Vikings Request Interview For DC/Other Positions

RE Pleasant, You could not have watched that 2nd Detroit game and not wonder WTF? got into their ragtag secondary. I was like when are we going to torch these scrubs. Dude had them ready for us. 

Up and comer under Shanny Jr and McVey. 

@"JustinTime18™" said:

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

·9m

Sounds like former Ravens DC Wink Martindale has had a discussion with Vikings as well although no formal interview to this point. Martindale has interviewed twice for Giants DC opening, one of them in person over weekend.

@"JR44" said:

@"JustinTime18™" said:

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

·9m

Sounds like former Ravens DC Wink Martindale has had a discussion with Vikings as well although no formal interview to this point. Martindale has interviewed twice for Giants DC opening, one of them in person over weekend.

Wasn't he a game show host!

@"Bullazin" said: RE Pleasant, You could not have watched that 2nd Detroit game and not wonder WTF? got into their ragtag secondary. I was like when are we going to torch these scrubs. Dude had them ready for us. 

Up and comer under Shanny Jr and McVey. 

@"JR44" said:

@"JustinTime18™" said:

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

·9m

Sounds like former Ravens DC Wink Martindale has had a discussion with Vikings as well although no formal interview to this point. Martindale has interviewed twice for Giants DC opening, one of them in person over weekend.

Wasn't he a game show host!

Any Callahan rumors?  I wouldnt mind.

I would like more man and power stuff. Lets get Davis in there. Draft a C lets go  

@"Bullazin" said: Any Callahan rumors?  I wouldnt mind.

I would like more man and power stuff. Lets get Davis in there. Draft a C lets go  

You could try asking Stefanski real nicely…  :p 

#Lions CB Jeff Okudah getting an earful here from DBs coach Aubrey Pleasant.

(🎥 @swarheit)pic.twitter.com/cLN8ajjQBC

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 12, 2021

Aubrey Unpleasant

@"Bullazin" said: RE Pleasant, You could not have watched that 2nd Detroit game and not wonder WTF? got into their ragtag secondary. I was like when are we going to torch these scrubs. Dude had them ready for us. 

Up and comer under Shanny Jr and McVey. 

Weaver was in the running to fill the Broncos' defensive coordinator opening before Ejiro Evero was hired and was in the mix for a promotion by the Ravens before they hired Mike Macdonald as their DC. He's a former player with a decade of experience coaching defensive lines in the NFL.
In his first season in Baltimore, Weaver's Ravens had arguably the best run defense in the league. They finished first in yards allowed, fourth in run defense DVOA, and fourth in EPA per rush. That's a pretty strong mark on a resume.
Prior to joining the Ravens, Weaver was with the Texans for five seasons, first as their defensive line coach and then as the defensive coordinator in 2020. That 2020 defense wasn't good, but the roster wasn't either. As Houston's DL coach, Weaver worked closely with guys like J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and D.J. Reader.
Weaver crossed paths with O'Connell in 2015 in Cleveland, when he was the Browns' DL coach and O'Connell was the team's QB coach. Weaver also had stints with the Bills and Jets early in his NFL coaching career. A 2002 second-round draft pick out of Notre Dame, Weaver started 98 games at defensive end for the Ravens and Texans from 2002-08, recording 15.5 sacks and three interceptions.

Martindale is one of several accomplished, veteran defensive coaches on the market right now, along with Vic Fangio, Brian Flores, Mike Zimmer and others. He's in the running to be the Giants' next defensive coordinator, having interviewed twice with New York and new coach Brian Daboll. But if Martindale doesn't end up getting that job — former Bears DC Sean Desai is also in the mix — it sounds like he could be a candidate in Minnesota.
He and the Ravens mutually parted ways after a tough 2021 season, but Martindale coached some fantastic defenses in Baltimore. They ranked in the top five in DVOA in 2018 and 2019 and were ninth in 2020. From 2018 to 2020, the Ravens finished in the top three in scoring defense for three straight seasons, allowing fewer than 19 points per game in every year of that span. Known for being one of the most blitz-heavy coordinators in the NFL, Martindale is a talented defensive schemer and game-planner. It was a big surprise when he and the Ravens parted ways in January.
Prior to becoming the Ravens' DC, Martindale was Baltimore's linebackers coach for six seasons. He has also coached for the Broncos and Raiders, in addition to a long career at the college level. The 58-year-old Martindale has a ton of experience and an impressive track record.

• The Vikings seem to be moving on from Adam Zimmer and Andre Patterson, who were their co-DCs for the past two seasons. Both have close ties to Mike Zimmer, so it makes sense. I suppose there's still a chance Patterson could stick around if he took a demotion back to DL coach, but that seems unlikely.
• It seems like there's a strong chance the Vikings switch to a 3-4 defense this offseason, which would be a big change after running a 4-3 for so many years. O'Connell has been around a 3-4 with the Rams for the past couple years, and all three of the names listed above are primarily 3-4 coaches. That would have a significant impact on the Vikings' personnel and how they shape the roster moving forward.
• Rams run game coordinator and DL coach Eric Henderson is a name to keep in mind if O'Connell wants to bring someone with him from LA. Assistant secondary coach Jonathan Cooley could be a target as the Vikings' DBs coach, too.
• Former Packers DC Mike Pettine was rumored as an option by CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, but I'm not putting much stock into that because La Canfora has consistently been wrong on every Vikings-related story this offseason.