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Certain Vikings players have surprised this season to help the team get to .500 before the bye week. Among them is the team’s right guard, a former sixth-round pick who converted to that position from tackle.
In his first year as a full-time starter, Oli Udoh has highlight-reel blocks on J.J. Watt and decent games against the Bengals, Cardinals and Seahawks. However, the Vikings guard has possibly developed a penalty problem in 2021.
Udoh currently ranks No. 3 in the NFL for most penalties this season. The Vikings guard has six, including four penalties (H/T The Athletic’s Greg Auman).
The only players with more? The Cowboys’ Connor Williams and the Raiders’ Alex Leatherwood.
For an offensive lineman, penalties aren’t always the worst thing. For instance, an offensive lineman who is rarely penalized, but is getting constantly beaten, is much worse. Udoh has been decent this year with a PFF grade of 55.9.
I’m sure the Vikings would rather him try and get away with a holding call, rather than just let a defensive player get a free pass to the quarterback. However, the truly elite linemen in the NFL don’t get penalized and don’t allow too many pressures. Udoh might not be there yet, but it is his first year with starter reps.
The Vikings need him to progress. If that happens, Minnesota may have finally filled a guard spot.