Will Fries- bust?
I mean seriously, is it time to fire Kuper? Players get better when they leave here and get worse when they arrive. From today's ESPN;
Five additions that are not working
Will Fries, RG, Minnesota Vikings
How he got there: Signed a five-year, $88 million contract ($44 million guaranteed)
2025 stat to know: 88.5% pass block win rate (57th out of 66)
Comparable 2024 stat: 92.4% pass block win rate (unranked, played only five games)
The free agent excitement about Fries was interesting because he wasn't considered top-notch as the Colts' starting right guard in 2023. But he leaped off the tape in the five games he played in 2024 before a broken tibia ended his season. Minnesota won the battle to sign Fries, and what they've gotten is ... not really anything special.
So far this season, Fries' win rates are not only below what he did last season but also below what he did in a full season in 2023. His pass block win rate has gone from 90.9% in 2023 to 92.4% to 88.5%. His run block win rate has gone from 70.3% in 2023 to 74.3% to 66.3%, which is currently 55th out of 65 qualifying guards.
Will Fries' 88.5% pass block win rate ranks 57th. Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire
He had a setback in his recovery from the injury over the offseason, which might still be affecting him. He has also had to deal with some shuffling of the players on either side of him, which isn't good for offensive line continuity.
Hopefully some continuity helps everyone play better
Frankly less concerned about Fries than I am about Kelly.
Guardian cap aside, another concussion and his grey matter will be off-white
Broken tibia, just over a year ago. I might give him some time to get back to full speed. Especially in the pass pro.
Have we seen the line starting to come together, running the ball? Pass pro?
On more than one occasion I mentioned that five games was a pretty small sample size for a $88M contract. Still, I think Fries deserves a little patience, given the fact that he's had three different centers play to the left of him and three different tackles play to the right of him. There has been ZERO continuity at a position that requires it probably more than any other.
74.4 pff score yesterday...That was a good game for the kid
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
74.4 pff score yesterday...That was a good game for the kid
the only time I even thought of him yesterday was when he was late coming off a double team block with Bradel and the looping defender ran by him to hit JJM. I honestly wonder sometimes if we would be better off not doubling in pass protection, so many times the last few years that seems to be where we get in trouble is staying on those doubles to long and not being able to pick up the stunts and what not.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
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