Coach And General Manager Press Conference Schedule

The NFL Scouting Combine kicks off tomorrow in Indianapolis. This annual event is supposed to be an important close-up look at the prospects that will be available in the upcoming draft. It’s also an opportunity for the national media to ask questions of the people from each team that will be making the decisions on those prospects. The coaches and general managers from 30 of the 32 teams will be at podiums answering the questions of football pundits from around the league. For some reason, the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers are sending no one to those podiums. Here’s the press conference schedule of the team representatives that are taking precious time to appear before the media.

(The important press conferences are in bold.)

Tuesday, March 1st

12:00 PM   George Paton, Broncos GM, Podium 1

12:15 PM   Nathaniel Hackett, Broncos HC, Podium 1

12:15 PM   Mike McCarthy, Dolphins HC, Podium 3

1:00 PM     Trent Baalke, Jaguars ?, Podium 1

1:00 PM     Kevin Colbert, Steelers GM, Podium 2

1:00 PM     Terry Fontenot, Falcons GM, Podium 3

1:00 PM     Brandon Beane, Bills GM, Podium 5

1:15 PM     Arthur Smith, Falcons HC, Podium 3

1:15 PM     Sean McDermott, Bills HC, Podium 5

1:30 PM     Chris Ballard, Colts GM, Podium 1

1:30 PM     Andy Reid, Chiefs HC, Podium 2

1:30 PM     Jason Licht, Buccaneers GM, Podium 3

1:30 PM     Joe Schoen, Giants GM, Podium 5

1:45 PM     Doug Pederson, Jaguars HC, Podium 1

1:45 PM     Brett Veach, Chiefs GM, Podium 2

1:45 PM     Bruce Arians, Buccaneers HC, Podium 3

1:45 PM     Kliff Kingsbury, Cardinals HC, Podium 5

2:00 PM     Brian Gutekunst, Packers GM, Podium 1

2:00 PM     Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Vikings GM, Podium 2

2:00 PM     Matt Eberflus, Bears HC, Podium 3

2:00 PM     Brian Daboll, Giants HC, Podium 5

2:15 PM     Andrew Berry, Browns GM, Podium 3

2:30 PM     Nick Casserio, Texans GM, Podium 3

3:00 PM     Matt LaFleur, Packers HC, Podium 1

3:00 PM     Steve Keim, Cardinals GM, Podium 2

3:00 PM     Frank Reich, Colts HC, Podium 3

3:00 PM     Brad Holmes, Lions GM, Podium 5

3:15 PM     Dan Campbell, Lions HC, Podium 5

3:30 PM     Duke Tobin, Bengals Dir. of Player Personnel, Podium 1

4:00 PM     Zac Taylor, Bengals HC, Podium 1

4:15 PM     Ron Rivera, Commanders HC, Podium 1

4:30 PM     Tom Telesco, Chargers GM, Podium 3

Wednesday, March 2

12:45 PM   Jon Robinson, Titans GM, Podium 1

1:00 PM     Eric DeCosta, Ravens GM, Podium 1

1:00 PM     Mike McDaniel, Dolphins HC, Podium 2

1:00 PM     Pete Carroll, Seahawks HC, Podium 3

1:00 PM     Joe Douglas, Jets GM, Podium 5

1:15 PM     Howie Roseman, Eagles GM, Podium 2

1:15 PM     Josh McDaniels, Raiders HC, Podium 3

1:15 PM     Robert Saleh, Jets HC, Podium 5

1:30 PM     Martin Mayhew, Commanders GM, Podium 1

1:30 PM     Nick Sirianni, Eagles HC, Podium 2

1:30 PM     Les Snead, Rams GM, Podium 3

1:30 PM     Scott Fitterer, Panthers GM, Podium 5

1:45 PM     Mike Vrabel, Titans HC, Podium 1

1:45 PM     Kevin Stefanski, Browns HC, Podium 3

2:00 PM     Kevin O’Connell, Vikings HC, Podium 1

2:00 PM     Dennis Allen, Saints HC, Podium 3

2:30 PM     Lovie Smith, Texans HC, Podium 3

4:00 PM     John Schneider, Seahawks GM, Podium 3

4:30 PM     Brandon Staley, Chargers HC, Podium 3

5:30 PM     Sean McVay, Rams HC, Podium 3

***

Here’s a question. Where’s Podium 4?

I don’t get the time gap between Lovie Smith and John Schneider on Day 2. As well as the time gap between Brandon Staley and press conference-closer Sean McVay. Is it common practice for the Super Bowl winning coach to haul the media back after an early dinner?

Just thinking about the NFC North head coaches. With only three years of experience, Matt LaFleur is the senior head coach in the division. 

Minnesota Vikings Draft Needs

While I await the completion of the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff, I can’t help thinking about the 2022 NFL Draft. The offseason always brings thoughts of the Vikings draft needs. The draft is months away with free agency between now and then. A lot can change. The draft needs then will be different from the draft needs now. Here’s an early look at how I see the Vikings positional needs. Free agency will certainly bring changes to those needs. 

1. Cornerback 

2. Cornerback

3. Linebacker

4. Edge 

5. Interior Offensive Line

Cornerback

Cornerback doesn’t need to be listed twice. In thinking through some mock drafts, I’ve often been tempted to pick cornerbacks in the first and second rounds. That’s as much due to the players that might be available at those picks as it is a need at the position. Looking at the players under contract for 2022, the top of the Vikings cornerback depth chart looks like this:

Cameron Dantzler

Kris Boyd

Harrison Hand

That’s a little bleak. Maybe some of the practice squad/reservists emerge. That’s a little hopeful. Cameron Dantzler has the skills to be a terrific corner. He’s flashed those skills at times. He’s also struggled at times. Kris Boyd is a nice depth corner and very good on special teams. Harrison Hand might develop. The Vikings need corners. Free agency should lessen that need. They probably won’t have the cap space for a player like J.C. Jackson or even Carlton Davis. Maybe they can make room for Charvarius Ward or Donte Jackson. It’s probably more likely that they bring back Patrick Peterson and look to the draft. Who knows? I just know that the Vikings need corners. 

Corner at 12?

Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati

Derek Stingley Jr., LSU

Andrew Booth, Clemson

Trent McDuffie, Washington

If the draft were now, I believe that the Vikings first pick would be one of the above. I believe that for a couple reasons. 1) The Vikings need corners. 2) 12 looks to be the “sweet spot” for those corners. 

Linebacker

In terms of Vikings needs, I believe that linebacker is right behind cornerback. Eric Kendricks is the only established linebacker on the roster that’s under contract for 2022. Hopefully, Anthony Barr returns for another season. The Vikings need linebackers. They’re also transitioning to a 3-4 defense. If Barr’s back, I can see him paired with Kendricks on the inside. I can see him on the edge. The latter is the position that most probably see him playing. A 3-4 edge was thought to be his ideal position when he entered the league in 2015. He has the versatility to play both. I hope that he’s back. If not, Chazz Surratt and Blake Lynch are the leading contenders on the roster to join Kendricks in the middle of the defense. I really believe that Surratt has the talent to emerge as an impact player. After starting his college career as a quarterback, he’s only been playing linebacker for a couple seasons. His rookie season with the Vikings was essentially a redshirt year. Right now, he’s a complete unknown. He could be a surprise player on the defense this year. 

