1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: The time for x's and o's with Minnesota Vikings head 2 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: coach Kevin O'Connell on the Minnesota Vikings Radio network. Now 3 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: from the TCO studios at Egan. Here is the voice 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: of the Vikings, Paul Allen. 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 2: Welcome into x's and o's with Kevin O'Connell back in TCO. 6 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: Together once again, Pa and the head coach. 7 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 3: Here we go. Kevin O'Connell, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, 8 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 3: joins us as he is wont to do each and 9 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 3: every Tuesday for x'es and o's once again, multiple cameras. 10 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:35,599 Speaker 4: Here. 11 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 3: We were at Toys for Tots last week. How about 12 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 3: the kids? The Toys for Tots last week? Wasn't that cold? 13 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 4: Yeah? 14 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 5: It was awesome. What a cool what a cool event. 15 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 5: I gotta be honest though, it was kind of a 16 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 5: nice and to be in here kind of solo and yeah, 17 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,279 Speaker 5: felt felt like you in early radio career where you 18 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 5: were what do you mean doing all jobs at once 19 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:55,639 Speaker 5: and it just was quiet and what. 20 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 4: Do you mean common here? 21 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 3: And I found being at Shields filling Roppie Clee speaking, 22 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 3: raising money for others. I was able to streamline, streamline, 23 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 3: like where my heart's coming from and like the heart 24 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 3: of the station and the team and everything. 25 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 4: I thought it was great. But it is great to 26 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 4: have you guys back. 27 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 3: It's great to see you again too. Now we got 28 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 3: uh we got that extra page camera there. You didn't have, 29 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 3: Paige Acer didn't have to deal with it last uh 30 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 3: last week. But we want to welcome those watching on 31 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,920 Speaker 3: the new camera. And this is X's and No's on 32 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 3: the k f A n ast and ever expanding Minnesota 33 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 3: Vikings Audio Network and with Kevin O'Connell, we're going to 34 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 3: begin here. I thought it was cool that you gave 35 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 3: Jonathan Hargrave a make that Javon Hargrave a game ball 36 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 3: after the commander's shut out. 37 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 4: Uh. 38 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 3: Big people making athletic plays. I mean like that, and 39 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,280 Speaker 3: and with the force fumble and the fumble recovery and 40 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 3: it's by the sideline record ain't great? Uh big you know, 41 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 3: big people, everybody continuing to give everything. I just thought 42 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 3: that was a really cool moment when you get when 43 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 3: you recognized it and gave him a game ball. 44 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 4: Yeah. 45 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 5: Force and turnovers has been something we've talked a lot about, 46 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 5: and it coincided with us playing with the lead, which 47 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 5: obviously helps our defense be able to have maybe some 48 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 5: more opportunities than when people can kind of hide the 49 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 5: football throughout the game and not need to really put 50 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 5: themselves in any you know, sort of harm's way. But 51 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 5: I thought that was a big part of the game. 52 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 5: And I'll tell you what, from where you probably had 53 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 5: a much better dvantage point of the play than I did. 54 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 4: Far sideline. 55 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 5: All of a sudden, you just see him flying over 56 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 5: there and you think he's just gonna make the tackle, 57 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 5: and he comes up with the football. 58 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 4: So I had to take a look at that one 59 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 4: on tape the you know, that night and. 60 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,959 Speaker 5: What to play, and he's really, you know, he probably 61 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 5: hasn't gotten the type of recognition you know that he 62 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 5: probably deserves, especially when you talk about since the bye week, 63 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 5: what he's done, the consistency, what he's done and giving 64 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 5: us some really really high quality snaps to go along 65 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 5: with Red and obviously Jay and the rest of the group. 66 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 3: You and I were both about equal distance from the play. 67 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 3: It took me about five seconds to figure out what happened. 