The former Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle gives his opinion on T.J. Clemmings and describes some factors that will be key to the team’s offensive line success this year.
On Sunday, we published part one of our interview with former Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Todd Steussie and he discussed some of the things that went on during his career with the team. For this part, Steussie offered his opinions on subjects that were more related to the Vikings’ current group of offensive linemen.
Minnesota’s former Pro Bowl left tackle discussed some possible options to help T.J. Clemmings turn his career around, what rookie center Pat Elflein may expect during his first season in the NFL, and what one of the biggest keys is for a team to have a successful offensive line.
The Viking Age: Current Vikings offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings has received a ton of criticism for his struggles during his first two seasons with the team. What do you think may be the best solution to help him improve or is it already too late to save him?
Todd Steussie: No, I don’t ever think it’s too late, (especially) If you’re willing and you’re not somehow, broken or damaged goods. (25-years-old) is far from too late.
For some people, you’re very rigid in your ability to change and (you) think of yourself in one way and you’re never able to get out of that box that you’ve created for yourself. For other people, it’s like reinvention happens everyday.
I just don’t know him to say what kind of person he is, but tell him to give me a call, I’d be happy to talk to him. (The NFL is) an amazing opportunity and it would be horrible to think that he’s looking at it like, “I can’t,” or, “I don’t know how to,” because that’s certainly far from the case.
It’s just whether or not you’re willing to consider the idea that, “you know what, I need to change to be able to get past this.” And then once you start to believe in yourself and get a little bit of success, it really can snowball.
At one point in his life he was confident and now he’s not. How do you get back on that horse and figure out how to beg, borrow, (and) steal to get to the point where you’re back feeling like (that again)?
TVA: Would it be best for Clemmings if the Vikings strictly kept him at just one position rather than have him constantly switching from one side of the line to the other?
TS: There’s some people that are super athletes and can just do it and they have amazing footwork. I’ve watched Vikings games over the last couple years, he doesn’t have Tony Boselli feet or something like that, (but) I didn’t either. He probably has closer to Todd Steussie feet.
I look at playing line as almost like a craft, like an electrician. You learn the skill set, then it’s about replicating it and hopefully making fewer errors. I think if sticking to one position, (the Vikings should) figure out where he feels comfortable and what his best attributes are. Then how do we wind up making him successful?
“You need everyone to react the same way to the same stimulus. It can’t be where three guys do one thing and two do the other. That’s where you get the free rusher up the middle and your quarterback is picking up his teeth out of the carpet.”
(In 2001) Leonard Davis was drafted so high (by the Arizona Cardinals), they assumed he had to play left tackle. (But) he was not good at left tackle. I mean in the run game he was adequate, but it was not his stellar position. But when you put him at guard, the man was a road breaker. He could move people and he was a Pro Bowl guard.
Unfortunately, he spent six years at left tackle kind of struggling. (The Cardinals) were trying to make him be something that he wasn’t, because they made the mistake of maybe picking him too high because you don’t normally pick guards (with) the second pick of the draft.
TVA: So perhaps a position switch for Clemmings then?
TS: I’m not a Vikings evaluator, but I would look at his hands. Like what is his dominant hand? What is his ability to hand replace? How good is he at left tackle or right tackle on (blocking) inside moves?
Based on those kinds of criteria, I’d say, “okay, now where is he best suited to be successful?” And then let’s put him there, unless for some reason there’s just a conflict based on what players you have available. (Like if) you have a 10-year all-pro at that position. I mean I don’t care how well I was suited to play left guard, I wasn’t going to be moving in front of (former Vikings left guard) Randall McDaniel. But I don’t think that’s the Vikings’ problem right now.
So figure out where he can be successful and then put him there and give him every opportunity to be successful. And then you know what, let him prove it. If he washes out, then you know what, (the Vikings) did everything (they) could. If he thrives because he’s given the opportunity to thrive, then the Vikings win and he wins.
TVA: As a rookie with the Vikings in 1994, you started all 16 games that season as the team’s left tackle. This year, rookie center Pat Elflein is projected to be a starter by some on Minnesota’s line. What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome when making the transition from college to the NFL?
TS: Johnny Randle.
Seriously, the Vikings decided that they were going to move me inside to make the transition easier. So for the beginning of training camp (in 1994), I was second-string right guard on the line and at training camp you tend to matchup first-team against second-team. So who do you think I saw all the time? Johnny Randle.
Johhny’s a rolling ball of butcher knives. I wasn’t just unsuccessful, I don’t think I could tell you what his jersey felt like. It was awful. I heard the rumblings of my teammates literally saying, “we drafted this guy in the first round?” That’s no exaggeration, I heard it. And rightfully so.
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So it was (former Vikings offensive line coach) Keith Rowen that decided, “you know what, we’re going to try and do a do-over here. We’re going to put you in at a position you will feel more comfortable at. We’re going to put you out at left tackle and let you just go play.”
I remember we were playing Seattle (in the preseason) up at the Kingdome and I went up there and played well and (the Vikings) were like, “(okay) we’ll give it another try and we’ll put you there next week.” Then basically (after) three preseason games, I was told that I was going to be the starting left tackle for the opening game in Green Bay.
TVA: What are some possible things that Elflein can expect during his rookie season with the Vikings this year?
TS: A little bit of humility. The great thing about a center is that you have the ability to execute on a couple different levels. It is more cerebral (and) for some people that’s an added responsibility that makes it more difficult. But in some ways it’s also another way to contribute. (Like) if you’re physically not doing as well (but) you have the line in the right position by making the right line calls and stuff, you’re bringing value to the table like that.
The other thing is, you make the line calls. I used to give (former Vikings center Jeff Christy) grief all the time because he made all the line calls (and) he was never singled up. He never was one-on-one against anybody. He always had the double team with him.
When you’re the center you can make those judgement calls so (Elflein) can help himself out a little bit if he wants.
TVA: The Vikings are hoping with their new additions this offseason that their offensive line will be much improved from a year ago. But what do you think is one of the most important factors is for an offensive line to have success?
TS: Time together is certainly a big piece. I know people say you’ve got to go out and have meals together and stuff. It’s nice to like each other but it’s not necessary to like each other. The biggest thing is reps, reps, reps and guys that take their job seriously.
The hardest thing about offensive line is being on the road and you wind up kind of hearing what the center calls right before the snap. You need everyone to react the same way to the same stimulus. It can’t be where three guys do one thing and two do the other. That’s where you get the free rusher up the middle and your quarterback is picking up his teeth out of the carpet.
Next: Interview with Todd Steussie - Part I
I don’t know the magic sauce to accelerate it, except for my experience in Carolina with the offensive line that we put together. (In 2001) we went 1-15, but we set a record for fewest sacks per pass and the number one reason was really the fact that the guys we had in the room were all kind of students of the game, watching film, putting in the extra time. That’s something that can accelerate the rate of cohesiveness and so anything the Vikings can do to build that kind of rapport, I encourage it.