Vikings

Who Will Kevin O'Connell Empower?

Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell against the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Zimmer’s bottom lip quivered and he got choked up when he discussed Norv Turner’s sudden resignation in 2016. Turner was a former head coach and had been one of Zimmer’s first hires in 2014. He was supposed to oversee the offense while the defensive-minded Zimmer stuck to his bailiwick.

“Since Norv has been here, I’ve given him almost 100 percent, total free will in everything that they’ve done offensively,” Zimmer said at the time. “I’ll come in and make suggestions, but there really has never been a time I have demanded anything.”

In hindsight, we know that isn’t true. Zimmer had reportedly gone to Hue Jackson after the 2014 season to learn more about offensive play-calling so he could better evaluate Turner. He had grown more outspoken about pass plays he didn’t like and expressed a need to run the ball more.

Most ironically of all, he was irked by Turner’s efforts to set up his son, Scott, for an offensive coordinator job. Scott was the quarterbacks’ coach at the time.

In many ways, Kevin O’Connell presents himself as the anti-Zimmer. He’s an offensive coach who, at 36, is almost half Zimmer’s age. He emphasizes collaboration, Zimmer ruled by fear. O’Connell is actively engaging; Zimmer, curmudgeonly.

“We’ll set a tone and create a culture here where players will want to be around us,” O’Connell said about his coaching staff. “[The players will] want to be around their coaches. They’ll want to be in the building.”

O’Connell has made it clear that he wants his players to trust his coaching staff. But will he trust his coaches?

As of Thursday, here’s who the Vikings have added to their coaching staff. To provide context to each person, I’ve included their age and where they’ve coached in the last three years.

  • Mike Pettine, 55, asst. head coach (Green Bay, Chicago)
  • Ed Donatell, 65, defensive coordinator (Denver)
  • Chris Rumph, 50, d-line (Chicago, Houston Texans, U. Tennessee)
  • Chris O’Hara, QBs (Rams, Jacksonville, Washington)
  • Jerrod Johnson, 33, asst. QBs (Indianapolis)
  • Brian Angelichio, 49, TEs/passing game coord. (Washington, Carolina)
  • Chris Kuper, 39, o-line (Denver)
  • Justin Rascati, 38, assistant o-line (Denver)
  • Curtis Modkins, 51, RBs/run game coord. (Denver)

Minnesota’s staff is young, but it’s not exclusively made up of people in their 30s. I could not find an age for O’Hara, but he has nine years of NFL experience, so he’s likely in his early 30s.

Four previously worked under Vic Fangio with the Denver Broncos. Only one was with him in LA. However, former Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach Thomas Brown is reportedly going to interview for the Vikings’ offensive coordinator position.

Fans seem to have the most consternation about Donatell and Pettine.

Donatell is two years older than Fangio and runs his stuff. Why not just hire the innovative defensive coach? Is it possible he’s worried about ceding control to a former head coach? And many Cheeseheads were ready to run Pettine out of town. His defense made Aaron Rodgers work overtime to keep the Green Bay Packers ahead in games.

But O’Connell has emphasized his relationships with each coach. Pettine may be better served in an assistant coach’s role, where he’s not calling plays. Donatell may change Minnesota’s defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4. The Vikings would go from using four down linemen and three linebackers to three down linemen and four linebackers. Such a change would require a wholehearted endorsement because it demands an overhaul in personnel Is that an indication that O’Connell is willing to relinquish control? It’s hard to know until the season starts.

Similarly, how much will O’Connell empower Angelichio? O’Connell is likely to emphasize the passing game more. Justin Jefferson is a bona fide superstar, Adam Thielen is a red zone threat, and Irv Smith Jr. will return from injury. K.J. Osborn came into his own last year, and Ihmir Smith-Marsette showed out late. Plus, the Vikings may use an early draft pick on a receiver to bolster their depth. They should be leaning into their wideouts more.

O’Connell will probably use more 11-personnel, meaning he will frequently have three receivers on the field. Does he let Angelichio have at it? Or will he want more control to ensure the Vikings are maximizing their weapons?

Zimmer’s folly was that he initially trusted Turner wholeheartedly, then undermined him. Then, after watching the New York Giants hire Pat Shurmer away from him and running John DeFilippo out of town, Zimmer turned to Gary Kubiak. The former Broncos coach ran an old-school, play-action-based offense.

When Kubiak retired, Zimmer promoted Kubiak’s son from quarterbacks coach to OC. A bitter irony, given that Zimmer had admonished Turner for doing the same thing with his son. Furthermore, Zimmer elevated his son, Adam, to co-defensive coordinator with longtime defensive assistant Andre Patterson. The nepotism he once pushed back on had taken over the building.

O’Connell isn’t immediately going to do everything right. We have no idea if he can manage the clock, and he didn’t call plays in LA. He may not make adjustments quick enough or fail to get a play in on time. But who he chooses to empower, and if they’re up for the job, is what’s most important right away.

We’ve already seen some emotion from O’Connell. He briefly broke up when addressing his wife Leah, and their three children, Kaden, Quinn, and Colton. “I’m going to try not to get emotional,” he said, “but we get to sit here and look at each other and know that you guys have been every bit a part of getting us to this moment.”

They’ve sacrificed a lot, but he won’t be rewarding his children with jobs on his staff. His oldest child, Kaden, is seven years old.

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Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell against the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The first week of the new league year was hectic for the Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins signed with the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings signed several defensive players, […]

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