02-06-2022, 03:44 PM
The reviews are good so far from two star Vikings players on the upcoming hiring of Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell, offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, is expected to be named Minnesota’s head coach after the Rams face the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI next Sunday. And wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Dalvin Cook are excited about that.
Jefferson and Cook are among five Minnesota players who will play for the NFC in the Pro Bowl against the AFC on Sunday in Las Vegas. Both spoke to NFL Network at a Pro Bowl event about O’Connell.
“I’ve been watching the Rams’ offense for a minute now,’’ Jefferson said. “They get their playmakers the ball. They have some tremendous plays, Cooper Kupp wide open all the time. So I’m excited for it. This is my first head coach that’s going to be on the offensive side instead of the defensive side, so I’m happy.”
O’Connell is in line to replace Mike Zimmer, a longtime defensive specialist who was fired Jan. 10 along with general manager Rick Spielman. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was hired to replace Spielman on Jan. 26.
Cook brought up how O’Connell was quarterbacks coach at Washington and had Kirk Cousins in 2017 before the quarterback signed with the Vikings in 2018. Cousins, safety Harrison Smith and tackle Brian O’Neill are also representing Minnesota at the Pro Bowl.
“(O’Connell) was with Kirk in Washington, so Kirk has been kind of telling me, ‘Great guy to be around. Full of energy. Going to bring the energy,’’’ Cook told NFL Network. “So I’m just looking forward to it. It’s a new opportunity, new era, new energy, so we got to take advantage of it. … We got a new head man, we got a new GM, so we just got to put the right people around us, and we just got to go get it.”
Jefferson, in his second season, was named to his second Pro Bowl. However, there was no game last season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve just been having fun out there,’’ Jefferson told NFL Network. “Everybody’s just been having fun out here. It feels good to be out here for my second Pro Bowl, but first appearance.”
Jefferson had 108 receptions for 1,616 yards in 2021, falling just short of Randy Moss’ team record of 1,632 yards in a season. He said in his interview, “I still didn’t beat the record yet, so next year the goal is to beat the record.’’
Cook was the only Minnesota player named a starter for Sunday’s game. Cook missed time in 2021 due to ankle and shoulder injuries and being on the COVID-19 reserve list, and rushed for 1,159 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. That was down from 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns in 14 games in 2020.
“To be at a Pro Bowl is a blessing for me to have the year I had with the ups and downs I had,’’ Cook said in his interview.
https://www.twincities.com/2022/02/05/ju...ngs-coach/
Jefferson and Cook are among five Minnesota players who will play for the NFC in the Pro Bowl against the AFC on Sunday in Las Vegas. Both spoke to NFL Network at a Pro Bowl event about O’Connell.
“I’ve been watching the Rams’ offense for a minute now,’’ Jefferson said. “They get their playmakers the ball. They have some tremendous plays, Cooper Kupp wide open all the time. So I’m excited for it. This is my first head coach that’s going to be on the offensive side instead of the defensive side, so I’m happy.”
O’Connell is in line to replace Mike Zimmer, a longtime defensive specialist who was fired Jan. 10 along with general manager Rick Spielman. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was hired to replace Spielman on Jan. 26.
Cook brought up how O’Connell was quarterbacks coach at Washington and had Kirk Cousins in 2017 before the quarterback signed with the Vikings in 2018. Cousins, safety Harrison Smith and tackle Brian O’Neill are also representing Minnesota at the Pro Bowl.
“(O’Connell) was with Kirk in Washington, so Kirk has been kind of telling me, ‘Great guy to be around. Full of energy. Going to bring the energy,’’’ Cook told NFL Network. “So I’m just looking forward to it. It’s a new opportunity, new era, new energy, so we got to take advantage of it. … We got a new head man, we got a new GM, so we just got to put the right people around us, and we just got to go get it.”
Jefferson, in his second season, was named to his second Pro Bowl. However, there was no game last season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’ve just been having fun out there,’’ Jefferson told NFL Network. “Everybody’s just been having fun out here. It feels good to be out here for my second Pro Bowl, but first appearance.”
Jefferson had 108 receptions for 1,616 yards in 2021, falling just short of Randy Moss’ team record of 1,632 yards in a season. He said in his interview, “I still didn’t beat the record yet, so next year the goal is to beat the record.’’
Cook was the only Minnesota player named a starter for Sunday’s game. Cook missed time in 2021 due to ankle and shoulder injuries and being on the COVID-19 reserve list, and rushed for 1,159 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. That was down from 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns in 14 games in 2020.
“To be at a Pro Bowl is a blessing for me to have the year I had with the ups and downs I had,’’ Cook said in his interview.
https://www.twincities.com/2022/02/05/ju...ngs-coach/
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