When Sean McVay hired Kevin O’Connell in 2020, O’Connell had to navigate social distancing while executing an ambiguous role.
O’Connell was the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator, but McVay designed the offense and called the plays. McVay didn’t fill the OC position when Matt LaFleur left following the 2017 season, and O’Connell was mainly in LA to help turn Jared Goff into a franchise quarterback. Early on, he conducted unit and position-group meetings via video screens.
“Do they even know who I am at this point?” O’Connell wondered aloud to reporters in May 2020. “Hopefully, they can click through that team meeting and find the little box that says ‘O’Connell,’ so when they catch me walking in the halls, they know who I am.”
O’Connell met Cam Akers during the quarantine. The Rams had released three-time All-Star Todd Gurley and replaced him with Akers, their second-round pick out of Florida State.
Akers had 625 yards as a rookie but tore his Achilles in training camp the following year. Doctors expected him to be out for the season. However, he was among the first players to have a SpeedBridge surgery and returned in Week 18. Akers ran for 393 yards in LA’s four playoff games, including 21 yards on 13 carries in its Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Vikings hired O’Connell after the Rams won the Super Bowl, and Minnesota has traded for Akers twice. Last year, they traded for him after he had a falling out in Los Angeles. The Vikings were 0-2 and needed a complementary back for Alexander Mattison. Akers ran for 138 yards in six games with Minnesota before tearing his Achilles again.
“Considering what I’ve been through,” Akers said at practice on Wednesday, “it’s a blessing just to be able to still be playing ball.”
Minnesota offered to re-sign Akers this season, but they wanted him to pass a physical. Instead, he signed with the Houston Texans. He played five games in Houston before the Vikings traded for him again.
Akers had two returns for 52 yards against the Detroit Lions and played a special teams snap against the Rams. However, Minnesota continued to use Ty Chandler as their primary backup running back.
“Cam’s in a good spot, and I envision him being a part of the game plans going forward,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said after the Rams game. “[Akers is] in a good place right now. He’s moving well. He’s strong, he looks fast.”
Akers ran for 46 yards on six carries against the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday. On Minnesota’s penultimate drive, Akers had three-straight carries for 31 yards, and they probably should have kept giving him the ball. The drive stalled when Darnold threw an incomplete pass on first down and took an eight-yard sack on third-and-11.
“He ran the ball really well, had some nice cuts, found some cuts,” said Phillips. “Our mid-zone, as we call it, game found a nice couple of backdoor cuts. Then we ran a couple one-back power plays in a row where it was blocked really well, and he had some nice hits.”
Most players take time to acclimate to a new team. However, O’Connell runs a McVay system and coached Akers in LA. Akers also played in Minnesota last year under O’Connell and Phillips. Therefore, it’s hard to understand why they didn’t immediately use Akers as the backup.
“The offense is pretty simple, considering I’ve been in it pretty much everywhere I went,” said Akers. “So, no learning curve, just hit the ground running, and that’s what I’ve done.”
The Vikings signed former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones to a one-year, $7 million contract, and they’ve gotten their money’s worth. He’s already had four 90-plus-yard games and makes an impact in the receiving game. Still, Minnesota needs a reliable backup, given his injury history.
However, Chandler has only had one game with more than 30 rushing yards. He also occasionally lines up incorrectly and struggles with pass-blocking. Chandler, 26, is a dynamic athlete who hasn’t mastered the minutiae. Akers is a more complete back and should be the primary backup.
Akers’ relationship with O’Connell started during the pandemic and grew during LA’s playoff run. They’re together again, for the third time. And while it’s a unique connection, the Vikings are better for it. Minnesota didn’t acquire Akers at the deadline. But despite everything Akers has been through, he’s the backup back they need for Jones.
