film evaluate: How Vikings' blitz designs outfoxed Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert

Chargers head coach Brandon Staley obtained plenty compliment league-huge for aggressive choice making and early wins, each on the box and within the press convention. but before kickoff, the 38-12 months-historic Staley tossed a bouquet to Vikings head train Mike Zimmer with a pointed compliment that rang actual in Sunday's 27-20 win.

"If or not it's a passing [play], he's one of the crucial properly third-down architects within the heritage of the video game," Staley spoke of last week. "When or not it's wide-spread circulate, this man is nearly as good of a shielding instruct as there's ever been. it truly is the truth. anywhere he is been, even if Minnesota, Cincinnati, you go returned an extended ways, this guy has stood the look at various of time. they're remarkable with their cover plan, range of pressure applications, diversity of rushers."

Zimmer made existence complex in 23-year-historic quarterback Justin Herbert's first online game towards him. Herbert changed into sacked on the primary pass play — a neatly-timed blitz by way of linebacker Eric Kendricks designed to attack the play-motion bootleg — which resulted in schematic counterpunches on each side.

Vikings coaches knew Chargers play caller Joe Lombardi, the previous Lions coordinator whom Adam Zimmer also labored with in New Orleans. They knew what labored and what did not; in 4 video games towards Lombardi's Lions in 2014-15, the Vikings got here away with sack totals of 4, zero, one, and 7.

"we'd played that coordinator before," Mike Zimmer noted, "and we would truly spoke of it all through the week with the coaches. We stated, 'Do you suppose he's going to give us these two diverse protections?' They hadn't completed all of it 12 months, and we'd truly sacked him a number of times in the past. So we talked about, 'he's probably not going to do that.' Then we get correct in the ballgame and we ought to react and regulate."

1. Three straight Chargers flow performs over two 2d-half drives helped turn the online game, and Zimmer had blitzes dialed up for all three. The Vikings acquired in fact powerful linebacker play from both Eric Kendricks and Nick Vigil, who covered Chargers working back Austin Ekeler stride-for-stride on a wheel route down the sideline on second down before this play.

it be third down. The Vikings trail 17-13 after that Chargers landing force out of halftime.

Vigil, predictably, strains up over the core with Kendricks looming toward the mighty facet of the offense. The Vikings did the equal on a 3rd-and-four past within the video game, and no-one blitzed. Like that point, Chargers working again Joshua Kelley (#27) is again directed to offer protection to inside; his focal point is interior and to the left where Vigil (#fifty nine) and Kendricks (#54) are threats.

security Camryn Bynum (#43) waits until Herbert settles in and creeps towards the line. Vigil (#fifty nine) holds the middle with a dummy rush earlier than dropping into insurance. Kendricks (#fifty four) additionally blitzes, drawing the running again's attention in circulate protection. The Vikings get the win with a five-man rush in opposition t a six-man coverage.

Bynum talked about the Vikings' insurance tendency main into that blitz likely kept Herbert from alerting any one before the snap, as Bynum had been rolling downhill in cowl 3 all online game.

"We had been displaying down safety vulnerable [side] in any of our cowl 3s," Bynum referred to. "So it likely gave the impression of to him that i was simply coming down, being the flat defender. and that i got here down relatively late to reveal the blitz and as soon he snapped the ball i was speculated to go B hole, however saw the a niche open so i used to be capable of go correct within the middle which type of worked out perfectly. So it changed into whatever thing that we have been attempting to set up all game, displaying that cover three appear and not me blitzing and that made it excellent, and that i become capable of make my first sack."

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2.After a Vikings touchdown pressure gave them a 20-17 lead, the Chargers obtained the ball returned. dealing with a second-and-7 play, this time Vigil (#59) goes untouched up the center in one more neatly-timed blitz and ideal counter to the Chargers' protection plan.

The Chargers offensive line looks to pinch with the three indoors blockers focusing on the A gaps — both side of middle — where Vigil loomed over before the snap. it's an empty backfield, so an evident passing play.

but as Ekeler (#30) motions throughout, Vigil drifts that manner and times the blitz perfectly to the snap. He begins creeping forward when Ekeler receives at the back of Herbert. in all probability it's a blitz name made on the fly when they see that action. either manner, Herbert is hit and throws incomplete.

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three.On here third down, the Vikings once more pressure Herbert with a five-man rush — this time towards a seven-man insurance policy.

showing six defenders at the line, together with three standing in Kendricks (#54), Vigil (#59), and protective end D.J. Wonnum (#ninety eight), the Vikings set up a zone blitz. Kendricks and Wonnum drop, while Vigil and safeguard Xavier Woods (#23) rush.

The Chargers in reality examine this well, however their further blockers do not fit it as it should be. Tight conclusion Jared cook (#87) looks to try to block both Woods and shielding handle Sheldon Richardson (#ninety), regardless of running again Joshua Kelley assisting to the correct.

Richardson breaks through and hits Herbert on this incomplete, while corner Mackensie Alexander had potent insurance on Keenan Allen downfield. a third straight pass play, and a third straight hit on Herbert. The Chargers punt. Herbert does not get the ball lower back except they're down 27-17 with 9:29 left.