To better myself and make sure I'm doing everything that I can in this role that I feel so lucky to have and also so prepared to have. During the 2009 preseason, O'Connell was claimed by the Detroit Lions and was then later traded to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick. With their limited salary cap . The Vikings Are Still Trying To Find Mr. Right At QB "One of them said that she had been a long-time Vikings fan and always felt let down, and this team felt different to her," Adofo-Mensah said. How do you go forward building it from here? Minnesotas approach to their franchise quarterback seems much more scientific. ", "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. We want to be there consistently with the chance to win it.". ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. "That's what led to a historic number of one-score games and so that's probably been the hardest job is adjusting to those things. Its still something I think about often, OConnell said of the loss to the Giants. Just scratching the surface with #18 pic.twitter.com/MpWlPV7MoN, And then, ultimately, OConnell said, youve got to ask: How do we use that information to our advantage moving forward?. OConnell is well aware. Similarly to his GM one day earlier, the Vikings head coach couldnt make a strong statement about what the future would hold at QB. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. Weve got some real decisions to talk through and things to work through, OConnell said. 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. The more I can learn about details and particulars of our current situation, previous situations and what it looks like moving forward, OConnell said, the more my conversations can not only come from an accurate place of where we are but where we hope to get to.. At the 2008 NFL Combine, O'Connell ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds; only University of San Diego quarterback Josh Johnson had a faster time. in the 2012 draft. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. Cousins is attached to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. The personnel department continued to be on the lookout for players who became available after their release by other teams, and the coaching staff usually helped integrate the acquired player quickly, whether it was Za'Darius Smith in Week 1 or T.J. Hockenson in Week 9. Adofo-Mensah had to explain how the Vikings, a team in salary cap hell, were going to shed salary while building off the team's first 13-win season since 2017. . Fired up to watch these guys this fall @b_petty14 @DWatford5 @EverettGolson @Connor_Cook03 @tannerlee12 @bharrisqb1 pic.twitter.com/2TNR1YJlHt 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. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. "One of my favorite players I've ever coached, I've told him that," O'Connell said of Jefferson. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. Spielman tried his hand at it, scouting Carson Strong and praising Malik Willis response to an overrated chant one year ago. 4. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. What he means to our league, how he carries himself, how he works every day. Thielen joined the Vikings a decade ago as an undrafted special teamer and clawed his way up the depth chart to WR1 by the start of 2016. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on the futures of Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. In addition to impacting the culture within the building through an emphasis on building connectivity across the roster, the Vikings installed O'Connell's offense with Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips, a defensive system led by Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell and changed their special teams under first-year coordinator Matt Daniels. OConnell, though, sounded committed to making it work. Sources: O'Connell finalizing contract with Vikings - KUSA.com When you have the receiver that leads the league in yards and receptions and have three other guys with 60-plus, you feel really strongly about that group, and I still think that theres places to go where we can build upon it even more, OConnell mentioned about Justin Jefferson and his wide receiving corps. Vikings' Kevin O'Connell Expects Kirk Cousins Back In 2022 During the 2018 season, O'Connell was tasked with getting three different quarterbacks (Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy and Mark Sanchez) up to speed following a devastating injury to starting QB Alex Smith. I think theres a conversation to be had to really see what that looks like: playing time and roles and responsibilities.. O'Connell worked on special projects with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016, where he overlapped with Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. But in Kevin O'Connell's case on Wednesday, he was able to beam about the Vikings' culture after an NFL Players Association survey showed proof that he made good on the cultural promises he. But Adofo-Mensah gave his own review about his starting quarterback. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. And none of the endings feature everyone who was around last year. "I feel like that foundation's in place. O'Connell, who led the Rams to finish ninth in total offense (372.1 yards per game) this season, helped his unit rank second in plays of 50-plus yards (10), fourth in yards per play (5.98) and eighth in offensive touchdowns (51) in 2021. We always have to be evaluating, OConnell said. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. "But I wouldn't say that we're that established, 'there' team because we haven't shown it yet. