1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: It is time for x'es and o's with Minnesota Vikings 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: head coach Kevin O'Connell. Welcome Minnesota Vikings Radio Network now 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: from the TCO studios at Egan. Here is the voice 4 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: of the Vikings, Paul Allen. 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 2: Welcome into x's and O's with Kevin O'Connell, presented by 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 2: Ken Moore. Going into Thanksgiving week, here's the head coach 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 2: with pa I. 8 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 3: Indeed, as the head coach, Kevin O'Connell assumes his spot 9 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 3: for XES and o's on this Tuesday. Hey, we have 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 3: a new camera for Vikings dot com, so we want 11 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 3: to welcome those watching through our new camera to x'es 12 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 3: and o's at Vikings dot com, those listening at FM 13 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,919 Speaker 3: one hundred point three kfam, and most importantly, we want 14 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 3: to welcome the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin O'Connell, 15 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 3: to the equation and begin by wishing you Leah, Pil, 16 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 3: Suzanne and everybody in your covenant and early happy Thanksgiving. 17 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 3: Four and seven makes it look to like there's not 18 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 3: much for which we can be thankful, but really there is. 19 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:09,119 Speaker 3: And this collaboration with x's and o's our friendship work 20 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 3: that I've done at a Vail Academy. Because of your family, 21 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 3: I just want to give you publicly, give you thanks. 22 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 4: Appreciate that. 23 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:19,639 Speaker 5: Happy Thanksgiving to you and obviously everybody at KFA, N Nordo, 24 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 5: the Gang. You know, we very much appreciate the relationship 25 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 5: we have and Pa, you know. 26 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 4: How I feel about you. 27 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 5: You're very Yeah, You're a very special friend of mine 28 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 5: and somebody I really enjoy working with. 29 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 3: I appreciate you. 30 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 1: Now. 31 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 3: The we have the If Kevin weren't here, we'd call 32 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 3: them the Super Chickens, but we're going to call them 33 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 3: the Seattle Seahawks. Three oh five for the Boom f 34 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 3: M one hundred point three, k FA M, KFA and 35 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 3: Audio Network pregame at one with Muss and through it all, 36 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 3: through it all, through these eleven games and nineteen offensive 37 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 3: line combinations, whatever we're up to. Multiple quarterback stuff like that. 38 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 3: Old Jalen Redmond continues to help Old Jail and just 39 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 3: guys like that, sticking out when things may not be 40 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 3: at their best, you know. 41 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 5: Yeah, And I think you get to this time of 42 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 5: year and you start getting some of the documentation for 43 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 5: the Pro Bowl and things like that, and you just 44 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 5: hope Jalen Redman gets his due for the type of 45 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 5: season he's had. And I know there's a lot of 46 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 5: great players in the D line position in the NFL, 47 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 5: but I would argue his tape and his play to 48 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 5: play impact that he's had for us this year is 49 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 5: right up there with a lot of the players you 50 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 5: know that maybe have a little bit larger name recognition. 51 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 5: And obviously Jalen's got a lot of great football out 52 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 5: in front of him, so those things will come his way. 53 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 5: But can't say enough about what he's meant to our 54 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 5: team this year. 55 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 3: And Jalen had as what Kevin would call it a 56 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 3: blocked shot in the game at lambeau Field, a pass 57 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 3: defense by a defensive lineman. Yep, those are just I mean, 58 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 3: I know you want more, I know everybody wants more, 59 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 3: but those are so important but not really that easy 60 00:02:59,240 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 3: to come by, right. 61 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 5: It depends, I mean, it depends the type of the 62 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 5: thrower you're going against. And you know release points, and 63 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 5: I will say Jordan Love has done a really nice 64 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 5: job over the years of he's got a high release point. 65 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 5: Every once in a while he'll get leaning backwards a 66 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 5: little bit depending on the rush and he's still got 67 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,840 Speaker 5: the ability to make some really nice throws over the 68 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 5: middle even when that happens. 69 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:20,679 Speaker 4: So the block shot is a huge thing. 70 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 5: And we're going to continue to preach trying to force 71 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 5: those tips and get some of those overthrows where maybe 72 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 5: the turnover ops will come our way, because I know 73 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 5: it's been they just haven't come like they have in 74 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 5: previous years, all those extra possessions, and I know our 75 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 5: defense is doing everything in their power to try to 76 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 5: force those things. 