68 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 3: Big difference is I had binoculars and you didn't, and 69 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 3: you were field level with a bunch of big people 70 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 3: in front of you, so you know it's with Hardgrave 71 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 3: and Jonathan Allen. It's for people like me. Okay, I 72 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 3: can watch the film, I can watch the All twenty two. 73 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 3: I probably have access to answers and maybe some others 74 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 3: don't if I choose to ask. But it's I've been 75 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 3: a Javon Hargrave fan all of his career, from his 76 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 3: first year where he had a fumble recovery touchdown. I 77 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 3: think with Pittsburgh he's played in super Bowls and everything, 78 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 3: but it's apparent that it's abundantly apparent that the way 79 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 3: defenses run here is different than systems that he's played 80 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 3: in before. So I know from doing this as long 81 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 3: as I have, without you know, properly explaining it, because 82 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 3: I don't know how well there's going to be something different, 83 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,360 Speaker 3: you know, with the defensive tackler the three technique, So 84 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 3: then you mess that with stats and numbers and things 85 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 3: like that, and they're different. But then you see moments 86 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 3: like that, and then you see when he is single 87 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 3: and it has a little four three true three four 88 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 3: look to it and what he does it. And likewise 89 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 3: for Jonathan Allen, who played with his hair on fire 90 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 3: against his former team by the way, you understand what 91 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 3: I'm saying there. 92 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, and I think what what every year Flow and 93 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 5: his guys do a really good job of But sometimes 94 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 5: even after uh they've convinced these guys, hey, this system, 95 00:04:20,520 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 5: it requires all eleven guys to uh not always just 96 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 5: do the jobs of you know, like in some defense 97 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:29,359 Speaker 5: is one man one gap you think about, Yeah, the 98 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 5: old you know Seattle cover three systems or even the 99 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 5: system you know previously played at a high level for 100 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 5: many years. 101 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 4: Here it was a little bit more. 102 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 5: Of a uh, you know, go forward, beat the guy. 103 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 4: In front of you. 104 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 5: And with all of the different tricks of the trade 105 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 5: and tools Flow presents on the edges with pressures and 106 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 5: van Ginkel and Grenard and obviously Harry and Mattelus and 107 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 5: the and we've we've added the corner blitz you know, 108 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 5: at a pretty high clip as of late. 109 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 4: That's been pretty impactful. Right. 110 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 5: It requires some you know, movement inside to make sure 111 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 5: where gaps sound, make sure we can eliminate the problem 112 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 5: plays if people recognize some of the things we're trying 113 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 5: to do to them. 114 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 4: And I think what we've seen at. 115 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 5: A grave over the last few weeks is a real 116 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 5: commitment to understanding when his snaps are that you're he's 117 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 5: just gonna turn and get turned loose and play the 118 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 5: way he always has, or when he can use that 119 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 5: elite burst get off athleticism to maybe be a part 120 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 5: of that movement shutting off gaps and causing some real 121 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 5: problems for uh, the offensive line trying to target the front, 122 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 5: trying to block the front. Yeah, and then knowing that 123 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 5: on either of those occasions, you're gonna fall into some 124 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 5: chances to make some plays. 125 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 4: And that's what he's done. 126 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 3: Well, I'm glad you mentioned that corner blitz portion of 127 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 3: the equation. And I was gonna save this for near 128 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 3: the end, but Jay war out of ls LSU, I mean, like, 129 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 3: did did did you guys try him a corner a 130 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 3: little bit? But he's a safety. And then now like 131 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 3: in that Seattle game, you know Rogers is out and 132 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 3: it's like, oh Jackson Smith and jigba Hey batism by 133 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 3: fire here. So it's it doesn't matter the root he's 134 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 3: playing corner for you. Now, I'm a special teams guy 135 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 3: and I have a nugget for you because you guys 136 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 3: blitz Jay Ward. I mean I'd say sometimes, right, a 137 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 3: lot of the time, Okay, a lot of the time. 138 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,239 Speaker 3: And was it the Baltimore Chicago game where he almost 139 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 3: got home? I was one of those two very close. 140 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 3: So therefore, you know, on my game calling depth chart, 141 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 3: I got jay Ward, I got no interceptions, found his 142 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 3: last interception at LSU. Then in that game he almost 143 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 3: got a sack, and you have Green Bay next, so 144 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,159 Speaker 3: I didn't have you know, like, when when was his 145 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,719 Speaker 3: last sack? I went to LSU and look didn't have one, 146 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 3: went to Cole Quick County High School in Georgia and 147 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 3: looked didn't have one. So I approached him after we 148 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 3: landed in Appleton, when's your last sack? He said, I've 149 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 3: never had one in my life at any level. So 150 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 3: if jay Ward or when Jay Ward gets a sack, 151 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 3: that's going to be the first sack of his How 152 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 3: cool is that? 153 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's gonna be a big deal. I I really 154 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 5: love Jay Ward. I love I mean one of the 155 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 5: reasons why, you know, credit Durante and Mike Hutchins and 156 