NFL Nation: Cowboys-Vikings 011710
MINNEAPOLIS -- Just took a stroll on the Metrodome field, where I would say the mood is mostly festive with a bit of anxiety mixed in. To ensure its home-field advantage, Minnesota is going to need some early success in his game.
If you’re into omens, interpret this as you wish: A little while ago, a water pipe burst over part of the press box. The ensuing sewer flood is being cleaned up now. I personally think the Vikings arrange for such events at high-profile games to remind us how urgent it is devote $700 million in taxpayer money toward a new stadium.
Finally, it was interesting to see former NFL coach -- and University of Minnesota star -- Tony Dungy on the field visiting with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, his former assistant in Indianapolis. Dungy was outspoken last week about Frazier’s role in the interview process Seattle used to ultimately hire Pete Carroll as its head coach.
If you’re into omens, interpret this as you wish: A little while ago, a water pipe burst over part of the press box. The ensuing sewer flood is being cleaned up now. I personally think the Vikings arrange for such events at high-profile games to remind us how urgent it is devote $700 million in taxpayer money toward a new stadium.
Finally, it was interesting to see former NFL coach -- and University of Minnesota star -- Tony Dungy on the field visiting with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, his former assistant in Indianapolis. Dungy was outspoken last week about Frazier’s role in the interview process Seattle used to ultimately hire Pete Carroll as its head coach.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Greetings from the Metrodome, where fans have just been warned that pyrotechnics will be used throughout the game. This is somewhat concerning to me, but I'll just roll with it for now.
Now let's look at today's inactives list. No surprises here. For the Cowboys, special teams ace Pat Watkins has returned from a sprained knee and he replaces rookie safety Michael Hamlin on the active list.
Cowboys: Emergency QB Stephen McGee, CB Cletis Gordon, S Michael Hamlin, LB Jason Williams, G Montrae Holland, C Duke Preston, T Pat McQuistan, LB Curtis Johnson
Vikings: Emergency QB Sage Rosenfels, WR Jaymar Johnson, CB Karl Paymah, TE Garrett Mills, LB J Leman, C Jon Cooper, DE Jayme Mitchell, DT Letroy Guion
Now let's look at today's inactives list. No surprises here. For the Cowboys, special teams ace Pat Watkins has returned from a sprained knee and he replaces rookie safety Michael Hamlin on the active list.
Cowboys: Emergency QB Stephen McGee, CB Cletis Gordon, S Michael Hamlin, LB Jason Williams, G Montrae Holland, C Duke Preston, T Pat McQuistan, LB Curtis Johnson
Vikings: Emergency QB Sage Rosenfels, WR Jaymar Johnson, CB Karl Paymah, TE Garrett Mills, LB J Leman, C Jon Cooper, DE Jayme Mitchell, DT Letroy Guion
MINNEAPOLIS -- There were no surprises from either Dallas or Minnesota on Sunday morning’s inactive lists.
Cowboys tailback Marion Barber (knee) is in uniform and will play. So will the Vikings’ two hobbled nose tackles, Pat Williams (elbow) and Jimmy Kennedy (thumb).
Cowboys tailback Marion Barber (knee) is in uniform and will play. So will the Vikings’ two hobbled nose tackles, Pat Williams (elbow) and Jimmy Kennedy (thumb).
MINNEAPOLIS -- Greetings from the Metrodome, where we’re all getting settled for the premier game of the NFL’s divisional playoff weekend.
I want to invite all of you to join me during the game over on ESPN Dallas, where I’ll be wading into their in-game chat to represent Minnesota and the NFC North. ESPN Dallas boasts a hefty roster of characters, and I’ll need your help to even out the sides.
Just follow this link. The fun starts at kickoff. More in a bit.
I want to invite all of you to join me during the game over on ESPN Dallas, where I’ll be wading into their in-game chat to represent Minnesota and the NFC North. ESPN Dallas boasts a hefty roster of characters, and I’ll need your help to even out the sides.
Just follow this link. The fun starts at kickoff. More in a bit.
Much has been made of the matchup between Cowboys left tackle Flozell Adams and Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, but Minnesota's Williams Wall (Kevin and Pat) has also occupied the thoughts and prayers of Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett this week. My colleague and pal Kevin Seifert of NFC North blogging fame pointed out earlier this afternoon that the Vikings have the No. 1 rush-up-the-middle defense in the league. Oh, and guess who has the best up-the-middle rushing attack in the NFL according to ESPN Stats and Information? That would be the Dallas Cowboys.
