Vikings offensive line has been weak point

By Matt Vensel  matt.vensel@startribune.com

Of all the things Mike Zimmer had to worry about heading into 2014, the first-year head coach figured that his offensive line would not be one of them.

The Vikings returned all five starters from the 2012 and 2013 seasons, a rarity in today's NFL. Matt Kalil was a year removed from a Pro Bowl rookie season. Phil Loadholt and John Sullivan were solid veterans. Brandon Fusco was an emerging player on the verge of a contract extension. And Charlie Johnson had seen better days, but he was experienced and helped bring continuity to the unit.

"I anticipated that our offensive line would be a strength going into the season," Zimmer said Monday.

Yet here Zimmer is, in the middle of October, trying to figure out why his offensive line has been one of the team's biggest weaknesses, particularly in pass protection. While Zimmer pointed out that it wasn't just the big guys' fault that quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was sacked eight times in Sunday's 17-3 loss to the Detroit Lions, he admitted he was not opposed to making personnel changes on the offensive line.

"It's a tough call but we have to do what's best, what we feel like is best for the football team," Zimmer said. "It doesn't mean we are going to make any, it just means that we're continually giving guys the opportunity. I still feel like if guys perform then they should have the opportunity to continue to play and if not, then we need to look at options."

Through six weeks, only the Jacksonville Jaguars have allowed more sacks (27) than the Vikings (22). A staggering 14 of those sacks have come in the past two weeks, partly because the Vikings fell behind by multiple scores and had to abandon the running game, giving opposing defenders the green light to race each other to the quarterback.

So yes, it can still get worse.

Kalil was beaten on four of the plays that resulted in sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. Johnson and Loadholt were victimized twice apiece. And Vlad Ducasse, who replaced Fusco at right guard after he suffered a season-ending pectoral injury, watched his man sack Bridgewater on another play.

But Zimmer said the blame should be spread throughout the entire offense, depending on the play, and that at least one of the sacks was on Bridgewater for not getting through his progressions quickly enough, something the rookie routinely did in his first two games.

"Well, one time we held the ball too long." Zimmer said. "One time we got the protection the wrong way. There were some times we got beat. One time a guy tripped on another guy and fell backwards and the guy sacked him. It was a number of different things. One time we got stuck on a game. Some of it was guys not getting open."

But make no mistake, Zimmer knows that the offensive line needs to perform much better or opposing pass rushers will continue to wail away on Bridgewater like Rocky Balboa at a meat packing plant.

Kalil, drafted fourth overall two years ago to be the team's left tackle for the next decade or so, has allowed the most sacks and the most total pressures among NFL offensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. But he doesn't have the bulk or the power to play guard, and benching him — not that they have a better option on the roster — might permanently crash his confidence.

Loadholt, who has struggled with speed rushers at right tackle, likely would get exposed at left tackle. But he has been one of the league's more reliable players at right tackle in recent seasons.

Sullivan, the center, isn't having his best season, but he is the least of their concerns up front.

That leaves the two guard spots. Both Johnson and Ducasse have surrendered three sacks apiece this season and neither seems to be in their long-term starting plans.

The Vikings used a fifth-round pick on Stanford guard David Yankey, who missed most of the spring workouts because of an NFL rule that kept him on his college campus. But he has yet to be activated for a game this season despite being listed as Johnson's backup.

Zimmer, who could choose to stick with the five starters he's got, wasn't tipping his hand Monday.

"I feel like we have the ability and the talent to play better than what we have, that's what I feel," Zimmer said. "Whether it's [the current backups] or the guys that are in there, we have the ability to do it. Now, are we getting it done? No. Overall, they're not bad football players. They're just not playing real good right now."