Linebacker at 12?

Devin Loyd, Utah

Nakobe Dean, Georgia

Come draft time, Devin Loyd and Nakobe Dean could be intriguing options at 12. Perhaps one could still be had with a slight trade-back. If the Vikings select a linebacker early, I think that it’s more likely to happen in the second or third rounds. Alabama’s Christian Harris and Wyoming’s Chad Muma are linebackers that I currently like with those picks. 

Edge

I’m really not sure what to think about the Vikings edge needs. Danielle Hunter is a beast but he has to stay on the field. Seeing him sidelined for the bulk of the past two seasons has been so damn disappointing. When healthy, he’s one of the league’s elite pass rushers. Right now, the Vikings edge presence is Hunter and a bunch of guys. The switch to a 3-4 will be interesting for those guys. D.J. Wonnum has spent his two seasons with the Vikings making some splash plays. More often, he’s been just a guy. If those splash plays can become his norm, he’ll pair nicely with Hunter. As a rookie, Patrick Jones showed potential. Perhaps what impressed me most about him were quick transitions from pass rush to run defense. His opportunities were few but I liked what I saw. Physically, Janarius Robinson looks the part. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the opportunity to play the part as he missed his rookie season to injury. At the end of last season, Kenny Willekes may have been the Vikings best edge rusher. He might also be the player most hurt by the switch to a 3-4. His strongest trait is unrelenting effort. He doesn’t have the quick-twitch athleticism expected of 3-4 outside linebackers. He doesn’t really have the size to play 3-4 defensive end. Still, there’s a place for players that finds a way to get to the quarterback. In a fairly small sample size, Willekes has shown that he can get to the quarterback. All of the Vikings edge players were drafted as 4-3 defensive ends. I know that Hunter can make the transition to 3-4 outside linebacker. He can do anything on the edge. I believe that Wonnum, Jones, and Robinson have the physical ability to join Hunter in a nice rotation of edge rushers. I really like Willekes as a football player. Outside of Hunter, none of those guys are proven NFL players. Neither is any rookie that’s drafted in April. 

Despite this switch to a 3-4, the Vikings will still throw some even fronts at offenses. There should still be room on the roster for players with 4-3 traits. 

Edge at 12?

Unless Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux somehow drop, I don’t see it. In the second or third round, I wouldn’t be disappointed if the Vikings selected Minnesota’s Boye Mafe. There are a few others I like on Day 2 but I keep looking at Mafe. 

Interior Offensive Line

It feels a little strange to not have offensive line at the top of the Vikings draft needs. I’m finally feeling pretty good about the Vikings offensive line. The tackle positions appear set for a long time with Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. There are still questions with the interior. Ezra Cleveland looks like a keeper at left guard. Nearly all fans have given up on Garrett Bradbury at center. He can do things on the move that few, if any, centers can do. His lack of size and/or anchor has allowed some interior defenders to take advantage of him. Perhaps because of the things that he does really well or perhaps because he was a first round pick, I haven’t given up on Bradbury. Maybe new coaches can bring out what’s been missing in his game. For at least another season, I still believe that the Vikings have their center. That leaves right guard. Oli Udoh filled the role last season. He has unique size and athleticism. From penalties to mistakes, much of the team’s interior line problems revolved around his play. He was playing guard for the first time. Maybe that was the reason for the issues but game after game he never seemed to get better. Some might say that he played worse as the season progressed. Maybe Udoh’s better in his second year at the position. I’d rather not find out in games that count. Personally, I’d rather see him as a swing-tackle. I believe that the answer at right guard is Wyatt Davis. Several of the Vikings 2020 draft picks had redshirt rookie seasons. Davis was one of those players. No one knows what he can do in the NFL. No one knows what he can’t do. Here’s hoping that he gets an opportunity to show what he can do as soon as offseason workouts kick off. Perhaps better play from the guards, right guard in particular, will help Bradbury become the player that he has the talent to be. 

Interior offensive line at 12?

The Vikings have too many defensive needs to address right guard at 12. I might be alone on this but I see the Vikings offensive line needs as more depth needs. 

Other needs:

1. Defensive tackle.

A lot needs to be sorted out in the transition to a 3-4. Michael Pierce is the only true nose tackle on the roster. In his two years with the Vikings, availability has been a serious issue. Some sort of rotation of Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson and Armon Watts will be in the middle of the Vikings new defensive line. At 325 lbs, Tomlinson carries the bulk to play on the nose. I actually like him best as a 3-4 end. At a listed 307 lbs, Watts doesn’t have the traditional anchoring size of a 3-4 nose but I like him there. If Pierce can play the entire season, the Vikings should be ok at defensive tackle. If the decision-makers aren’t comfortable with relying on Pierce being available, defensive tackle moves up the need list. 

2. Tight end.

This would be a need if Tyler Conklin isn’t re-signed. 

3. Safety.

I like Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum as the starting safeties. Some might not have the faith in Bynum that I have. They probably didn’t watch him play four years at Cal. Depth at safety and perhaps an eventual replacement for Smith are the safety needs that I see.

4. Overall depth.

5. More cornerbacks.

Vikings Add Another Coach

The Minnesota Vikings inched a little closer to a complete coaching staff. Greg Manusky was hired yesterday to coach the inside linebackers. He brings a load of defensive coaching experience to part of a position group. Most recently, he was a defensive assistant coach for the University of Kentucky. He has 19 years of NFL coaching experience, 12 as a defensive coordinator. Three of those years were as the defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins. Those were the same three years that Kevin O’Connell coached in Washington (2017-19). Manusky and Mike Smith will combine to coach the Vikings linebackers. Manusky will focus on those playing on the inside and Smith will focus on those playing on the outside. 

This isn’t the first time that football has brought Manusky to Minnesota. From 1991-93, he played linebacker and special teams for the Vikings. He had a 12-year playing career with Washington, Minnesota, and Kansas City. 

Greg Manusky’s Football Life

as a player:

Washington Redskins (1998-90)

Minnesota Vikings (1991-93)

Kansas City Chiefs (1994-99)

As a coach:

Washington Redskins (2001) Linebackers

San Diego Chargers (2002-06) Linebackers

San Francisco 49ers (2007-10) Defensive Coordinator

San Diego Chargers (2011) Defensive Coordinator 

Indianapolis Colts (2012-15) Defensive Coordinator

Washington Redskins (2016) Outside Linebackers 

Washington Redskins (2017-19) Defensive Coordinator 

Kentucky (2020-21) Defensive Quality Control Assistant

Minnesota Vikings (2021-present) Inside Linebackers

Manusky brings a ridiculous amount of NFL coaching experience to a single position group. One thing that has always stood about Manusky from his playing career to his coaching career is his energy and passion. He’s a fiery fellow. His presence should be fun. The Vikings will be using a 3-4 as their base defensive front for the first time since the 1981-85 seasons. They’ll vary that look at times to match and confuse offenses. The switch to a 3-4 also presented the need to bring in a coach to focus on the inside linebackers. There are twice as many now. 