77 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 3: The pump return debackle that led to Green bay second 78 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 3: touchdown was it was ten to six when that happened. 79 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 3: So like yesterday at your press conference, Oh no, excuse me, 80 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 3: this was after the game Sunday. When you say, paraphrasing 81 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 3: the way things currently are constructed, the margin for air 82 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 3: is razor thin. That's a high end example. Right, When 83 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 3: something like that happens, then they score, make it a 84 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 3: two score game. 85 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 5: Yeah, And the whole the way we finished the second 86 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 5: quarter and Will making the fifty nine yarder and making 87 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 5: that a ten to six game. A lot of the 88 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 5: messaging at halftime was defense is gonna get a stop 89 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 5: and then we're gonna put together the drive that we 90 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 5: need offensively off of the momentum of the end of 91 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 5: the first half, the stop the defense is going to get, 92 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 5: and then we're gonna find a way to put the 93 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 5: ball in the end zone and see what this looks 94 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 5: like the rest of the way if we're able to 95 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 5: do that, and you know, the offense is gearing up, 96 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 5: getting ready to you know, kind of make the second 97 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 5: part of that plan come together. Defense got the stop 98 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 5: we needed, got him into a third and long, and 99 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 5: got off the field, and then you just have a 100 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 5: mistake made, you know, by a rookie that has had 101 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 5: such an impact on our team from a return standpoint, 102 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 5: both the kick return phase and the punt return phase. 103 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 5: And he's trying to do what he believes is the 104 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 5: right thing. And I think what you have to, you know, 105 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 5: take a look at is just clean clearing up and 106 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 5: cleaning up some of the some of the do a 107 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 5: little bit more. 108 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 4: You know. It's I thought he made a nice decision. 109 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 5: He's been a great decision maker back there, specifically on 110 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 5: those sky punts, you know, knowing when to kind of 111 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,560 Speaker 5: you know, deek the the gunners out and act like 112 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,599 Speaker 5: he's catching the ball. But we're gonna let that thing bounce, 113 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 5: And what I told him and and our coaching staff was, 114 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 5: you know, if they end up downing that ball at 115 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 5: the one yard line, you know, more power to them. 116 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 4: By what we can't possibly have happened in a. 117 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 5: Game like that where we kind of went into it knowing, Hey, 118 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 5: we're gonna we're gonna run the football, We're gonna keep 119 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 5: this thing close. I feel like our defense will play well, 120 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 5: maybe make this thing stay where we want it forced 121 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 5: the Packers to expose themselves to a little bit more risk. 122 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 5: Possibly they ran the ball a lot. They were playing 123 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 5: very similar in a lot of ways throughout the early 124 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 5: part of that game as we were, and it was 125 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 5: it was a ball control kind of game. The time 126 00:05:55,880 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 5: of possession was very close throughout the first half. We 127 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 5: had no turnovers in the first half, very limited penalties 128 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 5: by really either side. And you know that one play 129 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 5: in a game like that, especially on the road in 130 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 5: the NFC North, all of a sudden, you're down eleven 131 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 5: and you're it feels a lot greater, uh, you know, 132 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 5: of circumstances against you just on one play, one bounce 133 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 5: of the ball. 134 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 4: But what did we do to avoid the. 135 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 5: Negative in that moment by you know, playing smart football, 136 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 5: and that's what I've got to do a better job 137 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 5: of making sure our entire team feels that. 138 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 3: Kevin O'Connell x's and O's per nine to Now and 139 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 3: the KFAM Minnesota Vikings Audio Network also Vikings dot Com. Uh, 140 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,719 Speaker 3: Kevin and I, well, well we'll chat after his press 141 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 3: conferences pretty much each and every Friday, sometimes recording a 142 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 3: pregame interview, sometimes just chatting. And uh, this week we 143 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,679 Speaker 3: chatted right before you spoke to the Dinah High School 144 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,239 Speaker 3: football team. Uh, and they went out won the title 145 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 3: that night. How did that go and what did you 146 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 3: guys talk about? 