Vike brother
10-27-2007, 12:35 AM
The Philadelphia Eagles, who currently rank fifth in the league with 20 sacks, will be looking to add to that total on Sunday when they visit the Vikings at the Metrodome. And the Vikings offensive line, which has allowed 16 sacks this season already and is inexperienced on the right side, must be up to the task if they are to recapture their winning ways at home.
A number of factors combine to suggest that Philadelphia will emphasize applying pressure to Jackson on Sunday.
The Eagles penchant for tallying sacks this season is certainly one. Only four teams have more this year than Philadelphia, and the Vikings rank in the bottom half in sacks allowed. Defensive end Trent Cole, a third-year player out of Cincinnati, leads the team in quarterback drops with seven. Other defensive ends, such as Juqua Thomas (three) and Jevon Kearse (2.5) have also gotten in on the action.
But the Vikings offensive line and backs will have more to deal with than just Philadelphia’s front four. Defenders from the second and third level are sure to be flying in from all over the place.
“From the defensive standpoint they give you a myriad of different looks,” Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress said. “(Eagles defensive coordinator) Jim (Johnson) is renowned for being unconventional. He will pressure your people a different way each week and so I don’t have any illusions about him heating it up against us in our passing game.”
Childress is right on the money in his evaluation of Johnson, widely known as an (effective) blitz-happy coordinator who lacks to go after opposing quarterbacks early and often.
The last major factor indicating the Eagles intent of pressuring the Vikings passer is the experience level of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. In the NFL, the general strategy is to blitz a young quarterback and sit back against a veteran. Assuming that Jackson is able to play despite a fracture in a finger on his throwing hand, the Vikings quarterback will be starting just the seventh game of his career. By NFL standards that is not very many.
So Jackson and the Vikings backs and offensive line better be ready – because here they come.
Acknowledging, growing talent
During his press conference on Wednesday, Coach Childress addressed the issue many critics have raised in response to Adrian Peterson’s lack of touches. In games the Vikings have lost and in games that featured a close affair in the final minutes, Coach Childress has been questioned about why his outstanding rookie running back wasn’t in the game at times.
“[We] understand here that we have a great talent in Adrian Peterson and we are trying to grow him just like we attempt to grow all of our young guys,” Coach Childress insisted. “I am sure his role will increase as we go through the rest of this football season, but there will be times and situations where situations will dictate that we have other folks in the football game.”
In staying with the topic, Coach Childress shared with the media some numbers regarding the number of snaps Peterson saw in last week’s game against the Cowboys. There were only 48 offensive plays for the Vikings in that game, and just 17 offensive plays in the first half.
Peterson was in for six of the 11 first-series plays and had five touches; the Vikings went three-and-out the following two possessions and then took a knee heading into halftime on the fourth possession. Peterson was in for the majority of those plays and had two touches (in six plays). During the second half, Peterson was in for 11 plays and touched the ball seven of those times. The Vikings, trailing for most of the second half, were in must-pass situations often and that resulted in fewer opportunities for the running backs.
“As I mentioned to you, his role will continue to increase,” Coach Childress said. “Just like everybody you want to see somebody have success. There are things that he does better than others and obviously the goal is to get him to do all things well within this offense. Just as most people, they don’t know it all after five games.”
Chargers, Texans awaiting decision
The San Diego Chargers, many of whom have been displaced from their homes along with thousands of other Southern California residents because of threatening wildfires, worked out at the Arizona Cardinals training facility while they await word on where their Week 8 contests against the Houston Texans will be played.
The Chargers home venue, Qualcomm Stadium, is currently being utilized as an evacuation center and there is a chance the arena won’t be available for the team to use on Sunday.
Other options for the game between San Diego and Houston include moving the game site to Sun Devil Stadium, University of Phoenix Stadium, Texas Stadium or Reliant Stadium, the Texans home field.
Owners’ meetings in Philadelphia
NFL owners are league officials held meetings this week in Philadelphia and a few headlines have emerged as a result. Below are a few notable developments over the last week.
NFL adds to medical fund – In response to the NFL, the NFLPA, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL alumni association forming “The Alliance” to help retired players, league commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA Director Gene Upshaw and 11 retired players met in Washington and announced a $7 million fund for medical needs. Now, the NFL has added $10 million to its medical fund for retired players, designating that money for joint replacement surgery, cardiovascular screening and assisted living.
The fund will be supplemented by money from player fines, contribution from the NFL Players Association and other retired players groups.
“We're continuing to work on the other needs of retired players,” Goodell said Wednesday at the final briefing of the two-day owners meeting.
NFL Draft streamlined – Commissioner Goodell announced several revisions to its annual college draft to streamline the selection process for clubs and fans. The changes will be effective beginning with the 2008 NFL Draft.
Previously, Rounds 1-3 were held on Saturday and Rounds 4-7 on Sunday. Now, Rounds 1 and 2 will remain on Saturday while Rounds 3-7 will be on Sunday. Additionally, the time allocated to each club to make its selections in certain rounds has been changed.
Instead of 15 minutes for each pick in Round 1, clubs will now be allowed ten minutes. In Round 2, the selection time has been shortened to seven minutes from ten minutes. Clubs will have five minutes per selection in Rounds 3-7.
The draft also will begin later on Saturday -- at 3:00 p.m. rather than at noon. The draft on Sunday now will begin at 10:00 a.m. rather than 11:00 a.m.
Tickets remain
The Minnesota Vikings announced today that the Philadelphia Eagles returned 400 tickets for the game on Sunday, October 28th at Noon. These tickets can be purchased thru Ticketmaster by calling (651) 989-5151, online at Ticketmaster.com or in person at the Vikings Metrodome Ticket Office. Buy Eagles Tickets Now!
This game will be televised locally on KMSP FOX 9 and broadcast across the Vikings Radio Network.
