The normal tendency at this time of the offseason for Minnesota Vikings fans is to cringe and hope on the upcoming outlook of the offensive line.
The Vikings pass protection is a longstanding, head-scratching ordeal, always seeming to live at the back of the priority list. And the numbers confirm the lackluster performance.
Vikings team pass block grade and rank since 2014:
2014: 72.4 (23rd)
2015: 67.9 (28th)
2016: 64.7 (30th)
2017: 71.9 (17th)
2018: 63.6 (27th)
2019: 63.0 (27th)
2020: 55.5 (29th)— PFF MIN Vikings (@PFF_Vikings) January 14, 2021
The run-blocking scheme executed by head coach Mike Zimmer and friends usually appears competent — probably because of the wizardry of Dalvin Cook and Adrian Peterson [in 2015] — but keeping men like Kirk Cousins and Sam Bradford upright has plagued the organization.