But the. Cousins is entering the final year of his contract, and NFL Networks Tom Pelissero reported earlier in the week that he would not anticipate the type of one-year, fully-guaranteed extensions that the 35-year-old has signed in the past. The rushing attack. 2023 Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC , All Rights Reserved. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Right. "He understands what is critical to leading a team that wins at the highest level, and he has an ability to simplify the complex, which will help us in problem-solving in all football areas. 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. The home runs and long ones are great, but as a play caller, Id love to be second-and-5. To better myself and make sure I'm doing everything that I can in this role that I feel so lucky to have and also so prepared to have. 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. A former NFL quarterback who was a career backup, O'Connell has been the Rams' offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. The Patriots gave no explanation for releasing O'Connell, who was in competition with veteran quarterback Andrew Walter, signed after his release from the Oakland Raiders, and undrafted free agent rookie Brian Hoyer of Michigan State. The survey of more than 1,300 players that looked at numerous aspects of an organization from facilities to treatment of families to training staff gave the Vikings the highest grade of any team in the NFL. While they can feel reinforced by the results of the foundation laid in their first year, they also know a multitude of decisions await and all teams change from year to year. I believe in him as a player and was really proud of the way he played this year but we always have to be evaluating, he said. INDIANAPOLIS If you walk around to different podiums and listen to NFL coaches speak to the media about their teams offseasons, you are likely to hear a lot about culture. When you have the receiver that leads the league in yards and receptions and have three other guys with 60-plus, you feel really strongly about that group, and I still think that theres places to go where we can build upon it even more, OConnell mentioned about Justin Jefferson and his wide receiving corps. OConnell said he values the way the aforementioned players embraced his hiring last year and appreciates the way they helped bring about an entirely new culture. O'Connell's NFL coaching career began in 2015; he held various assistant coaching roles on the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Los Angeles Rams (where he won Super Bowl LVI, as offensive coordinator, in the 20212022 season). Wide receiver Adam Thielens cap number and age (32) present another complicated decision, and OConnell is mindful of the many factors. . [14] He was later released again on July 29, 2011.[15]. He believes he's the best receiver in football -- I happen to agree with him -- and a lot goes with that. If the Vikings parted ways with Thielen via outright release or trade, theyd face three plausible options for 2023s WR2: For now, OConnell views Thielen as an unabashed team leader, but the front office must determine the fair compensation for his cap hit. 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. 1 in other areas before hiring OConnell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, particularly with a different attitude toward players and increased focus on sports science in the training room. Adofo-Mensah, who previously worked on Wall Street, was asked to assess where the Vikings stock is. He said it's between a startup and one with an ability to earn, adding "in our business, earning is wins. Login Here. The Carlsbad, California, native and his wife, Leah, have two sons, Kaden and Kolten, and a daughter, Quinn. "Unbelievable talent. Since the start of 2019, Thielen ranks fifth in the NFL in touchdown receptions (36), trailing only Davante Adams (48), Mike Evans (41), Tyreek Hill (38), and Travis Kelce (37). So, ultimately, we didn't accomplish the goals we wanted to accomplish, and I always want to be respectful of that. Following his release, the New York Jets re-signed O'Connell to a two-year deal. But the things we did accomplish, I think, were incredibly impactful. Cousins is attached to a fully guaranteed $35MM base salary. Some believe that is too rich for an aging playmaker and have subsequently speculated about Thielen's fate in 2023. O'Connell oversaw the production of three quarterbacks in 2019, specifically rookie QB Dwayne Haskins, Jr. Once Haskins, Jr., became the full-time starter in Week 9, he passed for 1,225 yards, seven touchdowns, three interceptions and an 85.5 passer rating. The more I can educate myself, learning about the details and particulars of our current situation, our previous situation, and obviously what it looks like moving forward, the more my conversations can be not only from an accurate place of where we are at this moment but where we hope to get to, OConnell said. We always have to be evaluating, OConnell said. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. But even if they do like mayo in their coffee, it seems like OConnell is bringing a thorough evaluation process to find their guy. This time of year tends to be a difficult time when youre talking about players futures and how they affect the greater picture of our team, and those conversations are ongoing, he said. The Vikings tried to identify another quarterback when trading up for Teddy Bridgewater in 2014. But there was a sobering line of questioning from a New York reporter pertaining to Giants head coach Brian Daboll. If not, they have the luxury of having Cousins to buy more time. It comes down to efficiency, he said. He is a genuinely positive person who will help create a high-energy internal environment.". He was 11-of-21 for 147 yards, and completed the pass which resulted in the Kai's only score of the game.