How important is a base D? Teams are in base for only 28% of the snaps.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
How important is a base D? Teams are in base for only 28% of the snaps.
I’m gonna go with 28% important. 
It's now safe for Viking Nation to unpucker their collective sphincters.
Quote: @Kentis said:
Vikings fire defensive coordinator Ed Donatell
The Vikings have fired defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced the move today, a day after declining to answer whether Donatell would return.
“Today I informed Ed Donatell we will be going in a different direction at defensive coordinator in 2023,” O’Connell said in a statement. “While this was a difficult decision because of the tremendous respect I have for Ed as a person and coach, I believe it is the right move for the future of our football team. I want to thank Ed for his commitment to the vikings this past season, for the positive impact he had on our players and coaches and for his role in helping me as a first-year head coach lay this foundation.”
The 65-year-old Donatell is a longtime NFL defensive coordinator who will surely have offers if he wants to join another coaching staff, but his one year in Minnesota ended up with a disappointing playoff loss and a pink slip.
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/01/19/vikings-fire-defensive-coordinator-ed-donatell/
Good news. Who they hire as DC and what scheme they prefer to run will tell us a lot about the future of some key players on defense.
I think too much is being made of the 34/43 thing, but regardless of scheme, we've got to get this one right. In 2020, Dallas finished 28th in defense. They broke the franchise record for points given up. Dan Quinn, who runs a hybrid, came on and they went from 28th to 7th. Now, a lot of that had to do with Micah Parsons, but it can happen.
Minnesota finished 28th in the NFL in points allowed and 31st in yards in 2022, giving up at least 400 yards in seven of its last 10 games of the season. The Vikings allowed 431 yards in their 31-24 loss to the Giants in the NFC wild-card playoffs on Sunday, in a defeat that suggested Donatell's firing might be imminent.
Donatell's future, though, seemed in doubt as far back as the Vikings' Dec. 11 loss to the Lions, after which O'Connell called for the defense to be more aggressive. He said then he was not considering changing defensive play-callers "as of right now," and the Vikings shifted some of their coverage schemes in the final weeks of the season, playing more man coverage and moving cornerback Patrick Peterson to the short side of the field in an effort to deny opposing quarterbacks easy throws.
The Lions game was the Vikings' fifth in a row in which they'd allowed at least 400 yards. They did so only once in the final four games of the regular season, but that came on Dec. 24 against the Giants, when quarterback Daniel Jones had one of his best days of the season. Then in the wild-card round, Jones became the first NFL player to throw for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns while running for at least 70 in a playoff game.
Donatell's firing might be just the first of the big changes for the Vikings' defense this offseason. Cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan, as well as defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, are scheduled to hit free agency in March, and players like safety Harrison Smith, edge rusher Za'Darius Smith and linebacker Eric Kendricks could be salary cap casualties if the Vikings, who need to clear more than $18 million of space by the start of the league year in March, don't work out restructured contracts with the veterans.
The 65-year-old Donatell had been Vic Fangio's defensive coordinator the previous three seasons in Denver, and O'Connell hired Donatell to run Fangio's scheme in Minnesota. The approach has become popular around the league and made an impression on O'Connell while he was the Rams' offensive coordinator practicing against Brandon Staley's similar defenses. O'Connell found the scheme, which aims to eliminate big plays with two deep safeties and prioritizes deceptive pass coverages over heavy run fronts, one of the league's toughest to solve. He brought Donatell in to oversee the defensive shift, which would mean new roles for players like Danielle Hunter and Harrison Smith after years in Mike Zimmer's system.
The Vikings, despite using two-safety coverage more than almost any team in the NFL, were vulnerable to big plays throughout the season. They gave up 73 plays of 20 yards or more during the regular season, the second-most in the league behind only Detroit, as miscommunications in coverage led to receivers running open downfield. The Vikings also gave up plenty of space in intermediate zones, with their cornerbacks playing off the line of scrimmage, and looked especially vulnerable as their pass rush struggled to generate consistent pressure late in the season.
