No Flores Presser from OConnell or Kwesi?

@"BigAl99" said: The presser checked the boxes for me.  Seemed like they both want to have a D. that is based upon disrupting the other teams plans, not just a system to execute a plan.  Particularly liked the cliche " I am where my feet are" when asked about the lawsuit and plans for being a head coach again.  Like KOC taking responsibility for improvement and basing the success on his ability to learn, damn I would have loved to heard that answer in an interview.  It seemed sincere and not scripted.     

That's thing about O'Connell I feel like is getting lost...  he's young, he's collaborative, definitely a feel good culture guy, but it's not all rainbows and unicorns and a guy who is in over his head. 

Not enough fans are recognizing he's got that competitive fire and isn't afraid to admit his mistakes and wants to learn from it.

Seems like too many want to trash him for the Donatell hire and going one and done in the playoffs.  I get it, it left a sour taste, but he made this team better than they probably were with his coaching, game management, and culture. AND he didn't make a young HC mistake by keeping a guy who clearly didn't deserve more time.  Look across the border at LaFleur who IS reluctant to fire his DCs and hasn't made the best choices with either Pettine or Barry.

I think we're in good hands and Flores might be the ying to his yang.  Excited to see where we go in Year 2 under KOC.

Might not be year 2, got a feeling it may be a let down, some of that 13 and 4 was luck, karma or a horse shoe in the nether regions.  If we have a good draft, improved D, win by margins, I'll be very happy.  Then the next year I'll expect to compete for some hardware.

 I like the camaraderie between "Kev" and "BFlo" in this interview.  Seems like they have quite a bit of respect for each other and shared vision of how they want to play the game.  I liked Flores saying a team's personality can't just be on one side of the ball.  The team philosophy and personality has to be on all three phases not just offense or defense.  This seems like a good fit, and actually gives me some hope for the off season.  I really like the hire - SKOL!

Hey, since we're on the subject, Brian, one last thing: 4-3 or 3-4 scheme?
"Who are we playing?" he shot back, before acknowledging that he will indeed operate a 3-4 scheme.
It was refreshing to hear him say the scheme will still be a 3-4 but will change depending on who we are playing.  Last season and even with Zimmer the defensive game plan never seemed to change no matter how much it wasn't working.  The only time it did was late in games and they were behind and needed the ball back.

@"Wetlander" said:

@"BigAl99" said: The presser checked the boxes for me.  Seemed like they both want to have a D. that is based upon disrupting the other teams plans, not just a system to execute a plan.  Particularly liked the cliche " I am where my feet are" when asked about the lawsuit and plans for being a head coach again.  Like KOC taking responsibility for improvement and basing the success on his ability to learn, damn I would have loved to heard that answer in an interview.  It seemed sincere and not scripted.     

That's thing about O'Connell I feel like is getting lost...  he's young, he's collaborative, definitely a feel good culture guy, but it's not all rainbows and unicorns and a guy who is in over his head. 

Not enough fans are recognizing he's got that competitive fire and isn't afraid to admit his mistakes and wants to learn from it.

Seems like too many want to trash him for the Donatell hire and going one and done in the playoffs.  I get it, it left a sour taste, but he made this team better than they probably were with his coaching, game management, and culture. AND he didn't make a young HC mistake by keeping a guy who clearly didn't deserve more time.  Look across the border at LaFleur who IS reluctant to fire his DCs and hasn't made the best choices with either Pettine or Barry.

I think we're in good hands and Flores might be the ying to his yang.  Excited to see where we go in Year 2 under KOC.

@"Greylock" said: Hey, since we're on the subject, Brian, one last thing: 4-3 or 3-4 scheme? "Who are we playing?" he shot back, before acknowledging that he will indeed operate a 3-4 scheme. It was refreshing to hear him say the scheme will still be a 3-4 but will change depending on who we are playing.  Last season and even with Zimmer the defensive game plan never seemed to change no matter how much it wasn't working.  The only time it did was late in games and they were behind and needed the ball back.

isnt that the point of a scheme though?   work on something to the point where you are so good at it that the offense has to scheme to beat you,  and then deviate and show something new only when they seem to have figured it out?   if you bounce around all the time then you confuse even your own players,  it would be one thing if all your defenders were seasoned vets in you scheme,  but in the day and age of free agency IMO you need a solid base to work from and then force the O to adjust to your planned adjustments once you have seen how they have planned to attack your scheme.  "if they do that ,  we do this"   I want a DC that anticipates an O and his reaction then dictates an expected response that he is ready to counter.

Think it was a fair question to ask him about the lawsuit, technically he is suing the Vikings as the Wilfs are part of the 32 team ownership of the NFL.  I am really disappointed in the hire, I do not understand how you hire a guy who has an awful reputation as a communicator and has a bogus lawsuit against the league.  Will be really hard to root for him, do not think it will take long for this hire to blow up.

@"JR44" said: Think it was a fair question to ask him about the lawsuit, technically he is suing the Vikings as the Wilfs are part of the 32 team ownership of the NFL.  I am really disappointed in the hire, I do not understand how you hire a guy who has an awful reputation as a communicator and has a bogus lawsuit against the league.  Will be really hard to root for him, do not think it will take long for this hire to blow up.

