Teams that typically played with one-high safety against most opponents often utilized two-high safeties against the Vikings. 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. But its hard not to wonder what would have happened if he looked ahead, saw Andrew Luck on the horizon and just rode the corpse of Donovan McNabb to the finish line to select Luck, Russell Wilson, or Cousins (!!!) EAGAN, Minn. Eleven months and a day after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah helped introduce Kevin O'Connell from a temporary stage constructed in Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center's Indoor Practice Facility, the men sat together at a table on a small riser in the Media Center. O'Connell and the Rams are coming off a victory in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. 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. Part of their jobs during the comprehensive evaluation process will be setting aside those personal relationships and not letting them interfere with the process of building the 2023 Vikings to have the best chance at a championship and be within the constraints of the NFL's salary cap. Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt Right. The coach has made it a priority to educate himself on the particulars of the teams cap constraints. Cousins' 4,093 passing yards marked his third-consecutive 4,000-yard passing season, helping him become the 11th quarterback in NFL history to accomplish this feat. In the early 1990s, Dennis Green used a revolving quarterback carousel that featured Jim McMahon, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Jeff George. In football, as a junior, he passed for 980 yards and seven touchdowns. He made his NFL debut on September 21, 2008, in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins, throwing his first four career passes and completing three. The last remaining head coach opening in the NFL has been filled. (OConnell is 6-foot-5, so his frame provides a solid comparison.). One element of his teams play that must improve? Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. O'Connell worked on special projects with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, where he overlapped with Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. ", "I don't want to be the Vikings GM without this guy on our team, so it's a priority," Adofo-Mensah said. Kevin will tease me about that sometimes. Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked on Wall Street, was asked to assess where the Vikings stock is. The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year winner, Jefferson dominated opponents, generating 10 games over the 100-yard mark in O'Connell's first season in Minnesota. 5. 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. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Photo Credit: Kirby Lee (USA TODAY Sports). For O'Connell to coach Jefferson for a "really long time," the star receiver will need a contract extension. But Kevin O'Connell's comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. Really excited about Lewis and his mental growth through how he handled the adversity of that injury, OConnell said. He played one season for the Patriots behind QB Matt Cassel following a season-ending injury to QB Tom Brady. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! ". Get a behind-the-scenes look at Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell's media day last week at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. The Vikings Will Benefit From Their Revamped Team Culture, Theres One Ideal Way To Deal With Danielle Hunters Contract. A lot of guys come in here and say they want to start in the NFL on Day 1. He also held the same position for Washington in 2019 after serving as the team'spassing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell spoke at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, March 1, and he shed a little bit of light on what the team's goals are for the offseason. 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. 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. If you tell me Im second-and-5, here we go. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. 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. 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. Therefore, with free agency 11 days away, the Vikings and Thielen are firmly in the see what happens phase of the offseason, described by Thielen. O'Connell's father, Bill, was a longtime FBI agent, and his mother, Suzanne, is a teacher. pic.twitter.com/WKHqPZU8ea, Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 1, 2023. O'Connell was signed by the San Diego Chargers on July 29, 2012, to serve as an emergency back-up in the Chargers' practices with Charlie Whitehurst suffering an injury and Kyle Boller announcing his retirement from the league. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. The Vikings won the NFC North for the first time since 2017, which was good enough for the NFC's third seed, but were defeated by the New York Giants in the Wild Card round by a final score of 3124. 4 takeaways from Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell's combine press conference Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and his wife Leah welcomed their fourth child to the family on Friday night, . Kevin O'Connell Contract Breakdowns, Salary Cap Figures, Salaries 5 Things to Know About Head Coach Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings As a senior, he was named his team's Most Valuable Player, and selected to All-League, All-North County, and All-San Diego teams. At the same time, proud of what they've accomplished this year and look forward to the first day of the offseason program, when we get those guys back in here.". O'Connell compared Cousins to Matthew Stafford, calling each an "elite thrower," via Tomasson (on Twitter ). Will that happen? Vikings Kevin O'Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have a long to-do list But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. But I did want to take the time to reflect and to move forward in the right way," O'Connell said. 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). Is there a chance to add somebody maybe with different skill sets? Certainly the facilities would have gotten an A+ last year but its hard to imagine they would have ranked No. 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. 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. KARE 11 Sports Director. 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. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. 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. The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. When Favre finally declined, the Vikings were in another spot of desperation to draft a quarterback in 2011. O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los A. 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 information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. My main goal was just to connect with him and build on a relationship that I thought was strong already. 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. But after a year on the bench, Culpepper took the Vikings into the next decade before suffering a multi-ligament knee injury in 2005. 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. 