Does anyone plan on doing one of those sweet ### analysis thingies on the last game?
I wrote my observations of the 1st half. It isn't all about Diggs though.
On the Vikings first drive Adrian Peterson starts with a run to the right side for 3 yards.
2nd and 7 the Vikings go to an empty backfield with Peterson outside to the left Mike Wallace in the slot left Rudolph playing inline on the left. Diggs is outside to the right with Jarius Wright in the slot. James Ihedigbo is motioning for Quin to shift over to the left before the snap due to 3 receivers on the left side. Peterson just turns and faces Bridgewater in the flat, both defensive backs Mathis and Diggs on the left side are playing off and effectively bracketing Mike Wallace who runs straight ahead. Rudolph is runs 8 yards then turns outside to the left. Peterson makes a catch out in the flat with no one near him and he finishes the run with a hit on Rasheen Mathis that causes Mathis to leave the game. Rudolph wasn’t able to break off his route and get a block on Tullock so his route brought the LB into the play. The Lions came into the game without CB Josh Wilson so getting deeper into their depth chart if Mathis can’t return.
3rd and 1 The Vikings line up with Peterson single back 2TE Rudolph and Ellison to the right Adam Theilen to the right and Diggs to the left. Theilen goes in motion before the snap to the outside of Matt Kalil on the left side. The run is up the middle and defended well, the motion of Theilen drew the defensive backs closer to the line prior to the snap, Peterson runs behind Fusco and Berger for a 1st down.
1st and 10 Single back 3WR 1TE. Rudolph in line on the left. Wallace and Wright both lined up tight to the left side, Diggs outside to the right. Before the snap Wallace motions behind Kalil and then shifts back to the outside stacked behind Rudolph and Wright. Peterson and the way Bridgewater hands this off looks like this is another dive play to the right. The Vikings have more blockers to the left than the Lions have defenders and they block down sealing the edge to the outside left. Jason Jones uses a quick move to the inside and beats Clemmings block right away. Jones meets Peterson in the backfield for a 3 yard loss.
2nd and 13 I formation with Ellison at FB, Rudolph the TE to the left side Wallace to the left Diggs to the right. Before the snap Ellison motions to the right side of the line balancing the formation. Then back to an offset FB to the right. Play action to Peterson. Wallace runs about 15 yards deep then comes back to the ball for a 1st down.
1st and 10 2TE right 2WR left Diggs to the outside with Wallace in the slot. The play is a jet sweep with Diggs to the right, Diggs motions before the play. Rudolph and Ellison both get downfield to block, Rudolph seals Slay off from the play and Ellison leads the way downfield with a good block on the LB Diggs follows. No one blocked Daryl Tapp on the play but he is too slow to react.
2nd and 1 Shotgun Peterson to Bridgewaters left. Diggs outside to the left with Wright in the slot, Rudolph inline left. Mike Wallace outside on the right. Before the snap Rudolph comes in motion and lines up as the FB offset to the right. The line blocks to the right with Rudolph coming across the formation to seal the RE off on the backside of the play. Even though the Lions are playing a nickel defense the Vikings get no push from their blocks and Peterson is met in the backfield. Peterson is able to drive forward for the 1st down.
1st and 10 Shotgun Peterson to Bridgewaters left. Mike Wallace outside to the right. Rudolph is on the line to the left with Wright inside behind him and Diggs outside behind the line in a triangle. The play is a quick screen to Diggs who gets behind Rudolph and Wrights blocks. Rudolph was blocking Diggs (the cornerback) before Diggs had the ball. Wright got out on Mathis and Fusco pulls outside to help. Diggs is able to make Tullock miss and get downfield but is tackled from behind by Taylor.
2nd and 8 Single back to TE on the right side Wallace outside to the right Diggs outside to the left. Mike Wallace runs a 10 yard stop route and Teddy finds him for a 1st down. Wallace comes off the field after this play.
