1 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: It is time for x's and o's with Minnesota Vikings 2 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: head coach Kevin O'Connell. Welcome Minnesota Vikings Radio Network now 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: from the TCO studios at Egan. Here is the voice 4 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: of the Vikings, Paul Allen. 5 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 2: Welcome into X and o's. Is Kevin O'Connell, presented it 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 2: by Ken Moore. Week sixteen, a matchup in New York 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 2: with the Giants Beckons, here's Kevin O'Connor. 8 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 3: Two in a row, four Ko nordon't give me one, 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 3: two in a row, four Ko, two in a row, 10 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 3: four Ko trying to make it three in a row 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 3: this weekend against the New York Giants. Couple of cameras 12 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 3: here for Vikings dot Com. Don't forget paid Jaeger's new 13 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 3: camera right there. It's very important. And the head coach 14 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 3: of the Minnesota Vikings joins us. Now, what's going on? 15 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 3: Kevin O'Connell, What up? 16 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 4: Pa? How are you guys? 17 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 3: You're you're your general release? Miley? Uh? But I bet 18 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 3: you I can make bet you, I can make you 19 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 3: smile you ready, I bet you can that that McCarthy 20 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,360 Speaker 3: keeper fooled the heck out of your announcer on a 21 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 3: hot mic, so you smiled. 22 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 5: I called the play and the fake was so good 23 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 5: that it almost got me for a second. It was, Yeah, 24 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 5: the only guy that could get JJ on that tackle 25 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:13,400 Speaker 5: Jordan Mason. So as long as Jordan didn't still have 26 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 5: the ball, I thought we were in good shape. 27 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,240 Speaker 3: You I'm gonna make you smile. You want to hear 28 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 3: the highlight? Sure, Devin three to two two in the backfield, 29 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 3: Mason and ham corpinhole from the one, McCarthy under center, snap, 30 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 3: Mason handoff. Oh no, McCarthy keeped it beautifully, had foctors 31 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 3: into the end zone for a Vikings touchdown. 32 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 5: J J. 33 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 3: McCarthy with his third rushing touchdown, and that faked out 34 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 3: everybody at AT and T Stadium, including the announcer. I 35 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 3: was about to get mad that we got stopped. You 36 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 3: probably weren't too it, but you knew what the play was. 37 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 4: I was about. 38 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 3: I was like, I mean that, how long have you 39 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 3: had that one in your back pocket? 40 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 5: The old keeper, Yeah, it comes up, It comes up 41 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 5: sometimes depending on the look. 42 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 4: You know, you need to make sure you don't end up. 43 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 5: With a couple guys standing back there. But it felt 44 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 5: like the it felt like the right time for the 45 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 5: call and with JJ's athleticism, and then he's been really 46 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 5: really good with the ball handling on some different play passes, 47 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 5: different fakes, different ways of trying to get him out 48 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 5: on the perimeter, different ways and really allow him even 49 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 5: the touchdown throw to Naylor. I mean, there's you're not 50 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 5: calling that that type of action with a continuation kind 51 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,679 Speaker 5: of keeping to his left off of that kind of 52 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 5: straight handoff action play side. But I actually called one 53 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 5: late in the Commander's game to the left for the 54 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 5: first time, different play and he threw a good ball 55 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 5: to Addison. We didn't end up completing it, but I 56 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 5: said it on the headset, I want to take a 57 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 5: look at this and see what this looks like to 58 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 5: the left, And right after he threw it, I hit 59 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 5: the headset. I was like, that was pretty smooth, man. 60 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 5: I'm like, maybe we'll call something like that next. And 61 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 5: that was sar first touchdown pass came off that. But 62 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 5: he's you know, he's he's got, obviously, you know, some 63 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 5: some real good traits with the ball handling of some 64 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 5: of those play fakes and the cell and he put 65 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 5: that thing right on his belt buckle and he got 66 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 5: everybody at AT and T, which was which was good. 67 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 5: So including you, I I you know, from your vantage 68 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 5: point with the binoculars, I thought there was no way 69 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:25,079 Speaker 5: we got one passed. 