Post by Guvmintcheeze on Sept 25, 2014 16:15:39 GMT
Falcons vs. Vikings preview
By Ben Goessling and Vaughn McClure | ESPN.com
After a 2013 season in which their Super Bowl hopes were derailed by injuries, the Atlanta Falcons appear to be back on track, thanks to the league's top-ranked offense and some superb play from quarterback Matt Ryan.
The Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, are trying to keep their 2014 season from falling by the wayside because of injuries on their offense. They'll be without tight end Kyle Rudolph, right guard Brandon Fusco and quarterback Matt Cassel on Sunday, as rookie Teddy Bridgewater makes his first career start for a team that's already missing Adrian Peterson.
As the Falcons try to improve to 3-1 and the Vikings look to stop a two-game losing streak on Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium, ESPN Vikings reporter Ben Goessling and ESPN Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure break down this week's matchup:
Ben Goessling: Vaughn, it seems like Ryan is playing as well right now as he ever has in his career. What do you think is contributing to that, and do you think he's reached another level as a quarterback?
Vaughn McClure: I think plenty of factors play into it. First, Ryan is self-motivated and a guy who will put in the extra time in both the weight room and film room. He was in good physical shape before, but he looks even better this season. I have watched him run sprints after practice and you’d think the guy was preparing to race against Usain Bolt -- not the speed, but just the effort he puts into it. The healthy return of top receiver Julio Jones from foot surgery and the emergence of newcomer Devin Hester as an offensive threat has only helped Ryan thrive. And, of course, the Falcons went out and invested in the offensive line to keep Ryan upright by signing free-agent guard Jon Asamoah and drafting rookie offensive tackle Jake Matthews. It’s rather telling that in the one game Matthews missed, Ryan threw three interceptions and had a QB rating of 48.6. When he gets full protection and can reach that 100-plus mark in passer rating, Ryan is indeed one of the elite quarterbacks in the league.
Speaking of quarterbacks, what can the Falcons expect from Bridgewater, the Vikings' rookie starter, Sunday?
BG: First of all, I don't think you'll see a guy who's rattled by the moment. Bridgewater stepped into a pretty tough setting last week -- down 13-3 in the Superdome, without Adrian Peterson, against a defense that was set to come after him -- and played pretty well. He's always fared well against the blitz, and he did so again on Sunday. He knows where to go with the ball, and he's able to extend plays and evade pass-rushers. He missed a couple of easy throws, and the Vikings' offensive line continues to be a big concern, but I don't think Bridgewater will be the type to force throws into coverage or beat himself. The key for the Vikings is giving him enough time to do more than check the ball down or take off running.
The Falcons, though, haven't exactly put much pressure on the quarterback. What will they have to do to get to Bridgewater on Sunday?
VM: Indeed, pressure has been an issue for the Falcons. They had no sacks and just one quarterback hit through the first two games. However, they recorded three sacks and seven quarterback hits in last Thursday's 56-14 win over Tampa Bay. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan scaled back the blitzes in the season opener against Drew Brees and the Saints. Nothing was working for the Falcons in a Week 2 loss to the undefeated Bengals. Then finally, Nolan was able to get creative with his blitzes and personnel packages as the Falcons grabbed an early lead against the Buccaneers. If the Falcons can jump out early against the undermanned Vikings, I suspect Nolan will unleash more of that pressure toward Bridgewater, although Nolan admitted Bridgewater’s mobility is something the Falcons have to be aware of. I’m anxious to see if defensive tackle Corey Peters can build off his strong showing last week and apply some pressure on Bridgewater from the interior. I think it might also be wise for Nolan to use cornerback Robert Alford’s speed on the blitz.
I watched some of the Vikings-Saints game and saw some strong defense played by the Vikings, in spurts. What will be the key for them sustaining that type of effort to slow down Ryan, Jones and the Falcons’ league-leading scoring attack?
