Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell

suncoastvike
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 7:33:38 GMT -6 Reignman likes this

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Post by suncoastvike on Feb 4, 2022 7:33:38 GMT -6

Feb 3, 2022 22:21:24 GMT -6 Reignman said:

Feb 3, 2022 21:50:08 GMT -6 Oracle Bone Diviner said:

So you think Harby was the one and only missing key to the ball and chain of the Vikings curse?

That's the wrong question. The right question was, which candidates gives us the best shot? And yeah I know, b-b-but we don't know, Harbaugh could flop and turd sandwich #3 could've won us a Super Bowl. It's about the odds, not the Trent Dilfer what if's. What can you do as a franchise to put yourself in the best position to win? Not the best position to collaborate. Last time I checked, the NFL isn't handing out Lombardi's for the best culture. Not yet anyway. That'll be the next Rooney Rule amendment. Hire a black candidate and get a free Lombardi.

Feb 3, 2022 21:50:08 GMT -6 Oracle Bone Diviner said:

I wish it was that easy. I don't know why anyone would get all frothed up about a particular candidate.

If the 3 candidates were Graham, Morris, and O'Connell then yeah maybe it doesn't matter, but when you throw in a Harbaugh caliber candidate? That's how you elevate an ordinary mistake to a Vikings type mistake.

Feb 3, 2022 21:50:08 GMT -6 Oracle Bone Diviner said:

I would have been happy with Harby too, but I'm not unhappy that we have someone not named Zimmer.

Well, ummmm depends on how you want to look at it. No matter who we chose, we're probably stuck with them a minimum of 3 years, maybe longer if they reach just the right amount of agonizing mediocrity. If we rode Zimmer another year, it's probably just another year of agony. On the other hand, the longer we kicked the Zimmer can down the road, the more likely we end up being the team that hires Bieniemy. And by "we" I mean you guys ofc *whistle*

We got soon to be defending Super Bowl champion Zac Taylor over here.

Feb 3, 2022 21:50:08 GMT -6 Oracle Bone Diviner said:

I doubt it would have lead to the promised land either way, ya know, cuz Vikings?

Yeah probably, but losing with one of these underwhelming candidates is a different kind of demoralizing. I mean imagine being the team that goes 5-12 with some nobody after turning down a Harbaugh? That's the 28-3 type crap that you never live down. It'll be like when Sloter goes on to have a HoF career with the Packers. Isn't that the guy we cut twice to hold onto Mannion? *facepalm*

Well on the bright side for me. You found a reason to go on. Back away from the pact and bungle in the jungle Jethro.
I can sleep easy now.

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Fenrir
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 7:43:28 GMT -6

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Post by Fenrir on Feb 4, 2022 7:43:28 GMT -6

Not a fan of these offensive coordinator hires who don't call plays. Let's see how good Lafleur does without Rodgers(hint, it won't be good), Taylor was a disaster without Burrow. These coaches are only as good as their quarterbacks. Nagy was the same thing in KC and look how he ran the Bears into the ground when Trubisky regressed. I have no faith if the teams are similarly matched that these guys can make decisions to win football games. Is O'Connell gonna be able to out scheme Eberflus who's been doing it 20 years longer if all things were equal? I doubt it.

legendsofthenorth
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 7:48:14 GMT -6 via mobile

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Post by legendsofthenorth on Feb 4, 2022 7:48:14 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2022 7:43:28 GMT -6 Fenrir said:

Not a fan of these offensive coordinator hires who don't call plays. Let's see how good Lafleur does without Rodgers(hint, it won't be good), Taylor was a disaster without Burrow. These coaches are only as good as their quarterbacks. Nagy was the same thing in KC and look how he ran the Bears into the ground when Trubisky regressed. I have no faith if the teams are similarly matched that these guys can make decisions to win football games. Is O'Connell gonna be able to out scheme Eberflus who's been doing it 20 years longer if all things were equal? I doubt it.

Kirk is a good QB though. I don't know how they don't resign him. Draft and develop his predecessor in 2023.

Last Edit: Feb 4, 2022 7:49:54 GMT -6 by legendsofthenorth

Oracle Bone Diviner
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 7:52:42 GMT -6 Reignman likes this

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Post by Oracle Bone Diviner on Feb 4, 2022 7:52:42 GMT -6

Feb 3, 2022 22:21:24 GMT -6 Reignman said:

Feb 3, 2022 21:50:08 GMT -6 Oracle Bone Diviner said:

So you think Harby was the one and only missing key to the ball and chain of the Vikings curse?

