Kelly, 32, is in as close proximity to the young passer as anyone, and his expertise can’t be overstated.
“He’s just such a vet in that he’s seen everything they can give you up front over the years and been in a few different systems, even being in one place,” Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips said of Kelly, who started 121 games over nine seasons for Indianapolis. “He’s had to change some things that he’s done, had some different line coaches, but I think it’s been a good challenge for him to learn something different, learn some new terminology, but you wouldn’t really know it when he goes out there and communicates with the guys. And then on top of the communication, his physical ability to be able to really sit down and anchor, he’s just a big strong guy, presence in the middle, that anchor that you want.”
Kelly, having blocked for future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Frank Gore toward the end of his career and one of the game’s sharpest active runners in Jonathan Taylor, is exceptionally qualified to comment on the state of the Vikings backfield. Kelly is encouraged – and has discerned some parallels.
“They both have a lot of crossover,” Kelly shared before assessing each back individually. “Aaron, watching him pass block, the way he attacks that, he might be smaller, but he plays very physical. And Jordan is a big guy, so obviously you have the intangibles of being able to run hard or run downhill, but his swift ability to put a foot in the ground and cutback is also incredible. So while their size comparison might tell you one story, I think if you watch the film, they both can do a lot of different things.”
The breadth of schemes, Kelly said, also is a bonus for the backfield. Their skills navigating, and sometimes teasing lanes on outside zone, inside zone, tosses and gap runs has impressed Kelly so far.
“You might think that this is where the ball is supposed to go in the beginning, but you see some of the jump cuts they make, and, really, I think if you see a veteran running back, you know he’s really skilled when he starts letting the blocks get developed,” Kelly continued. “You can feel a pressure from the right side, wait for it to clear and then cut back, right? I think it’s more so not just seeing the hole right away and really punching it. I mean, both of these guys have the ability to do that, but it’s the patience to let blocks develop and then find the hole [that pops]. I think that is really, really incredible for those guys.”
With Kelly very likely to be flanked by Fries, who is nearly recovered from a broken leg suffered last season, and Jackson, who is adapting to stronger and faster defenders and stacking reps by the practice, and bookended by stud tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, McCarthy should feel safe.