ESPN.com - NFL - Take 2: Giants vs. VikingsFriday, October 29, 2004
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Giants and Vikings. Now they're back with a
second look.
Minnesota head coach Mike Tice doesn't believe that WR Randy Moss, who is
nursing a hamstring injury, will be at full speed and he probably won't
play an every-down role. However, Tice hopes that Moss is healthy enough
to contribute in certain situations like third downs and near the goal
line. While Will Allen and William Peterson have decent height for
corners, neither is tall enough to knock jump balls away from Moss. As a
result, Moss could make an impact even if he isn't a 100% healthy.
Tice made it clear that RB Mewelde Moore will remain the Vikings' starter
until further notice but Minnesota is finding ways to get RB Michael
Bennett involved in the offense. Last week the Vikings lined Bennett up at
receiver and they could do the same working against a Giants' secondary
that lacks ideal depth. Bennett shows a second gear in the open field so
it's critical the Giants wrap him up immediately after he makes a catch.
The Giants replaced No. 3 receiver Tim Carter with rookie Jamaar Taylor
after Carter sustained a season-ending hip injury. Although Taylor caught
just two passes last week, he made a devastating block that helped spring
RB Tiki Barber for a 62-yard touchdown off a screen. Taylor and the rest
of the Giants' receivers must continue to be physical. If Minnesota's
defenders are worried about bracing for a block, they won't be nearly as
aggressive or effective in pursuit.
It's no secret that the Giants like to run screens but teams continue to
have problems defending them. One of the biggest reasons the play has been
so successful is the Giants do an excellent job of selling the pass.
Barber will step up like he is going to block before sliding into the flat
and the offensive line will set briefly before releasing to its blocks.
The key for the Vikings will be the play of their front four and its
ability so sniff the play out. While the Giants' offensive line will show
a pass set, it will also allow Minnesota's pass rush to fly upfield. The
Vikings' defensive line needs to recognize when the protection breaks down
far too quickly and start flowing to the outside.
Giants WR Amani Toomer did an excellent job of moving back across the end
zone and towards QB Kurt Warner when Warner got flushed out of the pocket
near the goal line last week. However, he failed to work back towards
Warner and Detroit ended up intercepting the pass. Although Warner should
have put more zip on the throw, he isn't going to get as much velocity
when he has to throw on the run and Toomer could have cut the space down.
The Giants need to work back towards Warner when he gets into trouble or
Minnesota's secondary should get some opportunities to make a play.
Vikings ROT Nat Dorsey has done an adequate job of replacing Mike
Rosenthal who sustained a season-ending foot injury earlier in the year.
However, he is still a rookie and he will make some mistakes. Last week
Dorsey got caught blocking down on a defensive lineman and it gave a
blitzing linebacker a clear path to QB Daunte Culpepper. Dorsey will be
preoccupied with slowing LDE Michael Strahan down but he can't develop
tunnel vision. Giants' defensive coordinator Tim Lewis can use Strahan as
a decoy by shooting him inside and bringing a linebacker off the edge.
Minnesota will run some two-back sets on certain passing downs and they
will keep one or both backs in to help out in pass protection. The backs
then have the option of releasing downfield if nothing comes to them.
These max-protect schemes have been effective because Culpepper is doing a
better job of dumping the ball off underneath but the backs must be
patient. Lewis will run some delayed blitzes if he feels the backs are
releasing too soon.
Defenses frequently run cover-1 or zero coverages when they bring
additional pressure. The free safety will generally roam the middle of the
field in a cover-1 defense while zero-coverage is straight-up man coverage
with no help over the top. Giants' rookie SS Gibril Wilson is playing for
the injured Shaun Williams and he is still learning how to mask defenses.
Last week he ran up to the line of scrimmage and lined up opposite the
slot receiver just before the snap on a play the Giants blitzed on. That
motion alerts a veteran quarterback like Culpepper to the fact that
additional pressure may be coming and at least one of his receivers should
be working against man coverage. With Culpepper playing as well as he is
right now, Wilson needs to disguise the defense better.
Minnesota will incorporate some zone blocking schemes and its offensive
like works hard to sustain its blocks on the backside. That's not good
news for a Giants' run defense that has been hurt by too many players
getting caught out of position and poor tackling. Moore has the vision to
recognize when the Giants' front seven is over-pursuing the hole and he
should have a seam to cutback with the offensive playing well. He also has
the power to break any arm tackles so don't be surprised to see him break
some long runs.
Last week Vikings MLB E.J. Henderson returned from a knee injury that had
forced him to miss the previous two games. He is a leader that makes all
of the defensive calls but he is wearing a brace and the knee injury
appears to be bothering him. With Dontarrious Thomas expected to replace
Henderson on obvious passing downs, look for the Giants to try to isolate
Barber on Henderson on certain running downs. Barber should be able to
separate from the less than 100% Henderson and he is extremely dangerous
after the catch.
Special Teams
Moore is Minnesota's leading kickoff return-man but Bennett could start
returning kickoffs this week. Both have the burst to go the distance when
they get a seam so New York's kickoff cover unit must continue to play
well.
