So, About that OLine...

The offensive line looked the opposite of what many expected (including me)...  at least for tonight.  I thought we really struggled to run the ball and open up holes for much of the first half.  Even in the second half, there were too many rushing attempts that went for 1 or 0 yards but Cook was able to spring a couple chunk plays.  I figured this line would be much better at run blocking this season, but they looked phenomenal in pass protection.  It was crazy to see graphics showing Bradford having 3+ seconds to scan the field and find the open WR downfield.
It was a great start to the season and I hope the offensive line can stay healthy and continue to grow...  best offensive performance I've seen since the Houston game last season.
BOOM

I think this was the biggest and best surprise for me.  After the preseason I thought we would suck on offence again this year. 
Sam said that people outside the facility didn't have confidence and I was one of them as I saw nothing going right.  I just hope they can keep this kind of play going all year. 
The Saints O line was suffering too so maybe this was not a fair test but it sure felt good.  Finally!!

Fantastic improvement, I am happily surprised.

However...Remmers looks like a weak link.

Still had trouble run blocking. Cook got hit in the backfield more than he should have, but it was really nice to see Sam having a normal amount of time back there. Great first game from this rag tag bunch of misfits.

Other than Remmers with the holding penalty, the OL seemed to get better as the game progressed. Considering they haven't really played together, they came together quite nicely tonight. There were some running lanes for Dalvin and Sam had time to see the field without having to worry about pressure bearing down on him. It was nice to see Sam celebrate some of those big plays. 

It was vs. the Saints lousy D, but at least they consistently looked like they had a clue, which is a step up. 

On the road vs. Pittsburgh will be dicier, but at least now I'm not cringing in advance.

They played very well.

It was a much bigger improvement than I expected to see from the line. Hopefully, they can keep up with the improved pass protection, because Bradford with time and options down field is a very different player from what we saw last year. I also think Cook deserves recognition for his great work in blitz pickup, definitely a night and day difference from Peterson's shaky protection.

As for the run blocking, that was more up and down. A lot of short run, but it was encouraging to see them open up some big rushing lanes at times and I liked seeing Elflein pull and make some blocks downfield. While not a blocking thing, it was interesting to see more east-west running plays, just not plays that I'm used to seeing the Vikings, but Cook was able to break some big runs horizontally. I don't think he'll be the home run threat like Peterson was, since running laterally requires him to cover a lot more distance than a north-south runner like Peterson, but he did show that he's capable of picking up big chunks of yards. It will be a very different offense with Cook on the field.

Played much better than I thought they would.

I said all off-season if they could get to mediocre, Sam would take his game up a notch...So far, so good...

We still had too many short FGs, and too many bad runs, but considering we have 5 new starters playing together for the first time, I'll take it...

They played well against a very mediocre to poor defense. I'll take it, however. 

Interesting that at least once (on Sam's great pass to Wright), Remmers lined up to the left of Reiff, with Rudy and Cook taking on the pass rush on the right. Vikings seemed to know where the rush was going to come from on this one. Sam still got hit as he threw, but he got it off. One of the prettiest passes I've seen in 10 years. 

Anyone else notice Sirles get in for a series or two for Easton?

@"StickyBun" said: Anyone else notice Sirles get in for a series or two for Easton?

IIRC he was in for Berger.  I heard them say Easton,  but it was Berger that was out for a bit the way it looked to me.

The thing to me is that although the Saint Defense is said to be pretty poor (although the talking heads tried to talk it up like it was overhauled and better) this was still an NFL roster that really had very little impact on our QB. THat's encouraging. You are supposed to handle the teams well that you are supposed to win. We did exactly that and more. They aren't the 85 bars but we did everything against them that we should have been able to do save for perhaps a few better holes in the run game. But it also was our first game of the year with an oline that we haven't seen play together as a unit. Lot's to be encouraged about there. 

@"Jor-El" said: Fantastic improvement, I am happily surprised.

However...Remmers looks like a weak link.

One of them is always going ti be the weak link. Maybe he gets better with lining up next to the same guy every time, or maybe they just adjust their play calling to reflect that. which is something that hasnt happened in what seems like forever.
I think every lineman has bad plays, but the center of the line not getting blown up and the tackles not being turnstiles on every pass play was a sight for sore eyes.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Anyone else notice Sirles get in for a series or two for Easton?

IIRC he was in for Berger.  I heard them say Easton,  but it was Berger that was out for a bit the way it looked to me.

@"BarrNone55" said: I said all off-season if they could get to mediocre, Sam would take his game up a notch...So far, so good...

We still had too many short FGs, and too many bad runs, but considering we have 5 new starters playing together for the first time, I'll take it...

The offensive line was better than "mediocre" Monday night...  their pass protection was PHENOMENAL.  I think Bradford was only hit twice and sacked once.  It was crazy to see graphics showing Bradford had 3+ seconds on some of his deep completions...  we haven't seen those in YEARS...  LOL
If the Vikings can keep up that type of protection and get on the same page in the running game...  WATCH OUT.
BOOM

Unfortunately, the one sack that Bradford took was a HUGE hit. And right on the shoulder. That could have easily been a broken collarbone shot. He got up wincing. I cringed because it just had the look of an injury the way he got pile-driven into the turf.

Chris Tomasson‏ @christomasson  4m4 minutes ago

Sam Bradford said center Pat Elflein didn't miss a call all game