The 2018 version of the Minnesota Vikings have a great deal of continuity, though one key question mark remains: How will a new offensive coordinator get the most out of the Vikings’ offensive playmakers?
John DeFilippo takes the reins this season at age 40, 13 years younger than predecessor Pat Shurmur (who was 13 years younger than his predecessor Norv Turner).
Minnesota looked at a number of younger candidates in their search, including in-house assistant Kevin Stefanski, but in the end, DeFilippo’s one year of playcalling experience with the Cleveland Browns in 2015 played a role in the hire.
It wasn’t a good year for DeFilippo or the Browns. Cleveland went 3-13, and their offense finished 30th of 32 teams in points scored. Head coach Mike Pettine was dismissed, and DeFilippo went out the door with him.
The Vikings have a slightly more stable roster in place, however, than those Browns.
Let’s take a look at how the 2018 Vikings offense compares to the 2015 Browns. We’ll examine how each position group was perceived heading into the season and how things actually played out for DeFilippo in 2015.
QBs: Josh McCown/Johnny Manziel vs. Kirk Cousins/Trevor Siemian
Cleveland’s perception before the season:
Josh McCown was the veteran insurance policy behind Johnny Manziel despite going 1-10 the year before as a Tampa Bay starter while throwing 14 interceptions and only 11 touchdowns. Despite some sloppy appearances as a rookie, Manziel was still perceived as the future and gave DeFilippo and exciting prospect to groom.
How it went down in Cleveland:
Playing just half the season, McCown had one of his best statistical years to that point in terms of QBR, touchdown-to-interception ratio and yards per attempt. Too bad the Browns defense was atrocious. McCown went 1-7, an unprepared Manziel went 2-4 and Austin Davis mopped up with two losses to end the year.
Minnesota’s perception before the season:
Kirk Cousins represents stability. His three years as a relatively consistent Washington starter gives Minnesota a sustainable solution at quarterback — they hope — for the next three years. His backup, Trevor Siemian, is certainly not a sexy option, but hey, neither was Case Keenum. Siemian has starting experience and could likely keep the team in games if Cousins went down.
DeFilippo on Minnesota:
“Kirk is a confident guy, but I can see his confidence in what we’re doing. And usually, that confidence is gained by your knowledge and feeling comfortable in what you’re doing. I mean, I go out there and I’m playing golf, and all of a sudden, I try to pitch and run an 8-iron, and I’m not used to doing that, I need some practice at that, just like going into a new offense. I think he’s feeling more comfortable within it, and I think he’s feeling more comfortable in his environment he’s working.”
RBs: Isaiah Crowell/Duke Johnson vs. Dalvin Cook/Latavius Murray
Cleveland’s perception before the season:
Isaiah Crowell was 22; Duke Johnson was 21. The Browns had an exciting young backfield with Crowell coming off a pleasantly surprising rookie year with eight touchdowns, 607 yards and 4.1 yards per carry. Johnson was a flashy third-round pick who had averaged 6.7 yards per carry in three years at the University of Miami.
How it went down in Cleveland:
Crowell and Johnson only combined for four rushing touchdowns — all of them going to Crowell. The Browns totaled just six games where they rushed for 100 yards as a team, and neither of their top two backs exceeded 3.8 yards per carry. On a positive note, Johnson emerged as a nice pass-catching option with 61 receptions for 534 yards.
Minnesota’s perception before the season:
With Dalvin Cook ostensibly back from an ACL injury, the Vikings hope to, essentially, have a Rookie Season 2.0 from their 2017 second-round pick. Cook impressed in three and a half games before going down in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions. He’ll presumably share the load with Latavius Murray, who in 2017 became part of a two-headed attack with Jerick McKinnon. Murray was effective in short yardage but set a career low for yards per attempt (3.9). Most fans would’ve rather seen the Vikings keep McKinnon if they had to choose between the two backs, but his price tag was too steep. Meanwhile, Murray took a pay cut to remain. He is still a great pass blocker and provides a change of pace from Cook.
DeFilippo on Minnesota:
“I like really good players, and both of those guys (Cook and Murray) are really good players. They both bring different things to the table. Obviously Latavius is a bruiser-type back, but he can still be a three-down back. There is no doubt in my mind that he can be a three-down back and wear people down. Obviously you see the explosiveness from Dalvin and he can be a three-down back as well because both of those guys are really, really good in pass protection.”
WRs: Travis Benjamin/Andrew Hawkins vs. Stefon Diggs/Adam Thielen
Cleveland’s perception before the season:
The Browns weren’t very deep at receiver in 2015 after losing Josh Gordon to a year-long alcohol suspension. They went into the year with Travis Benjamin and Andrew Hawkins as their headliners. Benjamin was coming off three very pedestrian seasons after being drafted in the fourth round in 2012 and needed to prove his worth in a contract year. Hawkins, on the other hand, had successfully transitioned from the CFL at age 25 with the Cincinnati Bengals, then joined the Browns in 2014 where he had a career year with 824 yards.