With addition of Greg Manusky, the current Minnesota Vikings Coaching Staff:

Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell

Assistant Head Coach: Mike Pettine

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Defensive Coordinator: Ed Donatell

Special Teams Coordinator: Matt Daniels

Offense:

Quarterbacks: Chris O’Hara

Assistant Quarterbacks: Jerrod Johnson 

Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs: Curtis Modkins

Receivers: Keenan McCardell

Pass Game Coodinator/Tight Ends: Brian Angelichio

Offensive Line: Chris Kuper

Assistant Offensive Line: Justin Rascati

Defense:

Defensive Line: Chris Rumph

Outside Linebackers/Pass Rush Specialist: Mike Smith

Inside Linebackers: Greg Manusky

Defensive Backs: Daronte Jones

Special Teams:

Assistant Special Teams: Ben Kotwica

The Vikings now have three coaches with a combined 31 years of NFL defensive coordinator experience.

Ed Donatell (11 years)

Mike Pettine (8 years)

Greg Manusky (12 years)

That’s a lot of defensive coordinator experience. That’s probably a good situation for a young, first-time, offensive-minded head coach. Kevin O’Connell can focus on getting comfortable in his new job and installing his offense. He can leave the defensive work to the very experienced coaches that he hired. The defensive coordinator experience doesn’t stop with the NFL guys. Chris Rumph was a co-defensive coordinator for three years at Florida and Tennessee. Mike Smith was a co-defensive coordinator for three years at Texas Tech. Daronte Jones was a defensive coordinator for one year at LSU. All of the Vikings current defensive coaches have spent some time as a defensive coordinator in college or the NFL. That feels unique. 

I expect the Vikings to add an assistant defensive line coach, an assistant defensive back coach, and at least two quality control coaches. These positions are assistants to the assistants. As a fan of completion, I hope that the completed 2022 Minnesota Vikings Coaching Staff is announced soon. 

Flea Flicker Top Five Draft Prospects By Position

With the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff nearly complete, I’ve started thinking about the 2022 NFL Draft. Here’s a first glance ranking of the top five prospects at each position. 

Quarterbacks

1. Kenny Pickett, Pitt

2. Malik Willis, Liberty

3. Sam Howell, North Carolina

4. Matt Corral, Mississippi

5. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

Running Backs

1. Breece Hall, Iowa State

2. Kenny Walker III, Michigan State

3. Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

4. James Cook, Georgia

5. Kyren Williams, Notre Dame

Wide Receivers 

1. Drake London, USC

2. Jameson Williams, Alabama

3. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

4. Treylon Burks, Arkansas

5. Jahan Dotson, Penn State

Tight Ends

1. Trey McBride, Colorado State

2. Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M

3. Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina

4. Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State

5. Derrick Deese Jr., San Jose State

Offensive Tackles

1. Evan Neal, Alabama

2. Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State

3. Charles Cross, Mississippi State

4. Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa

5. Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan

Interior Offensive Linemen

1. Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa

2. Kenyon Green, Texas A&M

3. Zion Johnson, Boston College

4. Jamaree Salyer, Georgia

5. Darian Kinnard, Kentucky

Edge

1. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan

2. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon

3. George Karlaftis, Purdue

4. Travon Walker, Georgia

5. Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State

Interior Defensive Linemen

1. Jordan Davis, Georgia

2. Devonte Wyatt, Georgia

3. DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M

4. Travis Jones, Connecticut

5. Phidarian Mathis, Alabama

Linebackers

1. Devin Loyd, Utah

2. Nakobe Dean, Georgia

3. Christian Harris, Alabama

4. Damone Clark, LSU

5. Chad Muma, Wyoming

Cornerbacks

1. Sauce Gardner, Cincinnati

2. Derrick Stingley Jr., LSU

3. Andrew Booth, Clemson

4. Trent McDuffie, Washington

5. Roger McCreary, Auburn

Safeties

1. Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame

2. Daxton Hill, Michigan

3. Jaquan Brisker, Penn State

4. Jalen Pitre, Baylor

5. Elijah Hicks, California

It’s a start. 

Minnesota Vikings All-Time Underrated Team

This is an all-time Minnesota Vikings team made up of players that might not receive the attention that they deserve for the great career that they had. All-time teams are always a very subjective thing. This one has another layer of subjectivity to it. Not everyone will agree whether a player’s career was underrated. 

Offense 

Quarterback

Tommy Kramer

Tommy Kramer was great. If injuries hadn’t popped up throughout his career, he wouldn’t be on this team.

Running Back

Tommy Mason

Tommy Mason was much more than the first pick in franchise history. Injuries cut his career short. In his six years in Minnesota, Mason was named All-Pro once and went to three Pro Bowls. I was surprised and thrilled to find a Tommy Mason exhibit at the Vikings Museum. 

Fullback

Rick Fenney

In today’s NFL, fullbacks are always underrated. Rick Fenney was the last Vikings fullback that got more than the token carry. 

Receivers

John Gilliam

Jake Reed

The Vikings have been blessed with a load of terrific receivers. John Gilliam was one of the league’s most explosive playmakers during the early 1970s. Jake Reed had four consecutive 1000-yard seasons. Unfortunately, he played with Cris Carter and lost his starting job to Randy Moss. 

Tight End

Joe Senser

An knee njury ended Joe Senser’s career before it really got started. Seven touchdowns as a rookie. 1,0004 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. Senser was on the verge of joining the league’s first wave of great tight ends. Kellen Winslow, Ozzie Newsome, Dave Casper. Senser was in their league. Then he was done. 

Offensive Tackles

Grady Alderman

Tim Irwin

Both were named 50 Greatest Vikings. Grady Alderman was recently inducted in the Pro Football Researcher Association’s Hall of Very Good. Neither was really underrated but each played a chunk of their career in the shadow of the best tackles in Vikings franchise history. Ron Yary and Gary Zimmerman.

Guards

Milt Sunde

David Dixon

Like fullbacks, guards are usually underrated. Unless you’re Randall McDaniel or Steve Hutchinson. Milt Sunde and David Dixon weren’t McDaniel or Hutchinson but were fine football players. 

Center

Dennis Swilley

It isn’t the equal of receivers and defensive line but the Vikings have an excellent center tradition. It helps that Mick Tingelhoff played about 100 years. Dennis Swilley had the unfortunate task of replacing Tingelhoff. A team can’t have a strong tradition at a position with a single player. In that sense, Swilley started the Vikings excellent center tradition. 