Prediction: Vikings 31, Giants 21
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Giants and Vikings. Now they're back with a
second look.
Minnesota head coach Mike Tice doesn't believe that WR Randy Moss, who is
nursing a hamstring injury, will be at full speed and he probably won't
play an every-down role. However, Tice hopes that Moss is healthy enough
to contribute in certain situations like third downs and near the goal
line. While Will Allen and William Peterson have decent height for
corners, neither is tall enough to knock jump balls away from Moss. As a
result, Moss could make an impact even if he isn't a 100% healthy.
Tice made it clear that RB Mewelde Moore will remain the Vikings' starter
until further notice but Minnesota is finding ways to get RB Michael
Bennett involved in the offense. Last week the Vikings lined Bennett up at
receiver and they could do the same working against a Giants' secondary
that lacks ideal depth. Bennett shows a second gear in the open field so
it's critical the Giants wrap him up immediately after he makes a catch.
The Giants replaced No. 3 receiver Tim Carter with rookie Jamaar Taylor
after Carter sustained a season-ending hip injury. Although Taylor caught
just two passes last week, he made a devastating block that helped spring
RB Tiki Barber for a 62-yard touchdown off a screen. Taylor and the rest
of the Giants' receivers must continue to be physical. If Minnesota's
defenders are worried about bracing for a block, they won't be nearly as
aggressive or effective in pursuit.
It's no secret that the Giants like to run screens but teams continue to
have problems defending them. One of the biggest reasons the play has been
so successful is the Giants do an excellent job of selling the pass.
Barber will step up like he is going to block before sliding into the flat
and the offensive line will set briefly before releasing to its blocks.
The key for the Vikings will be the play of their front four and its
ability so sniff the play out. While the Giants' offensive line will show
a pass set, it will also allow Minnesota's pass rush to fly upfield. The
Vikings' defensive line needs to recognize when the protection breaks down
far too quickly and start flowing to the outside.
Giants WR Amani Toomer did an excellent job of moving back across the end
zone and towards QB Kurt Warner when Warner got flushed out of the pocket
near the goal line last week. However, he failed to work back towards
Warner and Detroit ended up intercepting the pass. Although Warner should
have put more zip on the throw, he isn't going to get as much velocity
when he has to throw on the run and Toomer could have cut the space down.
The Giants need to work back towards Warner when he gets into trouble or
Minnesota's secondary should get some opportunities to make a play.
Vikings ROT Nat Dorsey has done an adequate job of replacing Mike
Rosenthal who sustained a season-ending foot injury earlier in the year.
However, he is still a rookie and he will make some mistakes. Last week
Dorsey got caught blocking down on a defensive lineman and it gave a
blitzing linebacker a clear path to QB Daunte Culpepper. Dorsey will be
preoccupied with slowing LDE Michael Strahan down but he can't develop
tunnel vision. Giants' defensive coordinator Tim Lewis can use Strahan as
a decoy by shooting him inside and bringing a linebacker off the edge.
Minnesota will run some two-back sets on certain passing downs and they
will keep one or both backs in to help out in pass protection. The backs
then have the option of releasing downfield if nothing comes to them.
These max-protect schemes have been effective because Culpepper is doing a
better job of dumping the ball off underneath but the backs must be
patient. Lewis will run some delayed blitzes if he feels the backs are
releasing too soon.
Defenses frequently run cover-1 or zero coverages when they bring
additional pressure. The free safety will generally roam the middle of the
field in a cover-1 defense while zero-coverage is straight-up man coverage
with no help over the top. Giants' rookie SS Gibril Wilson is playing for
the injured Shaun Williams and he is still learning how to mask defenses.
Last week he ran up to the line of scrimmage and lined up opposite the
slot receiver just before the snap on a play the Giants blitzed on. That
motion alerts a veteran quarterback like Culpepper to the fact that
additional pressure may be coming and at least one of his receivers should
be working against man coverage. With Culpepper playing as well as he is
right now, Wilson needs to disguise the defense better.
Minnesota will incorporate some zone blocking schemes and its offensive
like works hard to sustain its blocks on the backside. That's not good
news for a Giants' run defense that has been hurt by too many players
getting caught out of position and poor tackling. Moore has the vision to
recognize when the Giants' front seven is over-pursuing the hole and he
should have a seam to cutback with the offensive playing well. He also has
the power to break any arm tackles so don't be surprised to see him break
some long runs.
Last week Vikings MLB E.J. Henderson returned from a knee injury that had
forced him to miss the previous two games. He is a leader that makes all
of the defensive calls but he is wearing a brace and the knee injury
appears to be bothering him. With Dontarrious Thomas expected to replace
Henderson on obvious passing downs, look for the Giants to try to isolate
Barber on Henderson on certain running downs. Barber should be able to
separate from the less than 100% Henderson and he is extremely dangerous
after the catch.
Special Teams
Moore is Minnesota's leading kickoff return-man but Bennett could start
returning kickoffs this week. Both have the burst to go the distance when
they get a seam so New York's kickoff cover unit must continue to play
well.
Prediction: Vikings 31, Giants 21