70 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 3: You. You know Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys. 71 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 3: I mean he gets tagged left and right for the 72 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 3: GM work and some bombastic things he says, and like 73 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 3: you'll speak before the coach speaks after game, stuff like that. 74 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 3: We we when we go to AT and T Stadium, 75 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 3: we call the game in that corner where Ham and 76 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 3: McCarthy scored in a suite that has a bathroom and 77 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 3: it has beverages. It's it's so. And then I was 78 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 3: who was I chatting with? 79 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: Oh? 80 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 3: Brad Sham, the forty seven year vox played by play 81 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 3: guy for the Dallas Cowboys. For his fortieth year Jerry Jones, 82 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 3: he flew his entire family, his best friends with his 83 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 3: private plane from all over the country for the guy's 84 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 3: fortieth forty years of calling Cowboys game. So, yeah, Jerry 85 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 3: Jones takes a lot of slings and arrows, and sometimes 86 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 3: rightfully so for football stuff. But I've heard countless stories 87 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 3: about how he helps families and does things like that, 88 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 3: and he certainly helped your announcer with that sweet and 89 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 3: most importantly a bathroom given o'b sixty in three weeks. 90 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,559 Speaker 3: But that was right in front of me, right below 91 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 3: Pete Ny and it's still it was just you have 92 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 3: that thing in your back pocket. It was wonderful time 93 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 3: I have an inside football take for you. I know 94 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,719 Speaker 3: you enjoy those, So tell me what you think with McCarthy. 95 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 3: I love how he gets small in tight quarters and 96 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 3: gets away more than he doesn't when things get hot. Yeah, 97 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:48,040 Speaker 3: it's good at getting small. 98 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 4: Well, I thought, you know, one of the things we've 99 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,359 Speaker 4: been talking about is he does have the ability. 100 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 5: And kind of a real nice innate pocket movement, you know, 101 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 5: trait to him. And the biggest thing for a young 102 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 5: quarterback is trusting to go forward, whether that's up and out, 103 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 5: like he did on the first completion of the game 104 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 5: to Hockinson, which you know, we we had a negative run. 105 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 4: There where get back on track. 106 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 5: He throws that thing out to the flat as kind 107 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 5: of an outlet throw and we end up getting twelve 108 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 5: back or eleven whatever it was for the for the 109 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 5: first down. I thought the play that before his touchdown 110 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 5: run where they you know, they played kind of a 111 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 5: heavy man coverage defense, double safety defense, nobody accounting for him, 112 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 5: and he takes off up up through the increase in 113 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 5: the pocket and had a chance to score, but ultimately, 114 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 5: you know, goes down inside the one and then we 115 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:41,479 Speaker 5: score the next play, and he's he's he's done that 116 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 5: a couple of times a game here the last two weeks, 117 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 5: and he's really done it. 118 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 4: At times. 119 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 5: You think back to that Commander game, that ninety eight 120 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 5: yard drive twelve minutes. Everybody's highlighting that that drive, you know, 121 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 5: after nineteen plays, and but that first third and seven 122 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 5: where he gets us eight and gets that whole drive 123 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 5: going was a big time play. And he's you know, 124 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 5: I'm obviously very happy with the way that he's really 125 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 5: grown throughout this time in these last two games, and 126 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 5: he's it's about stacking positive for him, and boys, he 127 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 5: doing that right now, and I can't wait to watch 128 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 5: him play against the good Giants defense this Sunday. 129 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 3: Likewise, we are we're going to get to the Minnesota 130 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 3: Vikings defense and special teams here momentarily, but it is 131 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 3: a Tuesday with the head coach, which means it's a 132 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,239 Speaker 3: talkback Tuesday. And here's what we have this week. 133 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 6: Hey, coach Jason and Madison, Wisconsin. I just got a 134 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 6: question as far as what's more difficult to game plan 135 00:06:38,040 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 6: against an elite corner or an elite pass rusher. There's 136 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 6: kind of in this debate for a long time as 137 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 6: far as what's more important. I know PFF was kind 138 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 6: of in the corner camp. I've always thought pass rusher 139 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 6: was more important. But just who's harder to game plan against? 140 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 6: A guy like Miles Garrett, maybe a Patrick's or Tan 141 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 6: or does it just matter on your own roster? Thanks coach, go. 142 00:06:58,800 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 3: Ahead, Jason. Nice. 143 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 5: Yeah, great question, Jason. I actually agree with Jason. I 144 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 5: think it is it is the pass rusher, just because 145 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 5: even the elite corner, you go through the layers of defense, 146 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 5: right because if that elite corner you want to let 147 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 5: that guy play man coverage, there's going to have to 148 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 5: be four other guys that are playing man coverage too, 149 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 5: where you can use different tools and tricks of the 150 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 5: trade formationally, stacks, bunches, motions, fast motions to try to 151 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 5: make that guy's job hard to cover the player he's 152 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 5: covered more than likely justin Jefferson against US, and and 153 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 5: we have ways of trying to help, you know, justin 154 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 5: you know, find some space and get on edges and 155 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 5: run away from. 156 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 4: People, or they're gonna play zone coverage. 