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Vikings 4 Downs: Can Matt Kalil handle Ezekiel Ansah this time?

Star Tribune digital reporter Master Tesfatsion answers questions posed by Vikings fans on Twitter. Matt Kalil and Adrian Peterson are among this week's subjects.

December 11, 2014 at 5:48PM

Minnesota Vikings Matt Kalil (75). (Star Tribune file/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

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Considering the Vikings still have a chance to make the playoffs, there's a chance for anything to happen. Left tackle Matt Kalil has taken baby steps over the last two weeks, but I think he'll have a difficult time guarding Lions defensive end Ezekiel Ansah one-on-one again.

Ansah had a career-high 2.5 sacks against Kalil during their Week 6 matchup at TCF Bank Stadium. It was perhaps Kalil's worst game over the last two seasons with the entire Lions defensive line humming in an impressive performance. It'll be interesting to watch how many times the Vikings use a tight end on the left side to help protect or chip Ansah to help Kalil.

Ansah has collected a sack in consecutive games, giving him four since the last time he faced Kalil. I'd set the over/under at 1.5 sacks for Ansah.

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Not at all, and I would still consider the Jets defense a tough matchup for a rookie quarterback considering their front four and head coach Rex Ryan's controlled chaos when they dial up blitzes. Teddy Bridgewater handled all of that well in his best performance yet, I think.

The biggest thing with Bridgewater is you want him to build off the previous week, regardless of the opponent. He's done that recently against the Panthers and Jets, improving on his accuracy, arm strength, his deep ball and the offense's overall effectiveness (scoring touchdowns).

These next two games will be great tests for not only Bridgewater, but a young offense facing the Lions and Dolphins. Those are two good defensive units, and you want to see Bridgewater continue to perform at an effective level.

If the Vikings can somehow work out a pay cut with Adrian Peterson and he wants to remain in Minnesota, you keep him.

Those are two big unknowns though considering what's transpired this season, but it has to be enticing for Peterson to think about the Vikings' bright future with some of the young talent they can build off in the coming years. Does he have the patience with sun setting on his career in the next few years, though, is another perspective Peterson must consider.

The issue even before Peterson went through his trial was he'd turn 30 during the offseason and still remain as the only running back receiving over 10 million (11.7 million in base salary). Peterson has basically taken a year off, which could be a good thing, but even at 30, he'd still be one of the best backs in the league. Peterson would take a load off this young offense, including Bridgewater and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.

If the Vikings can tweak his salary and Peterson still wants to play here, I'd consider that a big "addition" for the Vikings in the offseason.

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He's still under construction and developing as an NFL offensive guard. The rookie has been inactive all season working on his strength, technique and understanding of the position as the Vikings ease him along.

If you can recall during the preseason, Yankey struggled at guard. The last thing you want to do is roll out a guy having a hard time with second and third string defensive linemen to block for your rookie quarterback. Charlie Johnson has been sub-par at left guard once again, so the Vikings won't lose much with sticking Vladimir Ducasse in Johnson's place if he can't play. The concern with Yankey though is he won't be able to hold his own at left guard, like he couldn't during the preseason. It's too much of a risk to try even with three games remaining, I think.