The Vikings’ biggest training camp storyline may still be the quarterback battle, but the more interesting shift might be happening behind it. Minnesota is reworking its running game, and the early buzz is that the change could have a real impact on how the offense opens up for Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson will still be the centerpiece of the passing game. That part isn’t changing.
But when opponents lean on two-high safety looks, the Vikings want a faster, more aggressive ground attack to make them pay. The idea is simple: force defenses to defend the run with speed, then create more big-play chances for Jefferson.
The comparison making the rounds is to what the Minnesota Timberwolves are doing with the acquisition of LaMelo Ball. The thought there is that the addition should help get the ball to dynamic Anthony Edwards more efficiently. Minnesota’s offense is being described in a similar way - a structural change designed to create easier, more explosive opportunities for its best playmakers.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw said the difference starts up front, where the Vikings are changing how they block and how quickly they play. That should matter for Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones.
“There were times in the past where we weren’t running off the ball,” Darrisaw said, per Alec Lewis of The Athletic. “We were thinking more.
Now, it’s just full speed. Let’s go move the line of scrimmage and see what happens.”
Kevin O'Connell has pushed to improve Minnesota’s rushing attack since taking over as head coach in 2022, and last season the results were modest at best. The Vikings finished 23rd in rushing, averaging 108.3 yards per game. If this new approach clicks, it could push them into the top half of the league.
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The shift adds another layer to a safety group that already had some uncertainty around it, especially with Harrison Smith's status still not officially clarified. For Adams, it could open the door to a more natural fit if the Vikings decide his best chance to stick is back where he built his reputation, but for now it is one more hint that the competition on the back end is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]