Poll of the Week: Piecing Together the (Few) Positives

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

The 49ers didn’t just deflate the balloon that was the Vikings’ hopes and expectations for 2015. They snatched it from the hands of optimistic fans, grabbed the sharpest needle they could find, and popped it right in their faces.

Last night’s game was ugly, and one a distraught fanbase won’t soon forget. Carlos Hyde pounded head coach Mike Zimmer’s defense, carrying the ball 26 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback the Vikings were supposed to contain, eluded pass rushers and consistently moved the chains with his legs. In the words of Zimmer, maybe his team “just isn’t ready for primetime.”

I could go on, but I won’t — I’ll save the negativity for a breakdown of the game on Wednesday. Today, I want to take a different route, a more positive route. Despite the failures on offense, defense, and special teams — unacceptable given the team’s five preseason games to prepare — there were a few encouraging signs as the Vikings transition to their Week 2 opponent, the Detroit Lions.

Who stood out, and what can the Vikings build on as they try to establish an identity?

Anthony Barr is a stud

Sitting in the stands, it was clear the Vikings weren’t prepared to handle the physicality of the 49ers, especially the aggressiveness from San Francisco’s offensive line. Everson Griffen was manhandled by 49ers left tackle Joe Staley, while edge defenders like Brian Robison and Chad Greenway lost battles to contain the outside run. With Geep Chryst taking over play-calling duties, the 49ers are relying on the stretch zone to beat teams up front, and that’s exactly what they did on Monday night.

Except for Anthony Barr, that is. The Vikings’ second-year linebacker led the team with 12 tackles against the 49ers, flying around the field to make a number of plays. He was the most aggressive defender of the unit, bursting into the backfield on designed blitzes and cutting through traffic to make shoestring tackle after shoestring tackle on would-be touchdowns. Near the end of the night, Barr did this:

Image courtesy of NFL Game Pass

Image courtesy of NFL Game Pass

His speed, natural ability to blitz from space, and explosive tackling were on full display throughout the night, and his mostly excellent night was capped by this play. In a pile of defenders who were punched in the mouth Monday night, Anthony Barr punched back, proving he’s fully recovered from offseason knee surgery and ready to become a superstar for the Vikings.

Mike Wallace is more than a deep threat

When the Vikings traded for Mike Wallace this offseason, he was expected to become the missing piece in Norv Turner’s offense — the deep threat with the speed to “take the top off the defense.” While Wallace does bring that element to the Vikings, he proved much more valuable as Teddy Bridgewater’s safety net on Monday night.

Early in the game, Bridgewater and Wallace couldn’t connect for a deep touchdown, which would have put the Vikings ahead. It appeared Wallace was interfered with, and Bridgewater’s perfectly-thrown pass bounced off of his hands and into the end zone. With their missed opportunity behind them, the duo connected on six passes for 63 yards — both team-highs for the night.

In times of trouble, Bridgewater looked to Wallace down the field, and the Vikings worked hard to get their speedy new receiver open in space, running him underneath, across the field, and sometimes, into deep coverage. The two formed a close relationship throughout training camp, and that relationship has manifested itself into a sense of trust when it matters; the regular season.

Xavier Rhodes, secondary prevent big plays

Save for one short completion to Anquan Boldin and one (tacky) defensive holding call, Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes played a solid game against the 49ers. He showed well in the running game, fighting off blockers and using his length to stop running backs and receivers upon first contact. In coverage, Rhodes was hardly a factor, blanketing his assignments and forcing Colin Kaepernick to look elsewhere or tuck and run.

Harrison Smith was also relatively quiet, save for one monstrous hit on a scrambling Colin Kaepernick:

 

Collectively, the secondary prevented any explosive passing plays, making the 49ers’ longest completion of the night a 20-yard dump-off to tight end Garrett Celek. Where they struggled was underneath against crossers and quick outs, but the deep portion of the field was well covered.

In a surprising move, Mike Zimmer started Andrew Sendejo in Robert Blanton’s place at strong safety. Sendejo struggled to set the edge on running plays, and Zimmer eventually replaced him with Blanton in the second half.

I’d love to chock last night’s loss up to a late start time or collective fatigue, but in all honesty, the defeat carries no excuse — Mike Zimmer’s team wasn’t prepared for primetime and it showed. In spite of their shortcomings, a few Vikings stood out Monday Night. Who, or what, is your pick?

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