During a Zoom video call with reporters on Wednesday, Minnesota Vikings' offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak set off a firestorm of offensive line conversation. One of the team's top offensive decision-makers said some things that beat-writers and fans didn't expect to hear.
-Riley Reiff will start at left tackle. The 31-year old incumbent won't be sliding inside to guard.
-Second-round pick Ezra Cleveland, Reiff's heir apparent at left tackle, is "competing" at right guard in walk-throughs.
-The four returning offensive line starters enter training camp as starters.
I'll tackle the last nugget first.
“We got four of those guys back, so we go right back with them. And right now, Dakota and AC and Ezra are kind of working at the other spot. … What do we got, about six weeks to play a game? So we got a lot to get done.” -Gary Kubiak
Is this really such a surprise? If there had been OTAs, the Vikings likely would have trotted out those four players for the first spring practice. A team has to start somewhere. Starting with what you last had is the logical place to start. If the Vikings had signed a key offensive lineman in free agency or had drafted one in the first round, they'd probably trot out a different starting offensive line. They drafted Ezra Cleveland in the second round but he's considered a project, hopefully a quick project, but still a project. The Vikings are starting training camp with out the benefit of seeing the players, especially rookies, two months ago. On the field, Cleveland is a complete stranger to the coaches. The Vikings have to start somewhere and starting with last year's starters is really the only way to start.
Some of those "interpreting" the words of Kubiak took starting in early August walk-throughs to mean starters in September. I don't think that he said anything close to that. He said that they are starting with those guys and that they have a lot to get done. If four of the five starters were set a lot of the offensive line work is already done.
Reporters and fans were quick to recall the early offseason words of general manager Rick Spielman: "There will be an open competition at both guard spots." Perhaps not the exact quote but that was the gist of it. Some now feel that Spielman lied, again. Despite the perceived finality of Kubiak's comments, I believe that Spielman's words will ultimately hold true. Pat Elflein's job as a starter on the offensive line isn't assured and both guard spots are up for grabs.
Year-long starting jobs aren't determined the first week of August. Things change. That being said, it sure looks like Riley Reiff will be the Vikings' left tackle for another season. I suppose that I expected this but I was hoping that Ezra Cleveland would start as a rookie. He was drafted in the second round to be the future at the position. I was hoping that future could start as soon as possible. With Reiff in place, three of the offensive line positions are set.
Left Tackle: Riley Reiff
Center: Garrett Bradbury
Right Tackle: Brian O'Neill
Despite Kubiak's words on August 5, I expect open competition at both guard spots. The players that are likely involved in the guard competitions:
Pat Elflein-returning starter
Dakota Dozier
Aviante Collins
Dru Samia
Ezra Cleveland
Kubiak did create a puzzle for me when he didn't mention Dru Samia as being part of the walk-through rotation at right guard. Perhaps Samia's the one to take Elflein's left guard job. I've penciled Samia in as the eventual starter a right guard since he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. I assumed that he was one of the main reasons that 2019 starting right guard Josh Kline was a surprise release this offseason. Maybe the Vikings see Samia at left guard. Who knows? I should probably stop making lineup conclusions without any on-field reasons to make them. I know for a fact that I shouldn't make starter assumptions on August 7. But I will. It's not so much starter assumptions as it is a guess at the starters.
Left Tackle: Riley Reiff
Left Guard: Ezra Cleveland
Center: Garrett Bradbury
Right Guard: Dru Samia
Right Tackle: Brian O'Neill
I believe it's safe to say that the only real takeaway from Gary Kubiak's Zoom appearance is that Riley Reiff will continue as the Vikings' starting left tackle. Other than that he didn't really say much. I also believe that Spielman's words will hold true. There will be open competition at both guard spots. Kubiak and the coaches have a lot to get done on the offensive line.
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