He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". So have expectations going forward, until "someday" can become "the day.". Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. "As crazy as this sounds, leading the league in yards and receptions, I think he and I have just scratched the surface of where we want to go as an offense, particularly with him as our premier receiver," O'Connell said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell isn't saying if Ed Donatell will return as defensive coordinator for the 2023 season. With Cousins in his mid-30s, the Vikings need to figure out a succession plan at quarterback. It is something Ive thought a lot about.. Minnesota Vikings new head coach Kevin O'Connell takes over a club that missed the postseason the past two seasons with losing records and hasn't won the NFC North since 2017. Prior to joining the Rams, O'Connell worked in Washington, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and the offensive coordinator in 2019. Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. On Tuesday, Adofo-Mensah explained that Cousins camp wants certainty if he is to sign a new deal, while the Vikings seek flexibility. Michigan cornerback DJ Turner II is the early leader for fastest player at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine after posting a time of 4.26 seconds in the 40-yard dash on Friday. During the 2009 preseason, O'Connell was claimed by the Detroit Lions and was then later traded to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). Stafford set the single-season team record for passing yards (4,886) and tied Kurt Warner from his 1999 MVP season for the most passing touchdowns in a season by a Rams quarterback with 41, while also winning his first playoff game in his 13th season in the NFL. [2], O'Connell played in both the 2008 Hula Bowl and the 2008 East-West Shrine Game. The survey of more than 1,300 players that looked at numerous aspects of an organization from facilities to treatment of families to training staff gave the Vikings the highest grade of any team in the NFL. They could have done what the Pittsburgh Steelers did by drafting Kenny Pickett in the first round last year, but they knew he wasnt the guy. OConnell continued, Adam is one of those leaders that I speak of. "I feel like that foundation's in place. "Unbelievable talent. At the 2008 NFL Combine, O'Connell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds; only University of San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson had a faster time. While they can feel reinforced by the results of the foundation laid in their first year, they also know a multitude of decisions await and all teams change from year to year. What he means to our league, how he carries himself, how he works every day. The riser was lower than the previous stage, but the team they've led for about a year has been elevated from an 8-9 squad to one that won 13 games for the third time within a Vikings season. We want to be.". Kupp, who was named 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press and Super Bowl LVI MVP, had one of the best receiving seasons in NFL history, leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16), earning AP First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Is it to that line?' The more I can learn about details and particulars of our current situation, previous situations and what it looks like moving forward, OConnell said, the more my conversations can not only come from an accurate place of where we are but where we hope to get to.. One thing he knows is that no matter how many As he got in a survey or wins he posted as a first-year coach, that doesnt mean they can do it all again the same way and get the same results. There are a few fundamental things that will influence decisions, starting with whether Cousins signs an extension. The wait is over for Minnesota Vikings fans who were a bit . Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. The direct work together began in April when Minnesota could start its offseason workout program and was followed by Organized Team Activities before a summer break that was followed by training camp, he preseason, regular season and postseason. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Part of the reason for this is that the Vikings were still recovering from the Herschel Walker trade. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Even if the Vikings agree to a long-term extension, they seem to be willing to wait until their version of Mr. One thing I know, [Cousins] is good enough. Kevin William O'Connell (born May 25, 1985), nicknamed " KOC ", [1] is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. We haven't shown our ability to come in year-in, year-out and do those things. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. But theres a foundation of care., OConnell said the conversations with Cousins are ongoing., Its not like theres some secret thing going on, OConnell said. And none of the endings feature everyone who was around last year. Since O'Connell became an offensive coordinator in 2019, he has coached one Super Bowl MVP (Kupp), two Pro Bowlers (G Brandon Scherff and Kupp), one All-Pro (Kupp) and one PFWA All-Rookie Team member (McLaurin). [But you] sit in exit meetings with players, and it becomes personal at that point," Adofo-Mensah said. He isnt on the same tier as Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow, but is good enough to hold down the position until they can find that player. Before his NFL career ended in 2012, O'Connell spent time with the Miami Dolphins, a second-stint with the Jets and the San Diego Chargers. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. 3. [14] He was later released again on July 29, 2011.[15]. But in between 16-point wins against the Packers in Week 1 and Bears in Week 18 were plentiful memorable moments during a wild ride. Sometimes how you have to reinvent yourself week in and week out, OConnell said. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. Having been on the visitors' sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium and experiencing that environment as an opposing coach, I am excited to now have the support of these passionate Vikings fans. The Vikings have not gone to the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2008-09. . Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. When Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stepped up to the podium at the NFL Scouting Combine, he had several questions to answer about the Minnesota Vikings future. Kevin O'Connell Offensive Scheme Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator, Kevin O'Connell has been chosen to become head coach of the Minnesota Vikings officially after the Super Bowl on February 13, according to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Craig Peters. The Vikings tried to identify another quarterback when trading up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2014. The 2020 Rams offense featured the 10th-ranked rushing attack, posting 126.1 yards per game on the ground, behind two 600-plus rushing seasons from RB Cam Akers and RB Darrell Henderson. And I also want my opportunity to show that I can play at a high level. Thielen joined the Vikings a decade ago as an undrafted special teamer and clawed his way up the depth chart to WR1 by the start of 2016. A lot of guys come in here and say they want to start in the NFL on Day 1. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. It's supposed to hurt. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell fielded questions from the media on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009. Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. The assessments of inherited players were made a year ago through film study and advanced metrics. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. INDIANAPOLIS If you walk around to different podiums and listen to NFL coaches speak to the media about their teams offseasons, you are likely to hear a lot about culture. 