Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line: Plenty Of Competition

The Minnesota Vikings came into the 2014 season with an offensive line that was filled with so much potential. It was just 2012 that the entire line played all 16 games and was also the line that paved the way for Adrian Peterson’s 2097 yards.

The word “injury” was a major part of 2014 for the O-Line as Brandon Fusco was injured on September 21^st and put on IR on the 24^th ending his season.

Phil Loadholt was injured in week 12 and his season was halted. The right side of the line was gone after so much hope. The Vikings had within the last year signed both men to extensions.

Matt Kalil had a rough year at left tackle as well as now departed left guard, Charlie Johnson. Center John Sullivan was the survivor as he started all 16 and his play earned him an extension in the offseason.

2014 is now over and so now begins a huge chance for Loadholt, Fusco and Kalil to look for bounce back years.

The upcoming season is the first season since 2012 that there is an opening in the offensive line with the departure of Charlie Johnson.

Minnesota had a very successful draft in terms of draft experts who gave the Vikings anywhere from an A to somewhere in the B range.

The Vikings added a big man from Poland named Babatunda Aiyegbusi who literally is big measuring at 6’9” and weighs 351 pounds. He will be a project with this the first year in the NFL but if Coach Davidson can help him this team will have one mammoth man to use at guard.

The draft gave Minnesota 3 more men to fight for positions as T.J. Clemmings came in the 4^th round. It has been said T.J. just may be the steal of the draft as he was projected to be a high pick but a mysterious foot injury dropped him into the Vikings laps

I read Monday Coach Zimmer had mentioned trying Brandon Fusco at left guard and inserting T.J. Clemmings into the right guard slot. T.J. is 6’5” and weighs 309 while Fusco is 6’4” and 306.

The other 2 names that will compete for spots on the line are Tyrus Thompson drafted in the 6^th round is 6’5” and weighs 324 while coming in the 7^th round was Austin Shepherd, 6’4” and 315.

Joe Berger is another name that could find him at the guard position. Joe got a lot of playing time last season with all the injuries. Berger, 6”5” and weighs 305, is in his 11^th year so a great asset to have with all his years in the league.

Mike Harris in his 4^th year plays tackle and filled in for Loadholt when he went out for the year. Harris provides nice familiarity with the offensive line protection.

David Yankey was drafted in 2014 out of Stanford University but did not get in one game last season. Davis will be the once guy to watch this camp and see how he does against the new guys on the roster. Yankey, 6’6” and weighs 315 plays guard.

The Vikings signed off the 49ers practice squad last December 10th a player named, Carter Bykowski who will be in his 2^nd year in the league. One fun fact about Carter is he played his high school ball at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota and his coach was Mike Grant, son of former Vikings Head Coach, Bud Grant.

The Vikes will have rookie free agents is camp as well but I wanted to highlight the name players I think will make the biggest fight to make the roster.

Which 2015 draft choice makes the squad? Will one of them land a starting spot? So many questions and only time will tell in Mankato when we find out more.

The line seems to get bigger each year with guys 6’5 or bigger. The big question for now for me is can the guys that ended the year on IR make an impact right away.

I love what Rick Spielman and Coach Zimmer are doing by creating competition in each unit of the team and the offensive line is no different.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

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