Encouraging read on Bradbury
From the Athletic.
https://zonecoverage.com/2022/minnesota-vikings-news/__trashed/
...Another year of Bradbury gives Vikings fans nightmares of Akiem Hicks or Kenny Clark moving him like Michael Oher did in The Blind Side, but it might give O’Connell a different kind of flashback. Before Bradbury was struggling in Minnesota, Austin Blythe was having issues with the Los Angeles Rams. After a solid rookie season, Blythe’s overall PFF grade ranked 36th out of 36 qualifying centers in 2019.
The Rams made some tweaks the following offseason with O’Connell’s arrival, and Blythe was one of the main beneficiaries. In 2020, he ranked 13th out of 39 qualifiers and parlayed that performance into a free-agent deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
After Blythe’s departure, the Rams turned to Brian Allen, who graded 34th out of 36 qualifying centers in 2019. Allen suffered a major knee injury in November 2019 before missing the 2020 season. However, he returned with a vengeance, grading fifth out of 41 qualifiers last year.
While Blythe and Allen have had previous injuries play key roles in their development, that track record should be a good omen for Bradbury.
Much like O’Connell aims to do for Kirk Cousins, his main goal should be to give Bradbury the answers to the test. If O’Connell puts him in a position to succeed, it should prevent pressure up the middle, giving Cousins a better chance to attack downfield. It’s also not out of the question that Bradbury could improve as his linemates get more comfortable in the offense.
“I can probably think of two plays where we’ve had a mental error on either side of , and he’s ended up being on his own when he was not supposed to be and at the last moment basically trying to save the play,” O’Connell said. “There’s a lot of centers around the league, when they get isolated on a [Za’Darius Smith] or [Danielle Hunter] inside in different matchups, it’s going to look like that.”
It could still mean the Vikings might be looking for a new center next offseason. But, for now, O’Connell may have an idea to make it work.
“A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't." - Tom Waits
Meh. The team seems like they plan to stick with Bradbury, at least at this moment. Whatever. He'll be gone after this season, hopefully the line doesn't suffer too greatly with him in the starting lineup. That's all the diplomacy I can muster on the guy.
At this point if we are looking for encouraging reads and the coach is saying there is competition, it's not looking good. His development at this point is nothing to get excited about.
@"Vikergirl" said: At this point if we are looking for encouraging reads and the coach is saying there is competition, it's not looking good. His development at this point is nothing to get excited about.Especially for a first round pick.
The volume of Bradbury word salad on social media has ramped up dramatically this past week, in what is functionally an inverse square to his actual ability at the position.
@"Vikergirl" said: At this point if we are looking for encouraging reads and the coach is saying there is competition, it's not looking good. His development at this point is nothing to get excited about.
There's also coach speak. Aren't all the spots on the field a competition? Not trying to defend Bradbury here, just saying there's all kinds of ways to hear what coaches have to say. Especially when internet "journalists" are all trying to be the first one with the scoop.
@"Vikergirl" said: At this point if we are looking for encouraging reads and the coach is saying there is competition, it's not looking good. His development at this point is nothing to get excited about.I don't think anyone is fooled into believing that Bradbury will solve all of his issues, develop, and suddenly become a "good" center, or even a worthwhile draft pick.
But what should be encouraging to everyone (and was news to me) is that O'Connell took a last place center (36th of 36, IOW worse than Bradbury), made some schematic tweaks and turned him into a top third center, then did it again the following year by turning the 34th ranked center and turned him into a top 5 center. And did this without especially mobile QBs.
Should we expect this kind of improvement from Bradbury? Probably not, but now we at least know the reason (misguided or not) for his confidence.
@"AGRforever" said:@"Vikergirl" said: At this point if we are looking for encouraging reads and the coach is saying there is competition, it's not looking good. His development at this point is nothing to get excited about.There's also coach speak. Aren't all the spots on the field a competition? Not trying to defend Bradbury here, just saying there's all kinds of ways to hear what coaches have to say. Especially when internet "journalists" are all trying to be the first one with the scoop.
