Post by Funkytown on Oct 24, 2024 10:25:33 GMT -6
"When we heard Brian Flores was coming to Minnesota," Cliff Coker said, "my brother and I wanted to make sure he was surrounded by great people. He's like a brother to us. And I know that he genuinely loves how warmly Minnesota has embraced him and his family."
With the blessing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O'Connell, his presence inside the building extends beyond that of a typical defensive coordinator. For example, Flores met multiple times this summer with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, before the No. 10 pick suffered a season-ending knee injury, to provide tips on NFL defensive strategy, and he was central to the acquisition of most of the defensive free agents the Vikings acquired this spring.
He and his wife, Jen, have hosted social gatherings at their home for players, coaches and families in each of the past two summers, and that fellowship has continued during the season with standing invitations for Thursday evening gatherings at local restaurants.
The Flores family has embraced the suburb of Eden Prairie, where they settled, thanks to a realtor with whom the Cokers connected him.
Flores co-coached his sons' flag football team there last spring. And he even credited the father of one of his daughter's friends for suggesting this spring that he review the tape on pending NFL free agent linebacker Blake Cashman, a graduate of Eden Prairie High School who played at the University of Minnesota. The Vikings signed Cashman, at Flores' urging, on the first day of free agency in March. He's their leading tackler, despite missing a game because of a toe injury.
Flores will bring the NFL's top-rated defense, per DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), to face the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night.
He declined to discuss his experience in Minnesota with ESPN in detail, saying he wanted to keep his focus on the team. During training camp, however, he said he was having "the best time of my life." More recently, speaking to the small group of reporters who cover the team, Flores left little doubt about his current state of ease.
"Minnesota has welcomed me with open arms," Flores said, "Me and my family, they've shown us a lot of love, and I'm showing Minnesota a lot of love back. And really that's talking about the state and the people here, but obviously this building as well."
With the blessing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O'Connell, his presence inside the building extends beyond that of a typical defensive coordinator. For example, Flores met multiple times this summer with rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, before the No. 10 pick suffered a season-ending knee injury, to provide tips on NFL defensive strategy, and he was central to the acquisition of most of the defensive free agents the Vikings acquired this spring.
He and his wife, Jen, have hosted social gatherings at their home for players, coaches and families in each of the past two summers, and that fellowship has continued during the season with standing invitations for Thursday evening gatherings at local restaurants.
The Flores family has embraced the suburb of Eden Prairie, where they settled, thanks to a realtor with whom the Cokers connected him.
Flores co-coached his sons' flag football team there last spring. And he even credited the father of one of his daughter's friends for suggesting this spring that he review the tape on pending NFL free agent linebacker Blake Cashman, a graduate of Eden Prairie High School who played at the University of Minnesota. The Vikings signed Cashman, at Flores' urging, on the first day of free agency in March. He's their leading tackler, despite missing a game because of a toe injury.
Flores will bring the NFL's top-rated defense, per DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), to face the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night.
He declined to discuss his experience in Minnesota with ESPN in detail, saying he wanted to keep his focus on the team. During training camp, however, he said he was having "the best time of my life." More recently, speaking to the small group of reporters who cover the team, Flores left little doubt about his current state of ease.
"Minnesota has welcomed me with open arms," Flores said, "Me and my family, they've shown us a lot of love, and I'm showing Minnesota a lot of love back. And really that's talking about the state and the people here, but obviously this building as well."
...
THE VIKINGS HAVE spent two years collecting a group of players with similar mindsets. Of the 17 players this season who have received at least 70 defensive snaps, 15 have three or more years of experience. Only one is a rookie, and the group's average time spent in the NFL is 6.6 seasons. Nine are newcomers to the Vikings this season who Flores helped identify and advocated for internally. Three had played for him previously with the New England Patriots or Dolphins.
According to research by ESPN's Bill Barnwell, those numbers give the Vikings the NFL's oldest defense, based on snap-weighted ages.
