8 hours ago
"The Vikings’ salvaging of their two-week Euro trip is proof positive of what separates the NFL’s top programs from everyone else. The fantasy-football-obsessed public will see Minnesota’s win over the Browns in London, drill down on throws Carson Wentz made to Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson, and believe this is only a story about the great environment that Kevin O’Connell has created to maximize quarterbacks in the Twin Cities.
That’s part of the story. But there’s more to it.
Yes, Wentz led a 10-play, 80-yard drive to beat Cleveland on Sunday. And yes, a beautifully placed 50-50 ball that Jefferson claimed for 21 yards was its catalyst, setting up a 12-yard dart to Addison to win the game. Having those guys would help any quarterback.
However, what made all this even more impressive was who was in front of Wentz. Justin Skule started the game at right tackle for Brian O’Neill, then flipped to left tackle for Christian Darrisaw, who was on restricted snaps since returning from a torn ACL and MCL last year. When Skule made that move, second-year man Walter Rouse came in at right tackle. Guard Blake Brandel was in at center for Ryan Kelly, who’s been out with a concussion. Undrafted rookie Joe Huber was in for first-rounder Donovan Jackson at guard, leaving Will Fries, at the other guard spot, as the only regular starter.
Yet, somehow, that group held up against Myles Garett and Mason Graham in a series of clear pass-first situations for the offense, and paved the way for that unit to drive 80 yards on 10 plays to win the game.
“We knew coming in that we were down a few guys,” Wentz told me from the locker room in London. “I’m so proud of the guys. To move from right tackle to left tackle against the best defensive end in the world, the way Justin [Skule] did that, unbelievable. Walt coming in late in the game playing right [tackle]. Blake playing a new position, in center. The way the guys stepped up and gave me chances to find these open dudes down the field was sweet.”
It's also a reflection of why the Vikings can do right by their players. Whether it’s giving J.J. McCarthy through the bye to heal his high ankle sprain, keeping Darrisaw on a strict pitch count or managing through safety Harrison Smith’s absence earlier in the year, there’s confidence that they’ll find a way. It’s allowed the staff to handle the roster in a way that’ll give the Vikings the best chance to have the best team at the end.
And it’s because they can acquire players such as Skule, Brandel, Rouse and Huber at a point where they can coach around any weaknesses they have, and still leverage the strengths that remain. That it happened Sunday in a position group where no team has great depth, and one that the Vikings spent a lot to improve this offseason, only punctuates the point.
“One, that goes to the coordinators upstairs and, two, the coaching,” Wentz said. “They do a great job of having guys ready. Everyone coaches their tail off for each and every guy. There’s no denying the game plan changes because of it, and they do a tremendous job recognizing what we need to do, tweaking it, how to attack a defense every single week with the players we have on the field. I think they did a great job today. It wasn’t perfect, it was tough, and we shot ourselves in the foot a couple times …”
However, it was damn impressive, and as such, the arrow is pointing up on the Vikings, as they return to the U.S. with a 3–2 record after a split of their international games." - Albert Breer, SI.com
That’s part of the story. But there’s more to it.
Yes, Wentz led a 10-play, 80-yard drive to beat Cleveland on Sunday. And yes, a beautifully placed 50-50 ball that Jefferson claimed for 21 yards was its catalyst, setting up a 12-yard dart to Addison to win the game. Having those guys would help any quarterback.
However, what made all this even more impressive was who was in front of Wentz. Justin Skule started the game at right tackle for Brian O’Neill, then flipped to left tackle for Christian Darrisaw, who was on restricted snaps since returning from a torn ACL and MCL last year. When Skule made that move, second-year man Walter Rouse came in at right tackle. Guard Blake Brandel was in at center for Ryan Kelly, who’s been out with a concussion. Undrafted rookie Joe Huber was in for first-rounder Donovan Jackson at guard, leaving Will Fries, at the other guard spot, as the only regular starter.
Yet, somehow, that group held up against Myles Garett and Mason Graham in a series of clear pass-first situations for the offense, and paved the way for that unit to drive 80 yards on 10 plays to win the game.
“We knew coming in that we were down a few guys,” Wentz told me from the locker room in London. “I’m so proud of the guys. To move from right tackle to left tackle against the best defensive end in the world, the way Justin [Skule] did that, unbelievable. Walt coming in late in the game playing right [tackle]. Blake playing a new position, in center. The way the guys stepped up and gave me chances to find these open dudes down the field was sweet.”
It's also a reflection of why the Vikings can do right by their players. Whether it’s giving J.J. McCarthy through the bye to heal his high ankle sprain, keeping Darrisaw on a strict pitch count or managing through safety Harrison Smith’s absence earlier in the year, there’s confidence that they’ll find a way. It’s allowed the staff to handle the roster in a way that’ll give the Vikings the best chance to have the best team at the end.
And it’s because they can acquire players such as Skule, Brandel, Rouse and Huber at a point where they can coach around any weaknesses they have, and still leverage the strengths that remain. That it happened Sunday in a position group where no team has great depth, and one that the Vikings spent a lot to improve this offseason, only punctuates the point.
“One, that goes to the coordinators upstairs and, two, the coaching,” Wentz said. “They do a great job of having guys ready. Everyone coaches their tail off for each and every guy. There’s no denying the game plan changes because of it, and they do a tremendous job recognizing what we need to do, tweaking it, how to attack a defense every single week with the players we have on the field. I think they did a great job today. It wasn’t perfect, it was tough, and we shot ourselves in the foot a couple times …”
However, it was damn impressive, and as such, the arrow is pointing up on the Vikings, as they return to the U.S. with a 3–2 record after a split of their international games." - Albert Breer, SI.com
![[-]](https://vikefans.com/forums/images/duende_v3_local/collapse.png)