Absolutely. I get the coach speak and that KOC wanted to see for himself what he was dealing with. If Kuper gets more out of him that's great. Time will tell.
If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year.
@"1VikesFan" said: If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year.I don't think it's "fixing" as much as mitigating. IOW, tweaking the blocking schemes so that he's rarely 1v1 against the fatties.
@"MaroonBells" said:I hear ya, but the fatal flaw in that is then you limit what you do offensively. I mean, how does it affect an offense when you need the guards to constantly help him? So you tweak to his very few positives (movement, second level engagement) and that gets predictable, especially situationally which is where teams win and lose games. Just sayin'. I don't mean to be the Bradbury doomsayer, the guy that is the broken record about the guy, I really don't...he's just the player I have the most problem with on the team currently.@"1VikesFan" said: If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year. I don't think it's "fixing" as much as mitigating. IOW, tweaking the blocking schemes so that he's rarely 1v1 against the fatties.
@"StickyBun" said:It's not without downside, but the Rams seemed not to suffer too much.@"MaroonBells" said:I hear ya, but the fatal flaw in that is then you limit what you do offensively. I mean, how does it affect an offense when you need the guards to constantly help him? So you tweak to his very few positives (movement, second level engagement) and that gets predictable, especially situationally which is where teams win and lose games. Just sayin'.@"1VikesFan" said: If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year. I don't think it's "fixing" as much as mitigating. IOW, tweaking the blocking schemes so that he's rarely 1v1 against the fatties.
@"MaroonBells" said:But the Vikings aren't the Rams.@"StickyBun" said:It's not without downside, but the Rams seemed not to suffer too much.@"MaroonBells" said:I hear ya, but the fatal flaw in that is then you limit what you do offensively. I mean, how does it affect an offense when you need the guards to constantly help him? So you tweak to his very few positives (movement, second level engagement) and that gets predictable, especially situationally which is where teams win and lose games. Just sayin'.@"1VikesFan" said: If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year. I don't think it's "fixing" as much as mitigating. IOW, tweaking the blocking schemes so that he's rarely 1v1 against the fatties.
@"StickyBun" said:LOL. Astute.@"MaroonBells" said:But the Vikings aren't the Rams.@"StickyBun" said:It's not without downside, but the Rams seemed not to suffer too much.@"MaroonBells" said:I hear ya, but the fatal flaw in that is then you limit what you do offensively. I mean, how does it affect an offense when you need the guards to constantly help him? So you tweak to his very few positives (movement, second level engagement) and that gets predictable, especially situationally which is where teams win and lose games. Just sayin'.@"1VikesFan" said: If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year. I don't think it's "fixing" as much as mitigating. IOW, tweaking the blocking schemes so that he's rarely 1v1 against the fatties.
@"MaroonBells" said:lol, but you seem to be comparing them as like they could be. lol, I'm not trying to bust your balls, MB. I like your positive takes.@"StickyBun" said:LOL. Astute.@"MaroonBells" said:But the Vikings aren't the Rams.@"StickyBun" said:It's not without downside, but the Rams seemed not to suffer too much.@"MaroonBells" said:I hear ya, but the fatal flaw in that is then you limit what you do offensively. I mean, how does it affect an offense when you need the guards to constantly help him? So you tweak to his very few positives (movement, second level engagement) and that gets predictable, especially situationally which is where teams win and lose games. Just sayin'.@"1VikesFan" said: If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year. I don't think it's "fixing" as much as mitigating. IOW, tweaking the blocking schemes so that he's rarely 1v1 against the fatties.
@"StickyBun" said:I mean, they both have horns on their helmets.@"MaroonBells" said:But the Vikings aren't the Rams.@"StickyBun" said:It's not without downside, but the Rams seemed not to suffer too much.@"MaroonBells" said:I hear ya, but the fatal flaw in that is then you limit what you do offensively. I mean, how does it affect an offense when you need the guards to constantly help him? So you tweak to his very few positives (movement, second level engagement) and that gets predictable, especially situationally which is where teams win and lose games. Just sayin'.@"1VikesFan" said: If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year. I don't think it's "fixing" as much as mitigating. IOW, tweaking the blocking schemes so that he's rarely 1v1 against the fatties.
