Vikings Coach Turns Heads With Decision on RB Alex Mattison

Getty Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings.

Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler is poised for another start after a breakout performance in Week 15, but head coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t ready to reel in Alexander Mattison just yet.

Chandler had a coming-out party last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, tallying 132 rushing yards on 23 carries while Mattison was out with an ankle injury. Chandler became the first Vikings player to surpass 100 yards on the ground this season for an offense that ranks 23rd in rushing yards this season.

The 2022 fifth-round pick’s performance complemented the passing game as the Vikings went over 400 total yards of offense for the first time since a Week 7 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Still, O’Connell appeared hesitant to deem Chandler his bona fide starting running back the rest of the season.

“Ty is absolutely a guy that is going to continue to see a feature role in our offense,” O’Connell told reporters on December 18. “What that looks like moving forward, as far as who gets the first touch of the game and all those things, we’ll continue to work through based upon what we are attempting to do scheme-wise.”

Without any other viable options, it matters little that Chandler is called the RB1 this week against the Detroit Lions if Mattison is out.

However, O’Connell’s loyalty to Mattison could be detrimental once Mattison returns from injury with the postseason approaching.

O’Connell’s Loyalty to Mattison Could Get in the Vikings’ Way

GettyVikings running back Alexander Mattison

Through his two seasons in Minnesota, O’Connell has promoted a culture of optimism, growth and transparency in the Vikings locker room.

His loyalty to players and staff is opposite of his predecessor, Mike Zimmer, who had a carousel of offensive coordinators (six of them in eight seasons as head coach) and even cut a rookie, Daniel Carlson, just two games into his career.

O’Connell’s coaching philosophy has lent itself to getting the most out of his players. He stood by Ed Ingram through a turbulent rookie year and has since seen Ingram develop into a capable starting guard.

However, O’Connell’s extreme loyalty comes with its faults.

He maintained his faith in defensive coordinator Ed Donatell despite a historically porous defense that could have undergone an overhaul in time for the playoffs. Instead, the New York Giants put up over 400 yards of offense in the playoffs to end the Vikings’ season last year.

O’Connell didn’t pull Josh Dobbs after 4 interceptions in a 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears and stood by him the next game after three scoreless quarters against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Vikings coach’s loyalty to Mattison could be another case of O’Connell getting in his own way.

Ty Chandler Overcomes Concerns in Pass-Blocking

GettySecond-year Vikings running back Ty Chandler

Mattison, who is well-respected in the Vikings organization, signed a two-year, $7 million contract that was almost fully guaranteed. He figuratively took the starting reins after signing the contract, which signaled Dalvin Cook‘s departure.

Minnesota would not pay Mattison a contract like that if there were any questions about him having a featured role in the offense.

He was given the lion’s share of work over the first three regular season games, and the Vikings ranked 31st in rushing during that span. Mattison received 76% of backfield touches and 77% of snaps, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.

Chandler still wasn’t given an opportunity and saw his role diminished even more when the Vikings traded the Los Angeles Rams for Cam Akers. Chandler didn’t play a single offensive snap in four of the next six games before Akers went down with a season-ending ankle injury.

The biggest reason Chandler didn’t see the field was his pass-blocking was not up to par in O’Connell’s pass-first offense. Chandler allowed a quarterback hit against the Denver Broncos that led to a devastating fourth-quarter interception, foiling an impressive 73-yard, 10-carry performance in Week 11.

But on Saturday against the Bengals, Chandler put forth his best pass-blocking performance of the season, garnering an 84.5 pass-blocking grade by Pro Football Focus (PFF). His 10 snaps in pass protection were the most he’s seen in his career, and he kept quarterback Nick Mullens clean for every one of them.

If Chandler can keep Mullens upright this week, he may make himself undeniably the team’s starter the rest of the way.

“It has been part of his growth and process,” O’Connell said. “As great as Ty was running the football [against the Bengals], there were some great moments in protection on some play-passes in protection where he solidified some things for us. He had great awareness of the looks we were playing against. … I think Ty is exactly where we want him to be in his progression, and I think the role he is ascending to is something that we had our minds on when we brought him here, and we’ll continue to everything to get him valuable touches and make him a big part of our offense.”