Let me clarify. We have not shown an ability to coach up lower level talent guys into starters. We poor tons of picks into O-linemen in the later rounds and the vast majority of them turn out to be over drafted at that level. When we do draft a high draft pick, we usually go for an athletic guy who we are not able to turn into a viable player (Clemons and Beaver recently).J. Kapp 11 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 12, 2018 9:57 pm I seriously have to disagree with the statement about coaching.
The O-line played reasonably well last year (7th in rushing yards, 11th in passing yards) in spite of having subpar talent. That's coaching. Almost every competent professional analysis of the Vikings last season has come to that conclusion.
Lack of talent? Probably. No ability to coach? Not even close.
Are we able to sign guys in FA that can start? Yup! (Hutch, Reiff, Remmers last year). However, the number of homegrown OL that start for us and possess viable talent is limited.
2017 OL
Reiff - FA
Easton - Below average and should have been replaced
Pat - Hit in the 3rd round. However, centers are typically drafted later than most OL. Best Center in the draft.
Berger - Unicorn based on his late-career rise
Remmers - FA.
None of these guys were fledgling NFL players that were coached up into starter caliber players by the Vikings.