What can the Vikings expect from Alexander Mattison in 2020?
By Dean Jones
The Mattison/Cook tandem
The Minnesota Vikings relied heavily on their running game in 2019. This is a trend that is set to continue long into the future thanks to the presence of Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison.
Although quarterback Kirk Cousins penned a two-year extension worth $66 million this offseason, new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak will undoubtedly deploy a run-first mentality going forward with the franchise.
This is down to the effectiveness of Cousins in play-action situations and the offensive line’s struggles in pass protection on the interior. The onus will be on Mattison and Cook to continue providing the one-two punch that guided the Vikings back into the playoffs last season.
They compliment each other well and having Mattison around clearly had a big impact on Cook’s production. He was able to take time out of the lineup at times to keep himself fresh, and teams still had to implement a supreme focus on stopping the run in Cook’s absence thanks to Mattison’s ability to produce.
If Minnesota is going to challenge the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North crown in 2020, then Mattison and Cook are going to have to perform similar to the level that saw them reach the postseason last term.
There is no doubt the pair are more than capable. Mattison may even come on some more depending on how much preparation he receives due to the uncertainty surrounding OTAs and training camp due to the coronavirus pandemic.