It Took 6 Weeks, but Christian Darrisaw Gets the Nod
Dustin Baker
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You asked for it, and they finally delivered.
Fans of the Minnesota Vikings have been clamoring for the dawn of the Christian Darrisaw era at left tackle since April. Minnesota selected Darrisaw out of the 1st Round of the 2021 NFL Draft from Virginia Tech to anchor the left side of the offensive line. That spot has experienced ups and downs (mostly downs) ever since the departure of Bryant McKinnie to the Baltimore Ravens in 2011.
The wait is over. Per sources, Darrisaw will start in Week 6 when the Vikings travel to North Carolina for an NFC bout with the Panthers.
Darrisaw was given a whisker’s worth of action against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4, getting more tread in the Vikings offense last week when the team barely survived late advances from the Detroit Lions.
And Darrisaw looked good for a rookie. Most of the time during a player’s very first game, fans hope a 1st-Round talent simply looks competent, minimizing deer in the headlights vibes. Darrisaw did not look overmatched, notching a 60.0 Pro Football Focus grade on 28 offensive snaps. He was not bullied, nor did he look like a moron — and that’s the important takeaway from a player’s maiden voyage. If Darrisaw continues the 60.0-grade pace or better, his rookie campaign will be considered a resounding success.
Why? Because the incumbent — until Saturday night when the news broke about Darrisaw — was Rashod Hill. His performance to date is burdensome. His 39.9 PFF score is the second-worst in football for all tackles, just ahead of rookie offensive line Alex Leatherwood (32.3) for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Therefore, the switch to Darrisaw was a no-brainer — it was just wait and see on when the Vikings would actually pull the trigger. The current coaching staff is notorious for slow-rolling rookies into gametime. No better example exists than 2020. Justin Jefferson was a rookie, and it took three games for the LSU now-superstar to receive meaningful targets inside the offense.
But, we’re here.
Thankfully, the timing is marvelous. Minnesota stands at an inflection point in 2021. The team is 2-3 with one game before the bye week. If the Vikings win in Carolina, a 3-3 record is emotionally feasible to navigate after the bye. On the other hand, 2-4 is slimy, particularly with the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, and Green Bay Packers on the docket after Week 7.
Minnesota needs the victory tomorrow. Most fans believe 2021 is a tell-all season for head coach Mike Zimmer. A win keeps more morale high and the prognosis optimistic. A learning-on-the-fly Darrisaw is beneficial in the lineup, especially when the alternative is a merchant of sub-40.0 PFF grades.
Carolina ranks third in the NFL for defensive sacks per game as of October 16, so Darrisaw and the rest of his line-mates will have their hands full.
The Vikings are favored to win over the Panthers by 2.5 points.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
Also Read: Our Staff Prediction for Vikings at Panthers
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