Minnesota Vikings: 5 biggest issues right now

Sep 29, 2013; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) during the NFL International Series game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Martin-USA TODAY Sports

1. Running game

The Vikings’ running game looks like it’s producing well if you just pay attention to the surface stats, but peek underneath and you realize there are some problems here.

The main issue right now for the Vikings’ run game is negative plays.

The offensive line has not been blocking all that well for Adrian Peterson and the running back has had trouble finding holes.

In some situations, Peterson tries too hard to make something out of nothing and winds up going backward.

Those negative plays need to be eliminated, as Mike Zimmer knows only too well.

Part of eliminating the backward plays is getting better work from the offensive line but part of it is making sure Peterson doesn’t get too flustered.

Thankfully, Mike Zimmer has taken a master class in the Psychology of Adrian Peterson and has the whole thing down pat (via Minneapolis StarTribune):

"“I think he gets frustrated at times,” Zimmer said of Peterson. “Part of it is making sure that we don’t allow people to run through and then part of it is, if it’s not there let’s take what we can get, but let’s not lose. And he does get frustrated at times, I see him on the sideline and talk to him a little bit, I said, ‘just stick with it, you’re going to pop one here.’"

Zimmer’s handling of Peterson’s psyche paid off with a huge 75-yard run against the Lions (that sadly did not lead to a touchdown).

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to ignore the handful of negative runs Peterson also had against Detroit.

Sooner or later the run game will need to find more consistency.

Next: Harrison Smith and...