Defense

Defensive Ends

Doug Martin

Brian Robison

Doug Martin was the best of the players tasked with replacing the Purple People Eaters. Doug Martin had two seasons of more than 10 sacks and two seasons of nine sacks. He collected 11.5 sacks in nine games during the strike-shortened 1982 season. Brian Robison was much more than a fan-favorite. He would’ve received more attention league-wide if didn’t play most of his career opposite Jared Allen. 

Defensive Tackles

Henry Thomas

Keith Millard

Henry Thomas and Keith Millard aren’t underrated. They just happened to play for a franchise that had Alan Page and John Randle. Thomas and Millard have Hall of Fame cases. Millard would already be in Canton if injuries hadn’t whittled away at his career. 

Linebackers

Ed McDaniel

Lonnie Warwick

Ben Leber

All three were fun football players. Ed McDaniel was the best player on his Vikings defense not named John Randle. Lonnie Warwick played middle linebacker during the same era of Dick Butkus, Ray Nitschke, and Joe Schmidt. Ben Leber simply made big plays. 

Cornerbacks

Bobby Bryant

Nate Wright

Bobby Bryant and Nate Wright were the cornerbacks of my youth. I love them.

Safeties

Karl Kassulke

Tom Hannon

Karl Kassulke’s physicality was an excellent compliment to Paul Krause’s finesse. Kassulke’s football career ended with a motorcycle accident on this way to the 1973 training camp that left him paralyzed. Tom Hannon had the unfortunate task of replacing Krause at the back of the Vikings defense. 

Special Teams

Kicker

Ryan Longwell

Ryan Longwell was one of the league’s most reliable kickers for nearly all of his 15 seasons. 

Punter

Bobby Walden

Bobby Walden is better known for his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His first four seasons were in Minnesota. He led the league in yards/punt as a rookie. 

Punt Returner

Leo Lewis

Leo Lewis was a fun football player. He didn’t have the football in his hands often. When he did, it felt like something fun was about to happen. 

Kick Returner

Eddie Payton

Eddie Payton might be on this team for what he did as a returner for the Detroit Lions. He returned a kick and a punt for touchdowns against the Vikings in 1977. He kept the Lions in a game that they had no business being in. Perhaps due to memories of that game, the Vikings signed him three years later. He led the league in kick return yards in 1980 and had a 99-yard kick return touchdown in 1981. 

NFL Scouting Combine Invites

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis from March 1-7. Despite a kerfuffle over the NFL and Combine organizer’s planned “bubble” it looks like there will be a 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. The threatened boycott by the players quickly got the trick. Anyway, here are the 324 prospects that have been invited to attend this year’s combine.