"Every team in this league goes through the roster evaluation process of trying to fit players to the roles that you believe are best for them," O'Connell said Wednesday. "I feel like some of our guys really handled that with ease. With some of our guys, it was a work in progress, finding their premier role, and how they can thrive. Ultimately, that's on us as coaches and me as the head football coach, to make sure I look long and hard at that, and decide what's the best thing for our team moving forward from a personnel standpoint, working alongside [General Manager] Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] and how we deploy our personnel."
Donatell did not respond to a message seeking comment. His son Steve, a Vikings offensive quality control coach, remained on the coaching staff as of Thursday night.
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-fire-defensive-coordinator-ed-donatell-kevin-oconnell/600244901/
Quote: @purplefaithful said:
Minnesota finished 28th in the NFL in points allowed and 31st in yards in 2022, giving up at least 400 yards in seven of its last 10 games of the season. The Vikings allowed 431 yards in their 31-24 loss to the Giants in the NFC wild-card playoffs on Sunday, in a defeat that suggested Donatell's firing might be imminent.
Donatell's future, though, seemed in doubt as far back as the Vikings' Dec. 11 loss to the Lions, after which O'Connell called for the defense to be more aggressive. He said then he was not considering changing defensive play-callers "as of right now," and the Vikings shifted some of their coverage schemes in the final weeks of the season, playing more man coverage and moving cornerback Patrick Peterson to the short side of the field in an effort to deny opposing quarterbacks easy throws.
The Lions game was the Vikings' fifth in a row in which they'd allowed at least 400 yards. They did so only once in the final four games of the regular season, but that came on Dec. 24 against the Giants, when quarterback Daniel Jones had one of his best days of the season. Then in the wild-card round, Jones became the first NFL player to throw for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns while running for at least 70 in a playoff game.
Donatell's firing might be just the first of the big changes for the Vikings' defense this offseason. Cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan, as well as defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, are scheduled to hit free agency in March, and players like safety Harrison Smith, edge rusher Za'Darius Smith and linebacker Eric Kendricks could be salary cap casualties if the Vikings, who need to clear more than $18 million of space by the start of the league year in March, don't work out restructured contracts with the veterans.
The 65-year-old Donatell had been Vic Fangio's defensive coordinator the previous three seasons in Denver, and O'Connell hired Donatell to run Fangio's scheme in Minnesota. The approach has become popular around the league and made an impression on O'Connell while he was the Rams' offensive coordinator practicing against Brandon Staley's similar defenses. O'Connell found the scheme, which aims to eliminate big plays with two deep safeties and prioritizes deceptive pass coverages over heavy run fronts, one of the league's toughest to solve. He brought Donatell in to oversee the defensive shift, which would mean new roles for players like Danielle Hunter and Harrison Smith after years in Mike Zimmer's system.
The Vikings, despite using two-safety coverage more than almost any team in the NFL, were vulnerable to big plays throughout the season. They gave up 73 plays of 20 yards or more during the regular season, the second-most in the league behind only Detroit, as miscommunications in coverage led to receivers running open downfield. The Vikings also gave up plenty of space in intermediate zones, with their cornerbacks playing off the line of scrimmage, and looked especially vulnerable as their pass rush struggled to generate consistent pressure late in the season.
"Every team in this league goes through the roster evaluation process of trying to fit players to the roles that you believe are best for them," O'Connell said Wednesday. "I feel like some of our guys really handled that with ease. With some of our guys, it was a work in progress, finding their premier role, and how they can thrive. Ultimately, that's on us as coaches and me as the head football coach, to make sure I look long and hard at that, and decide what's the best thing for our team moving forward from a personnel standpoint, working alongside [General Manager] Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] and how we deploy our personnel."
Donatell did not respond to a message seeking comment. His son Steve, a Vikings offensive quality control coach, remained on the coaching staff as of Thursday night.
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-fire-defensive-coordinator-ed-donatell-kevin-oconnell/600244901/
Donatell's firing might be just the first of the big changes for the Vikings' defense this offseason. Cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan, as well as defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, are scheduled to hit free agency in March, and players like safety Harrison Smith, edge rusher Za'Darius Smith and linebacker Eric Kendricks could be salary cap casualties if the Vikings, who need to clear more than $18 million of space by the start of the league year in March, don't work out restructured contracts with the veterans.
