"I think that we have a pretty good feel for our people. We need to sit down as a group, listen, see what our defensive guys think about our guys up front. Listen to [Vikings offensive line coach] Rick [Dennison], listen to [Vikings assistant offensive line coach Phil {Rauscher]."
What I like seeing in the above statement is the inclusion of the opinions of the defensive coaches. When it comes to making roster decisions on a particular position group it makes sense to talk with the people that have to go against that position group. I just can't recall hearing a coach talking about actually doing so. I like it. This offense-defense collaboration to reach a conclusion that's best for the entire team reminds of some comments that I heard often after the 2019 NFL Draft. While scouting Clemson's ridiculously talented defensive line, defensive line coach Andre Patterson kept seeing a center from North Carolina State handle the likes of Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence. Patterson went down the hall to the offensive coaches to make sure that they were looking at Garrett Bradbury.
Anyway, practice reps, statements from coaches, and general speculation leads one to believe that the Vikings' starting offensive line will look like this.
| LT | Riley Reiff |
| LG | Dakota Dozier |
| C | Garrett Bradbury |
| RG | Pat Elflein |
| RT | Brian O'Neill |
So much for my months-long speculation, during a hacked-up offseason, of the five starters. I hit on only two of the five. If I'd missed on accurately placing Brian O'Neill and Garrett Bradbury I'd have no business following or thinking about football. Ever.
Seeing Pat Elflein among the starters probably causes a riotous meltdown among many Vikings fans. After two seasons of struggles, I'm sure that they've seen enough of him. Right guard will be the third line position for Elflein. He had a promising rookie season at center. He often struggled during an injury-hampered second season at center. He had a very rough season last season at left guard. His critics have become numerous. I admit, I was hoping for a shift this year to what I thought could be a strong offensive line future in Minnesota. After all, isn't something new and shiny better than something old and ordinary? I can tap the breaks on the new and shiny and consider the possibility that right guard could be "his" position. I know that I was thrilled with his third-round selection in 2017. I know that he played well as a rookie. I know that his second season was a wash from the start due to an offseason of surgeries and rehab. Maybe the real Pat Elflein is more like the rookie that impressed and the Ohio State stalwart. It's also promising that he established himself as an Ohio State offensive line stalwart at right guard. Maybe that's the position that he was meant to play. Elflein at right guard might not be shiny but it is new.
Left guard has really been the only offensive line position in doubt. Dakota Dozier appears to be the leader over Aviante Collins and second-round pick Ezra Cleveland. Dozier doesn't spark memories of Randall McDaniel and Steve Hutchinson. Those Hall of Famers are two of the best to ever play the left guard position. The Vikings don't need their current left guard to be a future Hall of Famer. It'd sure be nice but they just need him to be at least average and work in smooth coordination with his linemates. It's a group thing and the group has to be good. Otherwise, Kirk Cousins doesn't play every game and the Vikings need him to play every games. All 19 of them!
It's important to remember that the five offensive line starters in August might not be the starters in September, or October, or February. Brian O'Neill didn't become the starting right tackle until Week 6 of his rookie season. Cleveland has been compared to O'Neill since he was drafted. There are similarities but a big difference is that Cleveland is switching positions from tackle to guard. O'Neill was the right tackle from draft day to year 3. Maybe, left guard eventually clicks for Cleveland and he replaces Dozier. It would be a welcoming site to have a player with early-round draft talent work his way into the starting offensive line. If Elflein plays right guard like he played left guard maybe Dru Samia takes over before Cousins is killed. Until or unless there's a change it looks the Vikings' 2020 offensive line is going to Reiff, Dozier, Bradbury, Elflein, and O'Neill. I can't wait to see the group on the field.
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