I'm sure a lot of fans will be going through that right now, and that hurts to hear, I can't lie, but I understand where that's coming from. Kupp, who was named 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press and Super Bowl LVI MVP, had one of the best receiving seasons in NFL history, leading the NFL in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,947) and receiving touchdowns (16), earning AP First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. O'Connell, who led the Rams to finish ninth in total offense (372.1 yards per game) this season, helped his unit rank second in plays of 50-plus yards (10), fourth in yards per play (5.98) and eighth in offensive touchdowns (51) in 2021. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. But after a year on the bench, Culpepper took the Vikings into the next decade before suffering a multi-ligament knee injury in 2005. "As crazy as this sounds, leading the league in yards and receptions, I think he and I have just scratched the surface of where we want to go as an offense, particularly with him as our premier receiver," O'Connell said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Vikings need to clear $23 million of 2023 salary to get under the cap. ", "We've shown that we have a culture and an ability to do those things at a really high level," Adofo-Mensah said. In 2019, O'Connell helped guide rookie WR Terry McLaurin to 58 receptions, 919 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, the second-most receptions and third-most receiving yards and touchdowns among rookies in franchise history. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. Login Here. So have expectations going forward, until "someday" can become "the day.". The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Set to earn just $2.399 million in 2023, with a potential fifth-year team option in 2024, Jefferson is due a massive pay increase in line with his value. 3. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Vikings plan on interviewing Rams assistant head coach/running backs coach Thomas Brown for their offensive coordinator position under O'Connell. Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Were having conversations with our players, their representation, and ultimately how all of those things shake out will be done in a way where we just want to make sure we stand by what we believe in as an organization.. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". They worked with players they inherited, quickly assessing who was set to return and how to try to add pieces they deemed missing through a strategic approach to free agency and proceeding through the 2022 NFL Draft. Jefferson's 4,825 career yards are the most in NFL history for a receiver in the first three years of a career. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. "I greatly appreciate the Wilf family, Kwesi and the entire Minnesota Vikings organization for providing the opportunity to be their next head coach," said O'Connell. O'Connell also helped Vikings all-time leading rusher Adrian Peterson eclipse 1,000 scrimmage yards (1,040) at the age of 34. Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, whose size has been a matter of conjecture in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, officially measured in at 5-foot-10 1/8 and 204 pounds on Saturday. As we use the process of free agency and the draft to really take a look at how to evolve and fit what we want to do.. The Lions traded O'Connell to the New York Jets, for a 7th round 2011 draft pick, on September 6, 2009. But its hard not to wonder what would have happened if he looked ahead, saw Andrew Luck on the horizon and just rode the corpse of Donovan McNabb to the finish line to select Luck, Russell Wilson, or Cousins (!!!) It's supposed to sting.' ", "I don't want to be the Vikings GM without this guy on our team, so it's a priority," Adofo-Mensah said. The Wilfs and the resources they give us to bring in the people, like [exectuive director of player health and performance] Tyler Williams, OConnell said. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. Some would take this as a sign the Vikings are ready to move on. Wanting to make those guys feel like their coach cares about them, both the person and the player, and their future, its real, OConnell said. A lot of guys come in here and say they want to start in the NFL on Day 1. While OConnell answered gracefully about his colleague, it was a reminder that they didnt finish the year with a deep playoff run. Its just not possible when sitting $24 million over the cap (per OverTheCap.com) to bring all the veterans back. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! [17] He was released on August 12, 2012. Before his NFL career ended in 2012, O'Connell spent time with the Miami Dolphins, a second-stint with the Jets and the San Diego Chargers. [23], On January 16, 2020, O'Connell was hired by the Los Angeles Rams as offensive coordinator. No cards were shown when OConnell was asked about Flores and the cornerback position as it pertains to the draft but it would appear that Flores will be looking for players with flexibility, whether thats in terms of position or skill set. [12] Following his departure, O'Connell found that he had a torn labrum in his throwing arm, an injury he sustained during the preseason. In the meantime, quarterbacks such as Heath Shuler, Trent Dilfer, and Jim Druckenmiller went off the board until Green finally saw a quarterback he liked in the 1999 draft, Daunte Culpepper. On August 31, 2010, New York released O'Connell. Vikings Players Close Out Season with Locker Room Clean Out. Kevin played the game at all levels, which gives him a unique connection to players, and he is highly respected throughout the league. On third-and-8, for example, the Vikings personnel options were limited. Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. "When you involve people, it can make the job a lot tougher, but I also think the people aspect is what culture is and that's important," Adofo-Mensah added. This is also a business. Pelissero noted that Brown, who interviewed for the Miami Dolphins head coaching position, is considered a "rising assistant" and is a candidate to replace O'Connell in Los Angeles. Maybe its not even for any one particular year.. At the same time, proud of what they've accomplished this year and look forward to the first day of the offseason program, when we get those guys back in here.". But I did want to take the time to reflect and to move forward in the right way," O'Connell said. Florida's Anthony Richardson, one of the draft's most intriguing QB prospects, told reporters on Friday that in high school he modeled his game after two notable passers: Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson. But the quarterback position, both the understanding of where that player truly is when you get a chance to start coaching him, and then what your plan is for that player moving forward.. I think that's where we want to go eventually," Adofo-Mensah continued. Part of their jobs during the comprehensive evaluation process will be setting aside those personal relationships and not letting them interfere with the process of building the 2023 Vikings to have the best chance at a championship and be within the constraints of the NFL's salary cap. A former NFL quarterback who was a career backup, O'Connell has been the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. O'Connell and the Rams are coming off a victory in Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. O'Connell also played for the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers before retiring in 2012. Spielman hand-picked Ponder to be his quarterback after watching a game against North Carolina and a couple of practices at the Senior Bowl. To provide the premier place to go to work and improve both personally and collectively as a team in our league means a lot to us, OConnell said. Follow Alec on Twitter @alec_lewis. There are a few fundamental things that will influence decisions, starting with whether Cousins signs an extension. The wait is over for Minnesota Vikings fans who were a bit . His net worth is somewhere between $30 million to $35 million. So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. The Vikings have not gone to the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 2008-09. There was a mixed reaction to that pick. And when I think about all that went into it, from a coaching staff standpoint, our players, our leadership of our core leaders and foundation of such a great leadership group that I was able to have in my first year as a head coach in the National Football League, I truly feel very fortunate and blessed," O'Connell added. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. He noted that hes always going to evaluate all the quarterbacks out of habit and that he finds himself often looking at evaluations from years past, even when someone is coming available who came out in the draft a long time ago. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. Kevin will tease me about that sometimes. INDIANAPOLIS -- Justin Jefferson led the NFL in receiving yards and receptions in 2022 while averaging 106.4 yards per game. He believes he's the best receiver in football -- I happen to agree with him -- and a lot goes with that. Even as other quarterbacks such as Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Sam Howell were there in the latest rounds of the draft, the Vikings didnt pull the trigger. He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. O'Connell played quarterback at San Diego State University, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Adofo-Mensah shared an anecdote from after the game when he was walking the concourse behind a group of fans. [14] He was later released again on July 29, 2011.[15]. But Kevin O'Connell's comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah have emphasized collaboration throughout their first year together, and the first-time head coach picked up where the first-time GM left off: "As I told our team it's supposed to sting. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell. How do you build the rest of the team? Adofo-Mensah asked. ", "Making sure that the standard of knowing we've got the culture, knowing we've got the right things going in this building," O'Connell said. EAGAN, Minn. Eleven months and a day after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah helped introduce Kevin O'Connell from a temporary stage constructed in Twin . If they want a quarterback in this draft, they seem willing to find a way to get them. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports. Aside from the quarterback situation which is like talking about building a house and saying other than the ground it stands on the Vikings will also consider the wants/needs/system of Brian Flores as they look for improvement on defense. It comes down to efficiency, he said. [But you] sit in exit meetings with players, and it becomes personal at that point," Adofo-Mensah said. Adofo-Mensah was hired on Jan. 26, 2022 and O'Connell was named head coach on Feb. 16 after the Rams beat the Bengals in the Super Bowl. One thing I know, [Cousins] is good enough. His team won 13 games and the NFLPA just said his teams culture was the best in the league. Vikings head coach Kevin OConnell provided a bit of clarity on Thielens status at the NFL Combine this week, touting the veterans leadership while hoping to mesh his pricetag with the fit in Minnesotas 2023 WR room. Looking back on Vikings history, they have stumbled trying to find a franchise quarterback. Thats the byproduct of trying to do things the way we do. With Robert Quinn, Cameron Jordan and Cameron Heyward still on the board, the Vikings decided to get their guy Christian Ponder. The 33-year-old quarterback's $35 million base salary for 2022 became guaranteed last March . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. But Adofo-Mensah gave his own review about his starting quarterback. They want tostart every game, lead their team to the playoffs, win a Super Bowl, [but] a lot goes into what it takes to do that.. INDIANAPOLIS Following his news conference Wednesday afternoon at the NFL Scouting Combine, Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin OConnell met with a small group of beat writers. But Kevin OConnells comments later in the week made it sound like something bigger was in the works. Those are things we got to answer. Stafford set the single-season team record for passing yards (4,886) and tied Kurt Warner from his 1999 MVP season for the most passing touchdowns in a season by a Rams quarterback with 41, while also winning his first playoff game in his 13th season in the NFL. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. With Cousins in his mid-30s, the Vikings need to figure out a succession plan at quarterback. OConnell explained Wednesday that that process ranged from reviewing game-management decisions to gauging his teams success in various schemes and plays. View photos of new Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell in photos from his time with the Rams. It meets that first threshold, and thats a question that a lot of people cant answer with a yes. So we have got to make sure that we treat that in the proper importance it is.. Just scratching the surface with #18 pic.twitter.com/MpWlPV7MoN, And then, ultimately, OConnell said, youve got to ask: How do we use that information to our advantage moving forward?. At the end of the day Wednesday, the Vikings head coach left the building with one of the easier media sessions youll ever run across in the NFL. Use of any marks, trademarks, or logos on this website shall not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder. Kevin William O'Connell, nicknamed "KOC", is an American former player and a football coach who is the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He reiterated that he is proud of the way Cousins played in 2022 and is looking forward to seeing the 34-year-old build on things in 2023. The 34-year-old has put up good statistics over the years, including 33 TDs and seven interceptions last season, but he's never delivered any sustained postseason success. Theres a reason why I feel so strongly about Kirk, OConnell said. O'Connell is the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, so he can't officially become the Vikings' new head coach until after the Super Bowl. The idea. So theres not one right way.. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson put on a show Saturday at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine, making history during his highly anticipated workout. Prior to his one year in San Francisco, O'Connell was the quarterbacks coach in Cleveland during the 2015 season, assisting QB Josh McCown to becoming the only player in team history to throw for 300 or more passing yards in three consecutive games. The 2020 Rams offense featured the 10th-ranked rushing attack, posting 126.1 yards per game on the ground, behind two 600-plus rushing seasons from RB Cam Akers and RB Darrell Henderson. One of the last times I spoke with you [after roster reductions to 53], I was up here, and I think someone told me my appearance was a little more dour than it normally is and that was because that was two emotional days of having to tell people no and having to say, 'Your dream is stopped for the day.' The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. But the biggest question on everybodys mind was what they were going to do with Kirk Cousins. Also, by disabling these cookies you will also disable banner ads served by Google Adsense on this website.. For more information about these items, view our complete privacy policy.Read More. Minnesotas approach to their franchise quarterback seems much more scientific. I think the priority first and foremost is giving him time to evaluate our roster with our young players and some of our veteran players and see how pieces may fit, OConnell said. O'Connell and the Rams are coming. But Minnesota watched as Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert flew off the board. Kevin William O'Connell (born May 25, 1985), nicknamed " KOC ", [1] is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). O'Connell was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions on September 1, 2009. Right. O'Connell was signed by the San Diego Chargers on July 29, 2012, to serve as an emergency back-up in the Chargers' practices with Charlie Whitehurst suffering an injury and Kyle Boller announcing his retirement from the league. O'Connell was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft and played quarterback at San Diego State University. Coming off a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, O'Connell joins the Vikings after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams the past two seasons. On Wednesday, OConnell said hes hoping that their shared experience in 2022 will help both sides satisfy their needs. One thing he knows is that no matter how many As he got in a survey or wins he posted as a first-year coach, that doesnt mean they can do it all again the same way and get the same results. "Now, we've got to all the last phase of that is the accountability to each other, to make sure that that standard is championship worthy, and we're putting ourselves in that conversation to a man and to a woman in this building that we're looking at each other and asking ourselves the question, 'With everything we do, is it championship worthy? Theres a reason I feel so strongly about Kirk. I know this guy next to me and myself will lead and push and drive, because we don't want to feel this way, this early, ever again. And its even stronger now, OConnell said. [29]. But in Kevin O'Connell's case on Wednesday, he was able to beam about the Vikings' culture after an NFL Players Association survey showed proof that he made good on the cultural promises he. The victories and records set on the way to winning the NFC North for the first time since 2017 enabled Minnesota to host a playoff game for the first time in five years, but that excitement ended abruptly Sunday when the Giants topped the Vikings 31-24. The riser was lower than the previous stage, but the team they've led for about a year has been elevated from an 8-9 squad to one that won 13 games for the third time within a Vikings season. We're still feeling that here, but I will say that hurt, that sting, that will drive us. In addition to impacting the culture within the building through an emphasis on building connectivity across the roster, the Vikings installed O'Connell's offense with Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips, a defensive system led by Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell and changed their special teams under first-year coordinator Matt Daniels. Spielman tried his hand at it, scouting Carson Strong and praising Malik Willis response to an overrated chant one year ago. Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. For O'Connell to coach Jefferson for a "really long time," the star receiver will need a contract extension. Here are five takeaways from the conversation, beginning with OConnells thoughts on the free-agent decisions and potential cuts that will be made in the next couple of weeks.
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