147 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 5: Well, it was the first thing I noticed. It had 148 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 5: been a long time since I had been in a 149 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,359 Speaker 5: high school kind of locker room setting. Those they're not 150 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 5: washing the football pants and pads as much as they 151 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 5: probably should be. You know, my son Kat and I 152 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 5: walked in and it was noticeable right away. But I 153 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 5: told the fellas, I said, this takes me back right here, 154 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 5: just that that aura, if you will. 155 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 4: That they have the stench. 156 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, the stench that's a better word. But it was 157 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 5: it was fun talking to those guys. I mean, they 158 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 5: were in they were already kind of suited up and 159 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 5: in their uniforms, getting ready to get on the bus 160 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 5: to head to the US Bank Stadium, and you know, getting 161 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 5: a chance to talk to some of the individual players 162 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 5: and ask them some questions, and you know, a funny 163 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 5: story though, I kept on talking to them about sixty minutes, 164 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 5: and you know, really, in a football game, what separates 165 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 5: our game is you know, really when you look at it, 166 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 5: the players that play the most, you're probably only looking 167 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 5: at about ten to twelve minutes of actual activity, you know, 168 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 5: between all the play clock going and the huddle calls 169 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 5: and all those things. So I kept telling them if 170 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 5: I if I told you had ten to twelve minutes 171 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 5: for a possibility to hoist a state championship trophy tonight 172 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 5: on the field at US Bank Stadium, what would you 173 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 5: be willing to do? And it circled back to sixty minutes. 174 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 5: In sixty minutes, and every time I said that, you know, 175 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 5: the fellas on the team would kind of smirk a 176 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 5: little bit, and I was like, what am I saying that, 177 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 5: you know, is it some pop culture reference? I'm making 178 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 5: six seven whatever it is, and they're laughing at me. 179 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 5: Or and then I get to the game, had a blast, 180 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 5: took my two boys and wanted to make sure they 181 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 5: got to feel such an unbelievable atmosphere both sides. And 182 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 5: I look up at the clock and there's twelve minutes 183 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 5: on the clock to start the game. 184 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, and best for forty eight minutes. 185 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 5: And I said, I might have been asking them for 186 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 5: twelve minutes too much, and nobody was willing to tell 187 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 5: me in the moment. But congrats to those guys. What 188 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 5: a season. And you could feel a lot of special 189 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 5: things with that team and their journey throughout the year. 190 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 5: And yeah, you know, you're just so happy to this 191 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 5: game is such a wonderful game. 192 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 4: It can be. 193 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 5: It can be tough sometimes like we felt this season, 194 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,319 Speaker 5: but make no mistake about it, this game has provided 195 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:12,480 Speaker 5: so many moments in our lives to all of us, 196 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 5: and moments of triumph and moments of overcoming adversity. And 197 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 5: that's what we're going to attempt to do right now 198 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 5: on a daily, minute a minute basis around this building. 199 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 4: But anytime you can see. 200 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 5: A collection of guys go accomplish something like that, it 201 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:26,199 Speaker 5: was special. 202 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: Well, well, what if you slip in the pregame talk 203 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 3: Saturday night in Seattle's like, guys, I need your best 204 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 3: forty eight minutes here, and then like somebody doesn't play 205 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 3: hard for five minutes, Like, well, you only said you 206 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:38,080 Speaker 3: need it forty eight. 207 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 5: I told our team the story and everybody, of course, 208 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 5: you know, they were laughing at me, just like the 209 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 5: Dina Hornets were. 210 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 3: And the Hornets. I had a running back in the 211 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 3: game named Chase Bejorgard, who I've known his father Eric 212 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 3: for many years. Yeah, general manager Metropolitan Ford. I've known 213 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,559 Speaker 3: Chase since he started middle school and it's just been 214 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 3: great to watch him mature and get bigger and stuff 215 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 3: like that. My man had six touchdowns and three hundred 216 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 3: and fifty one total yards. Now, Chase and his dad 217 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 3: were in studio on my radio show with Nordo yesterday. 