"These reps are so vital" Kevin O'Connell explains why one starter played Saturday vs. Browns

The Minnesota Vikings decided to not play their starters on Saturday against the Cleveland Browns. It wasn't too much of a surprise considering the teams had two competitive days of joint practices. You arguably get more out of joint practices than you do from the games themselves .

While the starters didn't play as a collective whole, one starter did play significant snaps in right guard Ed Ingram. It sent up red flags across the media and fanbase and there were a lot of questions.

Head coach Kevin O'Connell was asked about Ingram playing snaps and he was upfront about why.

"I just think these, these reps are so vital. And like I tell you guys all the time, we've got an individual plan for every player on our team, what we think based upon reps, what we think based upon getting them game ready, see Ed go out there. Thought he did some really good things in the run game. Pass Pro, for the most part was pretty good. We got beat on one kind of stunt there on the third down. But those are great, great reps for Ed to go out there. He's a captain today. And like, like Ed being ready to go today, even coming off quite a few reps in the joint practice setting."

Getting Ingram reps isn't a bad thing. He's going into his third season and has been inconsistent in his play. I compare him to a heavyweight boxer like Mike Tyson who likes to go for the knockout a little too much. That tendency gets him out of position a little too much which is why the inconsistencies are there.

After that quote, someone in the room asked if Ingram would have played if Dalton Risner was healthy and it cleared things up quickly.

"Would have loved to see Dalton get some snaps today. And yes, I would have had Ed (Ingram) play regardless."

Ingram is the starter at right guard and that won't change barring something extreme happening.

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