Minnesota Vikings offensive line showing signs of improvement
In Week 2, the Minnesota Vikings looked much improved against a very talented Arizona Cardinals defense.
Coming into the season, the Minnesota Vikings knew their offensive line had to be a lot better if the team wanted to have any success in 2021. In Week 1 the offensive line gave up 10 pressures and 3 sacks, as well as committing 13 penalties. This wasn’t a good sign for the Vikings and fans had the right to be frustrated.
In Week 1 the Arizona Cardinals had six sacks, with defensive lineman Chandler Jones responsible for five of those. Along with J.J. Watt, things didn’t appear to be getting any easier for the Vikings’ offensive line. To the surprise of everyone, the offensive line did get better and improved significantly compared to Week 1.
The Vikings gave up just one sack and only seven pressures in 35 dropbacks while positing the fifth-highest team run-blocking grade. The run blocking aspect was very evident to see, it seemed as though running back Dalvin Cook was getting a first down every time he run the ball because the holes were so big.
How significant was the improvement by the Minnesota Vikings offensive line?
Right tackle Brian O’Neill is justifying his new contract and Vikings’ fans have come to expect solidity on the right side of the line. O’Neill is the only offensive lineman so far this season not to have given up a single pressure so far.
In Week 2 the improvement was substantial, four of the five players on the offensive line had a 56.6 pass-blocking grade or higher. This is a massive improvement on the 27.4 pass-blocking grade Garett Bradbury had in Week 1. Aside from left tackle Rashod Hill every other player on that line improved significantly.
Left guard Ezra Cleveland was the highest-graded player on offense (84.2) who didn’t give up a single pressure, in Week 1 he gave up three pressures. Another bright spot for the Vikings was center Garett Bradbury, who was the lowest graded player in Week 1 (37.4) giving up 4 pressures.
All of this is exciting news for the Vikings and with first-round draft pick Christian Darrisaw hopefully coming in at left tackle, the Minnesota Vikings have a lot to look forward to.