• Cal Adomitis, LS, Pittsburgh
• Austin Allen, TE, Nebraska
• Chase Allen, TE, Iowa State
• Christopher Allen, LB, Alabama
• Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU
• Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
• Tycen Anderson, DB, Toledo
• Blaise Andries, OL, Minnesota
• Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State
• Jalyn Armour-Davis, DB, Alabama
• Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
• Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis
• Kevin Austin Jr., WR, Notre Dame
• Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri
• Kalon Barnes, DB, Baylor
• Amaré Barno, DL, Virginia Tech
• Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati
• David Bell, WR, Purdue
• Greg Bell, RB, San Diego State
• Markquese Bell, DB, Florida A&M
• Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
• Dane Belton, DB, Iowa
• Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
• Bubba Bolden, DB, Miami
• Slade Bolden, WR, Alabama
• Nik Bonitto, DL, Oklahoma
• Thomas Booker, DL, Stanford
• Andrew Booth, DB, Clemson
• Max Borghi, RB, Washington State
• Jaquan Brisker, DB, Penn State
• Gabe Brkic, K, Oklahoma
• Kennedy Brooks, RB, Oklahoma
• Ben Brown, OL, Mississippi
• Leddie Brown, RB, West Virginia
• Montaric Brown, DB, Arkansas
• Logan Bruss, OL, Wisconsin
• Coby Bryant, DB, Cincinnati
• Spencer Burford, OL, UTSA
• Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
• Darien Butler, LB, Arizona State
• Matthew Butler, DL, Tennessee
• Percy Butler, DB, Louisiana
• Grant Calcattera, TE, SMU
• Jake Camarda, P, Georgia
• Chance Campbell, LB, Mississippi
• Ja'Tyre Carter, OL, Southern
• Zach Carter, DL, Florida
• Tariq Castro-Fields, DB, Penn State
• Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina
• Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
• Lewis Cine, DB, Georgia
• Damone Clark, LB, LSU
• Micheal Clemons, DL, Texas A&M
• Jack Coan, QB, Notre Dame
• Qwynnterrio Cole, DB, Louisville
• Snoop Conner, RB, Mississippi
• Bryan Cook, DB, Cincinnati
• James Cook, RB, Georgia
• Jashaun Corbin, RB, Florida State
• Yusuf Corker, DB, Kentucky
• Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
• Charles Cross, OL, Mississippi State
• Nick Cross, DB, Maryland
• Dustin Crum, QB, Kent State
• Myron Cunningham, OL, Arkansas
• DJ Davidson, DL, Arizona State
• Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
• Kalia Davis, DL, UCF
• Ty Davis-Price, RB, LSU
• Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
• Dawson Deaton, OL, Texas Tech
• Austin Deculus, OL, LSU
• Cameron Dicker, K, Texas
• Kellen Diesch, OL, Arizona State
• Dai'Jean Dixon, WR, Nicholls State
• JoJo Domann, LB, Nebraska
• Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
• Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
• Dontario Drummond, WR, Mississippi
• Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
• Bill Dunkle, OL, San Diego State
• Cobie Durant, DB, South Carolina State
• Jerrion Ealy, RB, Mississippi
• Arnold Ebiketie, DL, Penn State
• Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
• Ickey Ekwonu, OL, N.C. State
• Kaiir Elam, DB, Florida
• Kaleb Eleby, QB, Western Michigan
• Noah Elliss, DL, Idaho
• MJ Emerson, DB, Mississippi State
• Kingsley Enagbare, DL, South Carolina
• Akayleb Evans, DB, Missouri
• Obinna Eze, OL, TCU
• Joshua Ezeudu, OL, North Carolina
• Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech
• Daniel Faalele, OL, Minnesota
• Neil Farrell, DL, LSU
• Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin
• DaMarcus Fields, DB, Texas Tech
• Cordale Flott, DB, LSU
• Jerome Ford, RB, Cincinnati
• Jonathan Ford, DL, Miami
• Luke Fortner, OL, Kentucky
• Ty Fryfogle, WR, Indiana
• Sauce Gardner, DB, Cincinnati
• Haskell Garrett, DL, Ohio State
• Jeremiah Gemmel, LB, North Carolina
• Trenton Gill, P, N.C. State
• Luke Goedeke, OL, Central Michigan
• Mario Goodrich, DB, Clemson
• Tyler Goodson, RB, Iowa
• Kyler Gordon, DB, Washington
• Isaiah Graham-Mobley, LB, Boston College
• Danny Gray, WR, SMU
• Vincent Gray, DB, Michigan
• Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
• Jeffrey Gunter, DL, Coastal Carolina
• Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
• Jeremiah Hall, TE, Oklahoma
• Logan Hall, DL, Houston
• Kyle Hamilton, DB, Notre Dame
• Jake Hansen, LB, Illinois
• Aaron Hansford, LB, Texas A&M
• Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
• Kevin Harris, RB, South Carolina
• Kolby Harvell-Peel, DB, Oklahoma State
• Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan
• Blake Hayes, P, Illinois
• Marquis Hayes, OL, Oklahoma
• Peyton Hendershot, TE, Indiana
• Connor Heyward, TE, Michigan State
• Dax Hill, DB, Michigan
• Chasen Hines, OL, LSU
• Chris Hinton, DL, Michigan
• Curtis Hodges, TE, Arizona State
• Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
• Aidan Hutchinson, DL, Michigan
• Ed Ingram, OL, LSU
• Keaontay Ingram, RB, USC
• D'Marco Jackson, LB, Appalachian State
• Drake Jackson, LB, USC
• Jordan Jackson, DL, Air Force
• Joshua Jobe, DB, Alabama
• Jermaine Johnson II, LB, Florida State
• Johnny Johnson III, WR, Oregon
• Josh Johnson, WR, Tulsa
• Tyree Johnson, DL, Texas A&M
• Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College
• Braxton Jones, OL, Southern Utah
• Jack Jones, DB, Arizona State
• Marcus Jones, DB, Houston
• Travis Jones, DL, Connecticut
• Velus Jones, WR, Tennessee
• Kerby Joseph, DB, Illinois
• Cam Jurgens, OL, Nebraska
• George Karlaftis, DL, Purdue
• Cole Kelley, QB, Southeastern Louisiana
• Derion Kendrick, DB, Georgia
• D'Eriq King, QB, Miami
• Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky
• Bam Knight, RB, N.C. State
• Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
• Quentin Lake, DB, UCLA
• Nate Landman, LB, Colorado
• DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M
• Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina
• Tyler Linderbaum, OL, Iowa
• Alec Lindstrom, OL, Boston College
• Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
• Drake London, WR, USC
• Vederian Lowe, OL, Illinois
• Abraham Lucas, OL, Washington State
• Chase Lucas, DB, Arizona State
• Jesse Luketa, DL, Penn State
• Boye Mafe, LB, Minnesota
• DeAngelo Malone, DL, Western Kentucky
• Damarri Mathis, DB, Pittsburgh
• Phidarian Mathis, DL, Alabama
• Cade Mays, OL, Tennessee
• Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
• Marquan McCall, DL, Kentucky
• Zakoby McClain, LB, Auburn
• Zyon McCollum, DB, Sam Houston State
• Sincere McCormick, RB, UTSA
• Roger McCreary, DB, Auburn
• Trent McDuffie, DB, Washington
• Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
• Marcus McKethan, OL, North Carolina
• Verone McKinley III, DB, Oregon
• Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
• John Metchie, WR, Alabama
• James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech
• Max Mitchell, OL, Louisiana
• Smoke Monday, DB, Auburn
• Jeremiah Moon, LB, Florida
• Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
• Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
• Thayer Munford Jr., OL, Ohio State
• Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
• Evan Neal, OL, Alabama
• Otito Ogbonnia, DL, UCLA
• David Ojabo, DL, Michigan
• Chig Okonkwo, TE, Maryland
• Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
• Leon O'Neal, DB, Texas A&M
• Esezi Otomewo, DL, Minnesota
• Cade Otton, TE, Washington
• Isiah Pacheco, RB, Rutgers
• Dylan Parham, OL, Memphis
• Joshua Paschal, DL, Kentucky
• Chris Paul, OL, Tulsa
• Jayden Peevy, DL, Texas A&M
• Trevor Penning, OL, Northern Iowa
• EJ Perry, QB, Brown
• Nick Petit-Frere, OL, Ohio State
• Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA
• George Pickens, WR, Georgia
• Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
• Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
• Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida
• Jalen Pitre, DB, Baylor
• Makai Polk, WR, Mississippi State
• D'vonte Price, RB, Florida International
• Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State
• Teagan Quitoriano, TE, Oregon State
• Bernhard Raimann, OL, Central Michigan
• Charleston Rambo, WR, Miami
• LaBryan Ray, DL, Alabama
• Sean Rhyan, OL, UCLA
• Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
• John Ridgeway, DL, Arkansas
• Ronnie Rivers, RB, Fresno State
• Reggie Roberson Jr., WR, SMU
• Brian Robinson, RB, Alabama
• Dominique Robinson, DL, Miami (Ohio)
• Tyrese Robinson, OL, Oklahoma
• Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
• Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State
• Mike Rose, LB, Iowa State
• Dare Rosenthal, OL, Kentucky
• Josh Ross, LB, Michigan
• Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
• Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
• Andrew Rupcich, OL, Culver-Stockton
• Jamaree Salyer, OL, Georgia
• Jack Sanborn, LB, Wisconsin
• Braylon Sanders, WR, Mississippi
• Myjai Sanders, DL, Cincinnati
• Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah
• Justin Shaffer, OL, Georgia
• Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
• Abram Smith, RB, Baylor
• Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State
• Lecitus Smith, OL, Virginia Tech
• Tyler Smith, OL, Tulsa
• Tyreke Smith, DL, Ohio State
• Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson
• Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
• Chris Steele, DB, USC
• Derek Stingley Jr., DB, LSU
• Jordan Stout, P, Penn State
• Cole Strange, OL, Tennessee-Chattanooga
• Carson Strong, QB, Nevada
• Pierre Strong, RB, South Dakota State
• Andrew Stueber, OL, Michigan
• Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, DL, Notre Dame
• Alontae Taylor, DB, Tennessee
• Cam Taylor-Britt, DB, Nebraska
• Isaac Taylor-Stuart, DB, USC
• Luke Tenuta, OL, Virginia Tech
• Kayvon Thibodeaux, DL, Oregon
• Cameron Thomas, DL, San Diego State
• Isaiah Thomas, DL, Oklahoma
• Juanyeh Thomas, DB, Georgia Tech
• Zach Thomas, OL, San Diego State
• Josh Thompson, DB, Texas
• Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State
• Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
• Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
• Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
• Zach Tom, OL, Wake Forest
• Cole Turner, TE, Nevada
• Tré Turner, WR, Virginia Tech
• Delarrin Turner-Yell, DB, Oklahoma
• Eyioma Uwazurike, DL, Iowa State
• CJ Verdell, RB, Oregon
• Cordell Volson, OL, North Dakota State
• Matt Waletzko, OL, North Dakota
• Kenny Walker III, RB, Michigan State
• Quay Walker, LB, Georgia
• Rasheed Walker, OL, Penn State
• Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
• Jermaine Waller, DB, Virginia Tech
• Jaylen Warren, RB, Oklahoma State
• Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
• Jaylen Watson, DB, Washington State
• Luke Wattenberg, OL, Washington
• Sam Webb, DB, Missouri Western State
• Dohnovan West, OL, Arizona State
• Isaiah Weston, WR, Northern Iowa
• Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State
• Quan White, RB, South Carolina
• Zamir White, RB, Georgia
• Damarion Williams, DB, Houston
• Devon Williams, WR, Oregon
• Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
• Joshua Williams, DB, Fayetteville State
• Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
• Sam Williams, DL, Mississippi
• Tre Williams, LB, Arkansas
• Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
• Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
• Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma
• Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
• JT Woods, DB, Baylor
• Mike Woods, WR, Oklahoma
• Tariq Woolen, DB, UTSA
• Alex Wright, DL, UAB
• Mykael Wright, DB, Oregon
• Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
• Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M
• Cade York, K, LSU
• Nick Zakelj, OL, Fordham
• Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky

