Field Position

When I was first learning about the great game of football my father would always stress the importance of field position. He would always say that teams are in pretty good shape if they can start each possession at the 20-yard line or better. He'd add that the offense was successful if they could convert at least one first down. Scoring wasn't all important but moving the ball, gaining some field position was. Of course, the optimum would be for each drive to end with a touchdown but that's not realistic. A first down or two can do the job and eventually lead to something good. Announcers routinely mention that a team is winning the field position battle but in the wide open, passing of today's NFL we are always hung up on scoring. We often ignore the importance of field position. I know that I do.

The Minnesota Vikings offense has struggled recently. There are many reasons for that.  So many have beaten to death all those reasons. Few have touched on the issue of the Vikings' field position. They should because it has most certainly played a role. The Vikings have started way too many drives in the shadow of their own goal posts. The offensive play book is greatly reduced when they are backed up like that. The risks are too great to stretch the field. It's great that the Vikings have Adrian Peterson to run the ball out of there. The downside is that the defense knows that the Vikings have Adrian Peterson to run the ball out of there. They stack the line of scrimmage with confidence that the run is the call. Sometimes they have gotten the ball out of that precarious position. Too often they haven't. Even a good punt will put the opponent around midfield. From there they only have to work with half field. If the Vikings defense stands up and forces a punt their offense is likely pinned deep again. It's a very unfortunate cycle that is tough to break. This past Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a perfect example of this. In the first half the Vikings kept going three and out from deep in their own territory. The Buccaneers kept starting drives at midfield or better. It was brutal to watch. Of course, the best way to flip the field position battle is to move the ball. With the Vikings recent issues on offense that's been easier said than done.  When the playbook is limited because of field position a struggling offense struggles even more.

The Vikings have to fix this field position problem. They can do this with the return game or turnovers. Both would greatly help that struggling offense. Most importantly they have to string together some first downs. Christian Ponder with a full playbook at his disposal would make for a more confident and comfortable quarterback. The offense would immediately become more successful.