Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Looking to stay undefeated

I would like to start by sending my congrats to Vikings kicker, Blair Walsh for being named Special Teams player of the week on Wednesday for his superb effort.

The game coming up Sunday is not just another game rather it is a chance to build on a little momentum created from the overtime win against Jacksonville. Indianapolis finished 1-15 and became the winners of the number one pick in the draft, Andrew Luck.

Colts (1-15) and the Vikings (3-13) in 2011 have a lot to prove in 2012. Why would a team want to relive a nightmare?

The Colts open up their home schedule this weekend and with that rookie quarterback Luck will want to show his home team fans they have something to be excited about in the future.

The Colts defense has switched from a 4-3 defense to this season 3-4. The Vikings new defensive coordinator, Alan Williams was the Colts defensive back coach last season. In the hopes of Williams being able to use his knowledge of the Colts will not be as easy. The change of defense after he left leaves him knowing what individual defensive player’s strengths and weaknesses are. The story line will be fun to follow to see if he can maybe help the Vikings offensive coaches this week in practice.

Minnesota Vikings first unit offense struggled in Game 3 of the preseason and then in the first half of the Jacksonville game. The second half looked much better and has room to get better. It is funny a tale of two halves. The key Sunday is Ponder and heating up early rather than late. On the road any advantages the Vikings can come up with will be needed.

It may be easy to think the Vikings can go against a Colts team that is not the same after Peyton Manning left and cruise to a win. It has been a long time since the Vikings won in a blowout. The close games are good for football ratings but this fan’s heart it is aging me quickly.

The game on Monday featured the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Ravens won big but what I saw was with the score out of hand Baltimore was still throwing the ball. They wanted to keep the pedal down and I like this approach. A young team like the Vikings if they could get this opportunity would be such a huge boost for confidence.

The bottom line is a win. I took a lot of grief about the Vikings win last week that they got lucky, didn’t deserve it were some of what I heard. I responded the team just did not quit. How many games in the past was the team not able to pull something like this out. I am proud of the team for not giving up and considering the circumstances it may have been easy to think that way.

The Vikings offense found a couple of things that will be extremely hard to stop. First, Arian Peterson coming off surgery and in his first game back run for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns. In only game 1 and these results think of week 2, 3, 4 and so on. It is only going to get better.

The other factor and major at that is Percy Harvin. What is intriguing about Harvin is teams can scheme all they want for him. The problem for NFL teams is trying to catch him and if they do catch him how many players will it take to get him down. A one yard catch can quickly be made 50-60 yards in a blink of an eye.

The offensive line played well last week and again in week 2 will be another week to work together. Colts all pro defensive end Dwight Freeney is usually a major wrecking force. This time he is dealing with an ankle injury. I personally want him to play because I would love to see how Matt Kalil would do against an elite defensive end.
The key of how Ponder starts, Peterson’s improving, Harvin being a man possessed all over the field, are all ingredients in a successful recipe of a big win. A little sprinkle in of all available receivers contributing makes the recipe that much more delicious for us fans.

The defense showed signs of life but once again this week shutting down the 3rd down is a priority especially on the road.

After week one the efforts by Rick Spielman and the rest of the Vikings management looks like a winner with this Vikings ship full sail ahead. The choppy waters for this boat will be the crowd in Lucas Oil Field. How do the youngsters handle the noise?

Vikings win 31-13

Thanks for reading
Purplestick

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