No Elijah Hicks?!? The Cal defensive back will be selected in the 2022 NFL. That puts him among the top 256 available players. 

More Minnesota Vikings Coaches

After hiring a couple coordinators over the weekend, the Minnesota Vikings announced the addition of three more coaches to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s coaching staff.

Daronte Jones - defensive backs

Mike Smith - outside linebackers/pass rush specialist

Ben Kotwica - assistant special teams

Daronte Jones is a familiar name as he was the Vikings defensive backs coach in 2020. I was selfishly disappointed when he left Minnesota after a single season for the defensive coordinator job at LSU. He lost that job when the school fired Ed Ogeron and hired Brian Kelly. I’m happy that Jones has returned to the Vikings. 

When it was reported last week that Mike Smith was leaving the Green Bay Packers for opportunities elsewhere, I was curious if those opportunities might be with the Vikings. Perhaps it was due to his connections with current Vikings assistant head coach Mike Pettine. From the continued troublesome play of Za’Darius and Preston Smith to the emergence of Rashan Gary, it appears that Smith had a positive impact on the Packers outside linebackers. 

Matt Daniels was hired as the Vikings special teams coordinator this weekend. He’s assisted with special teams since 2018. Ben Kotwica has been coaching NFL special teams since 2007. He’s been a special teams coordinator for four teams over the past nine seasons. That’s an enormous experience disparity between the Vikings new special teams coordinator and his assistant. It’s actually a luxury to have a coach with a lot of coordinating experience available to assist a first-time coordinator. Kotwica’s last year coaching in Washington was Kevin O’Connell’s first year. So there’s some familiarity there. 

The coaches, so far:

Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell

Assistant Head Coach: Mike Pettine

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Defensive Coordinator: Ed Donatell

Special Teams Coordinator: Matt Daniels

Quarterbacks: Chris O’Hara

Assistant Quarterbacks: Jerrod Johnson 

Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs: Curtis Modkins

Receivers: Keenan McCardell

Pass Game Coodinator/Tight Ends: Brian Angelichio

Offensive Line: Chris Kuper

Assistant Offensive Line: Justin Rascati

Defensive Line: Chris Rumph

Outside Linebackers/Pass Rush Specialist: Mike Smith

Defensive Backs: Daronte Jones

Assistant Special Teams: Ben Kotwica

The number of coaches that a team employs can be a very varied thing. I believe that the Vikings still have the following openings.

Assistant Defensive Line

Inside Linebackers

Assistant Defensive Backs

Offensive Quality Control

Defensive Quality Control

I can’t imagine any vacancies remaining vacant beyond this week. There’s so much work to do that O’Connell and crew have to get past the coaching searches and interviews. 

The Minnesota Vikings Have Their Coordinators

New Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has taken a couple big steps toward filling out his coaching staff. From the moment O’Connell emerged as a top contender for the Vikings job, it was rumored that he’d bring Wes Phillips from Los Angeles to Minnesota. Well, that day has come. It was reported yesterday by the usual scoopers (Ian Rapoport and Aaron Wilson) that Phillips will be the Vikings offensive coordinator. 

Wes Phillips comes from a strong football family. His father is Wade Phillips. His grandfather is Bum Phillips. There’s been a Phillips coaching in professional football for over a half century. Football has been a part of Wes Phillips’ life since birth. He played quarterback at UTEP. After college, he played two years of Arena Football with the San Diego Riptide (2002-03). It was then that he turned to the family profession of coaching football. 

UTEP (2003) Student Assistant

West Texas A&M (2004-05) Quarterbacks

Baylor (2006) Quarterbacks

Dallas Cowboys (2007-10) QC/Offensive Assistant

Dallas Cowboys (2011-12) Assistant Offensive Line

Dallas Cowboys (2013) Tight Ends

Washington Redskins (2014-18) Tight Ends

Los Angeles Rams (2019-20) Tight Ends

Los Angeles Rams (2020-21) Pass Game Coordinator/Tight Ends

O’Connell and Phillips first worked together in Washington in 2018. While the Vikings went through some interviews for the OC job, it was obvious that O’Connell had Phillips had tapped for the job from the start. He certainly had him tapped for some job from the start. 

The Vikings now have an offensive coordinator (Phillips), a pass game coordinator (Brian Angelichio), and a run game coordinator (Curtis Modkins). Now, they need a Red Zone Coordinator, a Behind-the-Sticks Coordinator, Short-Yardage Coordinator, You-Name-It Coordinator. Similar coordinator titles are often tossed out on the defensive side of the ball. It’s the way of today’s NFL. I remember a Bud Grant coaching staff that numbered about six. 

Tom Pelissero reported this morning that the Vikings have hired Matt Daniels as special teams coordinator. He’s seven years removed from a brief playing career. He played safety and mostly special teams for the St. Louis Rams (2012-14), Jacksonville Jaguars (2014-15), and San Diego Chargers (2015). It was the stint with the Rams that was pivotal in his career as a football coach. That’s where he played special teams for John Fassel. In 2018, Fassel brought Daniels on as his special teams assistant for the Los Angeles Rams. When Fassel moved on to the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, he brought Daniels with him. That’s a strong endorsement. A coaching endorsement from John Fassel is enough for me. 

The Vikings traditional coordinator roles are now filled. In an interesting twist, Ed Donatell was hired as defensive coordinator before O’Connell was officially hired as head coach.

12 coaches have been hired. I’m guessing that seven coaches, maybe even more, still need to be hired.   

Assistant Head Coach: Mike Pettine

Offensive Coordinator: Wes Phillips

Defensive Coordinator: Ed Donatell

Special Teams Coordinator: Matt Daniels

Quarterbacks: Chris O’Hara

Assistant Quarterbacks: Jerrod Johnson 

Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs: Curtis Modkins

Receivers: Keenan McCardell

Pass Game Coodinator/Tight Ends: Brian Angelichio

Offensive Line: Chris Kuper

Assistant Offensive Line: Justin Rascati

Defensive Line: Chris Rumph

Linebackers: 

Defensive Backs:

Assistant Special Teams:

Assistant Defensive Line:

Assistant Defensive Backs:

Offensive Quality Control:

Defensive Quality Control:

The actual number of coaches on the final staff may vary. 

