Viktor
Well-known member
- Mar 19, 2019
- 2,552
- 0
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Vikings have a new center in town, first-round pick Garrett Bradbury, but Pat Elflein has embraced his role of sliding to left guard. After missing the first two games of the 2018 season while continuing to rehab injuries, Elflein played in the final 14, starting 13 of them. Riley Reiff returns at left tackle alongside the Ohio State standout, and Brian O’Neill, who started 11 games as a rookie in 2018, will remain at right tackle. Rashod Hill, who started eight of 16 games in 2018, is back for his fourth season. Other returners are Aviante Collins, Cornelius Edison, Danny Isidora, Brett Jones and Storm Norton.
Fresh Faces: Minnesota’s offensive line will have two new faces in its starting five, with Bradbury, whom the Vikings snagged with the 18th overall pick, and former Titan Josh Kline, who signed with Minnesota as a free agent. Kline seemed solidified at the right guard spot throughout OTAs and minicamp. Another free agency addition was former Jets guard Dakota Dozier. The Vikings traded up to draft Oklahoma’s Dru Samia in the fourth round and later selected Elon tackle Olisaemeka Udoh in the sixth. Western Michigan center John Keenoy joined the group as an undrafted free agent.
What to Watch: Bradbury, who won the Rimington Trophy at N.C. State as the nation’s best center in 2018, stepped into the starting role from day one and appears confident anchoring the line as a rookie. It will be interesting to see how Minnesota’s starting five fare with a new look this season.