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. Stafford set the single-season team record for passing yards (4,886) and tied Kurt Warner from his 1999 MVP season for the most passing touchdowns in a season by a Rams quarterback with 41, while also winning his first playoff game in his 13th season in the NFL. OConnell respects the way Patrick Peterson, soon to be an unrestricted free agent, set a standard for young contributors in the secondary. They want tostart every game, lead their team to the playoffs, win a Super Bowl, [but] a lot goes into what it takes to do that.. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. "Justin just had an incredible year, but what I liked about it the most was just the impactful plays at critical moments he made for our team, among a lot of our players," O'Connell said. If you tell me Im second-and-5, here we go. Vikings Kevin O'Connell: Takeaways from NFL Scouting Combine presser 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. O'Connell, who led the Rams to finish ninth in total offense (372.1 yards per game) in 2021, helped his unit rank second in plays of 50-plus yards (10), fourth in yards per play (5.98) and eighth in offensive touchdowns (51) in 2021. I dont know. The Vikings have not gone to the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2008-09. Quarterback Mike White said he'd like to return to the New York Jets, but knows it might not happen as he heads toward free agency. He played one season for the Patriots behind QB Matt Cassel following a season-ending injury to QB Tom Brady. Were in a position to do a lot of different things regardless of field position, score of the game, personnel groupings.. Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 04:43, "Adam Thielen on KOC's lack of screaming: 'It's kind of almost awkward', "SDSU Aztecs Biography for Kevin O'Connell", "Offensive Evolution Under Long Has Come to Pass for the Aztecs", "Kevin O'Connell Draft and Combine Prospect Profile", "Kevin OConnell, San Diego State, QB, 2008 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football", "Lions have seven picks in upcoming draft", "Jets lose confidence in rookie running back Joe McKnight", "Jets release backup QB Mark Brunell, still waiting on Nnamdi Asomugha", "Jets awarded four players off waivers, including QB Kevin O'Connell; cut Aaron Maybin", "Chargers Notes: Former LCC, Aztecs QB O'Connell signed as emergency fill-in", "Kevin O'Connell hired to coach QBs as Browns round out offensive staff", "49ers adding O'Connell to offensive staff", "Kevin O'Connell will coach quarterbacks in Washington", "Redskins Promote Kevin O'Connell To Offensive Coordinator; Matt Cavanaugh Moves To Senior Offensive Assistant", "Kevin O'Connell amicably departs as Redskins hire Scott Turner as OC", "2021 Los Angeles Rams Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports", "Los Angeles Rams come back to win Super Bowl LVI 2320 in front of hometown crowd", "Minnesota Vikings Name Kevin O'Connell 10th Head Coach In Franchise History", "Minnesota Vikings officially hire 'innovative' Kevin O'Connell as new head coach", "Packers vs. Vikings - Box Score - September 11, 2020", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kevin_O%27Connell_(American_football)&oldid=1141660186, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 04:43. INDIANAPOLIS If you walk around to different podiums and listen to NFL coaches speak to the media about their teams offseasons, you are likely to hear a lot about culture. Kevin O'Connell Offensive Scheme Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator, Kevin O'Connell has been chosen to become head coach of the Minnesota Vikings officially after the Super Bowl on February 13, according to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Brad Childress urged Minnesota to draft Tarvaris Jackson upon his arrival in the 2006, and then recruited Brett Favre as an act of desperation to lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game. If O'Connell's staff likes a prospect like USC's Caleb Williams . And its even stronger now, OConnell said. Kevin O'Connell: Vikings have 'some real decisions' ahead to get under salary cap By Alec Lewis Mar 1, 2023 14 INDIANAPOLIS Following his news conference Wednesday afternoon at the NFL. Sure, it may not be good as a fresh bowl of General Tsaos Chicken, but it beats not having Chinese food at all. The New England Patriots selected O'Connell with their fourth pick (94th overall) in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Asked about the Vikings long-term future at that position, OConnell said he surveys the landscape of the position each year out of habit. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. Facebook Twitter I believe in him as a player and was really proud of the way he played this year but we always have to be evaluating, he said. - Page 5 . But in between 16-point wins against the Packers in Week 1 and Bears in Week 18 were plentiful memorable moments during a wild ride. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The Minnesota Vikings have an intriguing decision on Adam Thielens future with the franchise, a team that has employed him since 2013. 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. Top Salaries Free Agents Extensions Tools Best Values Transactions Chargers Kevin O'Connell Embed This Chargers, QB Age: 37-208d Exp: Years Drafted: Round 3 (#94 overall), 2008 College: San Diego State Agent (s): - More Chargers - Contract Details Transactions Statistics Transactions Sep 4 2011 Claimed off waivers by New York (NYJ)