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. Vikings officially name Kevin O'Connell their new head coach The Minnesota Vikings named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 16, 2022. There are a few fundamental things that will influence decisions, starting with whether Cousins signs an extension. The assessments of inherited players were made a year ago through film study and advanced metrics. Ive been very honest about that. O'Connell coached QB Kirk Cousins in 2017, helping him throw for more than 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns, and record a career-high 342 rushing yards and a league-leading four game-winning drives. We're still feeling that here, but I will say that hurt, that sting, that will drive us. "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.". [21] In 2019, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, O'Connell was promoted to offensive coordinator. Linebacker Eric Kendricks referred to a fear-based culture in a conference call after the former HC and GM were let go and players acknowledged meeting with ownership in which they asked for improvements in the overall environment. Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. 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. However, there is no mistaking the reality. With their limited salary cap . 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 has a tremendous football IQ and is passionate about preparing, developing and communicating with his players. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. Eagan, Minn. (February 15, 2022) The Minnesota Vikings have named Kevin O'Connell as the 10th head coach in franchise history. He believes he's the best receiver in football -- I happen to agree with him -- and a lot goes with that. Brad Childress urged Minnesota to draft Tarvaris Jackson upon his arrival in the 2006, and then recruited Brett Favre as an act of desperation to lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game. There are some hard conversations sometimes. "It's so easy from my background to sit in front of a spreadsheet and make decisions and talk about things. "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. 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. Those are all questions we got to answer. [20], On January 20, 2017, O'Connell was hired as the Washington Redskins' quarterbacks coach, working under head coach Jay Gruden. On Tuesday, Adofo-Mensah explained that Cousins camp wants certainty if he is to sign a new deal, while the Vikings seek flexibility. Kevin O'Connell declines to say if Ed Donatell will return as Vikings Kentucky's Will Levis, a likely top-10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, spoke Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine and -- in under 15 minutes -- presented himself as arguably the most self-assured QB in this year's class. KSTPs Darren Wolfson reported that the Vikings met with Florida manI meanquarterback Anthony Richardson at the scouting combine and OConnell is keen on Kentucky quarterback Will Levis despite his Orlovskian food takes. Vikings Coaching Staff | Minnesota Vikings - vikings.com [2] At La Costa Canyon, O'Connell lettered in both football and basketball. [14] He was later released again on July 29, 2011.[15]. Prior to joining the Rams, O'Connell worked in Washington, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2017-18 and the offensive coordinator in 2019. The personnel department continued to be on the lookout for players who became available after their release by other teams, and the coaching staff usually helped integrate the acquired player quickly, whether it was Za'Darius Smith in Week 1 or T.J. Hockenson in Week 9. Kupp, who was named The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year at last week's NFL Honors, 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. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. 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. O'Connell, who led the Rams to finish ninth in total offense (372.1 yards per game) in 2021, 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. During the 2018 season, O'Connell was tasked with getting three different quarterbacks (Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy and Mark Sanchez) up to speed following a devastating injury to starting QB Alex Smith. We laugh. 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. So theres not one right way.. For what its worth, SIs Albert Breer said on The Rich Eisen Show that many teams believe that the best quarterback prospects are still in college. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. converting part of right tackle Brian O'Neill's base salary to a signing bonus. A significant part of the positive culture was OConnell and Cousins working together in lockstep. [10], He was named a team captain for the September 20 game against the New England Patriots.[11]. 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. But in Kevin O'Connell's 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. There also were road losses at Detroit and Green Bay after the calendar flipped to December. Furthermore, the Rams' 1,186 passing yards in the 2021 playoffs were the most in NFL history,surpassing the 2011 New York Giants (1,144).O'Connell helped Kupp (478) and Beckham, Jr., (288) post a combined 766 receiving yards in the playoffs, the most be any wide receiver duo this postseason. Use of any marks, trademarks, or logos on this website shall not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder. 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. Similarly to his GM one day earlier, the Vikings head coach couldnt make a strong statement about what the future would hold at QB. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. With Cousins in his mid-30s, the Vikings need to figure out a succession plan at quarterback. Who is Leah O'Connell, Wife of the Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O They worked with players they inherited, quickly assessing who was set to return and how to try to add pieces they deemed missing through a strategic approach to free agency and proceeding through the 2022 NFL Draft. Senior Editor. Anchored by T Andrew Whitworth, the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, the Rams offensive line only allowed 56 sacks in the two years O'Connell was in Los Angeles, which was good for the seventh-fewest among NFL clubs. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. The Patriots gave no explanation for releasing O'Connell, who was in competition with veteran quarterback Andrew Walter, signed after his release from the Oakland Raiders, and undrafted free agent rookie Brian Hoyer of Michigan State. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. However, neither seem like a good option now. It comes down to efficiency, he said. Were in a position to do a lot of different things regardless of field position, score of the game, personnel groupings.. "Very thankful for him in Year 1 and really looking forward to seeing him growing both as a leader and continued dominance at the receiver position.". They were together in Washington and grew their connection this season as the veteran QB led eight game-winning drives, won the division for the first time since arriving in Minnesota and put together one of his best games in the playoffs vs. the Giants. Were having conversations with our players, their representation, and ultimately how all of those things shake out will be done in a way where we just want to make sure we stand by what we believe in as an organization.. Spielman hand-picked Ponder to be his quarterback after watching a game against North Carolina and a couple of practices at the Senior Bowl. 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. Florida's Anthony Richardson, one of the draft's most intriguing QB prospects, told reporters on Friday that in high school he modeled his game after two notable passers: Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson.
Scales Mound, Il Obituaries, College Station Arrests, 22 Creedmoor Velocity, Articles K