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After taking a look at Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota Vikings offensive, it's time to take the next step, led by head coach Mike Zimmer. The 49ers open on the road against the best defense of the NFL, which has replaced a starter since last season. The only starter that they added: Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will have everything they need to do before winning. Asked about the different challenges the Vikings' defense presented at Wednesday's press conference, here's what Shanahan has to say.
"It's a very talented defense in terms of, I think if someone said his best talent was his D-Line or his linebacker or his high school, I'd say the one you said is just You could argue any of these 3. They have a lot of talent there with high pressure choices, the guys who have done the second job, that's great too. [Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator] George [Edwards] and [Minnesota Vikings head coach] Mike [Zimmer] over the years, it's extremely healthy. Then you have 11 guys playing together for about four years. I know that they added [Minnesota Vikings DT] Sheldon [Richardson] in three techniques, but the last 10 players have been around for a while and the continuity of talent with a good plan is why they were as good as last year in almost every category.
The Minnesota defense has multiple benefits – the majority of their best talents have spent a few seasons together and their superstars have been scattered at all levels of defense. Zimmer can count on lineman Everson Griffen on the defensive front, linebacker Eric Kendricks in the middle of the pack, cornerback Trae Waynes on the outside and goalkeeper Harrison Smith on the back. Here's what 49ers fans will need to know before Sunday's opening game.
Viking dominant defensive front
Minnesota do not have the traditional pass defenseman – there is no Khalil Mack, Von Miller or Melvin Ingram flying to try to push the opponent's quarterback. The Vikings line up robust inside defenders on the defensive front and try to go beyond your offensive line.
Earlier in the pre-season against the Jaguars, defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Brian Robison flew away, sending quarterback Blake Bortles back to the red zone. Bortles had no chance of saving the game because Hunter knocked him out immediately after the breakup.
Last season, the Vikings had at least four different players with at least 3.5 sacks, with Griffin leading with 13.5 sacks. Defensive lineman Linval Joseph, as well as Griffin, Hunter and Robison are the four returnees to which the 49ers will have to pay attention. Seems deadly, is not it? Well, the Vikings were not complacent and added Pro-Bowler Richardson to the team, which resulted in 19 career bags.
Last season, the Minnesota defensive against the race ranked No. 5 in the NFL, giving 3.7 yards per rushing attempt. In theory, this number should only increase with the addition of Richardson, who is a leading advocate of the race to the interior. Until now, through four preseason games, the defensive defense of the Vikings seems to play as well as the most anticipated.
In this game against the Jaguars, running back Leonard Fournette did not have the place to go, while Robison pushes back the right tackle of the Jaguars. As soon as the ex-LSU's running back moves towards East-West, instead of North-South, the rest of the Vikings' defense soon collapses and ends the game.
Here is another example of the "Vikings" defense. When he speaks to Fournette, Joseph pushes the Jaguar lineman on the field, Hunter holds his block, and linebacker Anthony Barr arrives quickly at Fournette.
Fournette did not have the chance to leave the field and go to the field. As long as the riders do not run from north to south, they will have no chance against the Vikings' defense.
The key to Garoppolo's success will depend heavily on the time his offensive line will give him. Linebackers Joe Staley, Weston Richburg and Mike McGlinchey should be ready to leave, but the biggest question mark is in the guard's guard, where it seems that Mike Person has taken over Josh Garnett.
49ers carriers, Alfred Morris and Matt Breida, can not move too much in the backfield. We will have to spend an afternoon "one cut and go", otherwise the second level of the Vikings defense will be everywhere on the pitchers of 49ers.
High School Minnesota
In 2017, the Vikings Pass defense perfectly complemented the rest of the team, placing # 1 in opposing yards per game and # 2 in opposing assists per game.
The leader of this group is not necessarily a turn, but the security superstar, Harrison Smith, who finished last season with five interceptions team (they had 14 in team). Pair him with another All-Pro corner player, Xavier Rhodes, the Vikings themselves have a duet that most teams do not have. Add to that the mix of young Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, which looks like a difficult match for receivers 49ers.
Against the Jaguars, Smith was already in regular season form, defeating Bortles early in the first quarter. The Jaguars quarterback watched the general public throughout the game, which Smith read well and was in a prime position to intercept the ball.
Bortles had another chance of being intercepted, while Dede Westbrook, the big wearer, slid down the road, allowing the Vikings to turn in and swing the pass. It seems that the Viking secondary is still around the ball and that any small mistake can be returned in a disappointing turnover.
Although Garoppolo's interception rate has often been wrongly criticized since he joined the 49ers, he must be cautious with the ball Sunday. There is no time for the 49ers' flagman to make a mental mistake, as Bortles does here because the Viking High School will charge San Francisco.
The only area on which the 49ers can certainly exploit the Vikings' defense is to make short passes to the back of the backfield. This is probably where Jerick McKinnon's presence will be the most missing. McKinnon's ability to play games while catching balls out of the backfield could be his best match.
Looking at some of the Vikings pre-season games, this was a play that attackers often used to defeat this formidable defense. With five rushers at the top of the pack and the high school far away in the pack, there was still room for Fournette to exploit.
Shanahan will have his hands full on Sunday afternoon in the first game of the season, with this defense, which should be even better in Minneapolis. The 49ers will have interrogation points in their right guard and in their positions of return. Receivers Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin will have to be effective from the start, to help rookies Dante Pettis and Richie James Jr.
Garoppolo will have to protect the ball, avoid interceptions and enjoy the game of short passes. The Vikings cornerback, Xavier Rhodes, was ruled out Sunday, while Mackensie Alexander is considered dubious. Their absences would put Mike Hughes, the young rookie in the corner, in the spotlight – and some to exploit early in the game.
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