I can't recall a playoff meeting that has featured two teams that are so evenly matched. And since I've been fascinated by Seifert's accounts of the Williams Wall, I reached out to former Packers, Eagles, Jaguars and Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus (now with 103.3 ESPN in Dallas) to find out more. Here's what he said about Kevin Williams:
"[Kevin] Williams plays the 3 technique over the guard and is a real handful to deal with not only because of his power but his outstanding quickness. One of Williams' best moves is his spin move where he takes the blocker to one side then quickly works the other way, all the time moving up the field. Williams will line up on either side, but will most likely see more action over left guard Kyle Kosier because he doesn’t have the mass of right guard Leonard Davis. Kosier did have his struggles as a one-on-one blocker with the powerful Albert Haynesworth."
So each team has an All-Pro defensive tackle (Kevin Williams and Jay Ratliff) and pass-rusher (Jared Allen and DeMarcus Ware). This has to be one of the most intriguing divisional playoff games in years. And the Beast will be there to bring you all the action.
And by the way, here is Broaddus' scouting report on Allen: "Allen is an interesting rusher because he doesn’t give the tackles much of a hitting surface. Allen really does a nice job of getting the corner by getting his shoulder past the blocker, then relentlessly chasing the ball. When Allen does get in trouble is when he misses his rush and takes the blocker down the middle. Allen is not a powerful player and if Flozell Adams can consistently set to make him rush down the middle, he could have a very good day. Just a side note: In years past, Adams has struggled when you give him help. There has been times where he is not quite sure where his help was in relation to the block and it has given him problems."
I can't recall a playoff meeting that has featured two teams that are so evenly matched. And since I've been fascinated by Seifert's accounts of the Williams Wall, I reached out to former Packers, Eagles, Jaguars and Cowboys scout Bryan Broaddus (now with 103.3 ESPN in Dallas) to find out more. Here's what he said about Kevin Williams:
"[Kevin] Williams plays the 3 technique over the guard and is a real handful to deal with not only because of his power but his outstanding quickness. One of Williams' best moves is his spin move where he takes the blocker to one side then quickly works the other way, all the time moving up the field. Williams will line up on either side, but will most likely see more action over left guard Kyle Kosier because he doesn’t have the mass of right guard Leonard Davis. Kosier did have his struggles as a one-on-one blocker with the powerful Albert Haynesworth."
So each team has an All-Pro defensive tackle (Kevin Williams and Jay Ratliff) and pass-rusher (Jared Allen and DeMarcus Ware). This has to be one of the most intriguing divisional playoff games in years. And the Beast will be there to bring you all the action.
And by the way, here is Broaddus' scouting report on Allen: "Allen is an interesting rusher because he doesn’t give the tackles much of a hitting surface. Allen really does a nice job of getting the corner by getting his shoulder past the blocker, then relentlessly chasing the ball. When Allen does get in trouble is when he misses his rush and takes the blocker down the middle. Allen is not a powerful player and if Flozell Adams can consistently set to make him rush down the middle, he could have a very good day. Just a side note: In years past, Adams has struggled when you give him help. There has been times where he is not quite sure where his help was in relation to the block and it has given him problems."
We’re less than 24 hours away from Sunday’s divisional playoff game at the Metrodome. If you’re late to the party, you can catch up on all of our “Pushoff 2010” coverage simply by clicking here. I wanted to throw one final nugget your way before you go to bed dreaming of this Dallas-Minnesota matchup.
Surely you recall our Williams Wall discussion this summer. The NFL suspensions of Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams still haven’t been resolved yet, so they’re free to play throughout the Vikings’ playoff run.
The Vikings limited Pat Williams’ playing time earlier this season, and he’s now playing with a brace on his arm because of an elbow injury. Minnesota’s run defense “slipped” to the No. 2 overall slot in the NFL this season, one behind Green Bay, but the Williams Wall still ensured they led the NFL in rush defense up the middle.
Opponents tested the middle of the Vikings’ defense this season 160 times this season, gaining 481 yards. Both figures were the lowest among NFL teams this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Why such a long-winded statement of fact?
The Cowboys enter this game with the NFL’s best average (4.5 yards) in rushes up the middle. As we discussed earlier Saturday when examining the Percy Harvin-David Buehler matchup, it’s a strength-on-strength issue that should be fascinating to watch.
