Vikings

Offensive Line Remembers Tony Sparano Before Bounceback Performance

Photo Credit: Brad Rempel (USA Today Sports)

In addition to his signature sunglasses, his gruff-on-the-outside-caring-on-the-inside personality and his habit of clapping his clipboard following a big offensive play, the late Tony Sparano was known for his one-liners.

“Unlock the hips!” he could often be heard yelling during mid-summer training camp practices.

Sparano passed away suddenly in late July, but his quips have lingered in the minds of his offensive linemen, who hearkened back to their former coach before keeping quarterback Kirk Cousins upright for the majority of Sunday’s 24-17 win against the Green Bay Packers.

“Last night right before we sang the National Anthem, I was standing next to Rashod Hill,” said center Pat Elflein, “and he looked at me and just made it a point to really enjoy this moment. He looked up and said, ‘You know who’s looking down on us, right? Tony is.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I know he is.’ We started to recite all the one-liners and things that Tony would be saying to us at this very moment if he were here.”

Elflein mentioned a pair of them, saying he can still hear Sparano’s voice yelling from the sideline.

“It’s worth it!” he might have said.

“Watch the twist!”

Indeed, the Vikings adroitly handled most of the Packers twists, stunts, blitzes and other schemes. Mike Remmers was beaten in the fourth quarter for a third-down sack by Dean Lowry on what head coach Mike Zimmer called a “total miscommunication,” and Cousins was sacked on another play where he held the ball for five seconds in the pocket. Otherwise, Minnesota produced one of its most consistent passing games all season. A pair of missed field goals and a dropped fourth quarter touchdown by Stefon Diggs prevented what could have been viewed as an explosive night offensively.

As it was, Cousins delivered 342 passing yards and three touchdowns. While Pro Football Focus has Cousins as the most pressured quarterback in football, the quality of his protection took a step in the right direction Sunday night.

“I thought they were ready to play,” said head coach Mike Zimmer of the offensive line. “I thought they did a really good in pass protection; really in all phases I thought they did a good job. They protected very well last night.”

The offensive line faced scrutiny after a 25-20 loss at Chicago in which Cousins was routinely facing pressure from edge rusher Khalil Mack, but Zimmer voiced his support for the group after the game.

According to Zimmer, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo changed up some protections to help the line, and Cousins got the ball out in a more timely fashion Sunday night.

“When we had to get the ball out quick we got it out quick,” said Zimmer, who mentioned Adam Thielen’s first down catch and run on a 3rd and 10 play. “They all don’t have to be past the sticks. There’s time when there’s outlets when guys are chasing people man to man, you have a chance to catch it and run.”

The Vikings thrived under Sparano in 2017 when they got to utilize their line’s mobility. With Elflein fully healthy after an early-season absence and rookie Brian O’Neill providing a fleet-footed skillset at right tackle, the Vikings cashed in twice on touches by Dalvin Cook on their opening scoring drive. The running back dashed for nine yards with O’Neill bullying Blake Martinez on a jet sweep. Five plays later Cook took a screen pass 26 yards to the end zone in the first quarter with Elflein blocking upfield.

Screenshot via NFL Gamepass
Screenshot via NFL Gamepass

“I think our guys have been doing a great job at perimeter blocking,” said Elflein. “Giving Diggs, Thielen, Cook, just giving those guys a chance. If you give those type of guys a chance to make somebody miss and gain some yards, I’m putting my money that they’re going to do that.”

Known for his toughness as a coach, Sparano wanted to see that mentality mirrored in his players. He likely would have appreciated Zimmer using the words “grit” and “nastiness” on Monday to describe O’Neill’s mindset.

“That’s the kind of guys I want to have here,” Zimmer said.

The Vikings presently employ two co-offensive line coaches: Andrew Janocko and Clancy Barone. But Sparano’s influence is still a third voice in the room.

“Even though he’s not physically here, I feel like he’s still coaching us and getting us right for the games and all the adjustments and everything,” said Elflein. “We’re still feeling his presence every day in every game.”


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