Photo By Brian Curski
Written By Chris Schad
This is the fourth installment of a seven-part series detailing the current state of the Vikings heading into the offseason. Here are the previous installments.
Part 1: Quarterbacks
Part 2: Running Backs
Part 3: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
There were plenty of reasons to get excited about the Minnesota Vikings offense heading into the 2014 season, but the one that generated the least amount of press was the offensive line. With dual Pro Bowl tackles, one of the best centers in the game and an emerging right guard, there would be plenty of time to execute Norv Turner’s vertical offense and plenty of holes to run through.
By the end of the season, plenty of articles were being written about the offensive line — and not the good kind.
The unit suffered several injuries and LT Matt Kalil continued to regress in 2014, leading the team to allow the fifth-most sacks in the league. The passing offense struggled and the rushing offense couldn’t duplicate the success they had in recent years. (Of course, that had to do with the absence of a certain All-Pro running back, too.)
As the Vikings head into the offseason, they’ll need the offensive line to get healthy while making a decision on who will protect the blindside for Teddy Bridgewater in 2015 and the distant future.
How the Vikings Envisioned 2014
The Vikings thought offensive line was a strength during training camp. Kalil was expected to rebound from a sophomore slump and the rest of the offensive line continued to be locked up with long-term deals as the team signed Brandon Fusco to a lucrative 5-year, $25 million contract extension.
How 2014 Turned Out
The offensive line was a mess all season long due to injuries. Brandon Fusco was the first to fall with a torn pectoral after the Week 3 loss at New Orleans. Then, Phil Loadholt suffered the same injury after a Week 12 loss to Green Bay. Meanwhile, Charlie Johnson was ineffective, and John Sullivan quietly did the best he could. Rookie David Yankey from Stanford was a huge disappointment as he was kept off the 46-man active roster for all but one game.
However, the biggest story on the line was the fall of Kalil. The former fourth overall pick led the league in quarterback pressures allowed according to Pro Football Focus and saw his overall grade drop for the second straight season to a mind-blowing -29.1 (81st among 84 qualifiers). With no resistance from the blind side, Turner’s offense finished 20th in total yardage.
The Current Situation
The Vikings currently have four of their five starters across the line locked into long-term deals. This offseason, the team will have to decide if they want to exercise a fifth-year option on Kalil.
Offensive line is one of the few positions on the team where the Vikings have some notable free-agents with Vladimir Ducasse, who filled a utility role on the team before Fusco went down, and Joe Berger hitting the open market. Neither are headline-grabbing names but provide solid depth in case a repeat health crisis emerges in 2015.
Offseason Plan & Targets
The offensive line gameplan hinges around the fate of Kalil. If the Vikings believe that the past two years have been due to health (he underwent knee surgery last offseason), the team will likely give him a final shot in 2015. If not, the team has to make a contingency plan.
That’s why the best plan of attack would be to select an offensive lineman in the draft that can play guard or tackle. This way, the Vikings could fill their void at left guard while giving Kalil his final opportunity to seize the left tackle position. If he fails, they can slide their rookie over and let him walk out the door next January.
There are a couple of top prospects who could fill this description as Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley and Iowa’s Brandon Scherff have experience playing guard. If the Vikings decide Kalil needs to be replaced, they could also go for Stanford’s Andrus Peat or Miami’s Ereck Flowers.
The line needs a couple tweaks, but if the Vikings can return to health, they could win more battles in the trenches next season.