"I think he wants to be around the right ingredients," said inside linebackers coach Mike Siravo, who was a graduate assistant at Boston College for two seasons when Flores played for the Eagles. "That's people who are accountable, who hold themselves to a high standard, who don't make excuses and have a get-it-done mindset.
"Not to say that wasn't here before, but as you grow older, those are the kinds of people you want to be around."
Flores said this summer he has "tried to apply the things that I could do better and the things that I've learned over the last two, three years." Vikings players who have spoken to ESPN over the course of the season have met him halfway.
"It's challenging," said linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who played three seasons for Flores with the Dolphins and then reunited with him this spring. "He's competitive and he wants to win and he wants to have the best defense in the league. He wants to be the best.
"He always says that him getting here was hard, and he loves it hard. He loves a challenge. That's what makes tough people tough."
Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill was drafted by the Patriots in 2016 when Flores was the team's linebackers coach. He later played for Flores in Miami during the 2020 season.
"You've got to be coachable, number one, and open to change," Grugier-Hill said. "We don't do traditional and conventional things here. So if you're a guy that has done things one way the entire time, this is probably not a spot for you."
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore first met Flores when he signed with the Patriots in 2017.
"He's somebody who will keep it real with you," Gilmore said. "He's a good person, but he wants to get the best out of you as a player, so he'll do whatever he can to do that and hold you accountable to bring that out of you.
"I think all coaches should be like that. The sport we play, you can't be sensitive."
Metellus had been largely a special teams player for three seasons in Minnesota before Flores tapped him for a hybrid safety/linebacker role that has put him on the field for 92.9% of the defensive snaps since the start of the 2023 season. He described Flores' style as being "very hard on you" and not "in a loving way, because it's football, but in a way that comes from the heart."
He added: "But I like that type of coaching. I've always had that type of coaching and it just resonates with me. I want to be great. I don't want somebody telling me how many good things I did. I want somebody coaching me up and telling me what I can do better to get better."
According to research by ESPN's Bill Barnwell, those numbers give the Vikings the NFL's oldest defense, based on snap-weighted ages.
"I think he wants to be around the right ingredients," said inside linebackers coach Mike Siravo, who was a graduate assistant at Boston College for two seasons when Flores played for the Eagles. "That's people who are accountable, who hold themselves to a high standard, who don't make excuses and have a get-it-done mindset.
"Not to say that wasn't here before, but as you grow older, those are the kinds of people you want to be around."
Flores said this summer he has "tried to apply the things that I could do better and the things that I've learned over the last two, three years." Vikings players who have spoken to ESPN over the course of the season have met him halfway.
"It's challenging," said linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who played three seasons for Flores with the Dolphins and then reunited with him this spring. "He's competitive and he wants to win and he wants to have the best defense in the league. He wants to be the best.
"He always says that him getting here was hard, and he loves it hard. He loves a challenge. That's what makes tough people tough."
Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill was drafted by the Patriots in 2016 when Flores was the team's linebackers coach. He later played for Flores in Miami during the 2020 season.
"You've got to be coachable, number one, and open to change," Grugier-Hill said. "We don't do traditional and conventional things here. So if you're a guy that has done things one way the entire time, this is probably not a spot for you."
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore first met Flores when he signed with the Patriots in 2017.
"He's somebody who will keep it real with you," Gilmore said. "He's a good person, but he wants to get the best out of you as a player, so he'll do whatever he can to do that and hold you accountable to bring that out of you.
"I think all coaches should be like that. The sport we play, you can't be sensitive."
Metellus had been largely a special teams player for three seasons in Minnesota before Flores tapped him for a hybrid safety/linebacker role that has put him on the field for 92.9% of the defensive snaps since the start of the 2023 season. He described Flores' style as being "very hard on you" and not "in a loving way, because it's football, but in a way that comes from the heart."
He added: "But I like that type of coaching. I've always had that type of coaching and it just resonates with me. I want to be great. I don't want somebody telling me how many good things I did. I want somebody coaching me up and telling me what I can do better to get better."
Plenty more at the link.
... and neither is this Chris guy.