1st and 10 Offset I formation to the right with Zach Line the FB. Rhett Ellison the TE to the right Adam Theilen outside to the right Diggs outside to the left. Before the snap Theilen goes in motion to the slot on the left side of the field. The play is a run by Peterson. It looks like the play is designed to run to the left side based on how Bridgewater delivers the hand off but Peterson cuts the run back inside. Kalil blocks Ansah to the outside Fusco and Berger double team one DT while Harris and Clemmings double team the other DT, Ellison blocks Jones to the outside. Zach Line is crashing up through the middle where he blocks Tullock in the center of the field. LB Josh Bynes is spying on the hole to the left is perhaps why Peterson cuts back inside behind Lines block. Peterson presses to the right side which Slay and Lewis respect and keep contain so Peterson weaves his way inside and the blocking develops as Berger and Fusco have turned one DT to the outside and Berger gets Bynes and seals him outside as well. Peterson uses a spin move to evade a tackle attempt by Ihedigbo and is able to put his head down and get the first down as Quin makes the tackle.
1st and 10 I formation with Zach Line offset to the right Ellison is the TE to the right. Mike Wallace outside to the right Diggs outside to the left. The play is a run to the right. Tullock blows up this play by stopping Fusco and Zach line in the backfield. Fusco never gets out after he pulls to the right because of this and Line gets tangled up here as well. No gain.
2nd and 10 2TE 2WR Wallace outside to the left Diggs outside to the right. Kyle Rudolph on the line to the left side Rhett Ellison at FB offset to the right. Wallace runs a hitch and go route. Mathis gets called for holding Wallace on the play.
1st and 10 2TE to the right with Zach Line offset to the right. Cordarralle Patterson outside to the left. Play action to Peterson bootleg to the right. Patterson is running a post to the inside while Rudolph runs the corner route. Ellison comes off his block on Ansah underneath to the right Bridgewater is able to keep Ansah out of reach but just runs out of bounds. Bridgewater loses a yard on the play so they credit Ansah a sack.
2nd and 11 single back 2TE to the right 2WR to the left Diggs outside Wallace inside. Play action and Teddy is looking downfield but has to scramble because no one picked up Josh Bynes who comes on a well timed blitz, Tullock was also coming on the blitz so this is a bit of a no win for Fusco a Berger who have too many players to block. Peterson tries to pick up Bynes but he goes too low and Bynes evades the block pretty easily. Bridgewater evades the sack and throws it out of bounds near Diggs in the corner of the end zone.
3rd and 11 Shotgun Rudolph on the right near the line. 3 WR to the left Asiata in the backfield. Diggs outside to the left Wallace inside of him and Wright in the slot. Rudolph chips on LE Taylor who is then picked up by Clemmings with help from Asiata. Kalil gets beat by Ansah to the outside but Teddy is able to step up in the pocket and get outside to the left before throwing it to Wright who ran an out route to the left. Both Wallace and Diggs run routes to the right side clearing the out route for Wright. Bridgewater puts it right on the numbers but Wright drops the ball. Because Teddy scrambled out to the left Wright completed his out route then went to a go route before coming back to the ball near the marker as his adjustment to Teddy extending the play. Wright was not open initially on the out route as Diggs was right there with him. Because of the pressure Teddy never really gets to look back to the right for Wallace Diggs or Rudolph.
On the Lions second drive when they get the ball to Ebron. Chad Greenway is pointing to where Ebron is now wide open because Kendricks initially was following Calvin Johnson across the middle. Barr never picks up Ebron coming across either and Harrison Smith remains center field watching Stafford while Sendejo helps cover Calvin. Staffords motion to the left gets players
1st and 10 I formation with Zach Line directly in front of Peterson. Rudolph in line to the right Theilen outside to the right. Diggs outside to the left. Theilen comes in motion to the left behind the offensive line, he then goes back to the right and lines up directly behind Clemmings and Rudolph. The play is a toss to the left. Kalil fails his block on DE Taylor and Bynes beats Zach Line to the hole and defeats his block Loss of four yard.
