Vikings want offensive line continuity, Geoff Schwartz wants to start

Jul 27, 2012; Mankato, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive line run drills at training camp at Blakeslee Stadium at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

If the Vikings re-sign offensive guard Geoff Schwartz, it’ll be for a starting opportunity and not for depth.

Schwartz, 26, wants to start in 2013, whether it is with the Vikings or somewhere else.

"“Whether in MN or elsewhere, I’m not going to be depth this season. Can promise that,” Schwartz tweeted."

Schwartz signed a one-year $1.35 million contract with Minnesota prior to the 2012 season and spent most of the season rotating on the line with guard Brandon Fusco.

Fusco is likely to stay as the starting right guard for 2013. The only other position where the Vikings potentially could start Schwartz is left guard, the position that Charlie Johnson started at all season. Johnson is scheduled to earn a base salary of $2.95 million with a $500,000 roster bonus in 2013, the last year of his three-year deal he signed prior to the 2011 season.

Vikings want Loadholt back

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman expressed a desire to re-sign right tackle Phil Loadholt. The team hopes to have him re-signed before he can look around in free agency.

"“Continuity is a huge part of it on the offensive line because those guys have to work as one unit and they have to know each other inside and out. They work together on combination blocks, on picking up stunts and twists when they’re in pass pro passing off. I think continuity is a big key to that,” Spielman said, via the team’s website. “We’d love to keep Phil Loadholt, so we’ll try to do everything we can to keep Phil Loadholt but we also have a lot of guys we’d like to keep.”"