Wow!!! $18 Million? I have not seen this high of a number reported anywhere. Spotrac has us a little over $13 Million including draft signees.
Quote: @TBro said:
@ purplefaithful said:
Minnesota finished 28th in the NFL in points allowed and 31st in yards in 2022, giving up at least 400 yards in seven of its last 10 games of the season. The Vikings allowed 431 yards in their 31-24 loss to the Giants in the NFC wild-card playoffs on Sunday, in a defeat that suggested Donatell's firing might be imminent.
Donatell's future, though, seemed in doubt as far back as the Vikings' Dec. 11 loss to the Lions, after which O'Connell called for the defense to be more aggressive. He said then he was not considering changing defensive play-callers "as of right now," and the Vikings shifted some of their coverage schemes in the final weeks of the season, playing more man coverage and moving cornerback Patrick Peterson to the short side of the field in an effort to deny opposing quarterbacks easy throws.
The Lions game was the Vikings' fifth in a row in which they'd allowed at least 400 yards. They did so only once in the final four games of the regular season, but that came on Dec. 24 against the Giants, when quarterback Daniel Jones had one of his best days of the season. Then in the wild-card round, Jones became the first NFL player to throw for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns while running for at least 70 in a playoff game.
Donatell's firing might be just the first of the big changes for the Vikings' defense this offseason. Cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan, as well as defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, are scheduled to hit free agency in March, and players like safety Harrison Smith, edge rusher Za'Darius Smith and linebacker Eric Kendricks could be salary cap casualties if the Vikings, who need to clear more than $18 million of space by the start of the league year in March, don't work out restructured contracts with the veterans.
The 65-year-old Donatell had been Vic Fangio's defensive coordinator the previous three seasons in Denver, and O'Connell hired Donatell to run Fangio's scheme in Minnesota. The approach has become popular around the league and made an impression on O'Connell while he was the Rams' offensive coordinator practicing against Brandon Staley's similar defenses. O'Connell found the scheme, which aims to eliminate big plays with two deep safeties and prioritizes deceptive pass coverages over heavy run fronts, one of the league's toughest to solve. He brought Donatell in to oversee the defensive shift, which would mean new roles for players like Danielle Hunter and Harrison Smith after years in Mike Zimmer's system.
The Vikings, despite using two-safety coverage more than almost any team in the NFL, were vulnerable to big plays throughout the season. They gave up 73 plays of 20 yards or more during the regular season, the second-most in the league behind only Detroit, as miscommunications in coverage led to receivers running open downfield. The Vikings also gave up plenty of space in intermediate zones, with their cornerbacks playing off the line of scrimmage, and looked especially vulnerable as their pass rush struggled to generate consistent pressure late in the season.
"Every team in this league goes through the roster evaluation process of trying to fit players to the roles that you believe are best for them," O'Connell said Wednesday. "I feel like some of our guys really handled that with ease. With some of our guys, it was a work in progress, finding their premier role, and how they can thrive. Ultimately, that's on us as coaches and me as the head football coach, to make sure I look long and hard at that, and decide what's the best thing for our team moving forward from a personnel standpoint, working alongside [General Manager] Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] and how we deploy our personnel."
Donatell did not respond to a message seeking comment. His son Steve, a Vikings offensive quality control coach, remained on the coaching staff as of Thursday night.
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-fire-defensive-coordinator-ed-donatell-kevin-oconnell/600244901/
Donatell's firing might be just the first of the big changes for the Vikings' defense this offseason. Cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan, as well as defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, are scheduled to hit free agency in March, and players like safety Harrison Smith, edge rusher Za'Darius Smith and linebacker Eric Kendricks could be salary cap casualties if the Vikings, who need to clear more than $18 million of space by the start of the league year in March, don't work out restructured contracts with the veterans.
Wow!!! $18 Million? I have not seen this high of a number reported anywhere. Spotrac has us a little over $13 Million including draft signees.