[6]. ", "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. He called conversations ongoing about Cousinss future. Is there a chance to add somebody maybe with different skill sets? They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. The Vikings officially. An NFLPA survey showed the Vikings as the best team for players in the league, bringing evidence that the changes they promised worked out, gave the Vikings the highest grade of any team in the NFL. 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! The numbers bear out OConnells observation. 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. Linebacker Eric Kendricks referred to a fear-based culture in a conference call after the former HC and GM were let go and players acknowledged meeting with ownership in which they asked for improvements in the overall environment. Thielen joined the Vikings a decade ago as an undrafted special teamer and clawed his way up the depth chart to WR1 by the start of 2016. His teammates voted him as a captain for what he means not only to our organization but the Twin Cities. In July 2017, Kirk Cousins became the first quarterback to play under the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. And its even stronger now, OConnell said. Harrison Smith stats (2021): 73% completion % allowed, 98.7 QB rating allowed Already a projected $14 million over the 2022 NFL salary cap, the Vikings need to clear a ton of room. The direct work together began in April when Minnesota could start its offseason workout program and was followed by Organized Team Activities before a summer break that was followed by training camp, he preseason, regular season and postseason. Kevin O'Connell who is one of the richest football quarterbacks has an estimated net worth of $5 million. But in between 16-point wins against the Packers in Week 1 and Bears in Week 18 were plentiful memorable moments during a wild ride. They were together in Washington and grew their connection this season as the veteran QB led eight game-winning drives, won the division for the first time since arriving in Minnesota and put together one of his best games in the playoffs vs. the Giants. Anchored by T Andrew Whitworth, the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL, the Rams offensive line only allowed 56 sacks in the two years O'Connell was in Los Angeles, which was good for the seventh-fewest among NFL clubs. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. 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.. Adofo-Mensah had to explain how the Vikings, a team in salary cap hell, were going to shed salary while building off the teams first 13-win season since 2017. If Levis or Richardson is the type of quarterback that answers those questions, the Vikings will likely do their best to move up. Kevin O'Connell Updates Adam Thielen's Status with Vikings The Minnesota Vikings have made the hiring of Kevin O'Connell as their new head coach official by sharing the news on social media. Is it to that line?' Jul 21 2008 Signed a 4 year $2.46 million contract with New England (NE) Weve got some real decisions to talk through and things to work through, OConnell said. Heck, it was even over 70 degrees outside. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. The only way theyre going to improve is through hard work and understanding that accountability factor to what their goals are, OConnell explained. Sure, there were unsightly losses along the way, including a couple of regular-season defeats to Philadelphia and Dallas teams that each won 12 plus in the regular season and have advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFC Playoffs. He categorized the current state of rushing in the NFL into three separate strategies: deploying a running quarterback, operating in the run-pass option world, and going the traditional route with run-pass deception from under center. But theres a foundation of care., OConnell said the conversations with Cousins are ongoing., Its not like theres some secret thing going on, OConnell said. The Minnesota Vikings announced Wednesday that Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell has been hired as the 10th head coach in franchise history. So theres not one right way.. Theres a reason why I feel so strongly about Kirk, OConnell said. Theres a reason I feel so strongly about Kirk. ". 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. 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. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott's cap hit might be rising in 2023, but owner Jerry Jones believes his quarterback has the ability to bridge the gap in any talent the roster might lose because of it. 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.. The offensive line's sack rate, 4.5%, was the fifth-lowest in the NFL over the past two years. EAGAN, Minn. Eleven months and a day after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah helped introduce Kevin O'Connell from a temporary stage constructed in Twin . O'Connell also helped the Rams offense tie for seventh in scoring offense (27.1 points per game) and score on 45.9% of their offensive drives, which ranked third in the NFL behind the Kansas City Chiefs (48.2) and New England Patriots (48.0). "Like [O'Connell] said in his final meeting, 'It's supposed to hurt. 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