NFL’s present vs. future? Rams’ Gurley ready to face Vikings and Peterson
Both teams have defensive-oriented head coaches: Jeff Fisher of the Rams and Mike Zimmer of the Vikings. Others like Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Matt Ryan and Tony Romo flirt with the elite label for a time before reverting to a second tier that houses the very good quarterbacks. They put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. “I grew up a huge Vikings fan, so it’s going to be one of those cool, surreal moments”. This has forced pro teams to adjust in one of two ways.
“I sit back and watch defenses like them, and it waters my mouth just to see guys go out there and play football that way”, Peterson said.
Gurley is the most hyped rookie runner since Adrian Peterson. With 575 yards over his first five National Football League games, including a mere 9 on six carries in his debut, Gurley has the third-highest total to start a career. Can you imagine the Rams WITHOUT Todd Gurley?
While it’s important for the Vikings to be ready for the Rams no-huddle offense on Sunday, Zimmer says the team has plenty of experience practicing against it this year. Rams QB Nick Foles has completed 58.8 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Vikings rank seventh in overall defense, ninth in sacks per pass play and second in points allowed (17.4). The last two weeks have dropped the third-down conversion percentage to a woeful 25.9. What has all taken place to make this year’s version of the Rams different than last years?
The Vikings faced more of a challenge last week, narrowly beating the Chicago Bears, 23-20. On Wednesday, he said he wanted to play until he’s 40, but he amended that Thursday.
It’s also a game they can earn a sense of pride and confidence-especially when others remind you that your success has come at the hands of the lower tier of the NFL. The Rams, Oakland Raiders (4-3), Atlanta Falcons (6-2) and Seattle Seahawks (4-4) are all at. They beat the Seahawks at home in the season opener and the Cardinals on the road on October 4. “First you learn how to compete, then you learn how to win, then you learn how to handle winning and then you learn how to be a champion”. Is a win against the Vikings an absolute expectation at this point? However, in Sunday’s game against San Francisco, aside from Austin, who had seven targets, wide receivers Stedman Bailey (three), Kenny Britt (two) and Brian Quick and Bradley Marquez (one each) had a total of seven targets.
SERIES HISTORY: 37th regular-season meeting. Vikings lead the series, 21-13-2. The Vikings are 10-3-2 at home, but have not played the Rams at TCF Bank Stadium, the Vikings’ temporary home. The Vikings still look like they can improve and should be at least a threat to make the playoffs. The team’s victories have come against teams with a combined 9-30 record, counting the 1-7 Detroit Lions twice.
The bigger intent should always be to just negate the rush by passing the ball quickly and running the ball well.
Fellow LB Eric Kendricks has already been ruled out, though, and that means the Vikings depth at LB will come in handy this week as the Vikings are set to square off against a Rams offense that will look to deploy rookie RB Todd Gurley early and often.
“Coming back and watching this film, it’s like, ‘Wow, that’s how you used to run the ball, ‘ ” Peterson said Thursday.