First there was Bryant McKinnie, sidelined for the first four games of the season after the NFL suspended him for personal conduct violations. Then there was Ryan Cook, benched for sloppy play only to return as a starter one week later so Artis Hicks' torn triceps could heal. And during all of that there was one, then two, quarterback swaps.
The Vikings' offensive line adjusted to something different seemingly every week this season, but the group still managed to block for the NFL's leading rusher in Adrian Peterson, and that, offensive line coach Pat Morris said, might be all that matters.
Before the season began, analysts predicted Minnesota's offensive line would be one of the best in the league. Morris assessed his linemen's season simply -- the Vikings finished 10-6, are playoff bound, and the offensive line blocked for the league's top rusher, proving, he said, "They must have done something right.
So do the front five feel they lived up to the preseason predictions?
"In some aspects, yes," said Hicks, who is expected to play in Sunday's NFC playoff game against Philadelphia but not start, with Cook remaining the starting right tackle. "You've got Adrian, who has the rushing title, and Chester (Taylor) had a real good year, but in the passing game we could improve. We're always looking for improvement."
Vikings quarterbacks were sacked 43 times, fifth most in the league, though some of those sacks were no doubt the result of Gus Frerotte's lack of mobility. Conversely, Minnesota's 2,332 rushing yards were fifth-most in the NFL this season, and the Vikings' 4.5 average yards per carry ranked sixth. Coach Brad Childress said all of that starts with the offensive line.
"They muddle through sometimes and don't get enough credit. Nothing happens without those guys in the front," Childress said. "Whether it's the reserve guys or guys that were coming back, or guys that had been in there for the whole time, I think they've done a nice job as a unit. It's so important, you talk about playing as a team, it's so important that those guys play all as one. "
Those five have been a combination of six -- McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson on the left side, Matt Birk at center and Cook or Hicks (who also filled in at left tackle during McKinnie's suspension) with Anthony Herrera on the right.
Hutchinson said the line has handled the personnel switches well because throughout training camp, exhibition games and into regular-season practices, coaches run through a mix of players on the line to ready the group for the inevitable injury that will disrupt the ideal arrangement of the front five.
Peterson rushed for 1,760 yards, and he will note that his offensive line was a big reason for his success. His offensive line will tell you that, sure, they block for Peterson, but he does a great deal on his own. Coaches have told the second-year back to be more patient, to give the linemen a chance to block their assignments and open up holes.
Hicks admitted, though, that a runner such as Peterson doesn't always have to wait. At times he's fast enough to make his own holes and that, Hicks said, "makes your job easier."
The offensive line is quick to compliment Peterson, but Birk said the importance of a stout group up front is just as vital as the star running back.
"I think it starts up there," Birk said. "I might be a little biased, but your offensive and defensive line, that's what you build your team around. That's where games are won and lost."
