National experts seem to give the Minnesota Vikings little to no chance this upcoming season. I disagree. Am I looking toward the upcoming season with purple-tinted glasses and wishful thinking? Or is there something that national pundits are missing here?
Anyone can see how the national media formulated their opinions on the Vikings. They had a tough season last year, finishing 7-10. Then, they lost stalwart quarterback Kirk Cousins in the offseason, drafting rookie J.J. McCarthy to take the reins at the position. In the interim, they signed Sam Darnold to a one-year contract. The former first-rounder previously played for the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers then served as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers.
However, I think people are underestimating the coaching ability of Minnesota‘s coaches and coordinators. They forget that Kevin O’Connell won a Super Bowl as an OC in 2021 and that Brian Flores did the same as a defensive play-caller (without the title, apparently) for head coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI.
When anyone looks at this year’s roster compared to last season’s, they can see improvement at multiple positions. The Vikings have a stacked WR group with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Jalen Nailor is finally healthy. Minnesota has good receivers and stud blockers in Trishton Jackson and Trent Sherfield Sr. The Vikings also have continuity up front, returning four of five starters on the OL and their OL coach. The RB room now includes Aaron Jones, a meaningful upgrade over Alexander Mattison.
The national media has forgotten how much O’Connell got out of Nick Mullens, Joshua Dobbs, and Jaren Hall last season. They were largely competitive and even squeezed out a few wins. Unlike these three QBs, O’Connell chose Sam Darnold and was likely always planning on having him start this season. Darnold has always had the talent and started multiple games for the woebegone Jets and Panthrs before coming to Minnesota. Here, he will finally be the beneficiary of the combination every QB craves: a great receiving corps, solid RBs, a good OL, and a coach who knows how to use those pieces. Expecting Darnold to have an above-average season is very realistic.
The same can be said on the defensive side of the ball. In adding veterans Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin to complement their young players, Minnesota’s CB group has a chance to be the best they’ve been in years. Even though the Vikings lost edge rusher Danielle Hunter, they brought in Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and drafted Dallas Turner. Perhaps it’s here, with this edge-rusher group, where the national media doesn’t see the subtle differences and how Minnesota can implement them into its scheme.
The difference between Hunter and these three is that Turner, Greenard, and Van Ginkel are multi-faceted defenders. They can rush the passer but also drop into coverage. I don’t see how Flores, who helped turn Josh Metellus into a legitimate stud NFL defender despite not having a position, won’t be working magic with this defense and its positional flexibility. Minnesota’s defensive talent might not be as high as that of the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens, but the players’ fit and flexibility are off the charts.
I have confidence that Flores will be able to implement a strong NFL defense. I also have confidence in O’Connell running a good offense. That would suggest the Vikings will overachieve this season. I don’t think opposing teams will outcoach them. Sure, there will be some games where the talent gap of the opposing teams will be too much for O’Connell and Flores to overcome, but the talent gap won’t be that wide in most of Minnesota’s games.
If Flores can go something like 12 of 17 at outcoaching the opposing DC, and O’Connell can do the same on his side of the ball, the Vikings will have a good chance at winning 10 games (or more!) this season. I might be buzzing on preseason hopium, but I’m going with it.
