Post by Funkytown on Jun 8, 2021 15:05:11 GMT -6
It’s the summer preceding the contract year for Brian O’Neill and the rest of the remaining 2018 draft class. That’s prime extension season for players like O’Neill and Tyler Conklin, who have played well. O’Neill has been a bright spot on the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive line amidst the usual chaos and mayhem. How he got to that point is a triumph all its own.
O’Neill’s development since his rookie year is not unlike Rashod Hill‘s, who completely re-vamped his technique between then and now. Of course, O’Neill was a much better player in 2018 than Hill was, but both have grown considerably. We must, to some degree, credit the Vikings’ coaching staff for this. O’Neill’s rookie year started with the tragic passing of Tony Sparano, meaning he started his career under a wide-eyed Andrew Janocko and tight ends coach Clancy Barone.
For a player who came out as a raw-but-athletic project lineman, that could have spelled disaster. But O’Neill earned a starting job midway through his rookie year and has not relinquished it. In 2019 and 2020, Rick Dennison joined the Vikings as offensive line coach, alongside Gary and Klint Kubiak and tight ends coach Brian Pariani. In that time, O’Neill has only improved. While he had a couple of tough games last year, it was largely more of the same.
In fact, O’Neill has added to his game. No longer does he win with athleticism alone or lose when that’s not enough. Instead, O’Neill has learned to utilize his hands and posture better to shore up some of his biggest weaknesses.
O’Neill’s development since his rookie year is not unlike Rashod Hill‘s, who completely re-vamped his technique between then and now. Of course, O’Neill was a much better player in 2018 than Hill was, but both have grown considerably. We must, to some degree, credit the Vikings’ coaching staff for this. O’Neill’s rookie year started with the tragic passing of Tony Sparano, meaning he started his career under a wide-eyed Andrew Janocko and tight ends coach Clancy Barone.
For a player who came out as a raw-but-athletic project lineman, that could have spelled disaster. But O’Neill earned a starting job midway through his rookie year and has not relinquished it. In 2019 and 2020, Rick Dennison joined the Vikings as offensive line coach, alongside Gary and Klint Kubiak and tight ends coach Brian Pariani. In that time, O’Neill has only improved. While he had a couple of tough games last year, it was largely more of the same.
In fact, O’Neill has added to his game. No longer does he win with athleticism alone or lose when that’s not enough. Instead, O’Neill has learned to utilize his hands and posture better to shore up some of his biggest weaknesses.
...
With Dennison, both Rashod Hill and Brian O’Neill have improved in material ways. While it’s natural to blame the offensive line coach for offensive line deficiencies, it’s also important to give credit where it’s due. Of course, Dennison also bears some responsibility for the team’s inexplicable loyalty to Dakota Dozier and the struggles that befell Ezra Cleveland in his rookie year. But as with all things, there’s some good and some bad. With O’Neill, it’s okay to appreciate the Vikings finally developing a good offensive lineman.
... and neither is this Chris guy.