Kevin O’Connell Accepts Some Blame in “Random Left Arm Punch” from the Ed Ingram & Kirk Cousins Fumble
Kevin O’Connell and the rest of the coaching staff have done their best, but Ed Ingram has struggled since being a 2nd-round selection in 2022.
He transitioned from college left guard to NFL right guard, a move that’s not as easy at it sounds. The footwork is different, meaning the o-lineman is tasked with movements that won’t feel as natural. As we’ve discussed previously, Ingram struggled in pass protection. Per PFF, Ingram was responsible for 4 penalties, 11 sacks, 18 hits, and 58 pressures as a rookie.
Clearly, the lineman had some struggles, especially in pass protection. His run-blocking grade – 63.4 – was considerably better than his pass-blocking grade – 44.4.
During his Monday press conference, Kevin O’Connell offered some thoughts about the very peculiar play where Ed Ingram basically caused a strip/sack on his own QB:
Yeah, watching it, it’s a pretty darn random thing. Ed’s trying to make sure he gets going to try to gain back some leverage. Third and short, I think it was a third and a little less than two, we’re trying to get the ball in the perimeter and give Alex [Mattison] a chance there, and just sometimes things like that happen. We try to avoid it with technique and fundamentals, but Kirk did, we call it seating the ball, when he brings it in right away and as he goes to toss that thing just a random left arm punch there by our own, but that was a critical play and that’s kind of how the day went, and we’ve got to find a way.
Truthfully, I don’t know what else O’Connell is supposed to say.
A year after causing sacks by stepping on Kirk Cousins’ foot, Ingram begins his sophomore season by punching the ball out of his own QB’s hands. Not a great start to the year for the LSU alumnus. Where does he go from here?
Kevin O’Connell, Ed Ingram, and The Concern at RG
In recent months, Ed Ingram has been consistently praised.
Just last week, OC Wes Phillips suggested that the sophomore had an excellent offseason. Earlier in the offseason, Ingram himself expressed confidence about his game, claiming that his body is feeling good and that he’s feeling more comfortable in his role. The earliest moments of the 2023 season aren’t living up to the optimism, though.
The fine folks at PFF suggest that Ingram didn’t play particularly well in Week 1. The analytics website dings the sophomore with allowing a sack, a QB hit, and 4 pressures. There’s a penalty tossed on for good measure. Among guards in the NFL, Ingram ranks 49th out of 61 with a 46.2 grade.
Part of the issue for Minnesota is that they’re genuinely trying to compete in 2023. Yes, the defense is expected to have some growing pains, but the expectation is that the offense can be elite. A second year within O’Connell’s system is meant to push things to the next level, elevating a group that finished 8th in the NFL last season with a 24.9 points-per-game average.
Without better pass protection, the Vikings will fail to live up to their expectations.
While still reflecting on the strange fumble, O’Connell puts some of the blame on his shoulders given that he calls the plays: “that was truly something that you would love to have back, call a different play so that’s not a risk there, but I also do trust our guys that things like that won’t happen and that’s not changing based upon kind of a freak thing like that.”
It’s admirable of the head coach to absorb some of the responsibility, but trusting that an interior lineman won’t punch the ball out of the quarterback’s hands shouldn’t need to be part of his playcalling calculus.
The final chapter hasn’t been written for Ed Ingram. Still only 24, Ingram has the potential to keep making progress as he develops into long-term solution for the Vikings’ iOL.
The Vikings face a daunting task on Thursday since they’ll travel to Philadelphia to matchup with a ferocious Eagles defense. Minnesota’s offensive line will be a bit overmatched, so there’s no time like the present to take a huge leap forward.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and PFF helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.