Kevin O’Connell Must Let the Vikings Run Game Develop
Since Kevin O’Connell was named the Minnesota Vikings head coach back in 2022, a running theme has emerged. The Vikings’ run game has failed to deliver any consistency.
VikingsTerritory examines the Vikings’ run-game problems and why Kevin O’Connell must let it develop.
There are several reasons you can point to for that, but one thing is for sure: O’Connell must let the Vikings’ run game develop. You can’t establish the run from the nine rushing attempts Minnesota’s top two running backs got in the last game.
Vikings Rushing Offense Needs Love
In Los Angeles last Thursday night, Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason combined for nine rushing attempts and just 18 rushing yards. Jones averaged three yards per carry while Mason averaged less than a yard. Obviously, those results aren’t great, and going down early changes the game plan somewhat.
However, completely abandoning the run, as O’Connell did last week and has done many times before, doesn’t give the team the balanced offense the Vikings head coach himself preaches.
Sometimes you have to keep pounding the rock for short yardage to wear a defense down and open up the running lanes. O’Connell clearly favors and has more trust in his passing attack. Needs to learn to let his rushing attack develop.
A ground game can’t be established from just nine rushing attempts. Once the game was over as a contest, O’Connell brought the back-ups in for the final drive, where Zavier Scott gained 16 yards off of just two carries. A small indication of what a running back can do when the opposition is expecting you to throw the ball all the time.
Run Blocking Problems
It’s been a difficult season for the Vikings’ offensive line, with the unit being obliterated by injuries. Of the first choice starting five coming into the season, only Will Fries hasn’t missed games through injury. At times, Minnesota has had four of its starters missing. O’Connell has had to roll out 12 unique OL combinations—three more than the nearest team—which is simply not a recipe for success.
The Vikings just aren’t creating running lanes for the backs to hit. Pro Football Focus’s run blocking grades highlight the struggle the unit is having and just how many guys have had to be called upon
- Christian Darrisaw – 61.0
- Donovan Jackson – 54.6
- Ryan Kelly – 70.2
- Will Fries – 55.9
- Brian O’Neill – 69.1
- Justin Skule – 61.2
- Blake Brandel – 58.0
- Walter Rouse – 49.0
- Michael Jurgens 58.4
Only Kelly and O’Neill have respectable grades, while Darrisaw is well below what you would expect a player of his caliber to be. Obviously, injuries, recovering from injuries, and a lack of stability in personnel play their part. If the Vikings can get all five of Darrisaw, Jackson, Kelly, Fries, and O’Neill on the field consistently, then we should hopefully see more consistency being built.
Commit to the Run
Above all else, O’Connell must commit to the run. After what was frankly a horrific rushing attack in 2023, the Vikings signed Jones, and his tally of over 1000 yards was a big part of last season’s success. The addition of Mason was supposed to further boost the rushing attack, but with Jones missing four games already this season, that hasn’t come to fruition yet.
The Vikings offense is at its best when they are hitting big, dynamic plays down the field, particularly using the play-action pass. You can’t do that as well if you aren’t establishing the run first. O’Connell has cycled through many different running backs and linemen during his tenure, but this was supposed to be the best OL and RB duo he’s had at his disposal.
Injuries haven’t helped, but as the Vikings start to get healthier, we need to see this rushing attack dominate games to give the young QB coming back the best chance of success.
JJ McCarthy thrived in college as a QB who complemented a dominant rushing attack. He needs that scenario now; expecting him to step in now and do it all would be very optimistic and likely end in disaster. O’Connell will have the chance to implement his rushing attack more effectively as his team heads to Michigan to play the Detroit Lions this week.
You must be logged in to post a comment.