I’ve heard nothing about candidates for the Vikings other coaching vacancies. I’m hoping that Gerald Alexander is a consideration for defensive backs coach. As Cal’s defensive backs coach, he crafted a college-to-the-NFL assembly line. It was tragic when the Miami Dolphins plucked him from Berkeley. His players love him. I still expect that all of the vacancies will be filled by the end of this week. Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have too much work to take their time filling out the coaching staff. 

No Joke

I’m taken with Kevin O’Connell. I think that all of Minnesota is taken with the Vikings new head coach. A young offensive head coach. If that’s all that he is, it’s probably enough to win over a very cynical fan base. Sean McVay, Zac Taylor, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFluer. Young offensive play callers have been the NFL head coaching trend. Even an old offensive play caller like Andy Reid is preferred over a defensive dinosaur. If a team has a defensive head coach, they start the Super Bowl race in the middle of the pack. Tell that to Bill Belichick or Sean McDermott. Many fans and nearly all football pundits honk on and on about having an offensive head coach as the only way to win in this NFL. After all, the only path to a Super Bowl title is the same path taken by the last team to win it. Anyway, the Vikings young head coach was energetic, thoughtful, and well-spoken in a sparkling introduction on Thursday. He even told a joke. That might be a surprise as many in attendance seemed to miss it. 

"I've used this joke before, but my career as a player provided a great platform for me as a coach because I did spend a lot of time watching games from the sideline."

O’Connell even advertised it as a joke. Maybe that was a mistake. I thought that his joke was hilarious. It gave me more than a chuckle, maybe a hearty laugh. I’m glad that I wasn’t eating a snack. I was a little surprised when I didn’t hear a similar response from those in attendance. Maybe they smiled or gave a happy nod. Maybe I had to be there. It was a funny joke. If I ever have a chance to meet O’Connell, I’ll tell him so. I like that he can poke fun at his modest playing career. He threw six passes and spent some time with six different teams. That’s an interesting stat. He completed four of those six passes for 23 yards. He’ll always have that. 

I like the Vikings new head coach. It might be a little thing but I like him even more after his telling that joke. 

NFL 2022 Offseason Schedule

Super Bowl LVI is done. The 2022 NFL Offseason is here. It’s been the offseason for many teams for a while. Now it’s the offseason for all teams. The following is an overview of the important dates on the 2022 NFL Offseason Schedule.

February 19: HBCU Legacy Bowl

March 1-7: NFL Scouting Combine

March 8: Prior to 4:00pm ET. Deadline for teams to designate franchise and transaction tags.

March 14-16: “Legal Tampering Window“ From 12 noon ET on March 14 and ending at 3:59.59 pm ET on March 16, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2021 contracts. Agreements can be reached but no contracts can be signed. 

March 16: The 2022 League Year and Free Agency and Trading Period begin at 4:00pm ET.

March 27-30: Annual League Meeting. The Breakers. Palm Beach, Florida.

April 4: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2021 regular season may begin offseason workout programs.

April 18: Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

April 20: Deadline to bring draft-eligible players to their facilities for a physical examination.

April 22: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 27: Deadline for prior club to exercise Right of First Refusal to restricted free agents.

April 27: Deadline to time, test, and interview draft-eligible players. 

April 28-30: NFL Draft. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Kevin O’Connell. Minnesota Vikings Head Coach.

“A New Era”

Seeing 40-year old Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and 36-year old Kevin O’Connell as the faces of the Minnesota Vikings was new. Maybe it was their fresh, young faces. Everything feels new with the Vikings right now. 

The Vikings announced Kevin O’Connell as the tenth head coach in franchise history on Wednesday. He was introduced to the media yesterday. It’s been a whirlwind week for O’Connell. Actually, it’s been a whirlwind month. It’s mind-boggling to imagine the time-management necessary to balance preparing a team for four postseason games and interviewing for NFL head coaching jobs. He spent a month doing that. The past week he won a Super Bowl, celebrated a Super Bowl, and became the head coach of the Vikings. Some coaches spend a lifetime chasing a Super Bowl. Some coaches spend a lifetime chasing an NFL head coaching job. O’Connell got both in a handful of days. 

I was excited for the Vikings future when Mike Zimmer was introduced in 2014. I’m excited for the Vikings after watching Kevin O’Connell’s introduction yesterday. It feels different this time. I don’t know if the difference is a 58-year old, first-time head coach as opposed to a 36-year old, first-time head coach. I don’t know if the difference is a defensive-minded head coach as opposed to an offensive-minded head coach. It’s a bit of both but it’s also something more. It’s this damn collaboration thing I’ve been hearing repeatedly since Mark Wilf announced the start of the general manager and head coach search on January 10. Collaboration, cooperation, and consistency. From the coaches to the players to the staff to everyone in the building. O’Connell wants to create an environment in which everyone has ownership of the process. Everyone will be involved. Everyone will have a voice. It sounds simple but it really isn’t. With the egos that often dominate a football team something as basic as true collaboration is never simple. With only his 30 minute press conference and all that I’ve read and heard about him as evidence, I believe that O’Connell has what it takes to pull it off. I believe that he and Adofo-Mensah have what it takes to pull it off. I’m impressed with both. I’m impressed with the coaching staff that they are putting together. I can’t wait to see all of it play out. 

A few nuggets on O’Connell’s presser:

From Ben Leber:

“No illusions or complexity to his presser. O’Connell was super impressive. Already love the chemistry with he and Kwesi.”

After the obligatory questions about Kirk (“the offense is going to be built around him”) Cousins, we finally got to an important question. “Are you going to call the plays?” Everyone pretty much knew the answer but it was still good to hear it. “Yes.” The Vikings have seen a revolving door of offensive play-callers over the past eight seasons. It’s going to be great to have an offensive play-caller that isn’t going anywhere. 

The defense will be a base 3-4. That’ll be something to see. The Vikings haven’t been a base 3-4 since the early 1980s. More importantly, the defense will be multiple. The front will vary. With today’s game, the best defenses are adaptable to the offenses that they are tasked with stopping. 

Vikings Legends Bud Grant, Randall McDaniel, John Randle, and Scott Studwell were in attendance. This prompted O’Connell to say that former Vikings will always be welcome and encouraged to visit. This was very important to hear. On the eve of the 2019 playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers I had the opportunity to chat with Keith Millard. He said that prior to the Wilf ownership former players weren’t really welcome around the facility. That made me sick to hear. I dearly hope that sort of shitty treatment never happens again. As long as the Wilf’s own the team I know that it won’t. 

