Position battles during training camp have long been a popular conversation topic for fans as the football season ramps up. It’s normal for teams to have younger guys trying to unseat underperforming or aging incumbents at various spots. When it comes to Vikings camp battles though, there really isn’t much to see when it comes to the offense.
For the second straight season, the starting eleven all come borderline entrenched in their starting roles. Anyone taking a run at one of their spots during the preseason would be a true surprise. While a bit boring for fans and local media, the lack of competition should serve the offense well when games start to matter.
Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Battles: The Offense
A Look at Last Season
Last year’s training camp was very similar to this one when it came to the offense. Familiar faces were starting at nearly every position. If there was a minor battle to be found, it was at right guard where Ed Ingram faced a modicum of competition prior to his rookie season. Ultimately, he was the leader in the clubhouse from the moment Vikings camp started all the way through the season’s conclusion.
Looking at how the season progressed, everyone managed to retain their jobs except for Irv Smith who was supplanted at tight end by the midseason acquisition of T.J. Hockenson. Minnesota’s continuity on offense proved to be a huge catalyst for their surprise 13-4 finish to the season. Those wins famously include a record-setting 11-0 in one-score games.
Many are calling it a fluke, but teams don’t put that many game-winning drives together without trust. Kirk Cousins was able to trust that his guys would consistently be in the right place in big moments. His receivers and offensive line trusted him to get the ball out on time. That trust started building the moment they entered training camp. All those snaps with the same guys over the course of the year made a huge difference.
Continuity in 2023
A year after finishing seventh in total offense and points per game, a lot of the same guys are returning this season. Eight of the eleven starters who began training camp in their respective roles in 2022 return to the same spots. That just doesn’t happen often in the National Football League. And of the three “new” starters, two aren’t really that new. Hockenson has already hit the ground running and former backup running back Alexander Mattison was around all of last season. Only rookie first-rounder Jordan Addison is truly new to the offense, and he’s got Justin Jefferson to learn from. He should be just fine.
Minnesota’s continuity will allow things to click even faster for the offense in year two under Kevin O’Connell. The second-year head coach should have no issue installing more complex looks at a quicker pace given that most everyone is familiar with his scheme and terminology. Not having starter spots up for grabs might be somewhat boring for fans attending Vikings camp. However, the thought of what this unit might accomplish after once again taking the lion’s share of first-team snaps this summer should get those fans through the dog days of practice.
Backup Battles
While there are no starting spots to be won on offense, camp battles for the fringes of the roster can still be found. The two most noteworthy are the battle for carries behind Mattison and the battle for the WR4/5 spots.
Mattison will have every opportunity early in the season to take Dalvin Cook’s role as the bellcow back. That will likely leave very little work behind him, but you never know with that position in the NFL. Should injury strike or Mattison prove ineffective in a full-time role, then there may be an opportunity there. Ty Chandler is likely the front-runner for that role after a very impressive preseason a year ago. Kene Nwangwu will certainly retain his role on kick-offs but has been relatively ineffective in limited offensive snaps to date. Rookie DeWayne McBride is also on the roster but given that he contributes nothing as a pass catcher he’s likely ticketed for the practice squad.
The remaining receiver spots behind the starting trio of Jefferson, Addison, and K.J. Osborn could come down to special teams contributions. Jalen Nailor feels like a lock for WR4. He showed some juice in a Week 18 tryout last season and has been impressive throughout offseason workouts. That leaves the final spot as a battle between Jalen Reagor and Brandon Powell. Reagor returned punts last year but had some issues with fumbles. Powell was on the Rams roster when O’Connell was there but has been having a tough camp. Even with the fumbling issues it feels like Reagor has the leg up at this stage.
These types of battles likely won’t mean too much in September, but they’re something to watch in camp. If things go according to plan, Vikings fans will only be talking about their talented starting eleven when the regular season kicks off.
Main Photo: Matt Marton – USA Today Sports
