If a team is going to change the composition of their roster in the offseason, it makes sense that the coaching staff would maximize the new players by creating a playbook that plays to their strengths. But that isn’t always the case.
For the Vikings, this offseason brought some minor tune-ups to the offensive line, a few offensive coaching changes, and a whole lot of defensive upgrades. The playbook had the same general theme entering the season, with some slight shifts, but the idea is that the coaches and players are hoping for better results on old strategies. Entering Week 1, any fair-weather fan would have been able to identify the Vikings’ game plan. The players were hoping to execute it well.
The Vikings have been a run-first team for a while now, and with Dalvin Cook at the helm, there has been little reason to change course. Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson are no slouches either, but with Minnesota’s recent pass-protection schemes, Kirk Cousins cannot target them when they get open downfield. Following suit, the defense definitely entered the game with a rough-and-tumble mentality, but they didn’t make the aggressive plays of the team’s best defenses of the last decade.
So how do the Vikings lean into their strengths against the Arizona Cardinals on both offense and defense, instead of letting the opponent dictate their approach?
Fans get a burst of joy when Cousins takes the snap and rolls out after a perfectly sold play-action fake. Why not use the threat of one of the league’s best running backs, Dalvin Cook, to bait the defense and create space for Jefferson and Thielen downfield? This offensive strategy was a staple last year, leading to a number of high-yardage throws perfectly placed into the receivers’ arms. It was complemented by frequent off-tackle runs by Cook, which were often successful, and which in turn helped the play-action yield results.
Fans often saw Cousins lined up in the shotgun during Week 1 against the Bengals. Normally, a shotgun game plan wouldn’t be a problem. Cousins has shown potential out of that formation, like he did during the Nov. 2020 game against the Chicago Bears. (I would classify 25/36 for 292 yards and two touchdowns as “showing potential.”) The problem with this past game was that Cousins seemed afraid to put trust in the receivers and toss it up when he took snaps from the shotgun; instead he held the ball too long and collapsed the play. We also saw a number of power runs right down the center. Did the Vikings really think that if they are having trouble protecting Cousins, they should send Cook right to the exact spot they had trouble with?
In order to be successful in Week 2, Cousins will need to revert back to play-action and have trust in his receivers, throwing the ball downfield from the shotgun. They should also take advantage of Brian O’Neill coming off of a massive contract signing and send Cook his way early and often. If either of those happen, the Vikings’ offense will begin to thrive, assuming the pressure of Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt doesn’t overwhelm them too much.
Defensively, the Vikings played it too safe in Game 1. With all of the weapons they brought in and all of the combined experience of Pro Bowl-caliber players and young stars transitioning into seasoned veterans, there is no excuse to let the Bengals’ offense dictate the way that the defense plays. There were too many reactive plays where the Bengals were able to chip away and get a few yards here, a few yards there, and would eventually end up scoring some point.
The Vikings’ defensive line held steady, which should be the automatic go-ahead for heavy — and complicated — blitzing schemes. What more could Mike Zimmer ask for than an opponent’s offensive line facing down Michael Pierce and Danielle Hunter, unsure of who else they have to cover the double teams without letting anybody through for a sack or tackle for a loss. Sometimes coverages break when going for the sack, and big plays happen. But that’s the risk of running an ultra-aggressive defense and giving players like Harrison Smith the opportunity to take their gut instinct and go for the blitz.
Is it possible for the Vikings to modify their style to play to their strengths in Game 2? Absolutely. Unacceptable penalties early on in the game could have been caused by lack of proper team practice, or just nerves. But with a proper first drive, early points on the board, and some gutsy play calls, the Vikings should be able to come out with a win.