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,679 Speaker 5: Flow for really trying to find ways of getting guys 157 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 5: that have demonstrated a level of physicality and football making 158 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 5: sense to him. And I'm not even just talking about 159 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 5: the x's and o's. I'm talking about the physicality that 160 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 5: it takes to be a major contributor, you know, with 161 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 5: how our defense is being attacked right now, the fact 162 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 5: that people are trying to feature way more of their 163 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 5: run game and control the ball, limit turnover chances than 164 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 5: be putting it up in harm's way and potentially give 165 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 5: us a chance to snatch some momentum in a game. 166 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 5: So having j being able to give us some snaps, 167 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 5: whether it is firing off the edge on a corner blitz, 168 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 5: whether it is you know, pairing you know, Jay and 169 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 5: a safety maybe in a. 170 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 4: True overload pressure flow. 171 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 5: They can come up with any idea, but what they 172 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 5: need and what they've really found in Jay is a 173 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 5: level of physicality tackling. 174 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 4: In the open field. 175 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 5: He had a great play on a kind of a 176 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 5: screen out to Deebo Samuel I believe at one point 177 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 5: just kind of didn't make the play but just showed 178 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 5: up and just basically blew up every blocker around the 179 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 5: area the village, and then the rest of the crew 180 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 5: kind of came in and made the play. But Jay's 181 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 5: been a guy that you know, quietly has been just ascending, 182 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 5: getting better and better. The fact of the matter is 183 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 5: we've had some really good safeties last year, obviously with 184 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 5: the group of three guys we had and then THEO 185 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 5: stepping into that role. With THEO being out with some 186 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 5: injuries as of late, it's given Jay some opportunities at 187 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 5: the safety spot. But they have found ways to get 188 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 5: him on the field in addition to that. So I 189 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 5: don't know where you put him on your game calling 190 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 5: depth Charty behind. 191 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 4: He could be a nickel, he can be. 192 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 5: A safety depending on how they deploy Jay Ward And 193 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 5: it's been really cool to see and I think he's 194 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,319 Speaker 5: only going to keep getting better and better now and 195 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 5: I'm really proud of what Jay's done this year. 196 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 3: Extra well, then Extrom kind of has a job right 197 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 3: now because if Jay gets a sack Sunday night, yep, 198 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 3: and you beat the Cowboys and we're giving up game balls, yep. 199 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 3: We could see that at Vikings dot com and give 200 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 3: one to Jay. Remember it's his first sack at any 201 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 3: level of his life. I promise I will not forget. 202 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 3: I think that's why not. Now he's got to get sacked. Now, 203 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 3: you gotta win the game. Kevin O'Connell x's and O's 204 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 3: KFA and it's fantastic, baby and Moreau off the script 205 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 3: for a second. Nobody grades out perfectly, And you know, 206 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 3: I don't. I'm not going to say that I break 207 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:27,719 Speaker 3: down twenty threes, backpedal and leverage and hips and the 208 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 3: whole thing. All I know is when calling the games, 209 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 3: it's there's not there are not a lot of bad 210 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 3: things that are happening over him or with tackles. A 211 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 3: lot of with tackles or stuff. So you know, he's 212 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 3: a veteran. A lot of people don't know because Fabian's 213 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 3: relatively new here that he came into the league with Washington. 214 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 3: Six of his seven interceptions were with them over four years, 215 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 3: and he jumped into a difficult spot here, and I 216 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:52,320 Speaker 3: think he's handled it pretty well. 217 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 4: He's done great. 218 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 5: He's obviously with Jeff Acuda going down and us really 219 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 5: brought Fabian here to be a part. Had a lot 220 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 5: of opportunities as one of those veteran kind of guys 221 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 5: that can step in and play guys on the practice squad, 222 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 5: had a lot of opportunities, and Fabe wanted to come 223 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 5: back here. He wanted to be back in our locker room, 224 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 5: and when we were able to get him back here, 225 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 5: I told him, at some point in time, you know, 226 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 5: you really got to look at yourself as a practice 227 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 5: squad player, but you got to be ready to start. 