Garrett Bradbury – Who is Heavier and More Focused – Looking to Have a Strong 2022
K. Joudry
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I’ve been among those who have voiced concerns about Garrett Bradbury.
The 2019 first-round pick has mostly been a disappointment in his three seasons. For the most part, his spot in the lineup has been unopposed, but an absence last season opened the door for Mason Cole, who stole away the starting spot. Were it not for Cole needing to miss time, Bradbury may not have gotten back in as the C1.
During the offseason, Cole signed elsewhere and Minnesota hasn’t done much to address the center depth. The plan certainly appears to be for Bradbury to return as the starter.
Chris Tomasson reports that the veteran center is mostly focusing on performing well in his fourth season: “It’s kind of cliché but you control what you can control. I’ve got this 4th year and I’m excited with these new coaches and lot of familiar teammates to go out and have a good year & help the Vikings win a lot of games.”
Chris Kuper, Minnesota’s OL coach, is expressing some positivity for Bradbury:
The decision to allow Bradbury to take all the reps with the first time suggests that the job is his to lose. All kinds of Vikings fans and writers have expressed a desire for the team to sign FA J.C. Tretter. So far, that hasn’t happened. Unless Minnesota chooses to circle back to Tretter, Bradbury is the clear frontrunner at center. The only other option would be to pull off a trade.
Since coming into the NFL, Garrett Bradbury has finished 28th, 25th, and 29th in the PFF center rankings. His pass blocking is the main issue; he struggles to corral really powerful DTs. He was called for four holding penalties last season, suggesting he got out of position on his blocks at various points. Where he has more success is with reach blocks, getting out in screens, and climbing to the second level. His athleticism isn’t in question.
The goal, then, is to help raise Bradbury’s floor in pass protection. Avoiding consistent issues with the bull rush could really make life easier for Kirk Cousins. When a center gets blown up, the QB will struggle to step up into the pocket to complete the throw. Being able to stand one’s ground is thus vitally important. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill ought to provide good protection from the tackle positions. Ezra Cleveland and Chris Reed will be an average to above-average pair of guards. Bradbury is perhaps the main wild card.
The Vikings’ skill positions are among the very best in the NFL. The QB has his faults, but he’s a good player who is a large step beyond average. Several of the young offensive linemen will be strong. The point, folks, is that the offense doesn’t appear to have too many weaknesses. If some increased focus and weight helps Bradbury, then Minnesota could very reasonably have a top 5 offense.
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