09-15-2019, 01:51 PM
He sat in the visitor’s locker room at Lambeau Field trying to process what had just happened. His voice was a little shaky as he took off his shoes and cut the tape off his wrists. His arms blotchy from getting smacked over and over by Clay Matthews.
One year ago O’Neill was called upon to make his NFL debut in one of sports’ palaces in a rivalry game that — at the time — felt like it could determine the NFC North.
In Week 2, 2018 against the Green Bay Packers, an injury forced the Minnesota Vikings to put in their second-round pick from Pitt. It seemed at first his debut would come in an unmemorable loss but the Vikings made a furious comeback from down 22-7 with him at right tackle —only to see kicker Daniel Carlson miss a potential winner in overtime.
O’Neill did not give up a sack and only allowed a handful of QB pressures. At that point, he was only a few years removed from playing tight end.
“Last year at this time I was just trying to hang on for dear life and just not screw it up for these other guys,” O’Neill said Friday. “I’ve come a long way since then and we have a long way to go.”
Teammates understood the challenge he faced.
The Vikings’ plan had been to treat O’Neill like a project — to start Rashod Hill and let him grow both mentally and physically. Instead — at about 20 pounds lighter than your average tackle and with many years less experience playing the position than most rookies — he took on the Packers.
“That’s something that happens to all of us,” defensive end Danielle Hunter said. “There’s always going to be that game where we get thrown into that fire and we just have to figure it out. It always has to go back to technique and fundamentals and what your coach told you. That’s what he did in that game.”
“It’s super easy to get caught up in the moment, get overwhelmed and not do your job, which will lead to you being removed from your job,” defensive end Stephen Weatherly said. “But trial by fire is the best way to do it.”
O’Neill was not removed from his job after Green Bay — in fact he was ultimately was given the starting gig even when everyone was healthy. According to Pro Football Focus he did not give up a sack in ‘18 but his PFF grades were underwhelming because of how often he was pushed back into the quarterback.
In Week 1 against Atlanta we saw none of that.
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019...eau-debut/
One year ago O’Neill was called upon to make his NFL debut in one of sports’ palaces in a rivalry game that — at the time — felt like it could determine the NFC North.
In Week 2, 2018 against the Green Bay Packers, an injury forced the Minnesota Vikings to put in their second-round pick from Pitt. It seemed at first his debut would come in an unmemorable loss but the Vikings made a furious comeback from down 22-7 with him at right tackle —only to see kicker Daniel Carlson miss a potential winner in overtime.
O’Neill did not give up a sack and only allowed a handful of QB pressures. At that point, he was only a few years removed from playing tight end.
“Last year at this time I was just trying to hang on for dear life and just not screw it up for these other guys,” O’Neill said Friday. “I’ve come a long way since then and we have a long way to go.”
Teammates understood the challenge he faced.
The Vikings’ plan had been to treat O’Neill like a project — to start Rashod Hill and let him grow both mentally and physically. Instead — at about 20 pounds lighter than your average tackle and with many years less experience playing the position than most rookies — he took on the Packers.
“That’s something that happens to all of us,” defensive end Danielle Hunter said. “There’s always going to be that game where we get thrown into that fire and we just have to figure it out. It always has to go back to technique and fundamentals and what your coach told you. That’s what he did in that game.”
“It’s super easy to get caught up in the moment, get overwhelmed and not do your job, which will lead to you being removed from your job,” defensive end Stephen Weatherly said. “But trial by fire is the best way to do it.”
O’Neill was not removed from his job after Green Bay — in fact he was ultimately was given the starting gig even when everyone was healthy. According to Pro Football Focus he did not give up a sack in ‘18 but his PFF grades were underwhelming because of how often he was pushed back into the quarterback.
In Week 1 against Atlanta we saw none of that.
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019...eau-debut/