Unsung Young Viking Finished 2022 Strong
Dustin Baker
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The 2022 Minnesota Vikings encountered an odd dynamic where the pass protection seemed to improve, but quarterback Kirk Cousins was still the most-hit passer in the league.
When it was all said and done, Minnesota’s offensive line ranked 13th in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus — assuredly a refreshing change of pace as the group generally ranked the league’s lower tier from 2018 to 2021. Baby steps.
Unsung Young Viking Finished 2022 Strong
And one man, in particular, emulated the sweet-and-sour Vikings offensive line, rookie Ed Ingram.
The Vikings scooped Ingram out of the 2nd Round of last year’s draft and immediately thrust the 6’3,” 315-pounder into action. Ingram started all 17 games in 2022. In fact, he was only the Vikings rookie — out of 10 — to consistently play Year One. Keynote draftees Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, and Akayleb Evans battled injuries, leaving Ingram as the last man standing.
Thankfully for the Vikings and Ingram’s sake, Ingram trended in the right direction down the stretch of his opening salvo, says Daily Norseman‘s Spencer Thompson. Ingram’s 57.1 overall grade from PFF wasn’t cause for celebration, but the when of his progression was promising.
Thompson tweeted Saturday, “Five of Ed Ingram’s six highest-graded pass-blocking games came after Week 10. Eight of his 10 highest-graded games came after Week 10.”
Why is the pass-blocking mark important? Simple. That was Ingram’s kryptonite in 2022 — a familiar bane for Vikings fans and the team’s offensive guards — as the LSU alumnus plowed running lanes better than he did keeping Kirk Cousins upright. His run-blocking grade was 64.2 as a rookie, while the pass-blocking emphatically lagged at 42.6. Ingram showcased Bradburian rookie tendencies, struggling with pass protection but figured it out on the ground.
The Vikings are vested in Ingram’s development mainly because the right guard spot on the offensive line has caused heartburn for years. Minnesota signed Cousins in 2018, a pocket passer, and outfitted his trenches with a whimper. Ingram, a 2nd-Rounder, was new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s attempt to cleanse the Dakota Dozier and Dru Samia sins of yesteryear.
The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler described Ingram’s rookie campaign a couple of weeks ago, “While he is powerful with his punch, the timing and placement were very inconsistent, which is something you can get away with in the SEC but not in the NFL. The greater issue was his inconsistent balance and excessive leaning. He often sacrifices his posture due to his aggressive blocking mentality.”
So, Vikings fans must hope for the next six months that Ingram’s positive finish to 2022 symbolizes enthusiasm. Guards from the 2nd Round aren’t supposed to be “maybes” for long-term trajectory.
Ingram turned 24 two weeks ago.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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