OTA's: Puppies and Unicorns
Justin Jefferson, other Vikings endorse new coach Kevin O'Connell's changes, approachability
Justin Jefferson was beginning his offseason workout plan in Miami as the Vikings finalized their coaching staff, putting together a group under new coach Kevin O'Connell that will lead the team through the final years of the receiver's rookie contract.
There might be no player whose opinion matters more to the Vikings than that of the record-breaking 22-year-old, who admitted Tuesday he's kept an eye on the extravagant deals for Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill that reset the receiver market this offseason.
So what was Jefferson looking for with a new staff?
"Well first, is he an offensive or defensive coach — is he on my side more or the defensive side more? And two, is he able to connect with his players?" Jefferson said Tuesday. "Does he have that relationship with his players where you can go up and talk to him at any time and really just be that coach you can call on at any time? Definitely looking at those two things."
The two-time Pro Bowler talked excitedly about mimicking the role Cooper Kupp had in the Rams offense under O'Connell, who became the Vikings coach after winning Super Bowl LVI as the Rams offensive coordinator. He relayed the conversations he'd had with Rams receiver Odell Beckham Jr. — whom Jefferson followed at LSU — about O'Connell's approach. And he became the latest player to project hope that the Vikings' big offseason changes will turn a middling team into a contender.
"It feels great, honestly — just for him to come in and be a laid-back coach ready to change the whole program and get us back on that winning stage," Jefferson said. "We're all excited. We've seen so many new faces in here, so many new coaches. We have so much potential on this team. We're all ready to get this thing started back up."
The Vikings have been all smiles through the first two days of O'Connell's first offseason program, talking optimistically about how a new culture could lead to changes in everything from the way players connect with their coaches to increased freedom for Kirk Cousins at the line of scrimmage and Jefferson and Adam Thielen in their routes.
For all of it to work, they will have to win more games this fall under O'Connell than they did in 2020 and 2021, when they finished a game out of the playoffs each year. Early on, though, both returning players and new free agents seem hopeful about the changes.
"I'm used to kind of this coaching change," said guard Chris Reed, who will play for his fifth team this year after signing a two-year contract with the Vikings. "I've had coaching changes in Jacksonville. Miami was a new coaching staff, Carolina was a coaching staff , so I've seen a little bit of everything. I've seen old-school, more new-school thinking. I just kind of think it's an environment that fosters the players taking over and growing, compared to a fear-driven system. I think that is going to be key to getting this team where it needs to go, and where it wants to go."
O'Connell talked with many of the Vikings' key players on the phone during the offseason, and safety Harrison Smith said he'd talked with defensive coordinator Ed Donatell "quite a few times" in the past several months. As the Vikings started their offseason program on Monday, players said, O'Connell centered on a theme that shouldn't surprise anyone who's paid attention to him this offseason.
"It was, 'Our team, our ways, our commitment,'" cornerback Patrick Peterson said. "Everybody being on the same page at the same time at all times. There's no 'I' or 'me' in this building; this is ours. That's what it's all about, being a collective one unit."
The Vikings are still nearly five months from their first meaningful game under O'Connell, and they've yet to see their full schedule. It'd seem difficult at this point, then, to guarantee that culture changes will produce a meaningful difference on the field.
But in O'Connell's first two days in front of Vikings players, excitement about the changes has some of the team's veterans talking boldly about what this team could achieve if it reaches its full potential.
"I think 'KO' came in and addressed right away, bringing in 'Z' , bringing in a couple defensive backs," running back Dalvin Cook said. "We've still got some things we need to fill in. bringing in some offensive linemen so we can have depth. Just having those right pieces to go win, I think we're right there at the door.
https://www.startribune.com/justin-jefferson-other-vikings-endorse-new-coach-kevin-oconnells-changes-approachability/600164440/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Vikings' Adam Thielen is getting to know a 'more player-friendly' offense
The Vikings were only two days into learning coach Kevin O'Connell's new offense when receiver Adam Thielen said the routes are "more player-friendly" and that Kirk Cousins will have more freedom to change plays at the line of scrimmage.
"There's a lot more feel to rather than, 'You gotta do this at this point, at this time,'" Thielen said Tuesday during a break in the team's offseason program. "Not to say there's a wrong way to do it, it's just different . Excited about that. … It's definitely an offense that kind of just lets their players do what they do well and go out and beat the defense they're giving us."
Thielen was asked how he thinks Cousins will fit into an offense that's based more on feel and includes more post-snap adjustments that require him and his targets to make the same reads on the fly.
