Can Minnesota Keep Hiding Their Soft Middle?
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings enter Week 5 with an offense that has been prolific at times and capable of sustaining long drives. This has resulted in them being fourth in points per game (29.0), ninth in third-down conversion rate (43.5%), and eighth in red zone touchdown efficiency (66.7%). Sam Darnold currently leads the league in touchdown passes with 11.
Their offensive efficiency is a core reason why they have started the season with a 4-0 record. When you peel back the onion though, there are still deficiencies with the interior of the offensive line. For now, Darnold’s decision-making and mobility is covering this weakness, but if the QB’s play slips, these flaws could stop making this offense look like a well-oiled machine.
The Vikings offensive line, as a unit, ranked in the top-10 last season and returned four starters this season in left tackle Christian Darrisaw, center Garrett Bradbury, right guard Ed Ingram, and right tackle Brian O’Neill. Blake Brandel re-signed in the offseason to a three-year, $9.4 million contract to be the front runner for the starting left guard spot which he won during training camp. After Week 4, he is rewarding the Vikings with a 68.1 PFF grade that ranks 57th out of 149 guards who have played at least 150 snaps. It’s an upgrade over Dalton Risner (currently on IR), who posted a pedestrian 57.1 grade last season.
One would think the line got stronger with the addition of Brandel to the starting unit, but the Vikings’ headache continues. Now the concerns are with the right side of the interior, with Bradbury and Ingram. More specifically, the issue is with their pass-blocking.
There is a growing trend with more NFL teams valuing “pressures” over sacks. Whether or not a pressure results in a sack, pressures are disruptive by nature. Pressures interrupt timing, causing bad reads and rushed throws that are much more likely to lead to turnovers.
Bradbury and Ingram each have allowed twelve pressures which is tied for the NFL’s 14th-most, and Bradbury is the second-worst center in the league in pressure rate. An average PFF pass-blocking grade is around 60, and Ingram (37.9) and Bradbury (44.3) have both been brutal. They rank 146th and 138th, respectively, out of a possible 149 players with at least 150 snaps.
Observers ding Ingram with having “tight hips” that prevent getting the desired lift into his blocks and having hands that slide off blocks too easily – weaknesses that make him especially prone to pass protection woes. He got beat in back-to-back weeks by the Houston Texans’ Tim Settle Jr. and the San Francisco 49ers’ Malik Collins, with simple push-over swipes that profile his weaknesses on blocks.
#Texans Tim Settle Jr. beats #Vikings Ed Ingram with the same move this week to sack Darnold. @NickOlsonNFL @Nate_Tice https://t.co/kjM72O3Y5H pic.twitter.com/tEi1FJUaI9
— NFL Shock (@NFLShock) September 26, 2024
To Ingram’s left is Bradbury. On both plays, the center quickly engages to support left guard Blake Brandel instead of taking a couple of steps back to first diagnose where the pressure is coming from. And on each of these plays, the defensive tackle shoots up the “A Gap” by Ingram to take a run at Darnold. Bradbury needed to show better awareness in support, in sliding his blocking protection with the knowledge that Ingram is on an island in a one-on-one matchup.
The Vikings have played tough defensive fronts in each of their first four games, and a lot of credit needs to go to Darnold’s mobility and quick passing, which lets him do more with less protection than Minnesota QBs enjoyed last season. Before Week 4’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Darnold had completed 80% of his passes and 13.5 yards per attempt while under pressure, with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions for a PERFECT passer rating of 158.3.
This week the Vikings face off against the New York Jets in London. Defensive tackles Quillian Williams and Javon Kinlaw are going to be another tough test for the interior line. If we’re looking for silver linings, though, we should note that both Ingram (68.3) and Bradbury (57.2) had respectable pass-blocking grades against a tough defensive line against the Packers last week.
Kevin O’Connell and staff may need to counter with more max protection, or 12 personnel sets (1 RB, 2 TE). Tight end Josh Oliver is a proficient pass blocker that allows the line to employ sliding protections, based on the defensive formations they’re facing. The Vikings have run 12 personnel on 20.4% of their plays and their expected points per average (EPA) ranks second in the league, so they have been extremely successful when running this heavy formation.
Luckily, the offensive line features two bookend tackles in Darrisaw and O’Neill, who are both strong in pass protection, to go along with the steady play from Brandel (71.9 PFF pass-blocking grade). However, the fastest path to the quarterback is up the middle, so the Vikings must hope Bradbury and Ingram can continue to build on their solid games last week and be more consistent against pass rushers.
The Vikings are moving in the right direction, thanks to the play of Darnold and their stout defense. The recent return of Jordan Addison and the pending return of T.J. Hockenson can push this team to even greater heights. But if Darnold is to continue to captain this ship down the Mississippi in the hopes of arriving at New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX, the offensive line must be as sturdy as possible. As smooth as the ride has gone so far, one too many leaks can sink this team.
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