How OConnell and the front office maneuver through these personnel decisions to counteract the way defenses have played them could well become a key story in 2023. "But I wouldn't say that we're that established, 'there' team because we haven't shown it yet. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. Since then, there have been postseason appearances after the 2012 (loss in Wild Card), 2015 (loss in Wild Card), 2017 (loss in NFC Championship), 2019 (loss in Divisional) and 2022 (loss in Wild Card) seasons. Those are things we got to answer. Its even stronger now. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. So, well see what happens.. On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. 1. To see the rest of the Kevin O'Connell's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Justin Jeffersons superstar turn. Prior to his one year in San Francisco, O'Connell was the quarterbacks coach in Cleveland during the 2015 season, assisting QB Josh McCown to becoming the only player in team history to throw for 300 or more passing yards in three consecutive games. The direct work together began in April when Minnesota could start its offseason workout program and was followed by Organized Team Activities before a summer break that was followed by training camp, he preseason, regular season and postseason. This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. O'Connell and the Rams are coming. None of that is to say OConnell is not evaluating quarterbacks in this years draft. The numbers bear out OConnells observation. [How do you] round him to make sure that you can win that way? Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos, and The Doors (the band). This organization saw a shift in how it was being defended from previous years to this year, OConnell said. It's supposed to hurt. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams the past two seasons. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Before his NFL career ended in 2012, O'Connell spent time with the Miami Dolphins, a second-stint with the Jets and the San Diego Chargers. Weve got some real decisions to talk through and things to work through, OConnell said. Use of any marks, trademarks, or logos on this website shall not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder. Having been on the visitors' sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium and experiencing that environment as an opposing coach, I am excited to now have the support of these passionate Vikings fans. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. The more I can educate myself, learning about the details and particulars of our current situation, our previous situation, and obviously what it looks like moving forward, the more my conversations can be not only from an accurate place of where we are at this moment but where we hope to get to, OConnell said. And when I think about all that went into it, from a coaching staff standpoint, our players, our leadership of our core leaders and foundation of such a great leadership group that I was able to have in my first year as a head coach in the National Football League, I truly feel very fortunate and blessed," O'Connell added. Meetings with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski have helped OConnell in this regard. "It's so easy from my background to sit in front of a spreadsheet and make decisions and talk about things. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Anchored by T Andrew Whitworth, the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, the Rams offensive line only allowed 56 sacks in the two years O'Connell was in Los Angeles, which was good for the seventh-fewest among NFL clubs. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah noted Tuesday that inking the wideout to a new contract is a "high priority. The wait is over for Minnesota Vikings fans who were a bit . O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Jets on September 4, 2011.[16]. O'Connell also helped the Rams offense tie for seventh in scoring offense (27.1 points per game) and score on 45.9% of their offensive drives, which ranked third in the NFL behind the Kansas City Chiefs (48.2) and New England Patriots (48.0). And in 2022, Cousins is scheduled to cost the Vikings $45 million on their salary cap. It is something Ive thought a lot about.. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielens fate in 2023. I think that's where we want to go eventually," Adofo-Mensah continued. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. There are a few fundamental things that will influence decisions, starting with whether Cousins signs an extension. On February 17, 2015, it was announced that O'Connell was named to the position of quarterbacks coach of the Cleveland Browns for the 2015 NFL season. It meets that first threshold, and thats a question that a lot of people cant answer with a yes. So we have got to make sure that we treat that in the proper importance it is.. Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in Photos, Kevin OConnell Brings Energy, Innovation as Vikings New Head Coach, 5 Things to Know About New Vikings Head Coach Kevin OConnell. O'Connell's NFL coaching career began in 2015; he held various assistant coaching roles on the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Los Angeles Rams (where he won Super Bowl LVI, as offensive coordinator, in the 20212022 season). If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. Senior Editor. One thing he knows is that no matter how many As he got in a survey or wins he posted as a first-year coach, that doesnt mean they can do it all again the same way and get the same results. Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. [23], On January 16, 2020, O'Connell was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as offensive coordinator. On third-and-8, for example, the Vikings personnel options were limited. They could have done what the Pittsburgh Steelers did by drafting Kenny Pickett in the first round last year, but they knew he wasnt the guy. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. I think theres a conversation to be had to really see what that looks like: playing time and roles and responsibilities.. The obvious answer? Thielen will turn 33 this summer and incur a $19.9 million cap hit against the Vikings salary cap. O'Connell played quarterback at San Diego State University, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell 'excited to coach' Kirk Cousins in 2022. A former NFL quarterback who was a career backup, O'Connell has been the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. But even if he didnt injure his knee at Winter Park, its fair to wonder if he would have ever become the long-term franchise quarterback. We haven't shown our ability to come in year-in, year-out and do those things. Kupp's 145 receptions and 1,947 receiving yards both ranked as the second-highest single-season totals in NFL history, trailing only Michael Thomas's 149 receptions in 2019 and Calvin Johnson's 1,964 receiving yards in 2012. O'Connell oversaw the production of three quarterbacks in 2019, specifically rookie QB Dwayne Haskins, Jr. Once Haskins, Jr., became the full-time starter in Week 9, he passed for 1,225 yards, seven touchdowns, three interceptions and an 85.5 passer rating. [24] In O'Connell's second season with the Rams, their offense ranked 2nd best in receiving touchdowns (41), 5th highest in total yards (4,893), 8th best in total touchdowns (63), and the team won Super Bowl LVI (defeating the Cincinnati Bengals, 2320). Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O'Connell have only held their posts for a year, but they deserve the faith of the Vikings community. The Vikings head coach compared all of the moving parts to puzzle pieces but its more like a choose-your-own-adventure book because each choice with Player X impacts Player Y and the combination of all of the decisions takes you to a different endpoint. Despite entering the league three years after Stafford, Cousins is also going into his age-34 season. "And then, sure enough, she ended up in the same place. ", "Making sure that the standard of knowing we've got the culture, knowing we've got the right things going in this building," O'Connell said. The idea. But theres a foundation of care., OConnell said the conversations with Cousins are ongoing., Its not like theres some secret thing going on, OConnell said. "But as we reflect, I think it's important to understand, be honest with our evaluations, understand taking a look at all the little things no detail is too small in how we're trying to improve as a team, improve as a coaching staff, and most importantly, improve myself. Under O'Connell, Rams quarterbacks have thrown for 1,517 passing yards (third in NFL), 11 touchdowns (fourth in NFL) and a 106.4 passer rating in playoff games (second in NFL). Is it to that line?' Right comes along. In other words, hes going to look in the store window at this years draft class because he always does, whether he is shopping or not. Part of their jobs during the comprehensive evaluation process will be setting aside those personal relationships and not letting them interfere with the process of building the 2023 Vikings to have the best chance at a championship and be within the constraints of the NFL's salary cap. The Carlsbad, California, native and his wife, Leah, have two sons, Kaden and Kolten, and a daughter, Quinn. I just watch the way he carries himself every single day and week. OConnell did note that safety Lewis Cine was ahead of schedule in his rehab from a severe leg injury suffered in London last season and that Cine has been at TCO Performance Center making regular stop-ins to his office. However, there is no mistaking the reality. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Were in a position to do a lot of different things regardless of field position, score of the game, personnel groupings.. He noted that hes always going to evaluate all the quarterbacks out of habit and that he finds himself often looking at evaluations from years past, even when someone is coming available who came out in the draft a long time ago. O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los A. 4. Kevin O'Connell, fresh off a Super Bowl victory as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator, was introduced as the Minnesota Vikings next head coach on Thursday, and the big takeaway from . He also writes for Bring Me The News and The Viking Age and hosts The Homer Horn Podcast. Wanting to make those guys feel like their coach cares about them, both the person and the player, and their future, its real, OConnell said. While OConnell answered gracefully about his colleague, it was a reminder that they didnt finish the year with a deep playoff run. The 33-year-old quarterback's $35 million base salary for 2022 became guaranteed last March . [25][26], On February 16, 2022, just three days after his Super Bowl LVI victory, O'Connell was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as the 10th head coach in their franchise history. Player development at every position is very, very important, OConnell said. Its a path that could eventually lead to another extension for Cousins, but the Vikings are doing their diligence to find Mr. That ultimately led the Vikings to Cousins. The victories and records set on the way to winning the NFC North for the first time since 2017 enabled Minnesota to host a playoff game for the first time in five years, but that excitement ended abruptly Sunday when the Giants topped the Vikings 31-24. If they want a quarterback in this draft, they seem willing to find a way to get them. [4] He was the Kai team quarterback in the 2008 Hula Bowl, where he led the offense and was one of the Kai team's only bright spots. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. The 2020 Rams offense featured the 10th-ranked rushing attack, posting 126.1 yards per game on the ground, behind two 600-plus rushing seasons from RB Cam Akers and RB Darrell Henderson. On August 5, 2011, O'Connell signed with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived on September 3. Here are five things to know. Before the Super Bowl, Thielen said onESPNsFirst Take, I want to retire a Viking. Anchored by T Andrew Whitworth, the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, the Rams offensive line only allowed 56 sacks in the two years O'Connell was in Los Angeles, which was good for the seventh-fewest among NFL clubs. But the. Login Here. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Cousins is attached to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! The Raiders plan to place the franchise tag on running back Josh Jacobs if the sides cannot come to a deal on a long-term extension by Tuesday's deadline, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Friday. What he means to our league, how he carries himself, how he works every day. His team won 13 games and the NFLPA just said his teams culture was the best in the league. How do you go forward building it from here? Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. "Very thankful for him in Year 1 and really looking forward to seeing him growing both as a leader and continued dominance at the receiver position.". EAGAN, Minn. Eleven months and a day after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah helped introduce Kevin O'Connell from a temporary stage constructed in Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center's Indoor Practice Facility, the men sat together at a table on a small riser in the Media Center.
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