3,500 tickets remain for the Vikings next home game on November 4th vs. LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers. Buy Chargers Tickets Now!
A number of factors combine to suggest that Philadelphia will emphasize applying pressure to Jackson on Sunday.
The Eagles penchant for tallying sacks this season is certainly one. Only four teams have more this year than Philadelphia, and the Vikings rank in the bottom half in sacks allowed. Defensive end Trent Cole, a third-year player out of Cincinnati, leads the team in quarterback drops with seven. Other defensive ends, such as Juqua Thomas (three) and Jevon Kearse (2.5) have also gotten in on the action.
But the Vikings offensive line and backs will have more to deal with than just Philadelphia’s front four. Defenders from the second and third level are sure to be flying in from all over the place.
“From the defensive standpoint they give you a myriad of different looks,” Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress said. “(Eagles defensive coordinator) Jim (Johnson) is renowned for being unconventional. He will pressure your people a different way each week and so I don’t have any illusions about him heating it up against us in our passing game.”
Childress is right on the money in his evaluation of Johnson, widely known as an (effective) blitz-happy coordinator who lacks to go after opposing quarterbacks early and often.
The last major factor indicating the Eagles intent of pressuring the Vikings passer is the experience level of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. In the NFL, the general strategy is to blitz a young quarterback and sit back against a veteran. Assuming that Jackson is able to play despite a fracture in a finger on his throwing hand, the Vikings quarterback will be starting just the seventh game of his career. By NFL standards that is not very many.
So Jackson and the Vikings backs and offensive line better be ready – because here they come.
Acknowledging, growing talent
During his press conference on Wednesday, Coach Childress addressed the issue many critics have raised in response to Adrian Peterson’s lack of touches. In games the Vikings have lost and in games that featured a close affair in the final minutes, Coach Childress has been questioned about why his outstanding rookie running back wasn’t in the game at times.
“[We] understand here that we have a great talent in Adrian Peterson and we are trying to grow him just like we attempt to grow all of our young guys,” Coach Childress insisted. “I am sure his role will increase as we go through the rest of this football season, but there will be times and situations where situations will dictate that we have other folks in the football game.”
In staying with the topic, Coach Childress shared with the media some numbers regarding the number of snaps Peterson saw in last week’s game against the Cowboys. There were only 48 offensive plays for the Vikings in that game, and just 17 offensive plays in the first half.
Peterson was in for six of the 11 first-series plays and had five touches; the Vikings went three-and-out the following two possessions and then took a knee heading into halftime on the fourth possession. Peterson was in for the majority of those plays and had two touches (in six plays). During the second half, Peterson was in for 11 plays and touched the ball seven of those times. The Vikings, trailing for most of the second half, were in must-pass situations often and that resulted in fewer opportunities for the running backs.
“As I mentioned to you, his role will continue to increase,” Coach Childress said. “Just like everybody you want to see somebody have success. There are things that he does better than others and obviously the goal is to get him to do all things well within this offense. Just as most people, they don’t know it all after five games.”
Chargers, Texans awaiting decision
The San Diego Chargers, many of whom have been displaced from their homes along with thousands of other Southern California residents because of threatening wildfires, worked out at the Arizona Cardinals training facility while they await word on where their Week 8 contests against the Houston Texans will be played.
The Chargers home venue, Qualcomm Stadium, is currently being utilized as an evacuation center and there is a chance the arena won’t be available for the team to use on Sunday.
Other options for the game between San Diego and Houston include moving the game site to Sun Devil Stadium, University of Phoenix Stadium, Texas Stadium or Reliant Stadium, the Texans home field.
Owners’ meetings in Philadelphia
NFL owners are league officials held meetings this week in Philadelphia and a few headlines have emerged as a result. Below are a few notable developments over the last week.
NFL adds to medical fund – In response to the NFL, the NFLPA, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL alumni association forming “The Alliance” to help retired players, league commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA Director Gene Upshaw and 11 retired players met in Washington and announced a $7 million fund for medical needs. Now, the NFL has added $10 million to its medical fund for retired players, designating that money for joint replacement surgery, cardiovascular screening and assisted living.
The fund will be supplemented by money from player fines, contribution from the NFL Players Association and other retired players groups.
“We're continuing to work on the other needs of retired players,” Goodell said Wednesday at the final briefing of the two-day owners meeting.
NFL Draft streamlined – Commissioner Goodell announced several revisions to its annual college draft to streamline the selection process for clubs and fans. The changes will be effective beginning with the 2008 NFL Draft.
Previously, Rounds 1-3 were held on Saturday and Rounds 4-7 on Sunday. Now, Rounds 1 and 2 will remain on Saturday while Rounds 3-7 will be on Sunday. Additionally, the time allocated to each club to make its selections in certain rounds has been changed.
Instead of 15 minutes for each pick in Round 1, clubs will now be allowed ten minutes. In Round 2, the selection time has been shortened to seven minutes from ten minutes. Clubs will have five minutes per selection in Rounds 3-7.
The draft also will begin later on Saturday -- at 3:00 p.m. rather than at noon. The draft on Sunday now will begin at 10:00 a.m. rather than 11:00 a.m.
Tickets remain
The Minnesota Vikings announced today that the Philadelphia Eagles returned 400 tickets for the game on Sunday, October 28th at Noon. These tickets can be purchased thru Ticketmaster by calling (651) 989-5151, online at Ticketmaster.com or in person at the Vikings Metrodome Ticket Office. Buy Eagles Tickets Now!
This game will be televised locally on KMSP FOX 9 and broadcast across the Vikings Radio Network.
3,500 tickets remain for the Vikings next home game on November 4th vs. LaDainian Tomlinson and the San Diego Chargers. Buy Chargers Tickets Now!