"I don't want to talk too much about that because at the end of the day, I'm a wide receiver," Thielen said. "But I will say this: Kirk feels super comfortable with this coaching staff, with this offense."
Cousins talked last season about not having much freedom to change plays at the line of scrimmage. Apparently, that will change under O'Connell, according to Thielen.
"I think there is going to be a little more of, a couple different reads depending on the coverage and then maybe more flexibility for Kirk to make different calls at the line of scrimmage depending on what coverage we're getting," Thielen said. "I think there's a little bit more freedom in his hands to get us in the best position to have success, and that's what you have to do on offense. You have to try to find an advantage somehow."
https://www.startribune.com/vikings-notebook-adam-thielen-kevin-oconnell-kirk-cousins-dalvin-cook-justin-jefferson/600164397/
A less ridgid, more openly structured offense doesn't really sound like something Cousins would thrive in to me. IMO he is the type of person that likes structure and everything has its place. A person that finds comfort in familiarity. Having receivers that are able to go off script at their choosing imo might cause Cap'n Kirk some angst when things aren't working as well as he would like.
@"JimmyinSD" said: A less ridgid, more openly structured offense doesn't really sound like something Cousins would thrive in to me. IMO he is the type of person that likes structure and everything has its place. A person that finds comfort in familiarity. Having receivers that are able to go off script at their choosing imo might cause Cap'n Kirk some angst when things aren't working as well as he would like.Kinda my thought too. We shall see I guess.
@"JimmyinSD" said: A less ridgid, more openly structured offense doesn't really sound like something Cousins would thrive in to me. IMO he is the type of person that likes structure and everything has its place. A person that finds comfort in familiarity. Having receivers that are able to go off script at their choosing imo might cause Cap'n Kirk some angst when things aren't working as well as he would like.On the other hand, maybe it is something he has been begging for from Zimmer for the last 3 years? What if he actually thrives on this very thing?
Hard to say what will happen. Wins are the name of the game. I'm sure there is a more approachable, positive feel around Eagan. Let's see where the team goes from there.
@"Chuckf" said:I have seen him to often furiously making hand gestures to his receivers after they ran the routes incorrectly to think he will be comfortable with a pro version of playground football.@"JimmyinSD" said: A less ridgid, more openly structured offense doesn't really sound like something Cousins would thrive in to me. IMO he is the type of person that likes structure and everything has its place. A person that finds comfort in familiarity. Having receivers that are able to go off script at their choosing imo might cause Cap'n Kirk some angst when things aren't working as well as he would like. On the other hand, maybe it is something he has been begging for from Zimmer for the last 3 years? What if he actually thrives on this very thing?
@"Chuckf" said:He scripts his whole day out at home. He breaks downs when the play doesn't go as scripted. he isn't the type of QB that will be able to do this. You need a guy like Stafford who can think fast and make plays when things go south. That is not Kirks strength.@"JimmyinSD" said: A less ridgid, more openly structured offense doesn't really sound like something Cousins would thrive in to me. IMO he is the type of person that likes structure and everything has its place. A person that finds comfort in familiarity. Having receivers that are able to go off script at their choosing imo might cause Cap'n Kirk some angst when things aren't working as well as he would like. On the other hand, maybe it is something he has been begging for from Zimmer for the last 3 years? What if he actually thrives on this very thing?
You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me.
@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me.kirk can make pre snap adjustments, but after the snap the receivers can make more adjustments on the fly, which will lead to more throws like he made to the bears centerfielder in the december game. if the receivers are able to make their own adjustments as AT stated, it stands to reason that they will not always be on the same page and it will lead to issues at times....which will make KCs head hurt.
@"JimmyinSD" said: A less ridgid, more openly structured offense doesn't really sound like something Cousins would thrive in to me. IMO he is the type of person that likes structure and everything has its place. A person that finds comfort in familiarity. Having receivers that are able to go off script at their choosing imo might cause Cap'n Kirk some angst when things aren't working as well as he would like.Yep. Wasn't Theilan going off script the root of that weird sideline spat a couple years ago where Kirk was gesturing wildly at him, supposedly telling him how to run a route while Theilan just frowned and stared straight ahead?
@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me.It's not a stretch to believe Kirk will continue to be the guy we've seen him be for 10 years, versus believing Kirk will be a brand new man because rookie HC KOC just showed up.
But everyone gets to believe what they want in life. The rubber will meet the road next September.
@"comet52" said:@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me. It's not a stretch to believe Kirk will continue to be the guy we've seen him be for 10 years, versus believing Kirk will be a brand new man because rookie HC KOC just showed up.But everyone gets to believe what they want in life. The rubber will meet the road next September.
