Pro Football Focus ranks Vikings offensive line as one of NFL’s worst
By Chris Schad
The football analytics site Pro Football Focus has the Minnesota Vikings offensive line ranked as one of the worst in the NFL through three weeks.
Coming into the season, there was plenty to be concerned about regarding the offensive line of the Minnesota Vikings. There were several areas of uncertainty (left guard, right tackle) after injuries and position swaps (Mike Remmers) created holes and through three weeks of the regular season, those concerns have not dissolved.
Football analytics site Pro Football Focus is one of the sites that has seen the carnage the Vikings’ line has produced. In their latest NFL offensive line rankings (subscription required), they have the Vikings ranked 27th in the league ahead of only the Cincinnati Bengals, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Houston Texans, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Arizona Cardinals.
Squarely in PFF’s crosshairs has been the play of right tackle Rashod Hill (58.2) grade and recently acquired center Brett Jones. Mike Remmers has also been hit or miss at right guard with a grade of 60.6 and Riley Reiff is coming off a disastrous outing on Sunday where he allowed 12 quarterback pressures against Buffalo’s Jerry Hughes.
Strangely enough, the Vikings’ highest-rated member of the offensive line is Tom Compton. The left guard has been up and down this season but leads the unit with a grade of 77.4.
The good news is that there should be changes and reinforcements coming along the offensive line. Pat Elflein made his return against the Bills on Sunday and is expected to start at center against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. The Vikings could also see rookie Brian O’Neill crashing the lineup to replace Hill as he’s graded out as one of the league’s highest-rated rookie offensive linemen at 67.3.
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Still, the Minnesota Vikings offensive line has plenty of work to do with Ndamukong Suh, Aaron Donald, and Michael Brockers of the Los Angeles Rams posing as their next obstacle on Thursday night.