I think there is a time for a question like that,   but not his introductory presser.  This was to talk about what he's brining to the position,  not the things he's got going on away from the Vikings position.

A one on one would be the time for that question,   these gotcha type questions that TomASSon is so notorious for are just for stroking his own ego and not really useful for anything else.

@"BigAl99" said: Might not be year 2, got a feeling it may be a let down, some of that 13 and 4 was luck, karma or a horse shoe in the nether regions.  If we have a good draft, improved D, win by margins, I'll be very happy.  Then the next year I'll expect to compete for some hardware.

Yeah, I'm not expecting 13 wins again. But I do expect the offense to improve in year two. And I do expect Flores to get a little more out of the talent on defense. So maybe fewer wins but more balance and better margins is the most likely outcome. 

Whether this is a 10 win team or a 13 win team depends so much on free agency and the draft. After making some fairly painless cuts, extensions and restructures, the Vikings should have at least $20M to spend on free agents. They also get an over-sized booster shot of young talent by adding the '22 rookies who weren't able to contribute due to injury to the  '23 rookie class. 

The past two seasons suggest that you can't just change the coach.In 2021, the Vikings ranked 30th in yards allowed per game and 24th in average points allowed. This despite being second in the NFL with 51 sacks.
This season, the Vikings were 31st in yards allowed, 30th in points allowed and 22nd in sacks.
In 2021, the Vikings ran a 4-3 defense.
In 2022, they ran a 3-4.
Two different schemes, similar outcomes.
The Vikings are moving on to their third defensive coordinator in three years, and they need to move on from some players. In addition to being $23.3 million over the cap, they need to clear enough space to bring in players that fit Flores' philosophy.
"I think a lot of the players that are here are smart and can do it — smart, tough, physical," Flores said. "Guys who love to play. Team first. You need 'dirty work' guys on your team. And by that, I mean guys who are taking on double teams so somebody else makes a tackle or spilling a play so somebody else makes a tackle or batting a ball down."
The front seven needs more bite. The Vikings must decide whether to keep linebackers Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks who, combined, would save $14.5 million.
Slot corner Chandon Sullivan struggled all season. The Vikings need to upgrade there. Harrison Smith is 34 and the team could save $7.3 million by cutting him. But they might need his experience to keep the secondary organized. Does Patrick Peterson want to come back? They need corners who can play man coverage.
Flores could get more out of some players next season. But the poor results from the past two years suggest they don't have enough of the tough, smart, physical and unselfish players Flores covets.
"I'm still in the early stages of getting to know this team, but I'm looking for guys like that," he said. "Guys who, in a world where everybody wants to be the center of attention, those guys want to do what's best for the team."
https://www.startribune.com/brian-flores-minnesota-vikings-new-defensive-coach-new-defensive-players-nfl-la-velle-e-neal-iii/600252787/

@"purplefaithful" said: The past two seasons suggest that you can't just change the coach.In 2021, the Vikings ranked 30th in yards allowed per game and 24th in average points allowed. This despite being second in the NFL with 51 sacks. This season, the Vikings were 31st in yards allowed, 30th in points allowed and 22nd in sacks. In 2021, the Vikings ran a 4-3 defense. In 2022, they ran a 3-4. Two different schemes, similar outcomes. The Vikings are moving on to their third defensive coordinator in three years, and they need to move on from some players. In addition to being $23.3 million over the cap, they need to clear enough space to bring in players that fit Flores' philosophy. "I think a lot of the players that are here are smart and can do it — smart, tough, physical," Flores said. "Guys who love to play. Team first. You need 'dirty work' guys on your team. And by that, I mean guys who are taking on double teams so somebody else makes a tackle or spilling a play so somebody else makes a tackle or batting a ball down." The front seven needs more bite. The Vikings must decide whether to keep linebackers Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks who, combined, would save $14.5 million. Slot corner Chandon Sullivan struggled all season. The Vikings need to upgrade there. Harrison Smith is 34 and the team could save $7.3 million by cutting him. But they might need his experience to keep the secondary organized. Does Patrick Peterson want to come back? They need corners who can play man coverage. Flores could get more out of some players next season. But the poor results from the past two years suggest they don't have enough of the tough, smart, physical and unselfish players Flores covets. "I'm still in the early stages of getting to know this team, but I'm looking for guys like that," he said. "Guys who, in a world where everybody wants to be the center of attention, those guys want to do what's best for the team." https://www.startribune.com/brian-flores-minnesota-vikings-new-defensive-coach-new-defensive-players-nfl-la-velle-e-neal-iii/600252787/

This is what I believe as well and in fact posted here awhile back. Flores said it in his press conference. He said it's not about the coaches, it's about the players.
Bud Grant said, " players make coaches".
This defense lacks talent at crucial positions and needs an upgrade in addition to better coaching. You can polish a turd all you want but it's still a turd.
They have some talent but It's up to Kwesi to upgrade. That's more important than upgrading coaching; although that upgrade was sorely needed.

Brian Flores Ruined Expectations for SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers won't get that lucky again.

The final sentence sums up the article: "Flores set the bar way too high. Good for the Steelers and the boost it gave them. But it's not so great for the expectations of their next round of hires. "

https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/news/brian-flores-ruined-expectations-pittsburgh-steelers