228 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 5: You got to be ready to play. And you're here 229 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 5: because of the poise. You're going to be able to 230 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 5: play with the experience that he's played a lot of 231 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,719 Speaker 5: snaps now, yeah, over the last few years, and he 232 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 5: can contribute on special teams. But I look at Fabian 233 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 5: Moreau as an extension of that group of starters that 234 00:10:38,200 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 5: we have at the corner position, and you're right, people 235 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 5: you know, take their shots on him, they try to 236 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:46,200 Speaker 5: maybe test them at different times, and he's shown up 237 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 5: and made some huge plays on some third downs. 238 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 4: Got called for a penalty the other day. 239 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 5: It was more of a technique thing, probably more so 240 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 5: than anything. But he's totally connected physical It still runs 241 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,200 Speaker 5: at a very very high level, and he can make 242 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 5: plays on the football. 243 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 2: Well, Minnesota needed a go two source for everything high 244 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 2: school sports. That's why Minnesota Star Tribune created a Strip 245 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,199 Speaker 2: Varsity sign up now at Star Tribune dot com slash 246 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 2: Strip Varsity. More x's and o's around the corner on 247 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 2: the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network. Hey, Vikings fans, right now 248 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 2: you can pick up a commemorative Pepsi Vikings Cup at 249 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 2: us Bank Stadium, or participating in High V Fast and 250 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 2: Fresh and Buffalo Wild Wings locations for your chance to 251 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 2: win Victor's Ride and other great prizes. Vikings fans deserve Pepsi, 252 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 2: more x's and o's Right now with Kevin. 253 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 3: O'Connell was JJ's road addison one of his best of 254 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 3: the season. 255 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 5: Well, what it was was it was a great example 256 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 5: of regardless of what the defense does, set your feet 257 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 5: with great fundamentals and technique that he is wildly capable 258 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:48,400 Speaker 5: of consistently doing with repeatable, efficient mechanics. But it was 259 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 5: about Hey, Justin's the primary on the play and he 260 00:11:52,800 --> 00:11:55,079 Speaker 5: had his eyes in the right spot. The pocket was good, 261 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 5: a great, great, everything that JJ can control. But then 262 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 5: the decision making of not needing three hitches to decide 263 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 5: Justin wasn't open. It was a decisive decision which allowed 264 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 5: his body position and the ability to drive that football, 265 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 5: Like you said, not an easy throw. 266 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 3: The pocket stand and he stepped. It was just beautiful. 267 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 4: It felt like it's supposed to feel and I. 268 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 5: Thought that was a great example of him playing at 269 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 5: a very high clip when we needed some third down 270 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 5: conversions Pa to not only have that drive but ether 271 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 5: you know, starting fast early on in the game. We 272 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 5: didn't have one on that first drive. But it's not 273 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 5: like we just ran the ball every snap either. He 274 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 5: made some big throws and even the first one of 275 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 5: the day to Ben Simms, you say, hohm, it's an 276 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 5: eight yard game. But that's an example of him versus 277 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 5: a pretty unique coverage. Look, they're dropping out a D lineman, 278 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 5: they're playing inverted too deep. 279 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 4: Just throw completions, man, good things are gonna happen. All right. 280 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 3: Wow, a couple of quickis to close here for the 281 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,199 Speaker 3: head coach, Donovan Jackson plays her, cares deeply. Guys, hit 282 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,720 Speaker 3: on a good one with him. We talked about that. Yeah, 283 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,319 Speaker 3: I mean, holy cow, three tds for your tight ends. 284 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:05,080 Speaker 3: Was that a product of just quickly loving the matchups 285 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,319 Speaker 3: into the game or a result of how things developed 286 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 3: or in the blowout? 287 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 5: No, it was more it was more of game planning 288 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 5: for for the week. We really wanted to you know, 289 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 5: there was a there was a method to try to 290 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 5: pair some of those groupings we were doing some things 291 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 5: out of those groupings besides just getting big to run 292 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 5: the ball, which we were able to do in the game, 293 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 5: add in extra gaps and using some physicality with knowing 294 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 5: we were going to have that group, that offensive line 295 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 5: group out there as well. But then what it allowed 296 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 5: us to do is we also threw the ball out 297 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 5: of those groupings and in some cases spreading out the 298 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 5: formations and trying to make guys uncomfortable in. 299 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 4: Different spots throughout that defense. 