Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie has had a bad few weeks. Suddenly, however, the dark clouds are parting.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports that, while the Bears are likely to use defensive end Julius Peppers on both the left side and the right side, coach Lovie Smith could end up using him primarily on the left side.
If so, Peppers won’t be lining up against McKinnie when the Bears play the Vikings twice in 2010.
As Biggs explains it, Smith typically puts his better pass rusher on the left side, securing a better matchup against the tackle who is usually more slow-footed than the guy who is typically a superior pass blocker.
Peppers routinely beat McKinnie during a Sunday night game between his former team, the Panthers, and the Vikings in December.
So maybe Bryant McKinnie won’t face similar abuse in 2010.
Meanwhile, Phil Loadholt just peed a little.