It Turns Out Kevin O’Connell Didn’t Lie
The Minnesota Vikings have made sure to address the team’s weaknesses this offseason, in particular the trenches that have been bothering Skol Nation for years. And after watching the front office waste one offseason after another without taking action, it was easy for Vikings fans to expect minimal changes at best.
It Turns Out Kevin O’Connell Didn’t Lie
Well, not this time, and it suggests that just reaching the playoffs isn’t good enough for this regime. Every casual fan knows playoff games are won in the trenches, and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell have realized that, too.
Failing to protect a ghost-seeing Sam Darnold in the playoff loss while also failing to get to Matthew Stafford with only four rushers certainly played a significant role in the one-and-done playoff journey.
Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen were signed in free agency. The two former Pro Bowlers aren’t the youngest anymore, but they can still do the job for a couple of years. Even more drastic was the change along the offensive line, and O’Connell teased it after that playoff defeat.
He stepped in front of the media just minutes after a miraculous season went up in smoke and was asked about the pass protection that got blown up by the Rams and their young and hungry defensive line. His answer put the interior linemen on notice.
“There’s no question we’ve got to find a way to be able to give a quarterback [time], especially with players like Justin (Jefferson), Jordan (Addison), T.J. (Hockenson), we’ve got to find a way to solidify just the interior of the pocket.”
“There can be a thousand excuses made, whether it’s losing [Christian Darrisaw], or even midway through the game losing [Brian O’Neill] tonight, but for me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at. I think those guys battled, that’s a good, young, fast, athletic front, but really when you look at it over the course of the entirety of the season, we lost to two football teams and both of them were able to do some similar things against us.”
Last season, the Vikings started Garrett Bradbury at center, Blake Brandel at left guard, and Ed Ingram or Dalton Risner at right guard. Of those four, only Brandel is remaining on the roster.
Center Ryan Kelly was hired in free agency. He is nearing retirement, and injuries have piled up, but the Vikings take the bet that he can stay healthy and efficient for a couple of years. A few days after his arrival, the front office said goodbye to Bradbury, who has since signed with the Patriots.
Kelly’s teammate Will Fries was signed as well. He received a huge five-year deal and is supposed to be an anchor on that line for years to come. After he joined, the Vikings shipped Ed Ingram to Houston for a sixth-round pick. Risner is still a free agent.
Entering the draft, of that “foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at,” only Brandel was still in the starting lineup. But not for long, as the franchise invested the 24th overall pick to acquire Donovan Jackson. He’s the first guard the Vikings selected in the first round since 1988.
The three-year starter at Ohio State should challenge Brandel early in his career.
It’s rare for a head coach to be this clear about what he wants to be addressed in the offseason. And it’s just as rare to see the team actually take action to this extent. Rather than signing an average guard and drafting a center in the mid-rounds, they went all-in, signing a pair of expensive starters and using the first-rounder to strengthen the line. An improved offensive line can be a game-changer, and the Vikings hope to get that effect from their pricey unit.
The new group will be on the field together for the first time next week when the veterans and the rookies meet for offseason workouts.
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