BG: You're right about the Vikings playing some stretches of good defense against the Saints, though Brees was still able to make most of the throws he had to make. The Vikings have been inconsistent about getting pressure with just their front four, but they've got plenty of blitz looks they can throw at offenses, with rookie linebacker Anthony Barr (whom you'll see rush at defensive end, too) and safety Harrison Smith, who's turning into a star in Year 3. The Vikings have turned Smith loose in their scheme, and he's been fantastic; he's an effective blitzer, he likes to take on contact in run support and he's got a nose for the ball. Xavier Rhodes will have to match up with Jones, though, and I expect Ryan will go after him. He's a promising second-year corner, but he's still learning to play man coverage on this side of the league's ramped-up illegal contact rules. The Vikings also need to be better against the run; they were in too many situations last week where the Saints had manageable third downs to convert, and could keep their drives going with short throws.
I've got one for you about the Vikings' old buddy, Devin Hester: The last time he was in TCF Bank Stadium, he broke the all-time record for combined kick and punt return touchdowns. You covered him for a few years in Chicago; are you surprised at all about how effective he's been at age 31? Where should we expect to see him on Sunday?
VM: I’m actually not surprised about Hester’s sudden impact. I talked to him before the 2013 season and he told me he needed a fresh start. He’s a guy who thrives off being happy, and he wasn’t the least bit satisfied with his final days in Chicago. Now he’s in a new environment with coaches who believe in him not only as a return man, but as a receiver and an integral part of the offense. In fact, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said Hester has earned more looks on offense because of his work ethic and overall ability. So, I expect to see more and more of Hester on offense as the season goes along. At the same time, you don’t want to wear him out to the point where he’s not effective as a return man.
It looks like the Vikings have a couple of playmakers in the return game. What do you expect from them in this game?
BG: The Vikings haven't been able to get Cordarrelle Patterson going like they did last year; he brings so many kicks out from seven or eight yards deep in the end zone that he winds up with an impressive return average, even when he's not advancing the ball much past the 25-yard line. His longest return this year is 43 yards, and that started eight yards deep in the end zone. But the thing with Patterson is, his vision is so good, and he's so dangerous when he hits top speed, that a big return could be coming at any time. Marcus Sherels had his best year as a punt returner last year, and also hasn't had much success yet, but the Vikings certainly could use a big return from one of those two this week, especially with as many issues as they have on offense.
By Ben Goessling and Vaughn McClure | ESPN.com
After a 2013 season in which their Super Bowl hopes were derailed by injuries, the Atlanta Falcons appear to be back on track, thanks to the league's top-ranked offense and some superb play from quarterback Matt Ryan.
The Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, are trying to keep their 2014 season from falling by the wayside because of injuries on their offense. They'll be without tight end Kyle Rudolph, right guard Brandon Fusco and quarterback Matt Cassel on Sunday, as rookie Teddy Bridgewater makes his first career start for a team that's already missing Adrian Peterson.
As the Falcons try to improve to 3-1 and the Vikings look to stop a two-game losing streak on Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium, ESPN Vikings reporter Ben Goessling and ESPN Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure break down this week's matchup:
Ben Goessling: Vaughn, it seems like Ryan is playing as well right now as he ever has in his career. What do you think is contributing to that, and do you think he's reached another level as a quarterback?
Vaughn McClure: I think plenty of factors play into it. First, Ryan is self-motivated and a guy who will put in the extra time in both the weight room and film room. He was in good physical shape before, but he looks even better this season. I have watched him run sprints after practice and you’d think the guy was preparing to race against Usain Bolt -- not the speed, but just the effort he puts into it. The healthy return of top receiver Julio Jones from foot surgery and the emergence of newcomer Devin Hester as an offensive threat has only helped Ryan thrive. And, of course, the Falcons went out and invested in the offensive line to keep Ryan upright by signing free-agent guard Jon Asamoah and drafting rookie offensive tackle Jake Matthews. It’s rather telling that in the one game Matthews missed, Ryan threw three interceptions and had a QB rating of 48.6. When he gets full protection and can reach that 100-plus mark in passer rating, Ryan is indeed one of the elite quarterbacks in the league.
Speaking of quarterbacks, what can the Falcons expect from Bridgewater, the Vikings' rookie starter, Sunday?
