In the press box for Vikings-Chargers. Usually I try to key on a player or a topic early in the game, so I'm not just following the football. I try to see something that might not be obvious on TV, like whether Charles Johnson is creating space off the line off scrimmage, or what the free safety seems to be keying on.
Today, I'm looking at something far less subtle. I've read a lot of statistical analysis this week about the Vikings' formations, and this is how it boils down: Teddy Bridgewater is much better passing out of the shotgun than on play-action plays from under center, and Adrian Peterson is a much better runner when Bridgewater is under center.
They've only played two games together, ,and they produced a lot of yards and touchdowns in the second, so this isn't yet a crisis or a problem. It's just something to watch.
Bridgewater likes playing like a modern quarterback who can take a snap and be ready to throw quickly. Peterson plays like an old-school running back who wants to take a handoff deep in the backfield, while building speed toward the line of scrimmage.
Let's see which formations benefit either or both today, as I expect Peterson to be able to run well against a weak Chargers' front seven.
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Great pregame read from our Mark Craig on Peterson's big day against another Chargers team: http://tinyurl.com/psfrvbx
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