NFL Draft: Rise of the power slot

The Minnesota Vikings face a predicament on offense that will only be figured out with time.

With just 15 months on the job, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell are attempting to build their brand of offense but the opportunities to do so have been limited.

This free agency has signaled a significant step in that direction, though. After releasing wide receiver Adam Thielen and signing tight end Josh Oliver, it seems like the Vikings will shift to more two tight end sets. This is a far cry from how the offense operated last season.

While such a move should help boost the Vikings’ chances on the ground, significant work has to be done. The Vikings won’t live in 12 personnel (one running back and two tight ends) all game and will have to run the ball out of 11 personnel eventually.

Currently, the Vikings are operating incompletely in this sense, and it seems like they’ll continue to struggle on the ground when they head into 11 personnel.

There is a solution, however, and it involves embracing a shift in football: power slots.

What is a power slot?

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Power slots (or big slots, depending on who you ask) break the rules of slot receivers.

They’re not small and shifty like Julian Edelman or Wes Welker. They aren’t going to wow you with crafty route running in the phone booth, and they won’t win with their sheer athleticism. Power slots are often more physical and larger than the prototypical slot wide receivers.

Finding power slots isn’t particularly challenging. They’re a staple in college football and the NFL as more teams look to create mismatches on the backend.

Think about it this way: if slot receivers were mostly shifty, how would defenses try and cover them? For the most part, that means teams will operate with smaller slot corners that can keep up with these types. However, if a team uses a slot receiver with more size and physicality, the smaller cornerbacks can struggle. The big fish will always eat the small fish.

Examples of power slot receivers

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Some modern-day examples of power slots include Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, New Orleans’s Michael Thomas, and even Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce. Historically, Larry Fitzgerald made a career putting inside cornerbacks in all-time bad situations.

One of the more unique examples comes from Kevin O’Connell’s former team, the Los Angeles Rams.

Ben Skowronek isn’t the most intimidating wide receiver, but at 6-foot-2, he’s built a career out of being a big slot. With his size, defenses struggle to defend him when he lines up inside, allowing him to take advantage on deeper routes.

The Rams, however, don’t just play Skowronek as a slot receiver. Last season, Sean McVay lined him up just about anywhere you can imagine. He played H-back, he played outside receiver, and he played in the slot. Heck, Skowronek even lined up as a fullback.

Seriously, 6-foot-2, 220-pound Ben Skowronek played some fullback.

Regarding Skowronek, power slots can be crucial for teams that want to run a wide zone scheme out of 11 personnel.

Although running a wide zone scheme with just one tight end can be beneficial because it forces teams to play in their nickel defense, effectively running it relies on having wide receivers who are good run blockers to help seal the edge.

The problem is that most wide receivers, especially the smaller ones, aren’t great run blockers. As a result, teams that have adopted this offense have begun to have bigger wide receivers in the slot because they are often better run blockers. Skowronek, for example, is an efficient run blocker, and he’s 6-foot-2, meaning the Rams can, in a sense, treat him as an extra blocker.

Meet Jake Bobo

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The Minnesota Vikings won’t get Ben Skowronek this season. He’s under contract, and it seems like the Rams have no desire to get rid of him.

While Skowronek isn’t available, supersized Ben Skowronek might be available through the NFL Draft. The best part? The Vikings might be able to draft him on day three.

Let me be the first to tell you that you’re missing out if you haven’t watched UCLA wide receiver Jake Bobo’s film.

Bobo is the NFL Draft’s closest equivalent to Skowronek, and while that might not be exciting to most people, it does signify an opportunity for the Vikings to embrace the change in NFL offenses.

Last season, Bobo embraced a unique role inside Chip Kelly’s offense and flourished, finishing with 817 yards and seven touchdowns. His unicorn-like status, though, came with how UCLA used Bobo.

Although Bobo isn’t a unicorn physically, the Bruins moved him across the field. He played outside receiver and in the slot. He even lined up as an H-back quite a few times, allowing Kelly to maximize Bobo’s potential while hiding what he struggles with.

While testing numbers weren’t available for Skowronek due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bobo’s testing numbers paint some limitations with his NFL role. Bobo ran a 4.99 40-yard dash and a 1.76-second 10-yard split during UCLA’s Pro Day, but those numbers could be tossed up to some terrible field conditions due to the rain.

In reality, Bobo would have likely run more of a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, which still isn’t amazing, but it’s probably enough for a possession wide receiver in O’Connell’s system. Historically, possession wide receivers don’t fit into the athletic thresholds that the Rams targeted with O’Connell involved. Instead, they normally come with a baseline amount of production, like Bobo.

As for team fit, drafting Bobo could allow the Vikings to operate in 11 personnel and not take a massive step down in production. Bobo could be the missing link to unlocking the Vikings’ run game in 11 personnel because he’s such a solid blocker.

On the first play against crosstown rivals USC, USC asked Bobo to insert into the gap as an extra run blocker. Although the block wasn’t entirely successful, there was an extra pop in his block.

Bobo ran a similar route later in the game but was aligned in the slot this time. This time, Thompson-Robinson found Bobo for a first down. These routes are common for tight ends because it forces cornerbacks to retreat to defend the physicality they offer. Bobo offers similar physicality as these tight ends while giving the offense more athleticism.

With Bobo’s lack of elite athleticism and simplified route running, he’ll likely be asked to play as a physical slot receiver at the next level. Although he could play on the outside at times, he’ll struggle to break down boundary cornerbacks, especially if they press. However, asking Bobo to run simplified routes and use his combination of size and physicality against smaller players will help maximize his play.

Who are other power slots in the draft?

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If Kevin O’Connell wanted a run blocker primarily, then Bobo makes a lot of sense. However, if the Vikings want to pursue a wide receiver with a more diverse receiving profile, there are other options available.

Ole Miss WR Jonathan Mingo: Mingo measured in at 6-foot-2 during the NFL Scouting Combine and ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash. Like Bobo, Mingo is a solid run blocker (clip below) but can offer a better option as a receiver. Although he’ll need to develop his route running, Mingo has the releases and twitch that make him a reliable receiving option. Mingo is expected to be a day two selection.

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Story originally appeared on Vikings Wire