That's the wrong question. The right question was, which candidates gives us the best shot? And yeah I know, b-b-but we don't know, Harbaugh could flop and turd sandwich #3 could've won us a Super Bowl. It's about the odds, not the Trent Dilfer what if's. What can you do as a franchise to put yourself in the best position to win? Not the best position to collaborate. Last time I checked, the NFL isn't handing out Lombardi's for the best culture. Not yet anyway. That'll be the next Rooney Rule amendment. Hire a black candidate and get a free Lombardi.

Feb 3, 2022 21:50:08 GMT -6 Oracle Bone Diviner said:

I wish it was that easy. I don't know why anyone would get all frothed up about a particular candidate.

If the 3 candidates were Graham, Morris, and O'Connell then yeah maybe it doesn't matter, but when you throw in a Harbaugh caliber candidate? That's how you elevate an ordinary mistake to a Vikings type mistake.

Feb 3, 2022 21:50:08 GMT -6 Oracle Bone Diviner said:

I would have been happy with Harby too, but I'm not unhappy that we have someone not named Zimmer.

Well, ummmm depends on how you want to look at it. No matter who we chose, we're probably stuck with them a minimum of 3 years, maybe longer if they reach just the right amount of agonizing mediocrity. If we rode Zimmer another year, it's probably just another year of agony. On the other hand, the longer we kicked the Zimmer can down the road, the more likely we end up being the team that hires Bieniemy. And by "we" I mean you guys ofc *whistle*

We got soon to be defending Super Bowl champion Zac Taylor over here.

Feb 3, 2022 21:50:08 GMT -6 Oracle Bone Diviner said:

I doubt it would have lead to the promised land either way, ya know, cuz Vikings?

Yeah probably, but losing with one of these underwhelming candidates is a different kind of demoralizing. I mean imagine being the team that goes 5-12 with some nobody after turning down a Harbaugh? That's the 28-3 type crap that you never live down. It'll be like when Sloter goes on to have a HoF career with the Packers. Isn't that the guy we cut twice to hold onto Mannion? *facepalm*

I think I see the problem. You secretly harbored expectations for this team, while mine stampeded the barn years ago. All of this off-season drama means nothing to me, so i won't even be able to say I told ya so if the new regime stinks. But I'm willing to give them a chance and a shortish leash.

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diehardtwinsfan
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 7:56:35 GMT -6

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Post by diehardtwinsfan on Feb 4, 2022 7:56:35 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2022 7:43:28 GMT -6 Fenrir said:

Not a fan of these offensive coordinator hires who don't call plays. Let's see how good Lafleur does without Rodgers(hint, it won't be good), Taylor was a disaster without Burrow. These coaches are only as good as their quarterbacks. Nagy was the same thing in KC and look how he ran the Bears into the ground when Trubisky regressed. I have no faith if the teams are similarly matched that these guys can make decisions to win football games. Is O'Connell gonna be able to out scheme Eberflus who's been doing it 20 years longer if all things were equal? I doubt it.

This is a big reason why I don't like Bienemy. Now that said, if KOC isn't calling plays as the HC and goes out and gets the best OC he can find, then I'm all over that. If he's going to call the plays, I'll remain very skeptical until he shows he can do it.

lostdonkey
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 8:00:10 GMT -6 via mobile Oracle Bone Diviner likes this

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Post by lostdonkey on Feb 4, 2022 8:00:10 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2022 7:43:28 GMT -6 Fenrir said:

Not a fan of these offensive coordinator hires who don't call plays. Let's see how good Lafleur does without Rodgers(hint, it won't be good), Taylor was a disaster without Burrow. These coaches are only as good as their quarterbacks. Nagy was the same thing in KC and look how he ran the Bears into the ground when Trubisky regressed. I have no faith if the teams are similarly matched that these guys can make decisions to win football games. Is O'Connell gonna be able to out scheme Eberflus who's been doing it 20 years longer if all things were equal? I doubt it.

Fair take. I guess I'm less concerned about his ability to scheme, and more with his ability to manage a clock and control game flow. I gave Zim a pass his first couple of years of head scratching game management, thinking he would have to learn eventually. I was wrong. This guy may have the ability to improve as he goes, but I think a couple early blunders are likely. I would guess with the "analytics" thing, we'll probably be going for it on fourth more, and two pointers.

