As the Minnesota Vikings prepare for their opening game of the 2023 NFL Season, there are several storylines that I will be following come game time. Some will be a major determinant of who wins the game tomorrow, and some will be a portend of things to come. And some fit in both categories. Here is a summary of these storylines.
Have the Minnesota Vikings improved their interior offensive line pass protection?
It’s widely understood that the Vikings have one of the best offensive tackle combos in the NFL in Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw. And it is generally accepted as a fact that the Vikings’ entire offensive line does a very good job opening up rushing lanes for their backs.
The biggest concern regarding this group has been the performance of the interior pass blockers. Center Garrett Bradbury and guards Ezra Cleveland and Ed Ingram have been subpar performers in the area.
As a result, Pro Football Focus rated the Vikings’ pass protection performance as 19th best in the league in 2022. And quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a career-high 46 sacks last season. The Vikings O-line must show great improvement in this area. Otherwise, it will be a long and painful year for Cousins.
After Alexander Mattison, what other Vikings back gets the most carries, and what will the distribution of carries look like?
Vikings RB Alexander Mattison (2) – Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports
Mattison is the unquestioned number one back but who siphons off the remaining carries. On the unofficial depth chart just released, Ty Chandler is listed as the backup, with Ex-Dolphin Myles Gaskin right behind him. Will Chandler get the bulk of the remaining carries, or will Coach Kevin O’Connell turn to the more experienced Gaskin?
Last year, the handoff distribution ratio between starter Dalvin Cook and Mattison was about 70-30. Will that gap close this year with Mattison being a less experienced starter? And how will Chandler and Gaskin divvy up the remaining carries?
Will they turn Jordan Addison loose on Sunday?
Vikings WR Jordan Addison (3) – David Berding/GettyImages
With the Tampa Bay defense concentrating on Justin Jefferson and tight-end T.J. Hockenson in passing situations, there should be some opportunities for Jordan Addison and KJ Osborn to shine. The Bucs traditionally have had a strong secondary, but they are suffering from depth issues this year. We should know early on how involved Addison will be in the game plan.
Will the Minnesota Vikings display a consistent pass rush that will give Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield fits all day?
New Vikings defensive coordinator Brain Flores is famous for having a package of effective and aggressive blitzes. It has been his calling card wherever he has coached. Will his schemes lead to more quarterback sacks, hits, and pressures on Sunday? And how would the potential loss of edge Marcus Davenport affect their performance?
And what about Ivan Pace Jr?
The Vikings’ have named Jordan Hicks and Brian Asamoah II as the inside linebacker starters for tomorrow’s game. But waiting in the wings is undrafted free-agent Ivan Pace Jr. Pace has had a monstrous preseason and training camp, and many observers thought he may have overtaken Asamoah for the starting position. It will be interesting to see how often the Vikings turn to him tomorrow and in what types of situations.
How often will the use Vikings use their three-safety scheme in passing situations?
With their lack of depth at cornerback, the Vikings seem poised to rely heavily on their three-safety alignment on passing downs. So, the trio of Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, and Josh Mettelus should see plenty of action as a unit. This, of course, will be partially dictated by game situations and the performance of this unit. But it appears the team is pleased with what they have seen so far with this package.
