Vikings' 2010 run defense not what it was in 2009

[Bonecrusher#31]

Vikings' 2010 run defense not what it was in 2009
Posted at 10:02 AM on Thu., Oct. 14, 2010 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Todd Archer / Reporter Bio | E-mail | News tips


While defensive end Jared Allen is perhaps the most well-known part of Minnesota's front seven because of his pass rush abilities, the real reason why the Vikings have had a successful defense for the last few years has been their ability to stop the run.

Since 2006 they have allowed on average 76.6 yards per game on the ground and last year they were No. 2 in the NFL. Only six times did they allow a rusher to gain more than 70 yards in a game all season (and only one 100-yard rusher, too). The Williams Wall - defensive tackles Kevin and Pat - just make it impossible for teams to get much on the ground.

But things have been different in 2010.

The Vikings have the 14th ranked run defense, allowing 104.3 yards a game on the ground. Three running backs have had more than 70 yards against them in four games, led by the 94 LaDainian Tomlinson of the New York Jets put on them on Monday.

In the playoff loss last January to Minnesota, the Cowboys ran for 92 yards, but Felix Jones had 69 on 14 carries. He is coming off his first 100-yard game in the regular season with 109 yards on 15 carries vs. Tennessee.

While this might be Marion Barber's homecoming game, Jones gives the Cowboys the best chance to succeed on the ground.

 

[Midswat]

I haven't seen many Vikings games, but I did notice the Jets running wild on them on Monday.

Then again, the Jets have the best offensive line in football.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of success we have running the ball.

While this might be Marion Barber's homecoming game,

Crap. I hope we don't cater to this.

Give Felix the lions share of carries. End of story.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Crap. I hope we don't cater to this.

Give Felix the lions share of carries. End of story.

We did last year, even with Barber's bum leg. This is the shit that pisses me off about Wade. And for that same shit, he lost to the Titans in that Music City Miracle, because he sat Flutie, who had the hot hand---led the team to the playoffs, and started Rob Johnson in the playoffs instead.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Kevin Williams is a stud against the run and the pass. Pat Williams is old and immobile. I don't know if he was really that motivated to come back this year.

The two ends are better vs the pass in my opinion than vs the run.

I think the fall-off is due to Pat Williams as much as anything. Could also be that teams are getting ahead of the Vikes and running the ball more to drain the clock. Not like last year when teams would fall behind and have to rely on the passing game.

 

[Sheik]

Who's the DE that had a career game against us last year? I bet his whole family will be at this game. . . . .

If he's still in the NFL.

 

[Midswat]

Ray Edwards.

We lost Gurode to a knee injury today. So we won't be able to run for shit.