2nd and 14 Shotgun. Rudolph in line to the right. Wallace outside to the right with Wright in the slot. Diggs outside to the left. Bridgewater is initially looking to the right where Wallace Wright and Rudolph are but he doesn’t like what he sees so he looks back to the left and Peterson has released so he throws it to him. Peterson gains 11 yards.
3rd and 3 Shotgun Rudolph lines up outside to the left Diggs inside in the slot to the left. Wallace outside to the right with Wright in the slot Before the snap Rudolph goes in motion to the right side of the formation drawing SS Abdul-Quddus across to the right side indicating he has man coverage on Rudolph. Diggs runs a drag route to the right side of the field while the receivers on the right clear the right flat out. The Lions blitz Bynes off the right side but the protection is set up for Teddy to roll away from it to his right. He hits Diggs in stride who is able to turn up field along the sideline. Ansah is able to get flat and get around Fusco who is engaged with the Ngata who has pushed him back. Bridgewater gets hit pretty good after he releases the ball. Ansah is Kalil’s guy on this play but he cant play through Fusco and Ngata to get to him.
1st and 10 Shotgun Asiata in to Bridgewaters right. Rudolph to the right 3 WR to the left. Diggs outside with Wallace inside him and Wright in the slot. Wright is doing this thing where he extends his arm way back before the snap. I guess this helps him with his first step of his route? The play is a dump off the Asiata in the right flat. He runs hard gaining a couple yards after contact.
2nd and 5 Shotgun Rudolph to the right 3 WR to the left. Mike Wallace outside with Jarius Wright inside him and Charles Johnson in the slot. McKinnon in the backfield. The play is a run with McKinnon on the left side. Kalil does a good job turning Taylor to the outside while Fusco blocks down on the DT creating a hole for McKinnon who gets 5 yards and the 1st down. Charles Johnson runs a WR look drawing Slay away from the play. McKinnon gains a few yards after contact with Tullock. He looks more comfortable running out of the shotgun than Peterson does. But the defense wasn’t focusing on him the way they do Peterson. The fake WR screen held the defensive backs on the left side pretty well.
1st and 10 I formation with Zach Line offset to the right. Rhett Ellison is the TE to the right with Mike Wallace outside to the right. Charles Johnson outside to the left. The play is a run inside with McKinnon who gets back to the LOS not much more. Zach Line makes it to the second level on this play but he completely misses his block on Tullock who McKinnon does side step but this prevents him from attempting to make a move on the safety who ultimately makes the tackle.
2nd and 9 I formation with Zach Line offset to the right Ellison is the TE to the right with Theilen outside to the right. Stefon Diggs outside to the left. The play looks like a run to the left between Fusco and Kalil again who do ok with their blocks but Tullock and Bynes are filling that hole so McKinnon cuts back inside to be met by Tapp who has completely turned Clemmings around
3rd and 11 Shotgun Asiata to Bridgewaters right. Wallace outside to the right with Wright in the slot. Diggs outside to the left with Rudolph inside. Ngata pushes Fusco back into Bridgewater and the Lions get the sack. Most of the pocket collapsed in but Ngata kept Bridgewater from having anywhere to go.
1st and 10 Mike Wallace outside to the left with Charles Johnson inside him on the line and Wright in the slot. Mycole Pruitt is the TE on the right Peterson in the backfield. Wright comes in motion to the right side before the snap lining up outside of Pruitt. The play is a run to the right side. Pruitt gets a pretty good block forcing Tapp to the outside. The double team by Clemmings and Harris on Fluellen is pretty effective making a hole for Peterson to run through. Kalil completely misses his block on Taylor who beats him with an inside move and meets Peterson behind the LOS. There is a fake WR screen motion by Bridgewater before giving the ball to Peterson.
