The Prescient Process Behind Blake Brandel's Ascent as the Vikings' LG1
The offensive lineman's journey has featured no shortage of twists and turns on his way to a spot in the starting lineup.
In 2021, Blake Brandel got some run as a jumbo tight end in Minnesota’s offense.
Klint Kubiak was running the offense at the time, doing so after his father — Gary — retired. The younger Kubiak liked to deploy the smart and versatile Brandel in that role to pack a bit more beef onto the end of the line. Doing so certainly had its benefits in the run game, but there was one moment down in the red zone when Mr. Brandel was allowed to run a route.
Now, before getting too far ahead of ourselves, we should note that he didn’t catch the TD pass. What he did do, however, is run a perfect pick so that Tyler Conklin could get some separation for a score. Conklin got the glory, but Brandel made the play.
The 3-5 Vikings were facing 1st & goal against the 5-3 Chargers. On each of the opening three downs, a tight end motioned across the formation before the snap. On each of the three opening downs, the Vikings ran the ball with Dalvin Cook.
The end result was 4th & goal from the 1-yard line.
Yet again, there was a pre-snap motion as Conklin moved from the left side to the right side. Brandel remained in his spot pre-snap so that he could run a crossing route across the field as Conklin also ran a crossing route.
Like setting a pick in basketball so that shooter can get an open look, the design was for the broad-shouldered Brandel to create some separation for Conklin, possibly by chipping the man-to-man defender(s). What actually occurred was that the Chargers’ defenders ran into each other, falling to the ground.
Conklin was left wide open for the score.
In fact, Kirk Cousins’ arm got hit as he was releasing the ball, causing the ball to flutter in the air as Jerry Tillery — at that time, a Charger — almost intercepted the pass. Instead, it bobbled into Conklin’s hands to give Minnesota a 19-17 lead, eventually climbing to a satisfyingly even 20 points after the extra point.
The Vikings ended up winning the game 27-20, climbing up to 4-5. Brandel offered the offense 4 snaps in the winning effort, but it’s hard to imagine any were as consequential as the route he ran to perfection on Conklin’s touchdown reception.
Blake Brandel Coming Out of College
Prior to getting drafted, Mr. Brandel was a left tackle at Oregon State.
Apparently, his liked watching Jake Long, someone who had a long NFL career (pun intended) and who actually had a short stay with the Vikings in 2016.
Brandel’s thoughts on the All Pro lineman: "We would always wake up early in the mornings on Saturdays and watch them play in the Big House. They were always talking about him because he's a big guy. He played the same position that I did when I was playing in elementary school and everything, so watching him, he was a big-time draft pick. It was always cool to watch him go from college to the pros. He's just always been part of my fandom."
Long was different from Brandel for a few reasons, not the least of which being the draft slot. Mr. Long went at No. 1 in 2008; Mr. Brandel went at No. 203 in 2020.
The scouting report was that he was a technically-sound player but was one who may be limited by strength and athleticism concerns.
Consider, for instance, what Lance Zierlein had to say: “Likely tackle-to-guard position switch due to his lack of length and consistency in pass protection. Brandel is a durable blocker who lacks guard mass, but he works on the nuances of his position, which helps his cause. He understands angles and techniques but is an average athlete with below-average core power and play strength. He gives too much ground to bull-rushers, which is a concern no matter which position he plays up front. He doesn't figure to be a plus run blocker in any scheme. A spot on a practice squad should be his goal for 2020.”
Will Ragatz wrote a piece on Brandel after the draft, praising the lineman’s limited amount of “concerns on his tape from a technique standpoint.”
Ragatz goes on to detail some of the college background and upside: “Nine of those [starts] came at right tackle during his redshirt freshman season, but the other 39 were at left tackle. As a senior, Pro Football Focus graded Brandel as the best pass-protecting tackle in the country. He gave up just four pressures and a single sack on the season, and PFF gave him a 93.1 pass blocking grade (90 grade overall).”
Toward the end, Ragatz even mentions a possible position switch to guard, at least partly due to having shorter arms: “It's also possible that Brandel – who has fairly short arms (33.25") for an NFL [lineman] – could transition to guard at this level. His lack of length and agility could be hidden better on the interior as opposed to being exposed on the outside.”
The picture that emerges from the analysis is of a savvy, hard-working, tough lineman who isn’t going to turn into Trent Williams. Instead, he’ll be strong depth and may need a position switch to make it as a pro. All of this discussion was taking place back in 2020 prior to and after the NFL Draft.
Craig Peters of the Vikings’ website corroborated some of that intel, drawing attention to the lineman’s academic accomplishments: “Brandel was named Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention three times from 2016-18, and he graduated with a degree in business administration.”
Smart, hard working, technically sound. That’s Blake Brandel.
Blake Brandel in the NFL
Things began modestly. Translation: practice squad.
In 2020, the Vikings were leaning on Riley Reiff and Brian O’Neill as their top tackles. Oli Udoh was getting his career off the ground and Rashod Hill was around, as well. Brandel didn’t distinguish himself within that roster depth as a rookie, instead watching and learning from the team’s practice squad.
The 2021 season, though, brought some opportunity for playing time. There weren’t any starts, but there were thirteen games played during that season. In total, Brandel was on the field for 65 snaps with the offense and then 59 snaps with the special teams.
Humble beginnings, to be sure.
Kevin O’Connell took over in 2022, a shift that coincided with Brandel taking on a larger role. Some of that is due to the player’s development but one also wonders about the new coaching staff valuing Brandel differently and new OL coach Chris Kuper potentially getting more out of his players.
