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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Tyler Forness

Vikings 90-man roster player profile: DL Ross Blacklock

Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!

Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.

What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.

As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.

Background

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Name: Ross Blacklock

Rank: 60

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 290 lbs

Experience: 4 years

College: TCU

Stats (in 2022): 40 games, 38 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 9 quarterback hits, 3 sacks, 2 passes defended, 1 forced fumble

Votes: 

Tyler Forness: 59

Kevin Fielder: 60

Judd Zulgad: 60

Saivion Mixson: 60

Average: 59.75

Best case scenario

Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports

Blacklock is a smaller, gap-shooting defensive lineman that hasn’t gotten a lot of traction during his career. Working with Brian Flores, who loves having players with a specialty, could help Blacklock finally unlock the pass rushing acumen he entered the league with. On a defensive line without a lot of quick penetrators, Blacklock could carve out a role on this defense.

 

Worst case scenario

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Blacklock came into the Vikings last season and struggled mightily. He was so poor that he didn’t suit up after week 12. He was getting washed out consistently and didn’t generate a lot of pressure (9.4% pressure rate). He is mainly a pass rush specialist that struggles against the run, something that will limit his overall effectiveness.

What to expect in 2023

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

There isn’t a lot of hope for Blacklock’s long-term future. He struggled once the Vikings acquired him after final cuts last year, but how much of that is solely on Blacklock versus the disaster of a defensive coordinator Ed Donatell was last year? With the addition of Flores, he could make the roster. The likely scenario is Blacklock doesn’t make the team, but the raw talent is evident.

The Real Forno Show

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