As far as the QB thing, I don't think we're going anywhere without high level QB play regardless if Lombardi showed up. Belichik will be watching the same Superbowl coverage as Nagy. At least if we find a good one now, we have a guy that won't be afraid to use him.

comet52
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 8:19:08 GMT -6 via mobile suncoastvike and vikingpwr like this

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Post by comet52 on Feb 4, 2022 8:19:08 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2022 0:12:06 GMT -6 vikingpwr said:

Feb 3, 2022 21:50:08 GMT -6 Oracle Bone Diviner said:

ball and chain of the Vikings curse

Is there such a thing?

If we ever find the mythical Trophy Case, the only thing we will find inside it will be a ball and chain.

I'm here for entertainment purposes only

comet52
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 8:22:24 GMT -6 via mobile PurpleFloyd likes this

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Post by comet52 on Feb 4, 2022 8:22:24 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2022 7:02:51 GMT -6 PurpleFloyd said:

Feb 3, 2022 23:24:58 GMT -6 NoresemanSam said:

Wait a tick... I thought the NFL was all about stomping out discrimination. Hmmm... *skeptic*

Well, I admit that it would have been impossible for me to create an all- encompassing post without also having it be too vague at the same time. So I apologize for that.

Wait... Purple Floyd... dinosaurs...purple dinosaurs... Barney!! Barney is our new defensive coordinator!?

Ok I admit I have no idea where I'm going here.

I'm here for entertainment purposes only

Jor-El
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 8:26:18 GMT -6 suncoastvike and comet52 like this

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Post by Jor-El on Feb 4, 2022 8:26:18 GMT -6

This hiring certainly would look better if the team had not dangled Harbaugh as a possibility. I've kind of been waiting for the dust to settle around the GM and HC decisions, but a couple quick thoughts...

1. O'Connell seems smart and qualified but raw. Seems like he could win a Lombardi - 10 years from now when he's on his 2nd head coaching job.

2. Obviously this has big implications on Cousins and suggests he will stay here, maybe even get an extension. But: given Kirk's history of valuing himself highly, is he now thinking, "Hey you hired a coach who knows me, so you need me to help him succeed, so...I should get another raise!!"...?

comet52
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 8:26:43 GMT -6 via mobile Danchat likes this

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Post by comet52 on Feb 4, 2022 8:26:43 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2022 7:56:35 GMT -6 diehardtwinsfan said:

Feb 4, 2022 7:43:28 GMT -6 Fenrir said:

Not a fan of these offensive coordinator hires who don't call plays. Let's see how good Lafleur does without Rodgers(hint, it won't be good), Taylor was a disaster without Burrow. These coaches are only as good as their quarterbacks. Nagy was the same thing in KC and look how he ran the Bears into the ground when Trubisky regressed. I have no faith if the teams are similarly matched that these guys can make decisions to win football games. Is O'Connell gonna be able to out scheme Eberflus who's been doing it 20 years longer if all things were equal? I doubt it.

This is a big reason why I don't like Bienemy. Now that said, if KOC isn't calling plays as the HC and goes out and gets the best OC he can find, then I'm all over that. If he's going to call the plays, I'll remain very skeptical until he shows he can do it.

I don't know why fans think calling plays is soooo important. Over the years most NFL staffers I've heard on the subject say play calling is a much less important factor than execution. I think that is one reason Belichick is successful-- he drills his guys to death on executing as perfectly as possible.

I'm here for entertainment purposes only

stout933
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 9:16:19 GMT -6

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Post by stout933 on Feb 4, 2022 9:16:19 GMT -6

Feb 3, 2022 21:59:08 GMT -6 lostdonkey said:

I haven't seen anything on his plan for the defense, but I would think he's been around a pretty good one in LA. Personally I've been wanting to see the team put less resources into the backfield, and get tough on the line. I remember the John randle days when the secondary only had to stay on their guy for two seconds, and the QB was going to hit the turf. I've heard this is a good draft for edge guys, wouldn't hurt my feelings if we went that route rd1. Pretty easy to mask mediocre CBs with strong line play.

I've been saying this for the past couple of years, we really need to start investing high draft capital in the d-line. I like the philosophy of building from the d-line and out, which is the exact opposite of what Zimmer's wanted to do. I know we went years and years (think Denny Green era) with absolutely no CB talent, so I'm not saying neglect it like he did. I'm just saying we don't need to take a f*cking CB in the first round every other year..

justonebeforeidie
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 9:18:13 GMT -6

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Post by justonebeforeidie on Feb 4, 2022 9:18:13 GMT -6

Feb 2, 2022 19:20:58 GMT -6 legendsofthenorth said:

Feb 2, 2022 19:14:06 GMT -6 pinfante79 said:

Awful hire.