218 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,559 Speaker 3: Nice little father son, fun off the state championship and 219 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 3: stuff like that, and so talking to Chase, you know, 220 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,559 Speaker 3: he shared that he also plays baseball and he's a 221 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,760 Speaker 3: goalie for the Dina High school hockey team. Did you 222 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 3: play multiple sports in high school when you were when 223 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:27,560 Speaker 3: you were growing up. 224 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 4: I did. 225 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 5: I played basketball and football were my my main sports, 226 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 5: but I really I always played baseball. You know in 227 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 5: the springtime, and tell you a pitcher I was, and 228 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 5: my problem was, unlike football, I threw it right down 229 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 5: the middle at a very tempoed pace every single time. 230 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 5: As the hitter started to get better and better, the 231 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 5: ball went further and further and started to feel a 232 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 5: little bit more like batting practice. 233 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 3: And this is so Cal too, right, Oh yeah, so 234 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 3: Cal High school baseball, Cal State Fullerton for college up there. 235 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 5: It's unbelievable, no question, but yeah, so I And then 236 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,079 Speaker 5: you get into the spring football and the year round 237 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 5: aspect of some things which I am highly highly for kids. 238 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 5: You know, my kids are playing everything that they could 239 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 5: possibly imagine. I think they need to play everything, they 240 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 5: need to try everything whigure out. I just think every 241 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 5: sport has a positive effect in some way on the other. 242 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 5: And whether it's change of direction, long speed, hand eye coordination, 243 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 5: you know, depending on if you're a thrower of baseball 244 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 5: versus a football versus anything else. And you know, and 245 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 5: I think the different dynamics of five man sports. You know, 246 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,599 Speaker 5: there's nine guys on the field on baseball, eleven in 247 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 5: the huddle in football, and they're just different dynamics of 248 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 5: team building and teamwork, and then the individual aspect of 249 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 5: growth and development from a from a standpoint of for 250 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 5: I think we all forget at times as we start 251 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,239 Speaker 5: to see high school kids making nil money and we 252 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 5: are finding a way to turn a lot of this 253 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,719 Speaker 5: into a business, when really the most important thing is is, 254 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 5: you know, learning about yourself and the passion you have 255 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 5: to do something for reasons greater than yourself in many 256 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 5: ways is what makes sports so special and helps you 257 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:13,480 Speaker 5: grow as a human being long you know, outside, you know, 258 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 5: much further outside the lines than just playing those games. 259 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 5: And I you know, I told the guys the other 260 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 5: day some of my I still talk to some of 261 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 5: my high school football teammates, you know, on you know, weekly, monthly, 262 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 5: whatever it is, because those bonds will last a lifetime. 263 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 2: Minnesota needed to go to source for everything high school sports. 264 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 2: That's why the Minnesota start Tribune created Strib Varsity. You 265 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 2: can sign up now at startribune dot com slash strib Varsity. 266 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 2: More ex's and od's with Kevin O'Connell around the corner 267 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 2: of the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network tis the season. Join 268 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 2: the Vikings and kfa N at the Eden Prairie Shields 269 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:53,599 Speaker 2: December second, five thirty am to six thirty pm to 270 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 2: support Toys for Tots. Donate a toy and share your 271 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 2: holiday spirit. Will see you at Shields and Eden Prairie. 272 00:12:59,400 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: Back to X. 273 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 2: That was with Kevin O'Connell. 274 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 3: Well, as Kevin shared to this press conference yesterday, Max Brosmer, 275 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 3: the undrafted rookie from Minnesota. He's going to get the 276 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 3: first team reps until JJ is out of concussion protocol. 277 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:13,839 Speaker 3: We'll see how long that last during the course of 278 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 3: the week. Our talkback for Kevin O'Connell, head coach of 279 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 3: the Minnesota Vikings, I understand, involves Max Brosmer. 280 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 4: And here it is. 281 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 6: Good morning, nine to noon coach. This is Vinnie from 282 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 6: mounts View. Say, if Max is a starter this week, 283 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 6: how does his skill set differ from jjson even Carson's 284 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 6: And are you going to have to tweak the preparations 285 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:43,079 Speaker 6: at all to match his skill set? Thanks you guys, 286 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 6: have a happy Thanksgiving. 287 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 4: Thanks Bob. 288 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 3: Good question. 