More Line Changes

Continuity is critical for a solid offensive line. Continuity didn't help the Minnesota Vikings last season as the same five lineman started every game. They often struggled. The biggest issue was that injuries forced two of the five into the starting lineup and three of the five were playing a position that they hadn't played before. It was a line that was forced together in August and had to learn and grow together on the fly. They struggled. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was often on the run but Adrian Peterson did lead the league in rushing. And no offensive lineman that opened the season missed a game due to injury. So, there was some good. Not a lot but some.

The Vikings offensive line struggled this season due mostly to a seemingly impossible lack of continuity. The most glaring continuity issue is at both offensive tackle positions. Three tackles have been lost for the season. The Vikings have been forced to use five different starting offensive lines in their nine games. While certainly subject to change it appears that the following line will be trotted out tomorrow for the Vikings first offensive possession against the Arizona Cardinals:

LT	T.J. Clemmings
LG	Alex Boone
C	Joe Berger
RG	Brandon Fusco
RT	Jeremiah Sirles

That's the same line that the Vikings started in their last win. Against the Houston Texans way back on October 9. A long time ago. They did a decent job protecting quarterback Sam Bradford. It was also one of their better running games but that's not saying much. T.J. Clemmings had a particularly difficult time keeping Jadeveon Clowney from blowing up running plays. The Vikings were forced to turn back to this line because Jake Long was lost for the season last week against the Washington Redskins. He tore his Achilles tendon on the Vikings second to last offensive play of the game. Long was signed a couple days after that Texans game and before the Vikings Week 6 bye. Due to the somewhat promising line play in that game (the bar has been set very low over the last few seasons) I wasn't so sure that they needed to bring in a starter. Injuries had seriously depleted the depth, especially at tackle, so they had to bring in someone. I just wasn't sure that the player had to start. Long struggled in his first couple of appearances but improved steadily over the last two games. He had actually improved to a point where he might have exceeded the play of initial starting left tackle Matt Kalil. Again, another very low bar. The loss of Long was a real blow to an offense that really can't take any more. At least the Vikings can turn to a line that has started a game and actually won a game. 

This offensive line has to get some push in the running game. A major reason that the Vikings have lost the last four games is their inability to convert on short yardage. When they have to gain a yard, sometimes less, there's no push, no aggression, no holes, no movement. The running backs are just running into the backs of their own offensive linemen or encountering defenders before they even get to the line of scrimmage. It's sad to watch. The Vikings offensive line has to regularly show that they want that yard of turf in front of them more than the opponents across from them. And they have to keep Sam Bradford clean and healthy. And they have to stay healthy themselves. Five different offensive line combinations is more than enough for a single season.