@"StickyBun" said:Comparing the Vikings to the Rams? No. I'm comparing their center situations, and how the Rams and O'Connell successfully mitigated weak center play schematically. Y'know, like in the article. Not sure how one could possibly interpret that as me comparing the two teams as a whole.@"MaroonBells" said:lol, but you seem to be comparing them as like they could be. lol, I'm not trying to bust your balls, MB. I like your positive takes.@"StickyBun" said:LOL. Astute.@"MaroonBells" said:But the Vikings aren't the Rams.@"StickyBun" said:It's not without downside, but the Rams seemed not to suffer too much.@"MaroonBells" said:I hear ya, but the fatal flaw in that is then you limit what you do offensively. I mean, how does it affect an offense when you need the guards to constantly help him? So you tweak to his very few positives (movement, second level engagement) and that gets predictable, especially situationally which is where teams win and lose games. Just sayin'.@"1VikesFan" said: If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year. I don't think it's "fixing" as much as mitigating. IOW, tweaking the blocking schemes so that he's rarely 1v1 against the fatties.But if you want me to I will! I think the Vikings offense has the potential to be as good as, or even better than, the Rams were last year. On defense, no. Not without Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. I'll be happy with league average.
@"MaroonBells" said:@"StickyBun" said:Comparing the Vikings to the Rams? No. I'm comparing their center situations, and how the Rams and O'Connell successfully mitigated weak center play schematically. Y'know, like in the article. Not sure how one could possibly interpret that as me comparing the two teams as a whole.@"MaroonBells" said:lol, but you seem to be comparing them as like they could be. lol, I'm not trying to bust your balls, MB. I like your positive takes.@"StickyBun" said:LOL. Astute.@"MaroonBells" said:But the Vikings aren't the Rams.@"StickyBun" said:It's not without downside, but the Rams seemed not to suffer too much.@"MaroonBells" said:I hear ya, but the fatal flaw in that is then you limit what you do offensively. I mean, how does it affect an offense when you need the guards to constantly help him? So you tweak to his very few positives (movement, second level engagement) and that gets predictable, especially situationally which is where teams win and lose games. Just sayin'.@"1VikesFan" said: If he can fix the turnstile he should win coach of the year. I don't think it's "fixing" as much as mitigating. IOW, tweaking the blocking schemes so that he's rarely 1v1 against the fatties.But if you want me to I will! I think the Vikings offense has the potential to be as good as, or even better than, the Rams were last year. On defense, no. Not without Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. I'll be happy with league average.
Word. Potential is a four letter word in the NFL. I'll need to see it, but I will say I can see the potential. It's going to be a fun season, methinks.
I agree with Maroon (and the article), that we could see some "improvement" from Bradbury just by the new scheme. The one thing I liked about the Rams offense is they are very multiple on offense... meaning they can run different plays (run or pass) out of the same formation and they use a lot of motion to confuse defenses. We haven't had that since Shurmur was here as an OC.
In my opinion, Bradbury can get better. As a run blocker, he already does a good job. When pass blocking, he gave up 2 sacks last year. As we all know, it’s the pressures that are killer. Scheme wise, you can actually do something to mitigate those. That won’t fix his struggle with anchoring, but scheme can buy him that fraction of a second he needs to properly get his feet under him.
One on one, a lot of centers in the league struggle, not just Bradbury. Most teams use guards to assist the center; so O’Connell isn’t reinventing the wheel here. He’s simply pointing out that there are tools available to him as a coach that can have a big impact on pressure up the middle. I’m willing to see what he can do with Bradbury before completely writing him off. I couldn’t stand our blocking schemes the past 5 years, so here’s to hoping O’Connell’s position coaches are much better at fixing some of the glaring issues we’ve had.
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