289 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 5: Yeah, I don't know if you tweak the preparation as 290 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 5: much as maybe some of the things that we know 291 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 5: Max does well. And I think I heard the turn 292 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 5: signal or the hazard lights in the background click in 293 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 5: there from our talk back question. 294 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 4: But the details that matter. 295 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, boy, he pulled off to the side. He didn't. 296 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 3: We always preach don't talk back and drive. 297 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 5: It's very, very smart speaking of you know, you can 298 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 5: carry over that analogy to playing quarterback. And what it's 299 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 5: gonna be for Max this week is keeping it laser 300 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 5: focused like he's done throughout this season. And really he's 301 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 5: been a snap away now going on three four five 302 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 5: weeks or so, and his preparation has been fantastic, his questions, 303 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:29,119 Speaker 5: his dialogue. 304 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 4: He is wise beyond his years. He obviously has some. 305 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 5: Experience at a couple different schools in college, different offenses, 306 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 5: different levels of play. And what really caught ri I 307 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 5: in training camp is his ability to do things, you know, 308 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 5: at a pretty high level without getting a lot of 309 00:14:47,400 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 5: time on task or reps to build into that. You know, 310 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 5: watching JJ take reps, watching the other quarterbacks take reps, 311 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 5: and when he got his his opportunities, he always made 312 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 5: the most of it. And what I've challenged Max to 313 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:03,440 Speaker 5: do throughout this week is, you know, whether he ends 314 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 5: up playing or not, let's have that same level consistency. 315 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 5: Let's envision not having to do anything more then go 316 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 5: in there and execute each play as its own. You know, 317 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 5: what's my what's my footwork, and where's my where are 318 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 5: my completions? And what Max has shown is a twitchy, 319 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 5: quick release with you know, the ability to be pretty 320 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:26,440 Speaker 5: accurate not only underneath but in the intermediate part of 321 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 5: the field. And I think there's you know, gonna be 322 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 5: some opportunities for who's ever playing quarterback in this game 323 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 5: to just hunt completions all day long. Really good pass 324 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 5: rush athleticism. You're going to notice it up in the booth. 325 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 5: You and Pete will the speed at which their defense 326 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 5: plays with Mike McDonald's got them flying around. So we 327 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 5: really need to be disciplined when we are throwing the ball, 328 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 5: whether no matter what level of or phase of our 329 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 5: offense that is, we have to be air tight with 330 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 5: getting the ball out of our hands thrown completions and 331 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 5: really getting Justin and Jordan Speedy and obviously TJ Aaron 332 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 5: Jones and the rest of the Grins involved in the 333 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 5: game by getting the football in their hands, and how 334 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 5: many times can we do that? Stack those plays without 335 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 5: the negatives that really doomed us in the second half 336 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 5: the other day and we didn't give ourselves any chance whatsoever, 337 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 5: regardless of the fumble punt, regardless of what took place 338 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 5: on the other side of the ball, and that's got 339 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 5: to be the starting point against a good football team 340 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 5: on the road. 341 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 3: Well, I mean with brozmer I just you know, the 342 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 3: recall is back to things you said in the off 343 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 3: season about processing quickly and just the voluminous amount of study, 344 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 3: the scholarly natured things, always walking around with a laptop 345 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 3: looking at something or the micro the surface pad, whatever 346 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 3: you call looking and stuff. And that came to fruition. 347 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 3: And I think it was the Tennessee game. 348 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 4: Yep. 349 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 3: Bersich and I were walking out with Max. He threw 350 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 3: a touchdown back left of the end zone. Just asked 351 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 3: about it, you know, preseason, asked about the touchdown. It 352 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 3: took him thirty seconds to explain, well, something with cover 353 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 3: two when it was actually man and then you do 354 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 3: this and then you put the green die here and 355 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,320 Speaker 3: you push the red button and it just kept going 356 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 3: and it's like it's it's like a while. We looked 357 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 3: at each other like wow, holy cow. I mean, that's 358 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 3: some pretty good dissecting right there, all right, Uh, Topeka 359 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 3: Kansas is telling me that we need to go. I 360 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 3: got to get in one or two more. Uh if 361 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 3: if if you mentioned getting to a tack mode yesterday, 362 