Stock Down: The Offensive Line
Which offensive lineman saw his stock fall during Sunday’s game?
All of them.
Even though the offensive line didn’t give up a sack against the Titans, Shaun Hill was constantly under pressure. The Vikings were able to get away with it because of who the opponent was, but when they play teams with better defenses there will be issues.
While the pass blocking was suspect, it was the run blocking that really hurt Minnesota. The offensive line was unable to open any creases for Adrian Peterson to run through, which is why Peterson finished with only 31 yards on 19 carries. The paltry 1.6 yards per carry is the fourth worst mark in Peterson’s career (126 games).
The Titans were a top 10 team against the run last season, allowing only 3.9 yards per carry. However, the Vikings will need to play much better on the ground if they want to be considered a playoff team this year. With Bridgewater lost for the season, it’s up to the defense and running came to carry the team. Even though it’s only been one game, it’s clear the team has a lot of work to do.
Next: Stock up for defensive linemen