2nd and 9 Amazed Peterson got a yard there as he was met at least a couple yards behind the LOS on the last play. Shotgun Charles Johnson outside to the left with Wright in the slot. Mike Wallace outside to the right with Pruitt in line. The corners are playing off coverage outside Johnson and Wallace both run come back routes. Johnson looks open at the time that Teddy throws to him but he is a bit slow turning back to the ball and Mathis is able to get back and break it up. Mathis is a good 5 yards back from where Charles Johnson makes his cut to come back to the ball which is the same time as Teddy is releasing the ball, yet Mathis is able to close that distance and tip the ball before Johnson can get to it. Great play by Mathis but I think Diggs would have done a better job of getting back to the ball and competing for it than Johnson does on this play. Mike Wallace looked much more open on his comeback than Johnson did. Teddy was looking at Johnson the whole play which helped Mathis time it.
3rd and 9 Shotgun Asiata to Birdgewaters left. Wright to the outside on the right with Johnson in the slot. Mike Wallace outside to the left with Mycole Pruitt in the slot. Johnson runs a deep curl route and Bridgewater finds him over the top of the linebackers.
1st and 10 single back 2TE to the right Pruitt inside Ellison outside and 2WR to the left, Charles Johnson outside Mike Wallace in the slot. Ellison comes in motion to the left side balancing the line. The play is a run up the middle but Peterson fumbles the hand off and the Lions recover the ball.
1st and 10 2 WR to the left Diggs outside and Wallace inside 2TE to the right Ellison inside Rudolph outside but both close to the line. The play is play action to Peterson. Wallace runs a go route Rudolph runs a corner route and Diggs runs a comeback route Teddy completes it to Diggs who had to wait a bit for the ball but Mathis isn’t able to get back to it.
1st and 10 Zach Line to the outside on the left with Diggs in the slot. Mike Wallace outside to the right with Ellison at TE McKinnon in the backfield. Line motions into the backfield directly in front of McKinnon. Ihedigbo follows him indicated man coverage. Play action to McKinnon and Line releases into the flat after Bynes lets him go past. Bridgewater finds Line wide open and he gets a big play down the sideline. Ihedigbo never picks Line up instead watching Teddy the whole time.
1st and 10 single back with McKinnon. Diggs outside left Ellison on the line. Mike Wallace outside right with Rudolph on the line. Before the snap Diggs comes in motion to the right and Teddy fakes the Jet sweep to Diggs then tosses it to McKinnon on the left. McKinnon is able to make Mathis miss and then puts his head down to meet Ihedigbo’s tackle. McKinnon keeps his feet and with a little help from Ellison is able to get additional yardage
2nd and 1 Diggs outside to the left Mike Wallace outside to the right Theilen in the slot and Rudolph on the line. The play is a run inside where McKinnon picks a hole between Berger and Fusco for 5 yards.
1st and goal they run with McKinnon inside again for 2 yards.
2nd and goal Shotgun with Peterson on the left and Ellison to Bridgewaters right. Diggs to the left Wallace to the right. The play is an inside run to the right behind Ellison and Fusco who pulls to the right. Fusco does not get a very good block but Peterson fights for 2 yards.
3rd and goal the Vikings line up in their goal line formation then play action to Peterson throw to Rudolph for the TD.
During the 2 minute Drill Wallace makes a nice play and gets out of bounds preserving the clock. Bridgewater tries to get it to Diggs in the end zone but the play was a bit rushed and more like Bridgewater just threw this one away. Wright makes two catches but he doesn’t get out of bounds. Bridgewater gets sacked by Ansah who beats Kalil again. Pressure was coming from Ngata and also from the other side where Clemmings missed his block. Blair Walsh makes the 51 yard FG because it wasn’t too close like the extra point he missed.
In the second half Diggs makes a huge play on the out and up route losing Mathis in coverage and Diggs extending out for the catch which might have Diggs nominated for rookie of the week again.
Another notable play is the pass to Theilen where he lines up behind Harris and Clemmings then runs a corner route for a big catch. He loses Slay on this play because Slay thinks Theilen is helping with pass protection or the run.
Diggs last catch come on a route where Diggs fakes the out route then shifts back to the post. Teddy has good protection and watching Diggs the whole play.
Against KC Diggs ran mostly out routes and WR screens. Against the Lions he won on:
Jet sweep
WR screen
Drag route
Come back route
Out and up route
Out then post route