300 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 5: All well, just trying to give you know, jj answers 301 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:51,600 Speaker 5: to You can't ask him to throw completions and be 302 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 5: willing to check the ball down and then not have 303 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 5: those options available to him. And I think when you 304 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 5: go back and watch through his tape throughout the season, 305 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,839 Speaker 5: you know when he's decisive, even when he is checking 306 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 5: the ball down, good things normally happen, not only on 307 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 5: that play but the plays afterwards. He also stole some 308 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 5: first downs for us with his legs. I thought that 309 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 5: backed up third down was a critical critical play to 310 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 5: kind of get it kickstarted there from the end zone. Yeah, 311 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 5: from when he when he got out right there, and 312 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:21,720 Speaker 5: there's a learning up there. I mean, there's a you know, 313 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 5: protection call on a third down. If he makes that, 314 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 5: he probably throws another completion. We don't, and he's able 315 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 5: to still make it right by using that athleticism to 316 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 5: get out and steal us a new set of downs. 317 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 3: All right, d there's one at the end off your 318 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 3: press conference yesterday. I have I have to get in. 319 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 3: So before that, here's the penultimate What what leads you 320 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 3: to taking the ball when winning the toss? 321 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, I wanted to, I think first and foremost. 322 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 5: You know, we're we're learning a little bit more about 323 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 5: with the fact that so many more kickoff returns are 324 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 5: being put in play, you know, the days of the 325 00:14:57,240 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 5: starting field position, especially. 326 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 4: I have a lot of confidence in Mile Price fun there. 327 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 3: I wasn't thinking about it. 328 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 5: So if he gets that ball past the thirty yard line, 329 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 5: and in the case to start the game the other 330 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 5: day was. 331 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 4: The thirty nine yard great return. 332 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 5: We have the ball at the thirty nine yard line, 333 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 5: you get one first down, Pa, you're at midfield. And 334 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 5: then the way Ryan writes punted the ball, even if 335 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 5: you only get one, we're allowing our defense to potentially 336 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 5: start fast. But the ultimate decision for me on Sunday 337 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 5: is you know awareness is key as a head coach, 338 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 5: and I was very aware that we had not played 339 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 5: well at home, at least from a results standpoint, since 340 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 5: the Cincinnati game. 341 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 4: And I wanted to take the ball. I wanted to 342 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:35,960 Speaker 4: go score. 343 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 5: I wanted to give Vikings fans a chance to, you know, 344 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,840 Speaker 5: not say here we go again, but say, okay, maybe 345 00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 5: today is going to be different. And then, like I 346 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,920 Speaker 5: totally expected, they were fantastic. The defense takes the field, 347 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 5: they get that fourth down stop, and then we go 348 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 5: ninety eight for a touchdown. But the number one goal 349 00:15:54,640 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 5: of the week was to start fast from the time 350 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 5: I met with the team on Wednesday and said, hey, 351 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 5: here we want to be we want to win the 352 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:02,320 Speaker 5: turnover battle. 353 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 4: I'm tired of talking about it. 354 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 5: Let's win the turnover battle, and let's start fast in 355 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 5: the process. 356 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 4: Of doing so. 357 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 5: And if that means we end up getting the lead defense, 358 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 5: I think you're going to get some opportunities to take 359 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 5: the ball away. The number one priority on offense is 360 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 5: to protect the football because we know what those numbers 361 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 5: look like when we do some of those things within 362 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 5: the game that give us very very high likelihoods of winning. 363 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 3: Okay, lastly, because I didn't really understand what you were 364 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 3: saying during your press conference yesterday. 365 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 4: And a lot of people don't. 366 00:16:30,120 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 3: Well, well, I mean if it's yeah, but I would 367 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 3: ask you to the side if I didn't understand. This 368 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 3: just happens to be the side and everybody gets to 369 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 3: see and hear because we got Sunday night football coming up, 370 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 3: which means longer TV breaks. I mean, shoot, you can 371 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 3: build a village in that huddle before they scatter and 372 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:47,960 Speaker 3: come back from the break. And that's what I mean 373 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 3: is you went down the road of I can't remember 374 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 3: who asked you about, like Chambliss is running out and 375 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 3: this guy's running out and coming back, and you were 376 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 3: talking about like a TV time out game with huddles 377 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 3: and stuf like that. 378 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 4: So what is the question? 379 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 5: Was Washington Cliff Kingsbury. 380 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 4: Since he's been in the NFL, they don't huddle. 