I've seen it at 7 to 8 million from various sources, not sure where this 18 comes from.... but its the strib.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
@ TBro said:
@ purplefaithful said:
Minnesota finished 28th in the NFL in points allowed and 31st in yards in 2022, giving up at least 400 yards in seven of its last 10 games of the season. The Vikings allowed 431 yards in their 31-24 loss to the Giants in the NFC wild-card playoffs on Sunday, in a defeat that suggested Donatell's firing might be imminent.
Donatell's future, though, seemed in doubt as far back as the Vikings' Dec. 11 loss to the Lions, after which O'Connell called for the defense to be more aggressive. He said then he was not considering changing defensive play-callers "as of right now," and the Vikings shifted some of their coverage schemes in the final weeks of the season, playing more man coverage and moving cornerback Patrick Peterson to the short side of the field in an effort to deny opposing quarterbacks easy throws.
The Lions game was the Vikings' fifth in a row in which they'd allowed at least 400 yards. They did so only once in the final four games of the regular season, but that came on Dec. 24 against the Giants, when quarterback Daniel Jones had one of his best days of the season. Then in the wild-card round, Jones became the first NFL player to throw for at least 300 yards and two touchdowns while running for at least 70 in a playoff game.
Donatell's firing might be just the first of the big changes for the Vikings' defense this offseason. Cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan, as well as defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, are scheduled to hit free agency in March, and players like safety Harrison Smith, edge rusher Za'Darius Smith and linebacker Eric Kendricks could be salary cap casualties if the Vikings, who need to clear more than $18 million of space by the start of the league year in March, don't work out restructured contracts with the veterans.
The 65-year-old Donatell had been Vic Fangio's defensive coordinator the previous three seasons in Denver, and O'Connell hired Donatell to run Fangio's scheme in Minnesota. The approach has become popular around the league and made an impression on O'Connell while he was the Rams' offensive coordinator practicing against Brandon Staley's similar defenses. O'Connell found the scheme, which aims to eliminate big plays with two deep safeties and prioritizes deceptive pass coverages over heavy run fronts, one of the league's toughest to solve. He brought Donatell in to oversee the defensive shift, which would mean new roles for players like Danielle Hunter and Harrison Smith after years in Mike Zimmer's system.
The Vikings, despite using two-safety coverage more than almost any team in the NFL, were vulnerable to big plays throughout the season. They gave up 73 plays of 20 yards or more during the regular season, the second-most in the league behind only Detroit, as miscommunications in coverage led to receivers running open downfield. The Vikings also gave up plenty of space in intermediate zones, with their cornerbacks playing off the line of scrimmage, and looked especially vulnerable as their pass rush struggled to generate consistent pressure late in the season.
"Every team in this league goes through the roster evaluation process of trying to fit players to the roles that you believe are best for them," O'Connell said Wednesday. "I feel like some of our guys really handled that with ease. With some of our guys, it was a work in progress, finding their premier role, and how they can thrive. Ultimately, that's on us as coaches and me as the head football coach, to make sure I look long and hard at that, and decide what's the best thing for our team moving forward from a personnel standpoint, working alongside [General Manager] Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah] and how we deploy our personnel."
Donatell did not respond to a message seeking comment. His son Steve, a Vikings offensive quality control coach, remained on the coaching staff as of Thursday night.
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-fire-defensive-coordinator-ed-donatell-kevin-oconnell/600244901/
Donatell's firing might be just the first of the big changes for the Vikings' defense this offseason. Cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Chandon Sullivan, as well as defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, are scheduled to hit free agency in March, and players like safety Harrison Smith, edge rusher Za'Darius Smith and linebacker Eric Kendricks could be salary cap casualties if the Vikings, who need to clear more than $18 million of space by the start of the league year in March, don't work out restructured contracts with the veterans.
Wow!!! $18 Million? I have not seen this high of a number reported anywhere. Spotrac has us a little over $13 Million including draft signees.
I've seen it at 7 to 8 million from various sources, not sure where this 18 comes from.... but its the strib.
They instinctively carried the 1 just because...
I think OTC has us at $19M over. I would not freak out over this number. It's manageable.
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