Vikings Gain a New Contender for the Interior O-Line
Think Ed Ingram needs a bit more competition at right guard? You may be in luck.
Earlier in the week, Kevin O’Connell took some time to chat with KFAN’s Paul Allen. The conversation takes on a variety of topics, but things eventually come around to rookie offensive tackle Walter Rouse. The head coach was quick to offer praise and even suggested that the tackle could end up kicking inside to guard.
Vikings Gain a New Contender to Play Right Guard
The preseason offered a chance for Rouse to slide into different spots along the offensive line.
The 6’6″, 313-pound lineman got some playing time at left tackle, right tackle, and right guard. More specifically, Mr. Rouse was a left tackle for 70 snaps, a right tackle for 46 snaps, and a right guard for 21 snaps. So, dabbling at a few different spots across the line.
He didn’t allow a sack but there were a couple of QB hits and 4 pressures allowed. Not perfect, not disastrous. Room to grow.
The potential exists that Rouse will need to move inside long term. After all, Ezra Cleveland and Blake Brandel both did something similar, going from college left tackle to NFL guard to make it work (read more on Brandel’s journey).
Consider what the team’s head coach had to say about the No. 177 pick from the 2024 NFL Draft.
“The growth we’ve already seen,” O’Connell begins, “both at the right tackle position, I do believe he’s going to have the ability to play some guard also.” The coach goes on to say that “he’s very smart, he’s very physical, strong, stout player. Like every young offensive lineman in the NFL, coming into the NFL, pass pro is always what you’re working technique and fundamentals on.”
By no means are O’Connell’s words the first time that there has been optimism for the young lineman.
Earlier in the offseason, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah suggested that the “sky is the limit” for Mr. Rouse. The thinking from the GM is that it took some time for Rouse to develop but that the college left tackle has the capacity to be a “bully,” which is a compliment for an NFL lineman.
Consider the assessment from PFF going into the draft: “Rouse is an experienced and well-built offensive tackle prospect with good size, length and football intelligence for a man/gap run scheme. In pass protection, he must improve his foot speed and consistency with leverage in order to become a starter at the next level.”
The final line shows up in O’Connell’s words. Getting better with his technique to become a better pass protector is something that Rouse is chipping away at.
And then the NFL website offered some thoughts, as well: “Rouse possesses the size and intelligence coaches like, and he might be able to continue improving if he can get stronger and prove he can play on the right side as well. He’s an average athlete with average bend, and that will show up in his lack of consistent anchor and in-line drive.”
More thoughts from the NFL’s site: “However, that should not be oversold, as he tends to anchor enough and maintain a level of stickiness as a run blocker, even when it looks a little disheveled. Rouse has played almost exclusively as a left tackle but might be in consideration as a solid swing tackle prospect with some upside.”
Those thoughts about playing along the right side appear to be coming to fruition. Even better would be if he proves capable of playing both right tackle and right guard. A depth player will be more valued by the coaching staff if he’s able to do multiple things well.
Rouse is 23. He’s carrying a $851,648 cap charge into the season.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
Vikings Free Up Some Cap Space
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.
You must be logged in to post a comment.