Vikings bringing the blitz

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Purple People Eaters

In the days of old, the Purple People eaters did not need to blitz that often. The front four was too busy ransacking the QB anyway. But these are not the days of the Purple People eaters of Minnesota. This is a new Viking team led by Brad Childress and he likes to stop the run. Brad will stop the run even at the risk of letting passes go all over the field.

And it appears the passes are going all over the field.

The Vikings’ philosophy on defense since Brad Childress took over as head coach in 2006 has been to stop the run first. Last season, the Vikings were No. 1 in the NFL in rushing defense, and they are again this season (74.8 yards per game). The pass defense, though, has been another story. In Tomlin’s lone season, the Vikings tied for last in the NFL and this year they are alone at the bottom (283.1). source

This Sunday the Vikings take their blitzing philosophy in opposing the Detroit Lions. The two teams both like to stop the run and both give up way too much passing offense.

On offense the Lions stress the pass almost exclusively. Lately they have run off about 5 or 6 running plays to start the game and then rarely run again. They stink running the ball and the Vikings will be wasting their time trying to stop the Lions running game, because they don’t run.

The Vikings on the other hand have struggled at QB and have had great success when Adrian Peterson is in at running back alternating with Chester Taylor. There is talk that Peterson will play in this game.

Now let’s get back to the blitz. Who is more prone to the blitz than David Carr when he played for the Texans? You got it. Jon Kitna with the Detroit Lions. Hmm, with no threat of the run and a team that likes to blitz… Geez, are my Lions going to get killed? Will Jon Kitna and sore knee survive?

The Vikings have been on a mini roll and attribute it to more blitzing.

The keys have been different looks up front, blitzes and man-to-man coverages mixed with the zone scheme that comes from the Tampa-2 philosophy Minnesota considers its base defense. Now the Tampa-2 is in use less than 50 percent of the time.

Surely Coach Mike Martz, the offensive guru of the pass happy Lions, has seen this and will adjust? Right, Mike. Mike, are you there?

NFL Football Fan Question Will the blitz stymie the Lions?

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