.png)
Aug 10, 2020 at 03:19 PM
Eric Smith
Team Reporter
EAGAN,
Minn. — Riley Reiff is a grizzled veteran in the NFL, and not just
because of the wooly beard he sports along the offensive line.
The starting left tackle also has 112
career starts between his time in Minnesota and Detroit, which makes him the
most experienced lineman the Vikings have on either side of the line.
The other offensive linemen on
Minnesota's roster have 129 combined career starts, and that's split up between
seven players. A handful of linemen — five of them — have never played an NFL
snap.
So yes, as Reiff enters his ninth season after being a first-round
pick back in 2012, it's safe to say he's looked at as a leader along the line.
And with such a unique offseason in the
books, it's a role that Reiff
— a team captain in his first three seasons in Purple — is embracing
even more.
"Obviously being the oldest guy, I
think they kind of put that in there, but I'm an open book," Reiff said
Monday in a rare chat with the Twin Cities media. "If anybody has a
question to me, I welcome it, actually.
"I don't have everything figured
out, either. There's a lot of stuff that still, even going into Year 9, where
I'm asking questions," Reiff added. "These young guys, I hope they
reach out to me and ask me about this or that."
And to be clear, Reiff will take on that
responsibility from his usual left tackle spot. Vikings Offensive Coordinator
Gary Kubiak said as much last week, and Reiff emphasized again Monday there
wasn't much chatter about him potentially moving to guard.
"I didn't hear anything about
that," Reiff said. "Heck, I'll play whatever as long as it helps the
team."
So as Reiff enters his ninth season
overall and fourth in Minnesota, he'll be tasked once again with protecting
Kirk Cousins' blindside and opening up holes for a rushing attack that
consistently wants to pound the ball.
He
drew Kubiak's praise a week ago for his professionalism and work ethic.
"I
think Riley played really well for us last year," Kubiak said. "I think
we can do some things offensively and me as a play caller to help all our
players and help Riley more, from that standpoint.
"I'm
a big Riley Reiff fan. I love him as a person, a player and a leader on our
team. Nobody comes here more ready to work than Riley. It showed," Kubiak
added. "We haven't seen these guys [practice yet], but watching him walk
in, you can see his detail. Expecting Riley to have a great year."
Reiff rattled off a few things he's
focused on as camp ramps up, and also touched on getting the chance for some
offensive continuity.
And although Kubiak will be Reiff's
fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons, the South Dakota native said
he's looking forward to being in a similar scheme again. Kubiak did not call
plays in 2020, but he did have a strong influence on the offensive system.
"We went through a few offensive
coordinators and they've all been great. Some things I'd like to work on are
obviously pass pro," Reiff said. "I think I can get better in run
blocking, too. It's just going out there and being consistent every week.
That's what pros do. I'm looking forward to going out there and putting in the
work and then producing on game days.
"We've got total trust in Gary.
Gary's been around, and Gary's won football games," Reiff later added.
"I'm excited to play in this offense, and it's a fun offense, and we're
putting in the work right now and getting ready for that home opener."
It remains to be seen how the starting
five along the offensive line shakes out, but three starters to pencil in as of
now appear to be Reiff and Brian O'Neill at the tackle spots, along with
second-year center Garrett Bradbury.
O'Neill has started 26 games, and
Bradbury became the first Vikings rookie to start all 16 games of a season at
center. Pat Elflein, who ranks second on the line with 42 total starts, played
center in his first two seasons then shifted to left guard in 2019.
Elflein could be back in that role
again, or the Vikings may take a look at other players during practices in
leading up to a scheduled Week 1 home game against the Packers on Sept. 13.
As the Vikings embark on a season that
could look different from all others — Minnesota will rely on its most-veteran
lineman to help get his group ready to go both on and off the field.
"We haven't been here long,"
Reiff said. "There's some familiar faces back and then there's some new
guys. With the offseason we've had, every minute's crucial. Excited to get to
work with them more as camp progresses. We've just got to put in the time
together, that's how the O-line jells.
"I've been in the room with them,
but with split fields and stuff, I haven't been able to see them that much.
They seem like a real smart group, and I'm excited to help them in any way that
I can," Reiff added. "I've been around. I mean, I wasn't here in the
lockout year, but it's going to happen fast, the season's going to come up on
us. I know it sounds generic, but the minutes that we do get to work this camp
are going to be crucial."
