Adrian Peterson is the name of the game.
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“Well, it’s hard when you’re struggling to run the ball, which we have the last couple of years, to really get into any kind of rhythm for the quarterback, any kind of rhythm for the offense, and really, if you’re a play caller, it’s tough to call plays if you can’t run the football”, Titans new head coach Mike Mularkey said of adding his team’s beefed up running game. Mariota doesn’t throw many interceptions and the running game will be effective and control the ball. And that speaks volumes about the performance. That means good efforts to contain the edges from the outside linebackers and safeties, as well as a killer game from Avery Williamson and co. “And we tried to move on from there”. Minnesota bounced back and finished season 11-5, winning the NFC North in the process. Alex Boone joined from San Francisco and will start at left guard. Goff will not dress in the Rams’ season opener and Lynch is the backup to Trevor Siemian, who had a solid performance in the Broncos’ opening-night win over Carolina.
The Vikings will not officially announce their starter prior to kickoff against the Tennessee Titans.
“I’ll guess we’ll find out Sunday”, Zimmer said, via the Vikings’ team website.
While Andrews is still on the team, all three of the other running backs are gone.
As for Bridgewater, he’s expected back in Minnesota in about a week. Henry should play every third series, and likely later in the game if Titans can earn a lead. He was listed as questionable to play the Titans along with wide receiver Charles Johnson (quadriceps), but Zimmer said McKinnon should be “fine” for Sunday. “I just think he gives them a very good chance”.
Zimmer and the Vikings believe they can still achieve goals that were in place before Bridgewater went down.
As for the numbers he can put up this season, they won’t be eye-popping because of the offense.
The biggest question heading into this game against the Tennessee Titans was the starting quarterback.
“He’s had to learn a number of offenses in the past few years, and he’s picking it up extremely quickly”, assistant coach Pat Shurmur said.
“I don’t know all the fancy words”. “Tennessee is a multiple-look defense; they give you a lot of different looks”. It is going to be smashmouth football at it’s finest, and as you said, the game could be over in well under 3 hours. “Most teams are pretty resilient, we understand things happen throughout the course of the season”.
“For me it’s been a long time coming, with OTAs, training camp and then you’ve got four weeks of preseason”.
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That confidence could be key with the home opener against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. ABOUT THE TITANS (2015: 3-13, fourth place in AFC South): Tennessee hopes its running game is one with which to reckon with the additions of Murray and 2016 second-round pick Derrick Henry, who captured the Heisman Trophy a year ago after rushing for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns – both SEC records – in his junior season at Alabama. Considering the Titans gave up the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends previous year, you could do worse than Rudolph for a streaming option.