Yet Matt Stafford just won a Super Bowl. Who has he been the last 10 years prior? Who's talking about being a 'brand new man'....sometimes it's the process, coaching and organization that holds you down. And you get to believe what you want to in life as well.
@"StickyBun" said:@"comet52" said:@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me. It's not a stretch to believe Kirk will continue to be the guy we've seen him be for 10 years, versus believing Kirk will be a brand new man because rookie HC KOC just showed up.But everyone gets to believe what they want in life. The rubber will meet the road next September.
Yet Matt Stafford just won a Super Bowl. Who has he been the last 10 years prior? Who's talking about being a 'brand new man'....sometimes it's the process, coaching and organization that holds you down. And you get to believe what you want to in life as well.
Yeah everyone and everything has been holding Kirk down for ten years. Btw I've got some prime Florida swampland for sale, you seem like you might be a good candidate to buy. :pThe "want" to believe that Kirk's problems aren't about Kirk is entertaining to witness. It's how fans cope with a mediocre team hiring a brand new regime then immediately making them run back the same garbage.
I feel bad for KAM and KOC because I think they have promise, but the issues with this franchise have flowed from the ownership suite down for 17 years and it isn't changing. They are career .500 owners who've fallen in love with the perfect .500 qb.
Matt Stafford goes off script and takes a lot of chances -hence the wtf int's. He landed in the middle of an uber-talented squad with a top 5 NFL HC and league MVPs like Donald and Kupp and they won a coin flip SB. Congrats to him, but none of these circumstances are where Kirk will find himself this fall.
He will still be showing up at the post game presser to give the careful corporate-speak replies about how he took what the defense gave him, which often is the defense happily giving him 4 yards on third and long.
@"comet52" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"comet52" said:@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me. It's not a stretch to believe Kirk will continue to be the guy we've seen him be for 10 years, versus believing Kirk will be a brand new man because rookie HC KOC just showed up.But everyone gets to believe what they want in life. The rubber will meet the road next September.
Yet Matt Stafford just won a Super Bowl. Who has he been the last 10 years prior? Who's talking about being a 'brand new man'....sometimes it's the process, coaching and organization that holds you down. And you get to believe what you want to in life as well.
Yeah everyone and everything has been holding Kirk down for ten years. Btw I've got some prime Florida swampland for sale, you seem like you might be a good candidate to buy. :p
Florida real estate is doing quite well right now, show me that piece of land you're talking about! :p
@"StickyBun" said:@"comet52" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"comet52" said:@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me. It's not a stretch to believe Kirk will continue to be the guy we've seen him be for 10 years, versus believing Kirk will be a brand new man because rookie HC KOC just showed up.But everyone gets to believe what they want in life. The rubber will meet the road next September.
Yet Matt Stafford just won a Super Bowl. Who has he been the last 10 years prior? Who's talking about being a 'brand new man'....sometimes it's the process, coaching and organization that holds you down. And you get to believe what you want to in life as well.
Yeah everyone and everything has been holding Kirk down for ten years. Btw I've got some prime Florida swampland for sale, you seem like you might be a good candidate to buy. :p
Florida real estate is doing quite well right now, show me that piece of land you're talking about! :p
Search Google maps Florida for Puppies and Unicorn acres. Plots are selling fast! =)
@"comet52" said:@"StickyBun" said:@"comet52" said:@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me. It's not a stretch to believe Kirk will continue to be the guy we've seen him be for 10 years, versus believing Kirk will be a brand new man because rookie HC KOC just showed up.But everyone gets to believe what they want in life. The rubber will meet the road next September.
Yet Matt Stafford just won a Super Bowl. Who has he been the last 10 years prior? Who's talking about being a 'brand new man'....sometimes it's the process, coaching and organization that holds you down. And you get to believe what you want to in life as well.
Yeah everyone and everything has been holding Kirk down for ten years. Btw I've got some prime Florida swampland for sale, you seem like you might be a good candidate to buy. :pThe "want" to believe that Kirk's problems aren't about Kirk is entertaining to witness. It's how fans cope with a mediocre team hiring a brand new regime then immediately making them run back the same garbage.
I feel bad for KAM and KOC because I think they have promise, but the issues with this franchise have flowed from the ownership suite down for 17 years and it isn't changing. They are career .500 owners who've fallen in love with the perfect .500 qb.
Matt Stafford goes off script and takes a lot of chances -hence the wtf int's. He landed in the middle of an uber-talented squad with a top 5 NFL HC and league MVPs like Donald and Kupp and they won a coin flip SB. Congrats to him, but none of these circumstances are where Kirk will find himself this fall.