Why?

CBS' Jason La Canfora "keeps hearing" new Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell is targeting Bears senior defensive assistant Mike Pettine to be the defensive coordinator in Minnesota.

Pettine didn't exactly earn raves for his work as Packers defensive coordinator from 2018-20, though some of the criticism was unjustified. Emphasis on some, not all. At the very least, Pettine would be an experienced hand for neophyte O'Connell.

NO RESERVATIONS hiring Pettine though...LMFAO

TAFKASP
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 9:23:28 GMT -6 via mobile comet52 and snotbubbles like this

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Post by TAFKASP on Feb 4, 2022 9:23:28 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2022 7:48:14 GMT -6 legendsofthenorth said:

Feb 4, 2022 7:43:28 GMT -6 Fenrir said:

Not a fan of these offensive coordinator hires who don't call plays. Let's see how good Lafleur does without Rodgers(hint, it won't be good), Taylor was a disaster without Burrow. These coaches are only as good as their quarterbacks. Nagy was the same thing in KC and look how he ran the Bears into the ground when Trubisky regressed. I have no faith if the teams are similarly matched that these guys can make decisions to win football games. Is O'Connell gonna be able to out scheme Eberflus who's been doing it 20 years longer if all things were equal? I doubt it.

Kirk is a good QB though. I don't know how they don't resign him. Draft and develop his predecessor in 2023.

It's a bit late to draft his predecessor.

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Mondry
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 9:27:17 GMT -6 OdinHammer likes this

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Post by Mondry on Feb 4, 2022 9:27:17 GMT -6

Feb 3, 2022 20:58:12 GMT -6 OdinHammer said:

Seems like most of the PP community has pretty strong opinions on Harbaugh vs. KOC. I gotta say I'm a little embarrassed that I'm not sure what to think of all this at the moment. For now I'll chalk this one up to being generally indecisive and nonplussed in life. At any rate this moment is near the top of the list as far as wanting to be a "fly on the wall" during this interview.

- If KAM was pounding the table for Harbaugh and let ownership push him around, that's not a good sign
- If KAM only wanted to interview Harbaugh as the last step in his info gathering process and genuinely thinks KOC is the guy, that could be a good sign
- If trading Cousins was a dealbreaker for Harbaugh, I think we dodged a bullet
- If KOC wants to keep Cousins, I don't like this hire

Maybe these things have been reported and I'm behind on the news. Right now what I'm the most angry about is Denver sniping Nathaniel Hackett away from us. Hopefully more info comes out on this so I can feel woefully confused a little less often

My thoughts as well, until we know exactly how that went down I can't really say how I feel one way or the other. It's quite possible Harbaugh wanted to WIN NOW, extend kirk, jeopardize the future, etc as reports came out that he "liked Cousins". In that case, I wouldn't want Harbaugh, there is just too much evidence that you can't win with a mediocre QB making 20+% of the salary cap and I want a full rebuild that clears cap, sets us up to take a top QB in 2023, and builds the team allocating salary in the smartest way possible.

We all know positions that impact the passing game and defending the pass are the biggest contributions to winning so that means, WR, CB, O-line, D-line, Pass rushers, TE's. Not RB's, Line Backers, Full backs, etc...

If KoC supports keeping Cousins we'll at least know that wasn't why Harbaugh wasn't the pick and I'd be far more confused about the choice.

RickHasBeenFired
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Your Next Vikings HC: Rams' OC Kevin O’Connell Feb 4, 2022 9:48:52 GMT -6 pinfante79 likes this

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Post by RickHasBeenFired on Feb 4, 2022 9:48:52 GMT -6

Again, I don't understand how finding an OC whiz kid addresses the defense any.
The fact we had two defensive coordinators as Head Coach before him doesn't mean hiring a guy with no defensive experience is the way to fix a defense.

So rather than hire a head coach who has head coached before we hire an OC who will find a third-rate defensive coordinator who has been recycled 2-3 times.

Great.

This seems to be a hire to appease fantasy football fans vs address the weakness of this team.

Last Edit: Feb 4, 2022 9:49:32 GMT -6 by RickHasBeenFired

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