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. I believe in him as a player.. ", O'Connell said the next step is "a championship standard" and that he wanted to wrap his evaluations and dialogue about the 2022 season the "way it should, with the same type of connection" with players and the "foundational building blocks of what we want to be. So how will he balance the desire to maximize the benefits of the culture, keep the players who helped him implement it and improve on last season while dealing with the facts of life in a salary cap league? The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Following his All-Pro wideout's 1,809-yard, 128-catch, eight-touchdown campaign, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell believes Jefferson can soar even higher. O'Connell, who led the Rams to finish ninth in total offense (372.1 yards per game) this season, helped his unit rank second in plays of 50-plus yards (10), fourth in yards per play (5.98) and eighth in offensive touchdowns (51) in 2021. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. In addition to helping QB Jared Goff to his fourth consecutive of at least 3,800 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2020, O'Connell prepared QB John Wolford for a win-and-in game against the Cardinals in Week 17, helping him pass for 231 yards and rush for 56 more in his NFL debut, while leading the Rams to a 18-7 victory and a playoff berth. No cards were shown when OConnell was asked about Flores and the cornerback position as it pertains to the draft but it would appear that Flores will be looking for players with flexibility, whether thats in terms of position or skill set. The Vikings are coming off a 13-win season, but also a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have only held their posts for a year, but they deserve the faith of the Vikings community. Were going to continue to take a look at whats the best route to go moving forward in that room, as are all the other rooms. Hes the epitome of a hometown hero, universally loved, and the type of player who should retire with the Vikings. This year brings a different scenario. 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. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati. I dont know. "We have to make sure we do it in an order that we can do it in given all the other decisions we have to make.". Thats the byproduct of trying to do things the way we do. As a player, O'Connell was drafted in the third round (94th pick) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots out of San Diego State. While the survey is the ultimate feather in OConnells cap in terms of retaining players on long-term contracts and signing free agents, hes aware that not everyone is going to be able to return and the team doesn't have oodles of cap space to spend this offseason. But in Kevin OConnells case on Wednesday, he was able to beam about the Vikings culture after an NFL Players Association survey showed proof that he made good on the cultural promises he made at the last NFL Combine. O'Connell is the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, so he can't officially become the Vikings' new head coach until after the Super Bowl. Players cited the tight-knit nature of the locker room and their confidence during late-game situations as a result of the buildings updated vibes under OConnell. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. He takes it very seriously how much people and young kids look up to him. Were going to continue to look at whats the best route to go moving forward (with Thielen), OConnell said. 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 . With their limited salary cap . Those are things we got to answer. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. There also were road losses at Detroit and Green Bay after the calendar flipped to December. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Its a path that could eventually lead to another extension for Cousins, but the Vikings are doing their diligence to find Mr. . When you have the receiver that leads the league in yards and receptions and have three other guys with 60-plus, you feel really strongly about that group, and I still think that theres places to go where we can build upon it even more, OConnell mentioned about Justin Jefferson and his wide receiving corps. Understanding the goals of culture and the goals of building up through our leadership and setting a foundation and platform for every individual in this building to feel like they can thrive and grow and eventually reach their truest, highest potential. 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. "When you involve people, it can make the job a lot tougher, but I also think the people aspect is what culture is and that's important," Adofo-Mensah added. It comes down to efficiency, he said. Here are five takeaways from the conversation, beginning with OConnells thoughts on the free-agent decisions and potential cuts that will be made in the next couple of weeks. O'Connell also helped Vikings all-time leading rusher Adrian Peterson eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards (1,040) at the age of 34. Finding a suitable compromise appears to be the current strategy. But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. O'Connell was asked today if Donatell will be back and didn't . Different quarterbacks require different things around them but we know for sure that [Cousins] meets that threshold. But the. 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. My main goal was to connect with (Cousins) and build on a relationship, OConnell said. I think we laid a foundation for where we want to go. In July 2017, Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback to play under the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. A former NFL quarterback who was a career backup, O'Connell has been the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Here are five things to know. OConnell also referenced fair compensation for his players at the NFL Combine, perhaps a nod to Thielens current contract and how it fits within Minnesotas free-agent navigability. [12] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason. OConnell respects the way Patrick Peterson, soon to be an unrestricted free agent, set a standard for young contributors in the secondary. Stafford set the single-season team record for passing yards (4,886) and tied Kurt Warner from his 1999 MVP season for the most passing touchdowns in a season with 41, while also winning his first playoff game in his 13th season in the NFL. 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. Quarterbacks are never far from OConnells mind. OConnell explained Wednesday that that process ranged from reviewing game-management decisions to gauging his teams success in various schemes and plays. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. The rushing attack. Quarterback Mike White said he'd like to return to the New York Jets, but knows it might not happen as he heads toward free agency. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. ", "I don't want to be the Vikings GM without this guy on our team, so it's a priority," Adofo-Mensah said. "He is a strong leader, an innovative coach and an excellent communicator. In terms of the things that were different in 2022, the most noticeable were the approach to camp and preseason workloads, managing injuries and how players who were recovering from injuries were talked about publicly and the buy-in to quarterback Kirk Cousins. Scouting Combine live updates Top 150 free agents Beat writer . Adofo-Mensah had to explain how the Vikings, a team in salary cap hell, were going to shed salary while building off the teams first 13-win season since 2017. The victories and records set on the way to winning the NFC North for the first time since 2017 enabled Minnesota to host a playoff game for the first time in five years, but that excitement ended abruptly Sunday when the Giants topped the Vikings 31-24. This is also a business. We want to be there consistently with the chance to win it.".
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