49ers-Vikings: Stopping Adrian Peterson vs. stopping "everybody else"

by David Fucillo on Sep 26, 2009 8:00 AM PDT in Preview

Two years ago the San Francisco 49ers held Adrian Peterson to his worst day as a professional: 3 yards on 14 carries. With Tavaris Jackson QBing the VIkings, one would think that would be enough, right? Wrong. Obviously there were other factors involved, primarily 4 turnovers lost by the 49ers. However, along with that was the fact that Chester Taylor rushed for 101 yards on just 8 carries.

Now I realize there is a certain appeal to saying you've held Adrian Peterson to his worst game as a professional. However, what good is that if you can't shut down the other running back and subsequently lose 27-7? I'm certainly not saying that Taylor will run wild on Sunday, or even that Adrian Peterson will be shut down again.

However, it's important to not simply focus on shutting down Purple Jesus. Aside from AP and the addition of Favre, Percy Harvin is a legit threat for the Vikings in every facet of their offensive and return attack. Harvin has missed practices this week due to illness, and is now listed as questionable for the game. I'd imagine he's likely to play and the 49ers will gameplan based on him playing.

So I guess the question becomes how do you gameplan against these Vikings? Favre is obviously showing signs of age, so do you just key on Peterson and hope Taylor doesn't bust any long runs while your secondary hopefully can handle their business against Harvin, Berrian and Rice (Sidney, not Jerry!)? How would you D up against this Vikings squad?

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Big Game

Don’t forget to mention that those 7 points we scored came from none other than Shaun Hill on his first drive in his first game he ever played in (besides taking knees).

Granted we were already down 27-0 when he came into the game, so he didn’t have enough time to work his magic. Now we’ll see what would have happened if they had started Hill instead of Dilfer.

by eSteve on Sep 26, 2009 10:12 AM PDT reply actions

dont forget

the vikings have beaten the browns and lions. and been down at halftime in those games.

by pwarren85 on Sep 26, 2009 10:26 AM PDT reply actions

dont forget

the vikings have outscored the browns and lions 48-7 in the 2nd half.

by dsludo on Sep 26, 2009 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions

dont forget

that it’s the Browns and the LOLions

It was Johnny Hopkins, and Sloan Kettering, and they were blazin that s*** up everyday.

by 49erLou on Sep 26, 2009 10:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah they suck

but was responding to comment about 1st half, so I just thought I could give the glass half full perspective.

They’ve had 2 slow starts, but have done a decent job of successfully adjusting the game plan. Hopefully that streak doesn’t extend to 3.

by dsludo on Sep 26, 2009 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions

We don't want you to get 3 wins either!

She asked, "why in the club you don't make it percipitate, you know make it rain when you can make it thunderstorm?" I said "why the world needs sun the hood needs funds, there's a war going on and half the battle is guns, how dare I throw it on the floor when people are poor, so I write like edgar allen to restore"
-A3000
BKA optimist prime- Got the Semi runin on 49er koolaid!!

by rlott#42 on Sep 26, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Shut down the run, force Favre to throw into secondary.

The 9ers have a good run defense, so the first thing to do is to stop the run whether it is C. Taylor or A. Peterson. Neither of them is a Justin Forsett type scatback, so I don’t foresee them presenting any challenge the 9er’s front seven can’t deal with. Drop M. Lewis into the box to help out. If the 9ers fail to accomplish this it may turn out to be a very bad day, but if they can’t they deserve to lose because that is supposed to be a team strength.

Shutting down the run, or even just reliably putting them into 3rd & long, will force Favre to throw into the secondary to receivers he hasn’t had time to establish an on-field rapport with. Advantage 9ers, given Favre’s propensity to throw into double coverage. Interceptions by alert DBs are definitely possible if this happens.

On offense, the 9ers should, but probably won’t, come out throwing in order to back off what will inevitably be a stacked line and heavy run blitzing. Otherwise, it’ll have to be traps, counters, and flips to Gore to establish the ground game. Maybe some more off-tackle than they’ve been using. If, and that’s a very big if, the ground game is established, play action passes will work, too. A few big plays from Gore, Bruce, VD, and Hill will be necessary to get the job done – this is not a consistent offense.

In spite of any and all game planning, I think the teams are close enough in ability on both sides of the ball that the winning margin may well come from turnovers, penalties, and field position. The team that makes the fewest mistakes and is capable of capitalizing on it’s opponent’s mistakes will win the game. The 9ers must play error-free football on Sunday. I expect a low-scoring, physical slugfest with a final score of 17-13, Niners.

by MontanaPass on Sep 26, 2009 11:24 AM PDT reply actions

Forsett vs Peterson

C’mon, as much as I want this to be true, it isn’t the case. Peterson is the BEST back I’ve seen since Barry Sanders. Now he niners of Old just seemed to always have his number and hopefully this is the case with Peterson.

I don’t foresee them presenting any challenge the 9er’s front seven can’t deal with.

This will be the greatest challenge as far as running backs are concerned, all season. It is a game that the niners can win, but our offense will be more vital than the defense! I can’t believe that was said, this again is definitely a challenge!

by rlott#42 on Sep 26, 2009 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Justin Forsett drove us crazy.

I didn’t say he was better than AP, only that scatbacks appear to give our run defense some problems, as demonstrated by Seattle last week. But I believe our front seven is definitely good enough to shut down AP, and CT along with him. And as far as RBs go, I worry more about M. Turner in Atlanta in two weeks than AP. Why? Because the Falcons have a passing game that is firing on all cylinders right now, unlike the Vikes, that will force the 9ers to cover their receivers and TE more aggressively. We can put eight in the box against the Vikes and dare them to throw, which should open up opportunities for interceptions. But I’m STILL saying that neither AP, or AP combined with CT, will present any challenge our front seven can’t deal with. Our run defense is likely the best functioning aspect of the entire team, and will have the opportunity to prove it tomorrow.

by MontanaPass on Sep 26, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Not I simply because M Ryan hasn't faced many 3-4 defenses

BKA optimist prime- Got the Semi runnin' on 49er koolaid!!
Blasphemous beings, the NINERS will never forget!!

by rlott#42 on Sep 26, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Consistently put 8 in the box

and I’d say that the Vikings score at least 24.

by Salty on Sep 26, 2009 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Lets not forget our DBs

althought Az. and Sea. have thrown the ball for yards, it’s from being behind. The DBs have 15/18 (depend which site you read ) defended passes against them. Stopping A.P. is a given but Favre can haress into bad throwing decision.So, the defensive front line has it work cut out for them if they want to win this very important game.

by LASVEGASNINER on Sep 26, 2009 11:27 AM PDT reply actions