There are many reasons to believe that Kevin O’Connell can turn the Minnesota Vikings around. After his success with the Los Angeles Rams, it’s not hard to think that he can be a clone of McVay, transforming the Vikings into immediate playoff contenders. So it’s unsurprising that people are comparing this year’s Vikings team to the one McVay turned around.
But let’s be clear: We need to stop comparing the Vikings to the Rams.
The Rams were a mess when McVay arrived in Los Angeles. They had been held down by Jeff Fisher, but even the NFL’s king of mediocrity wasn’t the sole reason for their downfall. In 2016, the Rams ranked dead last in points scored. They also ranked last in total offense. Jared Goff was a wreck, and Kenny Britt led the team in receiving. Their defense wasn’t much better, as they ranked 10th in yardage allowed but 22nd in points allowed.
Like the Vikings over the past two years, the Rams were stuck in the middle, notching seven wins in three of Fisher’s four seasons. But the Rams weren’t an underachieving team. They were a bad one.
The quick turnaround was a reason why McVay’s rise was so shocking. The Rams went to the Super Bowl in 2018 and eventually won the whole thing in 2021.
Ultimately, that’s the goal O’Connell wants to achieve with the Vikings. However, it’s not quite the scenario he’s walking into.
Perhaps Zac Taylor would be a better comparison. As with O’Connell, many were surprised when the Cincinnati Bengals hired Taylor. Cincinnati’s fan base let out a collective groan. Yet Taylor eventually turned things around and led the Bengals to the Super Bowl last year.
Still, it’s not a perfect comparison. The Bengals were even worse than the team McVay took over, going 6-25-1 in Taylor’s first two seasons. But the Bengals changed their fate when they took Joe Burrow. However, the Vikings aren’t in a situation where they can tank for the No. 1-overall pick. They need to make the most out of what they have right now.
In other words, the Vikings need to be more like the Green Bay Packers.
You probably just threw up in your mouth reading this, but the situation that O’Connell is inheriting is similar to the one Matt LeFleur walked into in Green Bay.
The Packers had enjoyed great success and even won a Super Bowl with Mike McCarthy, but the final years of his tenure were filled with disappointment. With the product on the field slipping, reports of messages during team meetings followed, and Green Bay needed to make a change.
It’s similar to what Vikings fans have experienced over the past couple of years. The Vikings needed Mike Zimmer when they hired him in 2014. Minnesota responded with a pair of NFC North titles and a trip to the NFC Championship game. But those good feelings faded when their championship window closed.
Over the past couple of years, Zimmer resorted to finger-pointing. It got so bad that he reportedly arranged a PowerPoint presentation to tell everyone on the team that it wasn’t his fault. A change was necessary by the time the Vikings were out of contention.
Perhaps it’s that parallel that helped O’Connell get the job. But it also brings an opportunity to use LeFleur’s blueprint to succeed in Minnesota.
The first thing LeFleur did was take some of the responsibility off Rodgers’ shoulders. Although he’s a Hall of Fame quarterback, Rodgers can’t do everything by himself. The Packers re-introduced the running game, and Aaron Jones benefitted greatly. By using him all over the field, Green Bay had a dynamic chess piece they could deploy anywhere.
That opened up the offense for one of the league’s best receivers. Davante Adams was on his way to becoming a star before LeFleur showed up, but LaFleur’s arrival took Adams to the stratosphere.
LaFleur’s offense allowed the role players to get involved. Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling became household names. Robert Tonyan had a cameo. After a year in the statistical middle of the league in points and total offense, LeFleur transformed Green Bay into the top offense in the NFL, complete with an MVP season from Rodgers.
The defense also enjoyed a turnaround. While it wasn’t perfect, it was enough to get by. Jaire Alexander became a lockdown corner for the Packers. Rashan Gary is a good young edge rusher, and Darnell Savage Jr. and Eric Stokes brought something to the secondary. With Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt, the Packers suddenly have plenty of firepower on defense.
The turnaround paid off with three-straight 13-win seasons. There’s little reason to think that O’Connell can’t do the same in Minnesota.
Kirk Cousins is not on the same level as Rodgers, but he could benefit from being in a McVay-type offense. A perennial candidate for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, O’Connell could open up more options for Cousins in the passing game and turn him into a more efficient quarterback.
It’s not like the Vikings don’t have the weapons to make that happen. Many see Justin Jefferson inheriting Cooper Kupp‘s role in the offense, but you can make a case he can be just as good as Adams. Since 2019, Kupp (4,082) and Adams (3,924) are first and second in receiving yards, and it’s not hard to see Jefferson doing the same type of damage.
If that happens, it opens up the entire offense. Adam Thielen ranks fourth in the NFL with 30 touchdown receptions since 2019, and K.J. Osborn, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and Irv Smith Jr. could all have opportunities to contribute.
And think about what the Vikings could do in the running game. Using Dalvin Cook differently could open up the offense, even if he’s not getting the ball. Alexander Mattison, Kene Nwangwu, and Ty Chandler also have the talent to create the same kind of stable that LeFleur has cultivated in Green Bay.
Their defense was the missing piece. The Packers were able to fix their defense by signing Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and Adrian Amos in the spring of 2019. However, the Vikings didn’t have that luxury due to their lack of cap space.
That’s why the Vikings hit defense hard in the draft. Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. could have prominent roles from Day 1. Even returning players like Danielle Hunter, Harrison Smith, and Eric Kendricks could thrive in their new roles.
It doesn’t mean the Vikings are destined for a 13-win season, but there’s enough to distinguish itself from other situations inherited by the McVay coaching tree. Time will tell if the O’Connell can make this work, but it’s something that the Vikings can build on as they enter the upcoming season.
