside as edge rushers.

But still, I don't think RB Cook can be contained for 60 minutes if he has a good creative play caller, just got to limit the number of times he does get out.

Also I'm interested in what the Packers will be doing with their DBs, as we now have the former Vikings DB coach.

And both Mike Pettine and the Packers have been known more for man coverage until last year when they suddenly ran a lot more zone. And Vikings do have some nice WR options.

[Siman08/OH]

I know we will be running, but man I’d love to see the passing game go off just to chap the *** of the haters. 

[ReadyToThump]

Guarantee we'll come out pounding the rock and will see plenty of PA. Any reports on Turner and Wagner? I fully expect to see a lot of 12 personnel and big dawg this game. We do not want Hunter and Ngakoe(sp?) To be able to pin their ears back. The only issue with running 2 TE sets is the Vikings matchup very well with Barr and Kendricks. I could see our RBs getting a lot of receptions out of the backfield aswell. 

Defensively, I think we matchup well against them. If I were Cousins, I'd be really nervous. 

Man, I'm glad football is back. 

[packfanfb]

First practice report of the week. Only injuries of note are Turner and Greene who would be missed on Sunday. We know Martin and Ento are out, Ramsey and Adams are meh. 

[Leader]

Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff Writer -   Harrison Smith has faced Aaron Rodgers 13 times; Vikings young CBs don't have that same experience. Smith's message to that group on what to expect against the Packers QB: "The play might be longer than you’re used to. Every play seems to last a little longer when you play Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Everybody has an internal clock to some degree of how long a play is and normally it lasts a little longer, so you might get a little more fatigued, you can't relax when you think a play's over."

• Ben Fennell -   Play extension/improvisation will be associated to Aaron Rodgers until he retires But his need to change style into his late-30s is the biggest storyline no one talks about.

[AlexGreen#20]

2 hours ago, Leader said:

Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff Writer -   Harrison Smith has faced Aaron Rodgers 13 times; Vikings young CBs don't have that same experience. Smith's message to that group on what to expect against the Packers QB: "The play might be longer than you’re used to. Every play seems to last a little longer when you play Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Everybody has an internal clock to some degree of how long a play is and normally it lasts a little longer, so you might get a little more fatigued, you can't relax when you think a play's over."

• Ben Fennell -   Play extension/improvisation will be associated to Aaron Rodgers until he retires But his need to change style into his late-30s is the biggest storyline no one talks about.

Ben Fennell with the eyeroll comment of all time.

[incognito_man]

I should try to get excited for football now.

[chillparsi1]

Just now, incognito_man said:

I should try to get excited for football now.

It's in your blood. It's in your DNA. It's in your loins. The first time you hear that Viking horn you'll instarage

[mikebpackfan]

I need to see the Zimmer handshake again but I can never seem to post images.  I know someone can me out...

[deltarich87]

19 minutes ago, incognito_man said:

I should try to get excited for football now.

It's been hard for me to get excited about this season tbh. Hopefully that changes once the games start and I'm actually watching some Packers football on TV.

[Brat&Beer]

36 minutes ago, mikebpackfan said:

I need to see the Zimmer handshake again but I can never seem to post images.  I know someone can me out...

Edited September 8, 2020 by Brat&Beer

[mikebpackfan]

All the likes..