Vikings Film Analysis: Aaron Jones Scampers for Nice Gain

Getting that behind the o-line look offers a nice vantage point. There’s a nice clean line working back from the line of scrimmage going from TE Josh Oliver (84), FB Max Bredeson (45), to RB Aaron Jones (33). Better yet, the left side of the offensive line consists of two high-end talents in LT Christian Darrisaw (71) and LG Donovan Jackson (74), both of whom are homegrown blockers taken in the 1st.

On the opposite side of the play, WR Jordan Addison (3) and WR Tai Felton (13) are snug to the end of the line. Lining up in this manner forces the defense to respond, shrinking toward the middle of the field before Minnesota opens the accordion by sending Jones toward the outside.

In youth football, the coaching point is to “run to bums.” A touch silly, perhaps, and yet it’s a good way to guide a young lad toward how to read blocks to find open room. Jones understands the assignment.

Look at how the veteran runner follows Oliver and Bredeson work over their defenders before working through the extra gap that gets created.

Part of how Jones helps his guy is by threatening to go outside. Doing so prompts #2 on the Giants to get onto the outside shoulder of Bredeson. Jones cuts back and then explodes through into green grass. That’s the point of moving horizontal, right? Stretch the defense wide to find a crease. See that crease and then explode vertically.

Oh, and look back to Addison. He gets in front of his guy just a touch, functioning as more of a speed bump than a stop sign. Slowing the scraping defender allows Jones to have enough time to be patient. Felton does something similar, albeit of less consequence, by working down the field before squaring off his corner.

Kevin Seifert took on the same play, writing, “Usual caveats of preseason, but watch the blocks of LT Christian Darrisaw (71) on Aaron Jones’ 18-yard run yesterday, and RG Will Fries (76) on Jordan Mason’s 15-yard run. Big emphasis this summer from Kevin O’Connell to play on ‘the other side of the line’ in the run game.”

Seifert’s wisdom is precisely that: wise. Still, there’s upside here. The Bredeson and Oliver duo is a lot to handle.

Aaron Jones took a pay cut to come back to Minnesota for the upcoming season. Doing so means moving into a contract season healthy and likely very motivated. Maybe Minnesota will lean on the former Packer for a beefy workload. Doing so will make life easier for the team’s new QB1.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.