The hope for The Elf...
Vikings trying to tap college comfort level for Elflein at right guardThe Vikings are hoping a move to right guard will give Pat Elflein’s career the comfort level and kick start it needs after a backward slide at the other two interior positions the past two years.
“It’s something he’s had a comfort zone with before in his football life,” offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak told reporters on a video conference call earlier today. “We talked about that. … Just a decision made through talking through the process, talking to Pat, talking about how we were going to get started when we got back.”
Elflein was primarily a right guard early in his career at Ohio State. He started 12 of 15 games there as a sophomore and 13 the next season.
He then moved to center before his senior year and ended up winning the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center. The Vikings selected him in the third round of the draft and got a decent rookie season out of him at center in 2017.
Offseason ankle and shoulder injuries caused him to miss the start of the 2018 season. He joined the starting lineup in Week 4 but never fully recovered physically and struggled accordingly.
Elflein was moved to left guard when the Vikings used last year’s first-round draft pick on center Garrett Bradbury. Pro Football Focus ranked Elflein 98th among guards last season.
Offensive line coach Rick Dennison played a big role in the decision to move Elflein based on his comfort level at the position back in college.
“Obviously, there were no reps to go off of that this year,” said Kubiak, referring to an offseason that was limited to virtual learning only because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think we're looking at the big picture. Pat's a good player. He had a good year. Obviously, we're going to have to fill the other guard spot. Rick and I sat down with Pat. Just felt like this was the best move for us to make right now and go get competitive. Let's see what happens, but I think Pat's very comfortable there and he's a good football player who works his tail off.”
Meanwhile, Dakota Dozier and Aviante Collins are working with the first team at left guard. Rookie second-round draft pick Ezra Cleveland also is in the mix as the Vikings, per coach Mike Zimmer, want to settle on their starting five by the end of this week.
Kubiak seconded Zimmer’s urgency when it comes to finding the top five ASAP. After another light practice today, the full pads go on starting Monday.
“The more people work together, the better they play together,” Kubiak said. “So, yeah, obviously, without preseason games, you have … points where you're trying to make decisions as you work to opening day.
“This is going to be a grinder week. We got a lot of football practice this week and a ton of reps. So everybody is going to get a good, hard look. We'll get our pads on throughout the course of this week.
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-trying-to-tap-college-comfort-level-for-elflein-at-right-guard/572132082/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
@"Kentis" said: Oh boy...C'mon now....Buzz-words like Kick start, Backwards slide, comfort level, comfort zone don't always mean disaster, mistake, problematic, weak link....
@"Jor-El" said: Who else is competing at RG?
The loser of the LG competition? I would hope Samia could compete.
@"Jor-El" said: Who else is competing at RG?Depends on which story you read next. They all condradict each other. Next week I expect to see someone write Elf is now competing at 3T Hey, at least it would get him off the OL B)
@"purplefaithful" said: said Kubiak“I think we're looking at the big picture. Pat's a good player. He had a good year.
How was Kubiak not immediately struck by lightning?
Next week they will work him at tight end or hback.
Sounds like they want to see if they can plug him in the lineup somewhere that might work before fully giving up on him. Seems reasonable to me. I know many IL can switch from LG to C to RG or vice versa, but isn't it fairly common players are only comfortable on one side?
@"HappyViking" said: Sounds like they want to see if they can plug him in the lineup somewhere that might work before fully giving up on him. Seems reasonable to me. I know many IL can switch from LG to C to RG or vice versa, but isn't it fairly common players are only comfortable on one side?
Yup,
He was a high draft choice and they need better play (ers) especially on the interior line. We can joke and angst all we want, but they cant give up on him yet.
OL is keeping us from the promised land, for too long now.
Ben Leber had said about 3 months ago that Minnesota might try Elflein at RG because that was his college spot. We'll see if it makes any difference.
Reiff-Collins-Bradburry-Samia-ONeill, Cleveland, Elf, Dozier, Udoh, Hill
If Collins stays healthy, there is something there with his size, strength, and ability to move. I would love to see him stay healthy, as I think he’s a quality NFL starter. It’s the RG position that needs to find a solid OL starter. Moving forward with the tackles we have, we should be quite set (ONeill, Cleveland, Udoh) for a while, Center too.
This group can't figure out the line, that much is certain. i Think Elf needs competition and not just the job given to him again.
@"purplefaithful" said:@"HappyViking" said: Sounds like they want to see if they can plug him in the lineup somewhere that might work before fully giving up on him. Seems reasonable to me. I know many IL can switch from LG to C to RG or vice versa, but isn't it fairly common players are only comfortable on one side?
Yup,He was a high draft choice and they need better play (ers) especially on the interior line. We can joke and angst all we want, but they cant give up on him yet.
OL is keeping us from the promised land, for too long now.
last year DT was just as big of an achilles. so we have heard about iron sharpening iron, but when our 2 weakest positions will determine who starts where I dont see much room for optimism.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"purplefaithful" said:@"HappyViking" said: Sounds like they want to see if they can plug him in the lineup somewhere that might work before fully giving up on him. Seems reasonable to me. I know many IL can switch from LG to C to RG or vice versa, but isn't it fairly common players are only comfortable on one side?
Yup,He was a high draft choice and they need better play (ers) especially on the interior line. We can joke and angst all we want, but they cant give up on him yet.
OL is keeping us from the promised land, for too long now.
last year DT was just as big of an achilles. so we have heard about iron sharpening iron, but when our 2 weakest positions will determine who starts where I dont see much room for optimism.
I agree. This board bagged on the offensive line but they weren't nearly as bad as what was said in here. I think interior D-line was bad last year and without Pierce now, might be even worse. I'm not buying the Shamar Stephen crap, that's preseason fluff.
@"RS Express" said:@"purplefaithful" said: said Kubiak“I think we're looking at the big picture. Pat's a good player. He had a good year.
How was Kubiak not immediately struck by lightning?But he did have a good year. Several. 2017, 2016...Just nothing recent.
To be fair to Elflein, yes, he was terrible in pass pro, but he was one of the better run blocking guards in the NFL last year. At least according to PFF.
If he can improve his pass blocking at his old position, now between Bradbury and O'Neill, both of whom should be much better surrounds than he had last year, we might just be onto something.
Still, I'm sort of rooting for Samia to beat him out. He's the opposite. Good in pass pro, but struggles in the run game.
Kenny Clark, Z'Darius, Goldstein, Shapiro, Hicks, Roquan Smith, K.Mack...
Vikings better get stouter in the OL, much stouter.
@"purplefaithful" said: Kenny Clark, Z'Darius, Goldstein, Shapiro, Hicks, Roquan Smith, K.Mack...Vikings better get stouter in the OL, much stouter.
Did you throw in a law firm? Who’s Goldstein & Shapiro...? ;) B)
Another comment from this story that I'm not totally comfortable about - Cleveland being tried at LG. His future is at one of the OT spots and I think the Vikings OL coaches have confused young linemen by moving them around too much.
From this morning's STRIB, it looks like the only competition is for LG and that's between Dozier and Collins. Elflein is the starting RG. So much for Samia being in the mix.
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