Can the Cowboys make hay against the middle of the Vikings’ line? Or will they have to adjust and run more outside the tackles? I’ll meet you Sunday at the Metrodome, where we’ll all find out.
Surely you recall our Williams Wall discussion this summer. The NFL suspensions of Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams still haven’t been resolved yet, so they’re free to play throughout the Vikings’ playoff run.
The Vikings limited Pat Williams’ playing time earlier this season, and he’s now playing with a brace on his arm because of an elbow injury. Minnesota’s run defense “slipped” to the No. 2 overall slot in the NFL this season, one behind Green Bay, but the Williams Wall still ensured they led the NFL in rush defense up the middle.
Opponents tested the middle of the Vikings’ defense this season 160 times this season, gaining 481 yards. Both figures were the lowest among NFL teams this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Why such a long-winded statement of fact?
The Cowboys enter this game with the NFL’s best average (4.5 yards) in rushes up the middle. As we discussed earlier Saturday when examining the Percy Harvin-David Buehler matchup, it’s a strength-on-strength issue that should be fascinating to watch.
Can the Cowboys make hay against the middle of the Vikings’ line? Or will they have to adjust and run more outside the tackles? I’ll meet you Sunday at the Metrodome, where we’ll all find out.
If you’re into special teams matchups, there will be a fascinating dynamic in play Sunday at the Metrodome.
Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner this season, but he was almost a non-factor during the second half of the season as opponents intentionally kicked away from him via squibs or short, high kicks. Here is how Harvin’s season broke down:
Games 1-8: 30.7-yard average on 28 returns, two touchdowns
Games 9-16: 21.1-yard average on 14 returns, no touchdowns
The Vikings have had eight kickoffs returned by blockers over that stretch, including five by tight end Jeff Dugan. Lately, they’ve been using punt returner Darius Reynaud as an upback to give them a more explosive alternative.
On the other hand, the Cowboys employ kickoff specialist David Buehler, who has one of the strongest legs in the NFL. Buehler led the league with 29 touchbacks during the regular season and had three last week in the Cowboys’ wild-card playoff victory over Philadelphia.
I, for one, will be interested to see if the Cowboys will let Buehler kick deep or if they’ll join previous Vikings opponents and keep the ball away from Harvin. I bet the Vikings would be more than willing to let Harvin return the ball from relatively deep in the end zone.
Speaking to Minnesota reporters this week, special teams coordinator Brian Murphy said Harvin will use the lettering of Vikings logo in the end zone as a “warning track” for returning the ball. But Harvin has also been told to judge whether a deep kick is still returnable based on hang time and trajectory.
“Not all of them are going to be touchbacks,” Murphy said. “We need to take advantage of it when it is a returnable ball.”
Just another nugget to consider with the opening kickoff 27 hours away.
Minnesota rookie Percy Harvin made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner this season, but he was almost a non-factor during the second half of the season as opponents intentionally kicked away from him via squibs or short, high kicks. Here is how Harvin’s season broke down:
Games 1-8: 30.7-yard average on 28 returns, two touchdowns
Games 9-16: 21.1-yard average on 14 returns, no touchdowns
The Vikings have had eight kickoffs returned by blockers over that stretch, including five by tight end Jeff Dugan. Lately, they’ve been using punt returner Darius Reynaud as an upback to give them a more explosive alternative.
On the other hand, the Cowboys employ kickoff specialist David Buehler, who has one of the strongest legs in the NFL. Buehler led the league with 29 touchbacks during the regular season and had three last week in the Cowboys’ wild-card playoff victory over Philadelphia.
I, for one, will be interested to see if the Cowboys will let Buehler kick deep or if they’ll join previous Vikings opponents and keep the ball away from Harvin. I bet the Vikings would be more than willing to let Harvin return the ball from relatively deep in the end zone.
Speaking to Minnesota reporters this week, special teams coordinator Brian Murphy said Harvin will use the lettering of Vikings logo in the end zone as a “warning track” for returning the ball. But Harvin has also been told to judge whether a deep kick is still returnable based on hang time and trajectory.
“Not all of them are going to be touchbacks,” Murphy said. “We need to take advantage of it when it is a returnable ball.”
Just another nugget to consider with the opening kickoff 27 hours away.
