Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings: Key matchups
Packers fron seven versus Adrian Peterson
While the prevailing concern going into Week 1 was whether Green Bay’s defensive line had enough depth to stifle Jacksonville’s running attack, the front seven held up quite nicely by limiting the Jaguars to 48 yards on the ground and holding second-year back T.J. Yeldon to 1.9 yards per carry.
The fact that Chris Ivory was out with an undisclosed ailment certainly played in the Packers’ favor. Also consider that this week’s offense is headlined by 2015 leading rusher Adrian Peterson, who has experienced his share of memorable outings versus his NFC North antagonists.
Since 2011, Peterson has averaged 116.8 yards in nine games against the Packers (including a 2013 postseason affair) and scored eight rushing touchdowns.
The 31-year-old back wasn’t quite himself in his opening-week win. But before anyone suggests that Purple Jesus may be showing signs of rapid decline, his dismal performance (19 carries for 31 yards) appeared to be nothing more than a case of early-year rustiness given the fact that the Vikings traditionally keep AD in bubble wrap throughout the preseason.
His timing and rhythm were off in that Peterson seemed to be too patient on some runs in which he just needed to get in there and hit it. Similarly, there were other plays where the veteran plow horse appeared to be overanxious and didn’t allow his running lanes to develop.
One week should suffice to clear the cobwebs in a highly-contested meeting that also serves as the Vikings first regular-season game in their new indoor facility.
And while No. 28 played his first game as if he’d just been injected with a lethal dose of kryptonite, Minnesota’s offensive line wasn’t quite up to the task either as his bodyguards continually lost their battles up front.
Alex Boone in particular struggled mightily in creating space on running plays. In fact, for all the talk of the former 49er bringing a much-needed infusion of intensity and toughness to Minnesota’s offense, the 6-foot-8 left guard came up short on eight plays in which he was entrusted with the task of being the lead blocker, according to a recent report provided by Asif Hasan of www.1500ESPN.com.
The hulking interior blocker was repeatedly thrown off balance by Jurrell Casey who used his quick, violent hands and natural agility to go around, under and through his opponent.
At 6-foot-1, 305 pounds, Casey is built a lot like Mike Daniels, who has the brute strength and astonishing quickness to give Boone a double-serving of the beating administered at his expense in Nashville.
Center Joe Berger’s efforts in the running game also proved ineffective with the likes of Al Woods and company turning him around and forcing Peterson to reroute his course away from where the play was designed to go.
Over at right tackle, Andre Smith lacks the movement skills to get to the second level on running plays to his side of the line.
Much like Tennessee, the Packers have a trio of inside trench warriors (Daniels, Letroy Guion and Kenny Clark) that are nimble enough to pursue laterally along with also possessing the leverage skills to hold their ground and allow their safeties and linebackers to shoot through the gaps and make tackles.
Peterson, however, is strong and explosive enough to often churn out a healthy amount of positive yards on his own and should be able to generate more than 2.3 yards per carry with a week of game action under his belt.
Green Bay has the type of stout defensive line and deep rotation of linebackers to prevent the Vikings all-time leading rusher from breaking long game breakers even if he’ll occasionally get passed the first level. Expecting an improved stat line from Peterson is reasonable, but so is keeping him under 100 yards.
Next: Nick Perry versus Andre Smith