How it went down in Cleveland:
Benjamin had the best season of his career with 966 yards and earned a big contract in San Diego. Hawkins dealt with concussions and missed half the year, allowing Brian Hartline to grab the second receiver spot. The Browns finished the season 21st in passing yards.
Minnesota’s perception before the season:
The Vikings bring one of the league’s best one-two punches to the table in 2018 with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. With Diggs signing a five-year extension on Tuesday, he and Thielen will be paired together for the next three seasons. Both have approached or passed the 1,000-yard mark each of the past two years and are positioned well to do it again with Cousins at the helm. They were the league’s best tandem as far as contested catches a year ago, and their versatility stretches secondaries to their limit.
DeFilippo on Minnesota:
“I think you always try to create explosive pass gains. Whether it be a screen, a wide receiver screen where you get a lead blocker out on a corner and you throw it to Thielen or Diggs or Treadwell or whoever and you let them make a play or make a guy miss. Or like you just said, get a chunk play just like that. I think there are a lot of different ways to create explosive pass gains, and we are going to do as many as we can.”
TEs: Gary Barnidge vs. Kyle Rudolph/David Morgan
Cleveland’s perception before the season:
After losing Jordan Cameron in free agency, the Browns looked to a guy in Gary Barnidge who had amassed a grand total of 603 receiving yards in the previous seven seasons. He made 13 catches each of the previous two years in Cleveland but was set up for a much bigger role under DeFilippo.
How it went down in Cleveland:
Remarkably, only three tight ends had more yards that season than Barnidge: Rob Gronkowski, Greg Olsen and Delanie Walker. Barnidge, as virtually their only receiving threat at tight end, racked up 1,043 yards and nine touchdowns. Jim Dray made six catches in a limited role, and Rob Housler made one.
Minnesota’s perception before the season:
The Vikings are stable at tight end with Kyle Rudolph entering his eighth season. He’s coming off a three-year stretch in which he hasn’t missed a game and has caught 20 touchdowns along the way. While he doesn’t bring an explosive dimension to the passing game, he’s become a reliable red zone threat for each of the team’s last three quarterbacks. Backup David Morgan brings blocking tenacity that helps Minnesota’s run game.
DeFilippo on Minnesota:
“I think you saw us throw one to Kyle back [of the end zone], and obviously Rudy is a really, really big man, but again that helps a lot. When you have guys that are big men that can go up and get the football obviously that is going to help your red zone touchdown percentage, 100 percent.”
Cleveland Offensive Line vs. Minnesota Offensive Line
Cleveland’s perception before the season:
The Browns were coming off a decent season for pass protection by allowing tied for the 13th-fewest sacks with 31. They had one of the great left tackles of all time in Joe Thomas, a former second-round pick in Joel Bitonio entering his second season at left guard, a former first-round pick Alex Mack returning from IR to start at center and a former second-round pick Mitchell Schwartz entering a contract year at right tackle. It seemed the unit was on the rise.
How it went down in Cleveland:
The line regressed as the Browns allowed tied for the second-most sacks in the league with 53. Both their Week 1 starting guards wound up on IR late in the season, and third-stringer Austin Davis took 11 sacks while appearing in just three games.
Minnesota’s perception before the season:
There is trepidation in the fan base about the offensive line thanks to a rash of preseason injuries. Center Pat Elflein is recovering from ankle and shoulder surgeries, and likely right guard Mike Remmers left practice early Tuesday with an undisclosed leg injury. The line made great strides between 2016 and 2017, but the team lost a starter in Joe Berger and didn’t necessarily find a replacement in the draft. Second-round pick Brian O’Neill may not be ready to play significant snaps, and several depth spots are unsettled.
DeFilippo on Minnesota:
“Obviously, all five of those guys work cohesively very well as a unit so we want to continue that. We may move a guy around here and there and experiment with a few things. We will talk about that as an offensive staff as we go and talk to Coach Zimmer. But obviously, you want to be ready for any situation that arises during the season. Whether you have an injury, suspension, a guy misses a game for personal reasons, you never know. You want to have guys ready for all five spots.”
What does this tell us about DeFilippo?
If we are to take anything from this exercise, it’s that DeFilippo got the most out of some underachieving personnel during his year in Cleveland. Benjamin and Barnidge had career seasons. McCown found new life after his dismal Tampa Bay stint (albeit with a terrible record). Johnson, the rookie running back, was used creatively in space.
The offensive line was problematic, which would have to be dug into further. Was the scheme bad? Were the non-Joe Thomas players bad? Was Manziel holding onto the ball too long? Perhaps some of each.
At most skill positions, however, DeFilippo is equipped with more in Minnesota than he was in Cleveland. His year with the Browns may act as a lesson that DeFilippo might be able to squeeze max potential out of players with low expectations.
Become a Zone Coverage Member Today!
