Minnesota @ Detroit

Post #1 » by **Worm Guts** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 6:33 pm

Not much to say. It's Detroit, don't screw it up.

hermes · Post #2 » by **hermes** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:05 am

we need to get up for this, last year both games were far to close

run AD run

hermes · Post #3 » by **hermes** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:22 pm

adrian fumbles again

3-0 lions

hermes · Post #4 » by **hermes** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:54 pm

we're trying to get to fancy, need to get back to the basics

and farewell did a nice job on that fo fake punt the lions tried

Post #5 » by **Worm Guts** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:21 pm

The Vikings lines really got their butts kicked in the 1st half, on both sides. They'll have to be better against better teams.

hermes · Post #6 » by **hermes** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:52 am

favre has been getting hit a lot in these 2 games

defense got better as the game went on, we've been a good 2nd half team

gjn19 · Post #7 » by **gjn19** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:54 am

2 wins away from home is always good. but they were against 2 of the 4 worst teams in the league...so nothing to be proud of.

offense
- our o-line needs some work. they're not able to keep a workable pocket for more than 1-2 seconds. favre will not last long when we face good defensive lines.
- percy harvin is a real weapon. this guy is quick, fast and much stronger than anticipated. also, his blocking is much better than i expected. i understand now that we let go wade. also, he's scrisp on his routes. a playmaker...and might be another great #1 draft pick after peterson.
- good to see peterson getting more screens. he can be deadly there
- play calling is still the same old. we won't win many play-off games...it probably takes time before favre is really in sync with our recievers. it's already obvious he's smarter than anyone we had since forever. good play so far, with an above 100 rating over the 2 games. (given, he didn't have to face top secondaries, but he was also under tremendous pressuer both of those games)
- where are the downfield throws? come on, no reason to not even try it a couple of times.
- peterson already leading the league in rushin. did anyone ever doubt that?

- our linebackers have been mediocre at best. they are missing tackles all over the place. the sure as hell have to improve their tackling. coverage seems to be a little better than recent years...but still, learn how to tackle, for christ sake. better running backs would have great games against us already.
- pat williams will not be easily replaced. once he's out of the game, people can run on us much more easily.
- our secondary is much improved from last year. i'm impress with tyrell johnson. he's quick and smart. griffin played two great recievers in edwards and johnson...and was not too shaby. winni is his usual self and leads the way with his agressiveness....but of course, they weren'nt really tested by 2 very young quarterbacks. the jury is still out on them.

real tests are coming now, and we will see what this team is all about.

Post #8 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:27 pm

- where are the downfield throws? come on, no reason to not even try it a couple of times.

- our o-line needs some work. they're not able to keep a workable pocket for more than 1-2 seconds. favre will not last long when we face good defensive lines.

These two things are related. You can't throw down field if you don't have time. The pass blocking this year has been terrible.

- pat williams will not be easily replaced. once he's out of the game, people can run on us much more easily.

Pat Williams has been pretty mediocre this year so far. He's showed surprising range a couple times, but he's never in the backfield and he's being moved around fairly easily. All of his tackles have been 2-3 yards downfield.

Post #9 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 12:54 pm

percy harvin is a real weapon. this guy is quick, fast and much stronger than anticipated. also, his blocking is much better than i expected. i understand now that we let go wade. also, he's scrisp on his routes. a playmaker...and might be another great #1 draft pick after peterson.

Harvin is a first down machine. Throw him the ball short and he always seems to break a tackle or make a guy miss and get to the marker. He hasn't made many big plays yet, but I imagine that will come.

gjn19 · Post #10 » by **gjn19** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:44 pm

Yes, Pat is not as good as he was 2 years ago (still, being in the back-field was never his game anyhow). Still, he is a force, and mostly, the difference when he's out of the game is _huge_. Detroit had one good series...and this series, pat was not in the line-up. I saw the same in the browns game.

I don't say that Pat is at pro-bowl level, i say that the drop-off in production when he's out of the game is significant.

Also, this year, it seems that the d-line does not get as much help from the LB as last years...the LB's seem to drop more into coverage than before, making it tougher for the line. I think that's a good move by leslie frazer, i just state it as a fact, not to critizise it.

Post #11 » by **Worm Guts** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:12 pm

gjn19 wrote:Yes, Pat is not as good as he was 2 years ago (still, being in the back-field was never his game anyhow). Still, he is a force, and mostly, the difference when he's out of the game is _huge_. Detroit had one good series...and this series, pat was not in the line-up. I saw the same in the browns game.

I would disagree that being in the backfield was never his game, 2-3 years ago he would commonly stuff running backs in the backfield and always seemed to push his guy backwards. I didn't notice that Pat was out of the game on the Lions TD drive, but I didn't think the run defense has been consistent at all in the first 2 games. I am sure teams have run on us with Williams in the game, maybe it's partially because linebackers haven't been as committed to the run this year but I don't think Williams has been very good this year.

hermes · Post #12 » by **hermes** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:55 am

i am really impressed with Harvin, who knew he could run through people like that

and forgot to shout out at Greenway, great game by him

also like that AP is getting some passes, he rarely got any last year (chester's thing) now he has another aspect to his game

at the expense of chester though

gjn19 · Post #13 » by **gjn19** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:08 am

Greenway had an average game...if you want to call a 2TD 4INT game by a QB average.

He missed at least 3 tackles, and in several occasions chose very bad angles for his speed. Leber also missed a crucial tackle. Henderson was impatiant and jumped the gaps before the play developed. Our LB's were below average.

Another experienced QB would have ripped us in the mid-game. Now I think this is because of the different focus of our LB's, who have more responsibility in coverage now (that's also why our DB's play better now). I just don't think we have the personel for that. Leber is are only above average cover LB. The other 2 are too slow and stiff for this kind of defense. But I also think it will get better after some time.

The 49ers will already be a real test, but their QB does not convince me. Monday night against Green Bay, we will see what we can expect of our LB's.

hermes · Post #14 » by **hermes** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:33 pm

it will be interesting to see if the run d improves with frank gore back on his game