Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s UDFA prowess takes center stage Sunday and it could decide Week 5 game vs. Browns
Getting any kind of success from Joe Huber would be a huge coup for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Injuries have absolutely decimated the offensive line for the Minnesota Vikings, and it could end up being a disaster come Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
This offseason, the Vikings spent numerous priority resources on improving the interior of the offensive line, and when all three of Donovan Jackson, Ryan Kelly, and Will Fries played together, it looked really good. Unfortunately, Kelly has missed nearly two full games with a concussion and is set to miss another game on Sunday, and Jackson will miss his second consecutive game after wrist surgery. Pair that with Michael Jurgens also out with a hamstring injury, and the Vikings will be starting a UDFA at left guard with Blake Brandel starting at center.
Vikings have confidence in UDFA Joe Huber
When the Vikings initially added offensive lineman Joe Huber as a UDFA, he appeared to have one of the best chances to make the roster. He dominated in the first preseason game against the Houston Texans, posting a PFF grade over 90, and he made the initial 53-man roster.
“Joe was one of those guys that, I don’t always tell you guys this, but he probably made the team a heck of a lot earlier than the cut-down day, at least in my mind,” said head coach Kevin O’Connell about Huber. “Just with what you could not only see in the present with the player, but also where we think he can go in the future. And he’s done nothing but enhance a lot of those opinions with his time, and he’s going to get an opportunity to show us where he’s at on Sunday.”
Finding UDFAs has been something that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has thrived in finding during his three-plus seasons as the general manager. 16 UDFAs have made the roster, along with former UFL player Jalen Redmond, and inside linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. and punter Ryan Wright are currently starters.
“I was mentioning this to Wes and a couple of other guys today, just yesterday was a little bit more of a physical practice. And you’re watching Joe in there during the reps he was in, and just feel so rooted and strong,” said O’Connell. “He’s got some pretty unique power to him, and then enough movement skills and athleticism to pair that together and still use the power even when he gets out of position at times, which is going to happen. It’s going to happen throughout the pass game. It happens in the run game phase. They don’t just stay exactly where you think they’re going to be all the time. And he was able to show that in the preseason.”
During his college career at both Wisconsin and Cincinnati, Huber compiled 2,510 snaps and allowed just 42 pressures during that time, and only 19 of them were in the last two seasons. Theoretically, with his strength and athleticism, Huber should be relatively okay, but the Browns’ defensive line has one of the best defenders in the world, Myles Garrett.
The one thing to keep an eye on with Huber is what O’Connell said about him: using power when he’s out of position. That could elevate him to being a starter in time. However, that doesn’t mean his starting debut will go as planned.
If Huber does a great job, it will be another feather in the cap of Adofo-Mensah.
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