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 3: and clearly that's been a calling card of yours since 363 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 3: you arrived. What what are some keys to returning to 364 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 3: as you would say, attack mode. Well, I'll make that 365 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 3: the last one. 366 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 5: I think a lot of times you know that that 367 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 5: mentality and that mode can be something where it can 368 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 5: you know, you're trying to be a little bit more conservative, 369 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 5: maybe you're trying to run the football more. All you're 370 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 5: doing in those situations is hopefully setting up opportunities to 371 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 5: get a little bit more bang for your buck in 372 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 5: the play action game in some of the phases of 373 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 5: our offense, and I thought we missed some opportunities in 374 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 5: the game. There was a play where you know, Michael 375 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 5: Parsons goes out of the game. You know we've we've 376 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:00,119 Speaker 5: kind of had something tied up and might have and 377 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,640 Speaker 5: early on in the game, and we end up bobbling 378 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 5: the snap coming away from center and ending up on 379 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 5: the turf for a minus three yard loss. But that play, 380 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:11,200 Speaker 5: when you're calling the game and you're operating as a team, 381 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 5: the way we are right now trying to navigate your 382 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 5: way to you know, at the very least a stalemate 383 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 5: and the turnover battle, the very least running the football 384 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 5: for the sake of staying efficient for some of the 385 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,120 Speaker 5: third downs that have caused us problems when we get 386 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 5: into those longer yardage dn ds, okay, and then when 387 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 5: you don't make those plays, you know, those are wasted 388 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 5: opportunities that in many ways they're still happening. They're still 389 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 5: the defense is still having to go over and talk 390 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 5: about some of those things, whether the play was made 391 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:42,640 Speaker 5: or not. And we just aren't making enough of those 392 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 5: plays to complement the rest of the way we're trying 393 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 5: to play as a football team. And as we continue 394 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 5: to progress forward and we continue to learn more about 395 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,160 Speaker 5: this year's team, we're gonna have to find those plays 396 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 5: because the best parts of our team in many ways, 397 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 5: our guys named Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and TJ. Hockinson, 398 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,840 Speaker 5: and they have to have an impact on the football 399 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 5: game to go along offensively with our ability to run 400 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 5: the ball, our ability to control the football, the clock 401 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 5: and hopefully the time of possession and field position. 402 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 3: Oh oh, John, look over there is Jackson Smith and 403 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 3: Jigbus still strictly a slot guy, and no he's not 404 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 3: not anymore, but he was like last year, right he is. 405 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 4: He is a fantastic player. 406 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 5: I mean really watching him and and you know, I 407 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,160 Speaker 5: you know, speaking to uh. I remember a few weeks 408 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 5: back when they they played the Rams and and leading 409 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 5: into that game, I got a chance to talk to 410 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 5: Sean McVeagh a little bit about you know, their preparation 411 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 5: and it was going to be obviously a big game 412 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 5: for them in the division, and he was just blown 413 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,879 Speaker 5: away by by the player and what he's you know, 414 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 5: obviously grown and and kind of you know, continue to 415 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 5: progress forward in his career early on here, but you're 416 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 5: seeing an explosive guy that can win outside, win inside, 417 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:56,959 Speaker 5: run after catch, making some of the most dynamic catches 418 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 5: in the league. And uh, you know, he's finding his 419 00:19:59,560 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 5: ops case. You know, Sam's. One of Sam's great qualities 420 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 5: is that intermediate to deeper passing game and really activating 421 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 5: the intermediate to deep part of the field with his arm. 422 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 5: And we saw it a year ago and he's picked 423 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 5: up right where he left off. 424 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 3: Have a good Thanksgiving man. We'll see out here for 425 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 3: practice this week. 426 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 4: Come Friday, all right, Happy Thanksgiving to everybody. 427 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 3: I appreciate you, Kevin Kevin O'Connell, the head coach of 428 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 3: the Minnesota Vikings. That's ex'es and. 429 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 2: Thank you for joining us for this week's episode of 430 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 2: x'es and o's with Kevin O'Connell. It's presented by Ken 431 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 2: Moore and as an official production of the Minnesota Vikings 432 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 2: Audio Network.