BG: First of all, I don't think you'll see a guy who's rattled by the moment. Bridgewater stepped into a pretty tough setting last week -- down 13-3 in the Superdome, without Adrian Peterson, against a defense that was set to come after him -- and played pretty well. He's always fared well against the blitz, and he did so again on Sunday. He knows where to go with the ball, and he's able to extend plays and evade pass-rushers. He missed a couple of easy throws, and the Vikings' offensive line continues to be a big concern, but I don't think Bridgewater will be the type to force throws into coverage or beat himself. The key for the Vikings is giving him enough time to do more than check the ball down or take off running.
The Falcons, though, haven't exactly put much pressure on the quarterback. What will they have to do to get to Bridgewater on Sunday?
VM: Indeed, pressure has been an issue for the Falcons. They had no sacks and just one quarterback hit through the first two games. However, they recorded three sacks and seven quarterback hits in last Thursday's 56-14 win over Tampa Bay. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan scaled back the blitzes in the season opener against Drew Brees and the Saints. Nothing was working for the Falcons in a Week 2 loss to the undefeated Bengals. Then finally, Nolan was able to get creative with his blitzes and personnel packages as the Falcons grabbed an early lead against the Buccaneers. If the Falcons can jump out early against the undermanned Vikings, I suspect Nolan will unleash more of that pressure toward Bridgewater, although Nolan admitted Bridgewater’s mobility is something the Falcons have to be aware of. I’m anxious to see if defensive tackle Corey Peters can build off his strong showing last week and apply some pressure on Bridgewater from the interior. I think it might also be wise for Nolan to use cornerback Robert Alford’s speed on the blitz.
I watched some of the Vikings-Saints game and saw some strong defense played by the Vikings, in spurts. What will be the key for them sustaining that type of effort to slow down Ryan, Jones and the Falcons’ league-leading scoring attack?
BG: You're right about the Vikings playing some stretches of good defense against the Saints, though Brees was still able to make most of the throws he had to make. The Vikings have been inconsistent about getting pressure with just their front four, but they've got plenty of blitz looks they can throw at offenses, with rookie linebacker Anthony Barr (whom you'll see rush at defensive end, too) and safety Harrison Smith, who's turning into a star in Year 3. The Vikings have turned Smith loose in their scheme, and he's been fantastic; he's an effective blitzer, he likes to take on contact in run support and he's got a nose for the ball. Xavier Rhodes will have to match up with Jones, though, and I expect Ryan will go after him. He's a promising second-year corner, but he's still learning to play man coverage on this side of the league's ramped-up illegal contact rules. The Vikings also need to be better against the run; they were in too many situations last week where the Saints had manageable third downs to convert, and could keep their drives going with short throws.
I've got one for you about the Vikings' old buddy, Devin Hester: The last time he was in TCF Bank Stadium, he broke the all-time record for combined kick and punt return touchdowns. You covered him for a few years in Chicago; are you surprised at all about how effective he's been at age 31? Where should we expect to see him on Sunday?
VM: I’m actually not surprised about Hester’s sudden impact. I talked to him before the 2013 season and he told me he needed a fresh start. He’s a guy who thrives off being happy, and he wasn’t the least bit satisfied with his final days in Chicago. Now he’s in a new environment with coaches who believe in him not only as a return man, but as a receiver and an integral part of the offense. In fact, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said Hester has earned more looks on offense because of his work ethic and overall ability. So, I expect to see more and more of Hester on offense as the season goes along. At the same time, you don’t want to wear him out to the point where he’s not effective as a return man.
It looks like the Vikings have a couple of playmakers in the return game. What do you expect from them in this game?
BG: The Vikings haven't been able to get Cordarrelle Patterson going like they did last year; he brings so many kicks out from seven or eight yards deep in the end zone that he winds up with an impressive return average, even when he's not advancing the ball much past the 25-yard line. His longest return this year is 43 yards, and that started eight yards deep in the end zone. But the thing with Patterson is, his vision is so good, and he's so dangerous when he hits top speed, that a big return could be coming at any time. Marcus Sherels had his best year as a punt returner last year, and also hasn't had much success yet, but the Vikings certainly could use a big return from one of those two this week, especially with as many issues as they have on offense.