Dear Garrett Bradbury...my bad

[greediron]

Vikings fell victim to the age-old, but rarely true, belief that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Bradbury was never as bad as most Viking fans thought he was. He was largely average, with moments of greatness and moments when he got his ass handed to him. But centers get beat. All the time. Even the best of them. 

But I’m not going to sit here and say that I saw it coming. At the end of last year, I was all for upgrading the center position. And make no mistake, Ryan Kelly WAS an upgrade. The fact that Bradbury is on a team going to the Super Bowl is irrelevant. Kelly’s overall PFF grade this year was 82.2. Bradburys was 59.8. That’s a big difference. Kelly’s problem was staying on the field.

And now here we sit, without Bradbury, still just 30, and without Kelly, who is likely retiring. If it weren’t for bad luck, the Vikings would have no luck at all.

"overall grade of 78.8 and a run-blocking grade of 80.6.

Those were Bradbury’s highest grades since Week 9 of the 2024 season. That was the day he posted an overall mark of 80.0 and run-blocking grade of 84.8 as the Vikings"

Hardly anything to write home about.

Good luck Garrett.  
If you keep the Maye clean and are able to run the ball against Seattle, I will change my tune.

[SurfnRide]

Bradbury never had a guard on either side of him and they made his play look worse than it was.   

Donovan Jackson has been our only real shot at a guard in a long time.  Its been a turnstile of horrible guard play for... damn...  Its been so long.  Hutchinson?

So sad.

[JimmyinSD]

Bradbury never had a guard on either side of him and they made his play look worse than it was.   

Donovan Jackson has been our only real shot at a guard in a long time.  Its been a turnstile of horrible guard play for... damn...  Its been so long.  Hutchinson?

So sad.

him getting put squarely on his ass or pushed back into the QB are not on the guys next to him that had their own guys to block.

[SurfnRide]

him getting put squarely on his ass or pushed back into the QB are not on the guys next to him that had their own guys to block.

When our guards cant adjust to a stunt then we're f'ed.  Bradbury can't stop 3 guys.  He cant even try to hold the line if both guys next to him are falling back.  If he holds strong he opens lanes so he is forced to backtrack.  Yeah I know the 1 or 2 plays you are talking about when he got blasted.  Happens to the best of Centers from time to time.

[JimmyinSD]

When our guards cant adjust to a stunt then we're f'ed.  Bradbury can't stop 3 guys.  He cant even try to hold the line if both guys next to him are falling back.  If he holds strong he opens lanes so he is forced to backtrack.  Yeah I know the 1 or 2 plays you are talking about when he got blasted.  Happens to the best of Centers from time to time.

1 or 2 plays lol.... those were his norm.  I gave him the breaks on most plays like you described,  but he couldn't anchor in pass pro and got zero push in the running game.  He played small and soft.  His saving grace in NE is Maye was the quickest in the league at getting the ball out,  and uses his legs to move the pocket, something GB never got from the QBs in MN or the playcalling,  but I am still happy the moved on as he isnt as good as hes looked on paper and will get exposed again.

[StickierBuns]

Good for Bradbury, but not missing him here. Just need whomever the center is this season to stay healthy and have some heft to him. If that's Brandel, great....Wes Phillips said it might be Brandel's best position as a pro. I'm sure he'll get better practicing at the position full-time all offseason and into camp if that's the route they go. If not, that's fine too. Unfortunately, it can't be Ryan Kelly because he can't stay healthy.