Minnesota Vikings: 5 offseason needs in 2019

4. Re-establish the ground game

Flashback to 2016. The Minnesota Vikings finished dead last in the league when it came to running the football. That season, Zimmer’s club rushed for a paltry 1,250 yards. That year, seven players in the league gained more yards on the ground than the Purple Gang. One year later, thanks in part to the addition of second-round pick Dalvin Cook and mainly the free-agent signing of Latavius Murray, the club finished seventh in the league in rushing yards per game. In 2017, only the Jacksonville Jaguars finished with more running plays.

However, the Minnesota ground attack was on hiatus once again in 2018. Only the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers gained fewer yards per game on the ground. While Cook rebounded from his very short rookie campaign and led the Vikings with 615 rushing yards (and two touchdowns) and also finished second on the club with 40 receptions – good for 305 yards and a pair of scores – he played in only 11 contests. Once again, Murray proved to be a valuable asset, finishing second on the team with 578 yards on the ground and leading Minnesota with 140 carries and six rushing touchdowns.

Now that Kevin Stefanski has had the interim taken off of his offensive coordinator title, it’s imperative that the Vikings establish a more balanced attack. It’s also worth noting that Murray could be allowed to test free agency in March.