![]() Some of those players worked out in Harris, Berger and Easton. Multiple players were called to starting duty having never in their career been asked to start. Nearly every year someone was asked to change positions. Some processes that repeated over the years: Even with an emphasis on run blocking, guards ranked in the top 20 only three times Eight of 12 guard seasons ranked at least 40th in pass blocking grade One player ranked in the top 15 overall by Pro Football Focus in one season (Joe Berger, 2017). The overall results of the Vikings’ guard play from 2015-2020 are as follows: Let’s have a look at the guards’ performances through the years and how the Vikings chose players to fill those positions to see if we can discern why things have not gone their way and what they can learn from the past… So what’s causing the never-ending game of musical chairs on the interior of the offensive line? Have they just gotten bad breaks? Made bad decisions? Been forced to invest less because of cap issues? Or is it a combination of everything? From injuries to draft picks and/or signings going bust, things haven’t gone their way. In other words: They’ll need a stroke of good luck.īut recent years have not provided the Vikings with many good fortunes at guard. While next season’s offensive line still has a chance to improve in the coming weeks, it appears that leveling up by huge strides would take either a savvy signing or home run draft pick. Last year Aviante Collins and Dakota Dozier battled for left guard throughout the summer and in 2017 the opening day O-line didn’t play a single preseason together. On many occasions the O-line shuffling has come down to the final days of training camp. Brandon Fusco from 2015 to 2016 is the only individual player to have played the most snaps at a guard spot for two seasons in a row and he was still moved from left to right guard in 2016. Next year will mark the sixth straight season with a new pair of guards. The lack of continuity up front has been remarkably consistent. Each year has featured uncertainty about which positions linemen will be playing, which bargain free agents will compete for jobs and whether someone in the draft can make a difference. You could have written some form of the previous three paragraphs every offseason of the Mike Zimmer era. ![]() and NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein have tabbed them linemen with the 14th overall pick. Without a big score in free agency, mock drafters everywhere are bumping O-line up their lists for the Vikings in the first round. Signing someone like remaining free agents Forrest Lamp or Austin Blythe should not preclude them from addressing the trenches in the draft. on the market), the Vikings will need to go hunting in the coming days for at least one free agent linemen. Will they move second-round pick Ezra Cleveland to left tackle or leave him at guard? Will Rashod Hill get a shot as a starter? Can they find a quality starter in the free agent bargain bin?īarring a trade that lands them a star lineman (which isn’t impossible with Orlando Brown Jr. ![]() All rights reserved.The Minnesota Vikings find themselves in a familiar place along the offensive line this offseason.įollowing the signings of star defensive players Dalvin Tomlinson and Patrick Peterson, they are short on the cap space and options to vastly improve a group up front that ranked 29th by Pro Football Focus in pass blocking and 18th in run blocking in 2020.Įven if they create more cap space, numerous other free agent linemen have already landed elsewhere, leaving a bevy of questions about how their positions of need will be filled. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information / Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to you. ![]() ^ Back to Top ^ © 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser ![]()
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