One Aspect of Vikings Offense Must Set the Tone
Kevin O’Connell is garnering a reputation as an offensive mastermind — the QB whisperer who puts together an exciting passing offense with Justin Jefferson as the crown jewel.
The one thing that has been missing is a dominant run game. If Minnesota is to take the next step under O’Connell’s leadership, then the Vikings’ rushing attack must set the tone — something it hasn’t done in the last three seasons.
One Aspect of Vikings Offense Must Set the Tone
To go deep in the playoffs against physical teams like the Eagles, 49ers, Rams, and Lions, you’re going to need to be able to run the ball effectively. Start by setting the tone and controlling the clock, and then branch out into the exotic stuff that O’Connell is good at. Minnesota has had success against the 49ers during O’Connell’s tenure, but it has particularly struggled against the other three.
The Lions x2 and the Eagles are on the regular season schedule, as well as games against arguably the most physical division in football — the AFC North.
This is not an area the Vikings can afford to be found wanting again if they want success this season and break through the one-and-done ceiling. A successful Vikings rushing attack comes in two parts. The ability of the running back to make things happen when the ball is in their hands and the run-blocking in front of them to help make that happen. The signing of Aaron Jones helped the Vikings improve last season, and he’s back again for 2025 along with a new face.
The Running Backs
Jones has been a good RB for a long time, but is very much in the twilight of his career. Ranking 10th among running backs in PFF WAR over the past three seasons, with a 91.8 rushing grade in that span that ranks eighth. Jones has been one of the better players at his position, but the decline is showing with just a 75.6 rushing grade in 2024. Soon to be 31 years old, that is not a surprise.
Jones did post a respectable rushing total north of 1000 yards with 5 touchdowns, along with over 400 receiving yards with a couple of receiving touchdowns. The Vikings need more, whereas Jones’s output is more likely to decline at this stage.
Step forward Jordan Mason, whom the Vikings traded for along with a 2025 sixth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Signed as an undrafted free agent back in 2022, Mason has made a name for himself filling in for Christian McCaffrey, particularly last season during a spell when McCaffrey was injured. Mason started the 2024 season on fire with 447 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns across the first four games.
That included a 100-yard and touchdown game against Minnesota in Week 2 where he will have caught coach O’Connell’s eye. When a superstar like McCaffrey returns, the man who deputized for them is quickly forgotten, no matter how well they did. Mason’s season then ended prematurely because of a high ankle sprain.
The Vikings had seen enough from a man who averages an impressive 5.3 yards per carry to make the move. Mason’s physical running style, coupled with the vision to identify and exploit gaps on the defense, should prove an effective foil for Jones and maybe even become his long-term replacement.
The Offensive Line
While you’d hope an RB can make things happen with his own ability, if a rushing attack is going to have any consistency, then the blocking has to be good. That starts with the offensive line, though of course the rest of the offense has to play their part too. A team that is good at running the ball will need its wide receivers and tight ends to be willing blockers. Before that, though, the OL needs to be doing their job, and they haven’t been.
As much as the interior offensive line revamp has been about better protection for JJ McCarthy, the run blocking from the guard positions has been poor. There was also a huge drop-off after Christian Darrisaw got injured, with Cam Robinson solid in pass protection but a long way off Darrisaw’s run-blocking prowess. Will Fries and Donovan Jackson should give Minnesota a more dominant force at the line of scrimmage.
The Vikings’ weakness never showed up more obviously than when in the shadow of the goal posts. How often was Minnesota just yards away from a touchdown but went nowhere or ended up going backwards, often ending with a high-pressure throw on third or fourth down? It seemed like a lot, and the stats back that up.
Vikings running backs were hit at the line on 72.2% of their runs inside the opponent’s 10-yard line last season. That was the highest rate in the league. 50% of the Vikings’ runs inside the 10 went for zero or fewer yards. That’s the second-highest rate in the NFL — abysmal.
The additions of Fries, Jackson, and Mason should help remedy that problem and make the Vikings’ rushing attack a problem for opposing teams. It needs to; that is the recipe for winning football in the big moments.
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