Some have questioned the Vikings' transition from a run-first offence prominently featuring Adrian Peterson to a more balanced game incorporating Favre's passing abilities. Zinski said it's been a necessary move, though.
"There's no doubt that the Vikings have gone away from having Peterson as the centerpiece of the offense, but it's out of necessity, because for whatever reason he just isn't the same runner he was in past years," he said. "I think the fumbling has gotten in his head and I think, frankly, our run blocking hasn't been as strong as in past years thanks to turnover in personnel and Steve Hutchinson fighting a back injury (a fact that seldom gets brought up by the national media folks).
"Frankly, the way Favre and the receivers have played most of the year, it just makes sense to throw the ball more, so Peterson ends up being a guy you pound in there to keep them honest, and use when you get close to the goal-line. Actually, I think Chester Taylor is probably a better back for the way this team plays now; he's a better receiver and a better blocker. The advantage Peterson gives you is, teams still commit the extra guy to stop the run which leaves tons of one-on-one coverage. Sidney Rice almost never sees double-coverage which is a big reason why he's having a huge year. Plus, it seems to me tacklers have been making an extra effort to go low on Peterson and tackle him around the ankles. He needs to make some adjustments in the offseason, I believe."
Favre and Brees have both had very solid years. Zinski said he'd rather have Favre starting for his team than Brees, though.
"He has that old No. 4 magic," Zinski said. "Yes, I've drunk the Kool Aid. Plus Brees is a Purdue guy and I hate all non-Badger Big 10 players. And that thing on his face annoys me."
Zinski said one matchup that might go the Vikings' way Sunday is star wide-out Sidney Rice against the Saints' defensive backs.
"The matchup I like right now is Sidney Rice against whoever is covering him, because I don't think anyone can cover him," he said. "I think he is a nightmare for DBs because he can jump, and because he has that great Randy Moss-like talent for keeping his hands down so the corner/safety doesn't even know the ball is coming. The only Moss attribute he lacks is flat-out speed, but it doesn't seem to matter, because even when the DB is all over him, he makes the catch. His great advantage over Moss is that he tries on every play even if he doesn't get the ball thrown to him.
He said the Saints' edge rusher Will Smith might cause some problems for Vikings' left tackle Bryant McKinnie, though.
"The match-up that worries me is Will Smith vs. Bryant McKinnie because Smith is a good pass rusher and good pass rushers tend to become great pass rushers when they go up against the most undeserving Pro Bowler in the history of football," Zinski said.
Despite his team's successful performance this year, Zinski said it will be tough for them to come away with a victory Sunday.
"As much as it pains me to say, I think the Saints will win," he said. "Our pass rush will not be as fearsome as it was last week, and Drew Brees will have time to make monkeys of our mediocre defensive backs. The crowd noise will mess up our offense same as it did to the Cardinals last week and Favre will get sacked a bunch and probably picked off by his old buddy Darren Sharper at least once. The Saints will win it going away, Favre will tearfully retire about a week from now, and then, in a couple of months, force the Vikings to cut him so he can sign with the Cowboys and become quarterback/head coach."
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1 comments so far (post your own)Who Dat?
It's the Saints
Posted by Pope on Sunday, January 24, 2010 @ 11:12pm