Accountability
In most cases when you don’t do your job, or do your job poorly for an extended period of time, you get replaced, or at least reprimanded.
Vikings starting guards Tom Compton and Mike Remmers played at a very poor level all season long but somehow were still put out there week after week.
Compton started 14 games and Remmers was a starter for all 16 matchups in 2018. Not sure if Minnesota thought their play was going to somehow magically improve, but it clearly didn’t.
It would be wise for the team to move forward with a culture of accountability when it comes to the offensive line. If a player starts and then stinks it up for a week or two, then they should get benched and it’s the next man up’s time.
This can create competition and inspire guys to play at their best week in and week out, knowing their job is on the line. It’s not like things would’ve gotten any worse than the two starting guards the Vikings kept throwing out there every Sunday.
Coaching
Minnesota tragically lost their offensive line coach Tony Sparano right before the start of training camp last summer. That was a huge blow to this team and it was clear that their offensive line never recovered.
The Vikings replaced Sparano with the duo of Clancy Barone and Andy Janocko. Barone and Janocko may be fine coaches, but they don’t demand the same respect and they don’t capture the full attention of players that a guy like Sparano could.
He was the type of coach players wanted to make proud and work extra hard for, out of respect and maybe even a bit of fear.
Pro Football Focus had the Minnesota’s 2017 line ranked 22nd in the league and it fell all the way to 29th in 2018 with almost the same players but no Sparano.
The Vikings have yet to hire a new offensive line coach for 2019 and it’s smart of Mike Zimmer to take this hire slowly. As the loss of Sparano proved, a good offensive line coach is invaluable and can make even below average players perform high above what their talent level would normally indicate.