381 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 5: So if Vikings fans who were at the game or 382 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 5: you were watching at home, what we call a muddle 383 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,360 Speaker 5: huddle a messy, they just basically stand at the line 384 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 5: of scrimmage. They still sub as if they're just going 385 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 5: to huddle up, call a play and then go. 386 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 4: But what they try to do is. 387 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 5: It makes it hard with the NFL rules of substitutions. 388 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 5: You'll see it in college sometimes a lot more. 389 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 3: So whether you go base, nickel or dime, but you're. 390 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 5: Allowed to get a chance to match whatever they put 391 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 5: in the game. So if they wanted to go from 392 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:40,199 Speaker 5: thirteen personnel, which is one back, three tight ends and 393 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 5: one receiver, to eleven personnel and bring in two receivers 394 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 5: for two of those tight ends, the officials have to 395 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 5: give Flow in the group a chance to then match 396 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 5: that like a hockey jake. And it happened to us. 397 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 4: Early in the year. 398 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 5: If you remember when they held the snap because there 399 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 5: was a late sub by us around That was I 400 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 5: believe it was at a home game earlier in the year, 401 00:18:05,760 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 5: but they held that and we ended up taking a 402 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 5: delay on the play because the play clock means nothing 403 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:15,360 Speaker 5: to these officials. But what Flow in the group decided 404 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 5: to do was, you know, as he kind of cycles 405 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 5: through what personnel grouping he wanted to have on, let's 406 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 5: make sure we're starting the process of substitutions, even if 407 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 5: it ends up changing, and it kind of had a 408 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 5: little bit of a you know, a hockey line change 409 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 5: feel to it much of the day. But every time 410 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 5: that happens, it's critigue. It's also causing the counter effect 411 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 5: for Cliff and those guys of what is in the game. 412 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 4: We don't even know what's in the game. 413 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 5: The play clock's gonna or the coach the quarterback is 414 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 5: gonna shut off at fifteen seconds, and now they've got 415 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 5: to if we were trying to basically take something that's 416 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 5: an advantage for them and turn it into an advantage 417 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 5: for us. Flow and I talked a lot about it, 418 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 5: But my beef with the TV timeouts that I go 419 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 5: to the league meetings and bring up with my good 420 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 5: buddy Sean McVay and coach Tom on the Competition committee 421 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 5: every year is this, when we're in a TV timeout, 422 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 5: we're not allowed to have fourteen guys out in the huddle. 423 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 5: The defense can have as many players as they want 424 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 5: in the huddle. So I'm trying to I'm trying to 425 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 5: figure out what's going to be on the field. Defensively, 426 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 5: you can't run a lot of plays with your eleven. 427 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 4: Group against base defense. 428 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 5: There's just not a lot of unless you want Jalen 429 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 5: Naylor blocking defensive ends and linebackers all day. 430 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 4: There's just not a lot of things you can do. 431 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,400 Speaker 5: So you're trying to you're trying to weave through what's 432 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,680 Speaker 5: on the field for them, and there's some people upstairs 433 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 5: trying to tell me. I'm trying to see with my 434 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 5: own eyes. But then what happens is we come back 435 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 5: from a commercial or two and we pop in that 436 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,679 Speaker 5: play clock ready for play twenty five seconds bam, and 437 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,919 Speaker 5: then they scatter and what's in the game, what's not 438 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 5: There's about eighteen seconds on the play clock. Now you've 439 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 5: got to get a play called within three seconds. So 440 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 5: I just they're very detailed about what we do in 441 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:55,320 Speaker 5: the offensive huddle. 442 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 4: You can't have twelve in the huddle. 443 00:19:56,720 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 5: Ever, if you're subbing, you really shouldn't have have, you know, 444 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 5: twelve guys. 445 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 4: In between the numbers. 446 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 5: But defensively, during those TV timeouts, they can have the 447 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 5: whole football team standing, the mascot, three coaches, and they're 448 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 5: all out there in the huddle right as an offensive 449 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 5: coach not to ramble, That's what I was trying to explain. 450 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:20,920 Speaker 5: There's some Union gamesmanship to the strategy, and it's strategic. 451 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 3: It's strategicy with those running on to the numbers and 452 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,359 Speaker 3: then running back yep, oh, I'm starting to get it down. 453 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,119 Speaker 3: You're awesome. Yeah, thank you, appreciate it. Kevin O'Connell, head 454 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 3: coach of the Minnesota Vikings That's Texas. 455 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 2: No, thank you for joining us for this week's episode 456 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 2: of x'es and o's with Kevin O'Connell. It's presented by 457 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 2: Ken Lare and as an official production of the Minnesota 458 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:39,639 Speaker 2: Vikings Audio Network.