It was great to see how O’Connell acknowledged and showed great appreciation for his family in attendance. Wife, kids, parents, in-laws. It was great to see them there. It’s been an eventful week for all of them. 

Damnit! It’s easy to like this kid. And, kid he is. Perhaps because it’s visions of Bud Grant and Mike Zimmer that fill my head when I think of the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, O’Connell’s youthful appearance is a little stunning. Grant had white hair when he started coaching the team. He was 40. O’Connell is only 36. He looks even younger. He’ll be 37 when he coaches his first Vikings game. He’s the second-youngest head coach in the NFL. It’s a little wild that the only head coach younger is his former boss. Sean McVay just turned 36. 

Age is on my mind. Here are the ages of the Vikings 10 head coaches when they coached their first game for the team.

Norm Van Brocklin: 35

Bud Grant: 40

Les Steckel: 38

Jerry Burns: 59

Dennis Green: 43

Mike Tice: 42

Brad Childress: 50

Leslie Frazier: 51

Mike Zimmer: 58

Kevin O’Connell: 37

Van Brocklin doesn’t really count. He probably looked 35 when he was born. 

A New Era. 

Next Year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

We should still be celebrating the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022. That Class was announced only a week ago. The members of the new Class have yet to sit for their busts. It’s all still so new. Instead, I’m thinking about the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Maybe I’m just looking at the next Class to see if Jared Allen has a shot. 

All thoughts on the next Class starts with the players that will be eligible for the first time.

Joe Thomas

Darrelle Revis

Chris Johnson

Shane Lechler

Dwight Freeney

Elvis Dumervil

James Harrison

The Class of 2022 had no players make it in their first year eligibility. There will be no first-ballot shut out next year. The Class of 2023 will start with Joe Thomas and Darrelle Revis. From there, DeMarcus Ware’s Hall wait should end at a single year. The final two modern-era selections will be wide open. I’m going with the following five.

Joe Thomas

Darrelle Revis

DeMarcus Ware

Zach Thomas

Jared Allen

I actually think that a receiver (Torry Holt or Reggie Wayne) or Devin Hester will bump Allen from the Class of 2023 but you never know. 

As for the senior, coach, and contributor candidates.

Senior: Lavvie Dilweg

Talk about Hall waits. Lavvie Dilweg’s last NFL season was 1934. He was one of the game’s great ends during the league’s first decade and into it’s second. A five-time All-Pro. He helped lead the Green Bay Packers to three straight titles. He didn’t generate receiving stats like Torry Holt or Reggie Wayne. Dilweg played in a very different time. He also played defense. It wasn’t just token defense. He was a factor on defense. Like Duke Slater, Fritz Pollard, and Benny Friedman, Dilweg probably should’ve made the Hall of Fame before the voting got out of the 1970s. Instead, all four waited at least a half century. Dilweg’s still waiting. Waiting like no one ever has. Slater needed the Centennial Class to finally make it. Will it take a Bicentennial Class for Dilweg to finally make it? He’ll be my senior pick until he finally makes it to Canton. 

Coach: Buddy Parker

When people were bitching about the long Hall wait of Tom Flores, I couldn’t help but think of Buddy Parker. Flores waited a while. Parker has waited 30 years longer. Flores last coached in 1994. Parker’s last season was 1964. Flores won two titles with the Raiders. Parker won two titles with the Lions. He coached the Lions to a third title game. Parker built a decade-long dynasty in Detroit. The Lions haven’t sniffed consistent success, let alone a title, since Parker’s stunning departure. The Lions team that he built and coached won a third title despite Parker bolting the team on the eve of the season. Paul Brown is an NFL coaching legend. Getting past Parker’s Lions was a puzzle that Brown rarely solved. Regular season and postseason, Parker had Brown’s number. The 1950s Detroit Lions is one of the league’s all-time great teams. Their head coach should be in Canton. 

Contributor: Ralph Hay

The Hall should finally properly honor the man that hosted the meeting that started it all. 

A very early stab at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023:

Joe Thomas

Darrelle Revis

DeMarcus Ware

Zach Thomas

Jared Allen

Lavvie Dilweg

Buddy Parker

Ralph Hay

Finally

The Minnesota Vikings might finally officially have their head coach. 

From Ian Rapoport:

“The Vikings and Rams OC Kevin O’Connell are finalizing their deal for him to be their new head coach, source said. Announcement coming. Press conference planned for Thursday.”

It’s a good thing. As of Tuesday morning there had been no O’Connell news. That combined with reports that Sean McVay was contemplating his coaching future had Vikings fans losing their minds. Was their team going to lose their new head coach before they even had him? Just a few years ago, Josh McDaniels pivoted on a head coach deal with the Indianapolis Colts after a Super Bowl win. It’s happened before. It can happen again. Vikings fans can be a paranoid bunch. 

Nothing’s official until it’s official. Despite that, Kevin O’Connell will be the next head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He’ll be introduced as such on Thursday. 

This has been an interesting head coach search. A lot of waiting. Waiting for candidates. Waiting for interviews. That exciting little dance with Jim Harbaugh. And finally, waiting for O’Connell to finish his work with the Rams. I’m glad the Vikings waited. For what it’s worth, he didn’t start as my top choice. By the time the Vikings got to their finalists, he might’ve been. The more I learn about the more I like him as the team’s next head coach. 

Through the waiting, the Vikings have been adding assistant coaches. It’s a little strange to be adding assistant coaches without officially having a head coach but that’s where we are. 

Vikings Coaching Staff, so far. 

Offensive Coordinator:

Defensive Coordinator: Ed Donatell

Special Teams Coordinator:

Quarterbacks: Jerrod Johnson 

Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs: Curtis Modkins

Receivers: Keenan McCardell

Pass Game Coodinator/Tight Ends: Brian Angelichio

Offensive Line: Chris Kuper

Defensive Line: Chris Rumph

Linebackers: 

Defensive Backs:

Senior Defensive Assistant: Mike Pettine

Jerrod Johnson was added to assist quarterbacks. It remains to be seen whether that means he’s coaching the quarterbacks or assisting with the coaching of the quarterbacks. No matter the actual title and responsibilities, he should be a familiar presence for second-year quarterback Kellen Mond. Both quarterbacked at Texas A&M. Mond broke several of Johnson’s Aggie passing records. 

It’s been rumored that O’Connell will bring Rams pass game coordinator/tight end coach Wes Phillips with him. Phillips’ rumored position with the Vikings is either offensive coordinator or pass game coordinator. So, it’ll either be a parallel move or an advancement. O’Connell and Phillips might not be the only Rams coaches coming to Minnesota. The Vikings plan to interview Rams assistant head coach/running backs Thomas Brown for offensive coordinator. He’d be an excellent addition for the Vikings. He’s also a candidate to replace O’Connell as the Rams offensive coordinator. If that was a done deal, I doubt that Brown would be interviewing with the Vikings. 

The Vikings are inching toward finally officially having their head coach. Thankfully. The weeks-long wait has felt like months.