He will still be showing up at the post game presser to give the careful corporate-speak replies about how he took what the defense gave him, which often is the defense happily giving him 4 yards on third and long.
Thats painting a pretty black and white picture and in reality I think its much more complex than that.I was ok with KC (for now) cause the stiffs who were the alternatives aren't nearly as good and this doesnt look like the year to draft a qb high.
I do think his ceiling is what we've seen from Stafford with a good surround.
@"JimmyinSD" said:You know thinking about this some more, I could envision a scenario where KOC gets Kirk to buy in to the idea of more off-script stuff, and Kirk ends up floundering with it because he just can't process that way--he never has. A receiver downfield turning left when Kirk expects him to turn right disrupts everything.@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me. kirk can make pre snap adjustments, but after the snap the receivers can make more adjustments on the fly, which will lead to more throws like he made to the bears centerfielder in the december game. if the receivers are able to make their own adjustments as AT stated, it stands to reason that they will not always be on the same page and it will lead to issues at times....which will make KCs head hurt.So after a bad start, say, 2-6 out of the gate, KOC relents and puts everything back in Kirk-scheduleville and they salvage a 7-8 win season. I could see it happening.
@"comet52" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:You know thinking about this some more, I could envision a scenario where KOC gets Kirk to buy in to the idea of more off-script stuff, and Kirk ends up floundering with it because he just can't process that way--he never has. A receiver downfield turning left when Kirk expects him to turn right disrupts everything.@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me. kirk can make pre snap adjustments, but after the snap the receivers can make more adjustments on the fly, which will lead to more throws like he made to the bears centerfielder in the december game. if the receivers are able to make their own adjustments as AT stated, it stands to reason that they will not always be on the same page and it will lead to issues at times....which will make KCs head hurt.So after a bad start, say, 2-6 out of the gate, KOC relents and puts everything back in Kirk-scheduleville and they salvage a 7-8 win season. I could see it happening.
IIRC our schedule isn't that tough next year so I doubt we start 2 and 6, however I could easily see a 500 season as the players try to learn new systems on both sides of the ball.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"comet52" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:You know thinking about this some more, I could envision a scenario where KOC gets Kirk to buy in to the idea of more off-script stuff, and Kirk ends up floundering with it because he just can't process that way--he never has. A receiver downfield turning left when Kirk expects him to turn right disrupts everything.@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me. kirk can make pre snap adjustments, but after the snap the receivers can make more adjustments on the fly, which will lead to more throws like he made to the bears centerfielder in the december game. if the receivers are able to make their own adjustments as AT stated, it stands to reason that they will not always be on the same page and it will lead to issues at times....which will make KCs head hurt.So after a bad start, say, 2-6 out of the gate, KOC relents and puts everything back in Kirk-scheduleville and they salvage a 7-8 win season. I could see it happening.
IIRC our schedule isn't that tough next year so I doubt we start 2 and 6, however I could easily see a 500 season as the players try to learn new systems on both sides of the ball.You predicting a tie game this season Jimmy…? ;) B) :p
@"Kentis" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:@"comet52" said:@"JimmyinSD" said:You know thinking about this some more, I could envision a scenario where KOC gets Kirk to buy in to the idea of more off-script stuff, and Kirk ends up floundering with it because he just can't process that way--he never has. A receiver downfield turning left when Kirk expects him to turn right disrupts everything.@"Havoc1649" said: You guys crack me up! You’re so obsessed with your idea of who Cousins is, that you fail to realize that flexibility for him means HE sets exactly what HE wants. He sets the structure. So if you believe he’s a guy who needs structure and things just so, there’s no better setup than one that allows him to do exactly that. How on earth you can turn that fact into making it more difficult for Cousins is beyond me. kirk can make pre snap adjustments, but after the snap the receivers can make more adjustments on the fly, which will lead to more throws like he made to the bears centerfielder in the december game. if the receivers are able to make their own adjustments as AT stated, it stands to reason that they will not always be on the same page and it will lead to issues at times....which will make KCs head hurt.So after a bad start, say, 2-6 out of the gate, KOC relents and puts everything back in Kirk-scheduleville and they salvage a 7-8 win season. I could see it happening.
IIRC our schedule isn't that tough next year so I doubt we start 2 and 6, however I could easily see a 500 season as the players try to learn new systems on both sides of the ball.You predicting a tie game this season Jimmy…? ;) B) :p
I dont count games played in other countries. :p
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