The total games played dropped down to just nine in 2022 but there were a trio of starts alongside a career-high 275 snaps with the offense. He played almost exclusively at left tackle, filling in for the injured Christian Darrisaw.
Fast forward into 2023 and there was a need at right guard. Ed Ingram went down with an injury, so it was Brandel who got kicked into the spot. He didn’t perform perfectly — allowing 1 sack, 2 hits, and 8 pressures — but he’s a college left tackle who became an NFL o-line utility player who was needed to play right guard. How much can reasonably be expected?
The expectation now is that Brandel is going to be part of the starting five. In a couple of days, Brandel will get his first ever snaps as a left guard in the NFL.
Blake Brandel’s Role in 2024
Last week, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent some time unpacking the significance of the practice squad. What was notable about his answer is how readily he moved on from the practice squad in favor of talking about patience, or the lack thereof.
“The world, really, is this way,” Adofo-Mensah pontificates, “we’re just, there’s just patience, isn’t a thing anymore. We get information like that.” On that final word, the GM was sure the snap his fingers to suggest the immediacy.
“With players, the phrase ‘draft and develop’ and all these development words used to be used,” Adofo-Mensah goes on to clarify. “So how do we navigate that? And I don’t say that as a complaint. Anytime there’s a challenge to overcome that’s an opportunity for us to be better than other people. So really trying to think thoughtfully about what that means.”
With Brandel, the Vikings have shown ample patience. Drafting and developing did occur. Will Minnesota be rewarded for taking that slow and steady approach?
During the offseason, they re-signed him to a three-year agreement that’s promising to pay $9.5 million. Not earth shattering money for the NFL but a nice raise for the 6th-Round pick who is coming off of his rookie deal.
Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips is a believer in the tackle-turned-guard. During the summer, Phillips offered these thoughts on the position switch: “It’s been very encouraging so far with him stepping into that starting spot on the left there. And I think it’ll only grow from there. The more experience, the more reps he gets. He’s been a guy that anytime he’s been put in a game, at several positions, has come through for us. And we haven’t forgotten that, and I think he’s earned this opportunity.”
Earned this opportunity. Don’t miss that final point. Drafted, developed, and now earned. Brandel is the LG1 and it hasn’t come easy. Brandel has earned it.
Earlier in the week, Kevin O’Connell took a turn praising the lineman during a sitdown with KFAN’s Paul Allen. “He’s had maybe as consistent of a training camp,” O’Connell explains, “that really anybody on our football team has had.” O’Connell goes to praise his “great technique” while saying that Brandel’s size is going to help Garrett Bradbury.
And then helping in pass protection: “I think he’s improved tremendously […] He’s a guy that can sit down on a pass rush now and give ourselves a pretty good pocket in there for Sam to sit in there.”
O’Connell praises his “football intelligence” before saying that he feels “really good about Blake going into the season.”
Blake Brandel hasn’t always had it easy. He’s had to hustle and grind, scrape and claw. Nothing was handed to him in his NFL journey. He survived being a late-round pick, a practice squad player, and then the regime change. He did so because he proved to be smart, tough, and versatile enough to show himself capable of stepping into the various spots along the offensive line.
The current outlook, though, is one of finally being able to settle into a single spot. Give Brandel a pile of credit for what he has accomplished and the Vikings credit for slowly developing a rock-solid player.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, Over the Cap, and PFF helped with this piece.
Odds & Ends
Vikings at Giants Score Prediction
Minnesota is going to get their season off to a 1-0 start, folks. Sorry to ruin the suspense.
Look for Brian Flores’ defense to get the better of Brian Daboll’s offense as Daniel Jones struggles to handle the pressure. Sure, Malik Nabers may make a sensational play or two. He may even hit the griddy. But Flores is going to be too much. In just six games last season, Jones was sacked 30(!) times. Look for the front to feast.
On the other side, the game plan begins and ends with trying to corral Dexter Lawrence. He could make the day supremely difficult, but that’s where Mr. Brandel can help.
Final Score: Vikings 27 — Giants 13
Dad Joke of the Week
The first ever dad joke of the week has been won by TylerIrelandMIN on Twitter.
The joke: “If Tim Tebow thinks, is it a Christian Ponder?”
Vikings Tidbits & Thoughts
Seeing the revamped pass rush is going to be must-see TV. All of Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner on the field at the same time should be a treat.
So much depends on Mr. Darnold. Being on the road makes things a touch tougher but the New York Giants are a great opening opponent. Put simply, they aren’t very good, so there will be plays to be made when he isn’t getting blasted by Mr. Lawrence.
Does Will Reichard continue flirting with perfection? The kid has been insanely impressive. Ideally, he won’t need to drill a record-setting kick to pull off the win.
The opening stretch of games has to lead to a minimum of a 2-3 record. Preferably, things are sitting at 3-2 in time for the Week 6 bye. Going to be tough to scrounge up wins, making Week 1 look pivotal. The 49ers and Texans await. Not easy.
Links for the Dinks:
Vikings Lose QB to NFC Rival: I remain negative about how this went down. Why let a young passer with some upside out of the building? Athleticism and intangibles. That’s what Hall had to offer.
The Sam Darnold Curveball Minnesota May Not be Ready to Hit: What do the Vikings do if Sam Darnold is excellent? The plan is to hand things off to J.J. McCarthy as early as 2025. Is there a world where Darnold comes back?
Kevin O’Connell Explains that J.J. McCarthy Has Taken an Important Step in His Recovery: Minor cart accident aside, it sounds like McCarthy is doing well. Soak up a pile of wisdom and knowledge and be ready for a great 2025.
Thanks for reading and take care of yourself.