Ed Ingram Still Has a Lot to Prove, but Blake Brandel Proves His Value
K. Joudry
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When the offense is trotting out all backups, the lone starter really stands out.
Ed Ingram, someone who played every snap last season, got the start. He formed an o-line fivesome that consisted of (from left to right) Vederian Lowe, Blake Brandel, Austin Schlottmann, himself, and Oli Udoh. Prior to the game, the Vikings’ unofficial depth chart listed Brandel as the RG2, so seeing him flip into the LG spot tells us an awful lot.
Yes, the backup offensive tackle is capable of playing guard in a pinch, meaning he’s someone whom Kevin O’Connell can turn to in order to fill in at four of the five spots along the offensive line. Brandel is providing that kind of assurance for just a $940,000 cap charge.
Ed Ingram, Blake Brandel, and The OL Puzzle
Meanwhile, Ingram has been given a warning. The sophomore needs to improve his play in a hurry or risk being replaced in the starting lineup. If the coaching staff was 100% locked-in on Ingram as the RG1, then he’s very unlikely to have been given the start.
Last week, the Vikings raised some eyebrows by bringing free agent guard Dalton Risner in for a visit. A left guard by trade, Risner may end up being a better option along the right side (assuming the price is right).
Of course, overreacting to a single preseason game would be foolish. The concern is simply that Ingram is coming off a concerning rookie season. He got dinged with allowing 11 sacks, 18 QB hits, and 58 pressures last season. Concerning numbers, to be sure. Kirk Cousins got hit far too often in O’Connell’s first season in Minnesota, so the skipper needs to ensure the protection takes a meaningful step forward in Year 2.
For whatever it’s worth, Ingram played left guard in college. Flipping sides as a rookie couldn’t have been easy, so the hope is that more reps will improve his play. Maybe the start was just another opportunity to pick up snaps.
In contrast to the discouraging Ingram news, the Brandel development is one that should inspire optimism among Vikings fans.
Brandel, a 6th-round selection from the 2020 NFL Draft, received praise for being technically sound coming out of college. Lance Zierlein had this to say: “Brandel is a durable blocker who lacks guard mass, but he works on the nuances of his position, which helps his cause. He understands angles and techniques but is an average athlete with below-average core power and play strength.”
Since entering the NFL, Brandel has picked up snaps at left tackle, a single snap at right guard, and then some snaps as a jumbo tight end. Being able to slot into so many different spots — even tight end — means the depth lineman is close to a lock to make the final roster. Maybe he’ll even push to become the RG1 before the regular season arrives. The injury to Chris Reed and Ingram growing pains mean the possibility is present.
Minnesota’s next game will take place on August 19th when the Titans visit U.S. Bank Stadium. Keep an eye on how Kevin O’Connell chooses to use his offensive linemen.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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