Vikings 2017 draft prospect spotlight: Indiana OG Dan Feeney

Could the durable Indiana guard fill a big hole up front for the Minnesota Vikings offensive line?

Consistency, this is the one word that describes former Indiana guard Dan Feeney.  A two-time team captain for the Indiana Hoosiers, Feeney has proven his worth while in Bloomington. Playing in 46 career games, 41 at right guard and five at right tackle.

At 6-foot-3, 305 pounds, what stands out about Feeney is his power, footwork and awareness. Rarely caught out of position, he is a lineman where a defensive front or structure rarely confuses him. Considering that he has played in 46 career games, you see on film that Feeney is helping identify defensive fronts.

His awareness and ability to direct traffic is why many argue that he is best suited as an NFL center, similar to Chicago Bears 2016 second-round selection Cody Whitehair. I don’t think that move is necessary because Feeney has shown that he is most comfortable at guard, but there is no denying that his traits translate well to becoming an NFL starting center.

The one aspect I love the most about Feeney is his ability to play in space. Many NFL guards aren’t able to consistently pull and block defenders on the perimeter, but the two-time All-American shows that he is fully comfortable with moving under control in space.

With NFL offenses becoming more up-tempo, it is vital that offensive lineman are able to move in space. Many teams are moving away from the body structure of guards in the late 1990s and early 2000s who were known strictly as “road graders”.

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The elephant in the room and biggest weakness surrounding Feeney though is his high number of concussions. There is not an exact number of concussions he has suffered throughout his career, but he did miss six games in 2016.

With the rising concern about concussions, and the NFL implementing a strict concussion protocol for players and team doctors, Feeney’s concussion issues could scare some teams away from drafting him.

Feeney is one of those offensive lineman that is going to be a starter at right guard for a franchise for 10 to 12 years. His consistency, awareness and leadership throughout his collegiate career is unheralded.