They needed more receivers on the field. The idea. Teams that typically played with one-high safety against most opponents often utilized two-high safeties against the Vikings. And I also want my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. Use of any marks, trademarks, or logos on this website shall not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder. But Minnesota watched as Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert flew off the board. "This is a franchise with a deep history and a tremendous fan base. He had been placed on the injured reserve list. Finding a suitable compromise appears to be the current strategy. The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati. This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. He spent his childhood in Carlsbad, California, where he attended La Costa Canyon High School. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. KARE 11 Sports Director. [24] In O'Connell's second season with the Rams, their offense ranked 2nd best in receiving touchdowns (41), 5th highest in total yards (4,893), 8th best in total touchdowns (63), and the team won Super Bowl LVI (defeating the Cincinnati Bengals, 2320). The Wilfs and the resources they give us to bring in the people, like [exectuive director of player health and performance] Tyler Williams, OConnell said. It's supposed to sting.' In other words, hes going to look in the store window at this years draft class because he always does, whether he is shopping or not. We always have to be evaluating, OConnell said. That, more than anything, is what OConnell wants to eliminate. In football, as a junior, he passed for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. [4][5] At SDSU, where he was a four-year team captain, he started 21 games, the sixth-most among SDSU quarterbacks, and ranked first in school history in career rushing yards and second in career rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks; in 2007 he led the team in rushing yards. O'Connell played quarterback at San Diego State University, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. OConnell continued, Adam is one of those leaders that I speak of. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. O'Connell won his first game as head coach against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 of the 2022 season by a score of 237. How do you build the rest of the team? Adofo-Mensah asked. Beyond the Xs and Os, everyone we spoke with throughout this search process spoke highly of Kevin's ability to motivate players, coaches and staff. This time of year tends to be a difficult time when youre talking about players futures and how they affect the greater picture of our team, and those conversations are ongoing, he said. The rushing attack. Kevin O'Connell had some interesting things to say about the direction the Minnesota Vikings want to go as they look ahead to the 2023 NFL season. Aside from the quarterback situation which is like talking about building a house and saying other than the ground it stands on the Vikings will also consider the wants/needs/system of Brian Flores as they look for improvement on defense. [20], On January 20, 2017, O'Connell was hired as the Washington Redskins' quarterbacks coach, working under head coach Jay Gruden. None of that means anything for what we do moving forward if we dont grow and evolve and change in a good capacity, OConnell said. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. [10], He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[11]. Conversely, when the Vikings ran for zero or negative yards on first down, something they did more than any other team in the league aside from the Jaguars, they would then be fighting uphill. He takes it very seriously how much people and young kids look up to him. "I came from a business where your job is to not be emotional and if you make emotional decisions, you typically make bad decisions. OConnell did note that safety Lewis Cine was ahead of schedule in his rehab from a severe leg injury suffered in London last season and that Cine has been at TCO Performance Center making regular stop-ins to his office. A necessary condition is having a starter-level quarterback, Adofo-Mensah began. [27][28] O'Connell's Vikings hiring reunited him with quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom O'Connell had coached in 2017 (Cousins' final year with the Washington Redskins). Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr. Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. [But you] sit in exit meetings with players, and it becomes personal at that point," Adofo-Mensah said. And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. One element of his teams play that must improve? On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The Vikings head coach compared all of the moving parts to puzzle pieces but its more like a choose-your-own-adventure book because each choice with Player X impacts Player Y and the combination of all of the decisions takes you to a different endpoint. The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. Thats because talking about culture is a good way to spend time talking about anything else other than upcoming decisions, draft philosophies, scheme changes etc. With Cousins in his mid-30s, the Vikings need to figure out a succession plan at quarterback. In addition to impacting the culture within the building through an emphasis on building connectivity across the roster, the Vikings installed O'Connell's offense with Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips, a defensive system led by Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell and changed their special teams under first-year coordinator Matt Daniels. . OConnell explained Wednesday that that process ranged from reviewing game-management decisions to gauging his teams success in various schemes and plays. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. It is something Ive thought a lot about.. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. "One of my favorite players I've ever coached, I've told him that," O'Connell said of Jefferson. Some would take this as a sign the Vikings are ready to move on. Ive been very honest about that. We're still feeling that here, but I will say that hurt, that sting, that will drive us. Theres a reason why I feel so strongly about Kirk, OConnell said. Ive spent a lot of time with Rob [Brzezinski] and Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah], and well continue to do that in anticipation of being at a certain place by the league year like we need to be and then, How do we go forward building it from there?. OConnell knows safety Harrison Smith has done much of the same. "I feel like that foundation's in place. OConnell respects the way Patrick Peterson, soon to be an unrestricted free agent, set a standard for young contributors in the secondary. Even as other quarterbacks such as Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Sam Howell were there in the latest rounds of the draft, the Vikings didnt pull the trigger. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. Harrison Smith stats (2021): 73% completion % allowed, 98.7 QB rating allowed Already a projected $14 million over the 2022 NFL salary cap, the Vikings need to clear a ton of room. O'Connell is the latest in Sean McVay's coaching tree to land a head coaching job, following the likes of Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers and Zac Taylor with the Bengals. The Dallas Cowboys will place the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard if the two sides cannot reach a long-term deal before March 7's deadline, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources. I'm sure a lot of fans will be going through that right now, and that hurts to hear, I can't lie, but I understand where that's coming from. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Already Subscribed? This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. . The day the Vikings introduced defensive coordinator Brian Flores, OConnell mentioned the thorough self-evaluation process that took place when the season ended. Sure, there were unsightly losses along the way, including a couple of regular-season defeats to Philadelphia and Dallas teams that each won 12 plus in the regular season and have advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Kevin O'Connell, fresh off a Super Bowl victory as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator, was introduced as the Minnesota Vikings next head coach on Thursday, and the big takeaway from . In 2019, O'Connell helped guide rookie WR Terry McLaurin to 58 receptions, 919 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, the second-most receptions and third-most receiving yards and touchdowns among rookies in franchise history. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. And when I think about all that went into it, from a coaching staff standpoint, our players, our leadership of our core leaders and foundation of such a great leadership group that I was able to have in my first year as a head coach in the National Football League, I truly feel very fortunate and blessed," O'Connell added. However, there is no mistaking the reality. I just watch the way he carries himself every single day and week. But even if he didnt injure his knee at Winter Park, its fair to wonder if he would have ever become the long-term franchise quarterback. View images from the Vikings locker room at TCO Performance Center on Monday as players cleaned out their lockers at the end of the 2022-23 season. O'Connell, 36, was a member of the 49ers coaching staff (special projects) in 2016 and overlapped that season with new Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. He reiterated that he is proud of the way Cousins played in 2022 and is looking forward to seeing the 34-year-old build on things in 2023. Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson is "fired up" to work with Washington's new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Craig Peters. If I demand our team to improve in certain areas, OConnell said, Ive got to do the things we need to do as a staff.. ". . If OConnells staff likes a prospect like USCs Caleb Williams or North Carolinas Drake Maye, they may be better served to wait especially with an aging team that will face a harder schedule in 2023. O'Connell has an older sister, Kelly, who is an attorney. OConnell is well aware. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell fielded questions from the media on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. As we use the process of free agency and the draft to really take a look at how to evolve and fit what we want to do.. Right comes along. Schad covers the Minnesota Vikings for Zone Coverage. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). You do hope it was a perfect world where you can have everybody and have everybody finish their careers where they should and feel great about it, but its just so hard to do and still build for the future the way the rules are set up, OConnell said. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the futures of Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose size has been a matter of conjecture in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, officially measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds on Saturday. On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. O'Connell was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played quarterback at San Diego State University.
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