Is this young dog learning some new tricks?
The Vikings ran the ball 27 times while trailing Sunday.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) September 15, 2026
That was the second highest figure since Kevin O’Connell became the team’s HC.
The locker room complimented this commitment. It represented action behind a revelatory acknowledgement:https://t.co/8ELyYAr1Lm
When that game was looking to get out of hand?
I be like start chucking the f'ing rock more and use the strength of the team
But they got to the precipice and GB melted down.
I think there is a greater commitment to the run for sure - and it's a great way to keep Caleb on the sidelines.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
I think KOC might be a little excited about what he discovered on Sunday. We didn't just win a game we had no business winning after a terrible first half. We kinda blew them out. 39-22, 5 TDs.
Running the ball so much led to a softer Packer defense late in the game, which led to some chunk plays, which led to the lead, which led to Brian Flores doing his thing. There's a recipe there if you can duplicate it.
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."
—George Orwell
MaroonBells wrote:
I think KOC might be a little excited about what he discovered on Sunday. We didn't just win a game we had no business winning after a terrible first half. We kinda blew them out. 39-22, 5 TDs.
Running the ball so much led to a softer Packer defense late in the game, which led to some chunk plays, which led to the lead, which led to Brian Flores doing his thing. There's a recipe there if you can duplicate it.
Not to mention, we changed up the run plays. GB was overplaying the wide zone, so we went up the middle and started getting those decent chunks.
Give Frank Smith a raise. He has accomplished something I didn't think possible.
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."
—George Orwell
One game does not make a strategic trend, I'm going to hang in there and see a few more games but I hope he did have an epiphany.
StickierBuns wrote:
One game does not make a strategic trend, I'm going to hang in there and see a few more games but I hope he did have an epiphany.
Did you listen to it? It’s not one game, it’s six. Over KOC’s career as head coach of the Vikings up thru the Seattle game last year, the Vikings ranked 31st in run rate. Since that game, the Vikings rank 2nd in run rate. They are 6-0 in those games.
Now, yes, I think a lot of that can be attributed to rookie QBs more than some sort of sea change in philosophy. Still, it’s interesting, and might bode well for the rest of the season.
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command."
—George Orwell
MaroonBells wrote:
Did you listen to it? It’s not one game, it’s six. Over KOC’s career as head coach of the Vikings up thru the Seattle game last year, the Vikings ranked 31st in run rate. Since that game, the Vikings rank 2nd in run rate. They are 6-0 in those games.
Now, yes, I think a lot of that can be attributed to rookie QBs more than some sort of sea change in philosophy. Still, it’s interesting, and might bode well for the rest of the season.
So does this mean that since McCarthy has the best record against the Bears (of the four Vikings QBs), that he gets the nod this week, now that KO has shifted his scheme/play calling? 🤔. Haha...I kid...I kid...but do i? 
MaroonBells wrote:
https://twitter.com/SKORNorth/status/2099593024175251684
And who were the QBs for those 6-0 games?
McCarthy - 4-0
Brosmer - 1-0
Wentz - 1-0
So when most of us were saying McCarthy finished strong, maybe it's because the recipe by the HC actually shifted to support the players on the team, rather than pushing his scheme down the QBs throats? To ask young QBs to do things only some veteran QBs are able to do, might be a recipe for failure, so adjusting to meet the needs of the players on your team makes far more sense and kudos to KO for finally realizing this.
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