Former Minnesota Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton told Sports Headliners that Vikings head coach Brad Childress had a team “in discontent” earlier this season but now has “found the formula” for improvement. The Vikings had played so poorly in a 34-0 loss to Green Bay about a month ago that they had disgusted just about everyone inside and outside the organization. The team’s record dropped to 3-6 and part of the problem was not creating the best plays and alignments for the players.
Dalton, who is an NFL media analyst living in a Minneapolis suburb, said Childress “was losing his team” and that players were “disconnecting” from the second year head coach. “Childress to his credit was astute enough to realize he was losing his team and he better figure out a way to make some things happen,” Dalton said. “He adjusted and simplified things. The team responded by executing and winning some games. …”
The Vikings have won three straight since the Green Bay game and are considered among the most likely candidates to make the playoffs as a wild card team in the NFC. “Now they’ve found the formula which is to play to your personnel’s strengths within your package…,” Dalton said.
The coaches have simplified the offense, including the game plan each week. “They’re calling plays that (quarterback) Tarvaris Jackson does well,” he said. “They’re playing to the strengths of their quarterback which is three step passes, as we’ve seen a lot of quick slants (pass patterns). And then the play action passes is when they take their deep shots (down field). Playing off the run game, they’re getting linebackers and safeties to suck up into the box (near the line of scrimmage), and then they’re getting some single match-ups on the outside. …”
That run game, of course, has been the center piece to the offensive success. With a league leading rusher in rookie Adrian Peterson, and stellar work by Chester Taylor, the other featured runner, plus a solid run blocking line, the Vikings lead the NFL in rushing at 176.8 yards per game.
Dalton also emphasized adjustments made to defend the other team’s passing. “Defensively, I think they have some veterans back there, but they lack the ability to completely match-up with a lot of man (one-on-one) coverage match-ups,” he said. “…The coaching staff has done a lot more zone pressures, fire zone blitzes. And they’re bringing different players and disguising that much better than they used to so that it’s confusing to the quarterback. …”
Defensive adjustments have included changes where Minnesota is able to confuse receivers, with Vikings defenders coming from different directions, moving into passing lanes, breaking up throws and making interceptions, Dalton said.
He also said the Vikings “are getting to the quarterback more” with their rushing schemes. The Vikings will show seven potential rushers and rush five, but the defense doesn’t know which group of five is coming for the quarterback. The result is more pressure on the passer.
If the Vikings can continue their momentum, Dalton likes the odds of the team making the playoffs for the first time since 2004. “Winning is the ultimate elixir and so now everyone is back to happy,” he said.