Post by Funkytown on Feb 16, 2023 12:20:54 GMT -6
Even though the intro presser has been summed up and discussed, here is a more official piece.
What Brian Flores’ introduction tells us about his fit with Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings by Alec Lewis
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Link:
theathletic.com/4207590/2023/02/15/brian-flores-vikings-kevin-oconnell/
What Brian Flores’ introduction tells us about his fit with Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings by Alec Lewis
“He’s aggressive offensively,” Flores said, “and I’m aggressive defensively. That kind of philosophy was aligned.”
The interview drifted into leaguewide trends on offense, defense and special teams. A head coach for three years in Miami, Flores noted O’Connell’s wide-ranging knowledge of the game.
“I know he’s known as an offensive coach,” Flores said, “but in that meeting (laughs), he can coach defense, too. I’ll tell you that right now. And special teams.”
After the interview with O’Connell, which featured face time with offensive coordinator Wes Phillips and assistant to the head coach Grant Udinski, Flores met with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Later, he stepped outside the TCO Performance Center and called his wife, Jennifer.
“I said with all the things that are going on, I felt like this was the place for us, for my family, for me,” Flores said.
At the time, he was still in the mix for the Cardinals’ head-coaching job. He had previously interviewed for the defensive coordinator jobs with the Browns and Falcons. Reports also surfaced about the possibility that he could interview with the Broncos. These opportunities were a far cry from last spring when, after Flores was fired by the Dolphins and filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL alleging discrimination in its hiring practices, Flores was passed up for multiple jobs.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin jumped at the chance to hire Flores as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, which set the stage for this hiring cycle.
“That’s what I was put here to do: to coach, to teach,” Flores said Wednesday. “Diversity is important to me as well, but when I walk into this building, you see the diversity across the board in every department, and that’s exciting, too,” Flores said. “So (the lawsuits) are things that are ongoing. … But I’m where my feet are, and I’m here in Eagan.”
Minnesota, it was clear to him, was the best fit.
The interview drifted into leaguewide trends on offense, defense and special teams. A head coach for three years in Miami, Flores noted O’Connell’s wide-ranging knowledge of the game.
“I know he’s known as an offensive coach,” Flores said, “but in that meeting (laughs), he can coach defense, too. I’ll tell you that right now. And special teams.”
After the interview with O’Connell, which featured face time with offensive coordinator Wes Phillips and assistant to the head coach Grant Udinski, Flores met with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Later, he stepped outside the TCO Performance Center and called his wife, Jennifer.
“I said with all the things that are going on, I felt like this was the place for us, for my family, for me,” Flores said.
At the time, he was still in the mix for the Cardinals’ head-coaching job. He had previously interviewed for the defensive coordinator jobs with the Browns and Falcons. Reports also surfaced about the possibility that he could interview with the Broncos. These opportunities were a far cry from last spring when, after Flores was fired by the Dolphins and filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL alleging discrimination in its hiring practices, Flores was passed up for multiple jobs.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin jumped at the chance to hire Flores as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, which set the stage for this hiring cycle.
“That’s what I was put here to do: to coach, to teach,” Flores said Wednesday. “Diversity is important to me as well, but when I walk into this building, you see the diversity across the board in every department, and that’s exciting, too,” Flores said. “So (the lawsuits) are things that are ongoing. … But I’m where my feet are, and I’m here in Eagan.”
Minnesota, it was clear to him, was the best fit.
...
From an overall system perspective, O’Connell came to believe that successful defenses are versatile and multiple “with the ability to not only put packages of things together that we do well but also being in an attacking mindset of taking away some things that the opponent does well.”
His focus, really, was to find a coach who could install an adaptable scheme that could be appropriately tweaked, depending on the opponent and game situations, week to week. He wanted a coach who could join him and Adofo-Mensah in building a personnel plan for the future of the defense. As Flores outlined his strategy, O’Connell felt synergy.
The essence of Flores’ approach was evident Wednesday when he was asked whether he’d be running a 4-3 or 3-4 base defense.
“Who are we playing?” Flores answered wryly. “It’s game-plan specific.”
“Our football foundations and philosophies are very, very similar,” O’Connell added.
Once the Vikings offered the job, Flores’ young boys, Miles and Max, who are huge fans of Justin Jefferson, did their Griddy dances inside the house. Flores thought about the irony of his young daughter, Liliana, taking her first steps at U.S. Bank Stadium and the fact he’d now be working there each weekend.
The introspective thought continued one morning at Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh. Flores listened to the church’s pastor talk about having control and growth and the rarity of having both.
“That hit me pretty good,” Flores said Wednesday afternoon. “I just felt this was a great opportunity.”
As the new defensive coordinator spoke to the media, O’Connell looked over after the word growth and nodded. Another layer of the Vikings head coach had shown itself.
His focus, really, was to find a coach who could install an adaptable scheme that could be appropriately tweaked, depending on the opponent and game situations, week to week. He wanted a coach who could join him and Adofo-Mensah in building a personnel plan for the future of the defense. As Flores outlined his strategy, O’Connell felt synergy.
The essence of Flores’ approach was evident Wednesday when he was asked whether he’d be running a 4-3 or 3-4 base defense.
“Who are we playing?” Flores answered wryly. “It’s game-plan specific.”
“Our football foundations and philosophies are very, very similar,” O’Connell added.
Once the Vikings offered the job, Flores’ young boys, Miles and Max, who are huge fans of Justin Jefferson, did their Griddy dances inside the house. Flores thought about the irony of his young daughter, Liliana, taking her first steps at U.S. Bank Stadium and the fact he’d now be working there each weekend.
The introspective thought continued one morning at Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh. Flores listened to the church’s pastor talk about having control and growth and the rarity of having both.
“That hit me pretty good,” Flores said Wednesday afternoon. “I just felt this was a great opportunity.”
As the new defensive coordinator spoke to the media, O’Connell looked over after the word growth and nodded. Another layer of the Vikings head coach had shown itself.
Link:
theathletic.com/4207590/2023/02/15/brian-flores-vikings-kevin-oconnell/
... and neither is this Chris guy.