MANKATO, Minn. — You couldn’t blame offensive lineman Phil Loadholt if he is carrying around a bit of extra confidence these days.
The Vikings’ second-round pick in the April draft, Loadholt was expected to compete with Ryan Cook for the starting job at right tackle in training camp. At least that’s how the Vikings sold it.
But two weeks into camp, Loadholt, a graduate of Fountain-Fort Carson High School who starred at Oklahoma, has taken the overwhelming majority of snaps with the first team. It’s clear the job is his to lose.
“I know right now that it means absolutely nothing,” he said. “We’ve got a long time to go before the actual first game of the year. Even though the preseason game is right around the corner, it means absolutely nothing until I get in there and actually prove (myself).”
Loadholt has been trying to do that since the Vikings arrived in Mankato. A mammoth man at 6-feet-8 and 343 pounds, he knows his stature alone won’t guarantee success. That’s why he takes film study so seriously.
“Every day is a learning day for him, but he doesn’t make the same mistake twice,” offensive line coach Pat Morris said.
Said Loadholt: “I maybe write down one or two things that I did last practice that I’m not going to do this time. I might do something else (wrong), but I’m not going to do that.”
The Vikings were thrilled to get Loadholt with the 54th pick in the draft.
Cook, who is working at guard, center and tackle, struggled as the starter last season and at one point was replaced by Artis Hicks.
Loadholt played two seasons at Oklahoma after transferring from Garden City (Kan.) Community College. He started 27 games for the Sooners, who went 23-5 and won consecutive Big 12 titles. He gave up only two sacks and one quarterback pressure on 438 pass plays last season. That came with Loadholt playing left tackle.
Most NFL scouts agree Loadholt is best suited to play the right side. Assuming he is the starter, the Vikings will have two of the biggest tackles in the NFL. Bryant McKinnie also is 6-8 and is listed at 335 pounds. This is to Loadholt’s advantage because McKinnie understands exactly what his new teammate is experiencing.
“We pretty much talk every day,” McKinnie said. “If I see something, I let him know what he can do to correct it. Or if he has a question, he’ll come ask me and I’ll try to give my advice. It’s easy for us to relate.”
McKinnie has worked with Loadholt on getting him to bend at his knees instead of at his waist. That will help him with his leverage in run blocking.
“That’s a big issue with me, just like he told me it was for him when he first came out,” Loadholt said. “It’s just something that you have to work on.”
Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said he is pleased with what he has seen from Loadholt.
“He’s worked hard and he stays after it and does extra,” Bevell said. “I see him in the film room by himself. He asks a lot of questions. He wants to do it the right way. He gets upset with himself when he makes a mistake or when he doesn’t feel like he’s done his job. I like that out of those kind of guys.”
And Bevell surely must like the mind-set Loadholt takes when asked how hard he is on himself.
“I haven’t had a good day yet,” Loadholt said. “So in my mind I just have a lot to work on and I’m looking forward to continuing to do that.”