157 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 5: And and maybe that elite corner has you know, great 158 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 5: ball skills or great zoning eyes. But in those instances, 159 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 5: you can get your best player away from that player 160 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 5: by motioning and understanding that he may match to the 161 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 5: side of the field that he's on. But how many 162 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 5: games have you called where you say, Jefferson motions from 163 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 5: left to right. We're doing that to get him away 164 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 5: from some of those better corners that maybe aren't playing 165 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 5: man coverage and and and then being able to tilt 166 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 5: the scales and in our favor. But the pass rusher, 167 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 5: if you knew where they were gonna line up every play, 168 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 5: if you knew, you could, you know, get four hands 169 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 5: on that guy every single play. But the elite pass 170 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 5: rushers in the NFL, they're moving around, They're they're moving 171 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 5: they're lining up inside, they're lining up off the ball 172 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 5: and rushing the center one on one. They're they're switching 173 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 5: sides from right to left. And to really have a 174 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 5: you know, it takes a lot of time and effort 175 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 5: to make sure you build a scheme that, hey, we're 176 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 5: going to go find that. 177 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 4: Guy wherever he is. 178 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 5: But to do that, you're probably limiting your ability to 179 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 5: then with the said motions and the different bells and 180 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 5: whistles you can put on your pass game to then 181 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:55,959 Speaker 5: help people get open. So uh that that player can 182 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 5: have such an impact not only getting to the quarterback 183 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 5: and get hits on the quarterbacks, speeding him up at 184 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 5: times moving him off the spot, but also schematically of 185 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 5: being able to have your full repertoire of things you 186 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:10,440 Speaker 5: want to do to a defense. So I would definitely 187 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 5: say the pass rusher. But at the same time, an 188 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 5: elite corner can do a lot of things in the game, 189 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 5: especially depending on who you're playing schematically as well. 190 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:22,559 Speaker 3: When you won that Super Bowl with the Rams, like 191 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:27,559 Speaker 3: Jalen Ramsey, he wasn't the follow so and so everywhere 192 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 3: he goes, was he? Because they are like no corners 193 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 3: like that anymore. It depends. It depended on who the 194 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 3: whole game. I mean, if it was. 195 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 5: I don't believe when we played Cincinnati in the Super Bowl, 196 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 5: I don't believe he was matching one guy over the other. 197 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 5: But you know, when we played some teams with a 198 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 5: really good slot receiver. For instance, he would go from 199 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,720 Speaker 5: playing outside corner in the base defensive groupings with just 200 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 5: two corners on the field, but then he would match 201 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 5: that slot receiver and if he was in the slot, 202 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,160 Speaker 5: he'd go in there and technically be playing the nickel 203 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 5: by alignment, or he if that player lined up outside, 204 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 5: he would be still playing outside corner. So his versatility 205 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,360 Speaker 5: was was massive in the defensive scheme we ran there, 206 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,320 Speaker 5: And I think it's just, you know, it depends the player, 207 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 5: the skill set, the every down skill set. You know, 208 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 5: if they're going to be truly a versatile piece, they're 209 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 5: going to have to be able to tackle as well, 210 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 5: and all. 211 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 4: Those things lead to how you can use those players. 212 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 3: This is Kevin O'Connell. This is x'es and o's weekly 213 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 3: on nine to noon FM one hundred point three KFAM 214 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,719 Speaker 3: and if you're listening back on Wednesday evening, it's the 215 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 3: k FA N Minnesota Vikings Audio Network. Now with off 216 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 3: the the scholarly Approach to Football, off the Acumen and 217 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 3: or DBS Harrison Smith. What goes into Harrison Smith being 218 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 3: so well prepared for games well? 219 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 5: First and foremost is the experience he has, He's seen 220 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 5: it all. You know, he's been in every style of game, 221 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 5: every kind of game where you know, you need to 222 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 5: do some different things to potentially win the game. But 223 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 5: what I mean Last Sunday Night was one of my 224 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 5: favorite games that I've watched him play, and it really 225 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 5: wasn't a lot of you know, statistical impact. You're not 226 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 5: sitting there saying he had three sacks or two picks 227 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 5: or pick six. 228 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 4: Or whatever it was. 229 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 5: It was more about, you know, between the snaps, the 230 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 5: game within the game that was going on with him 231 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 5: and Dak Prescott, the back and forth of really two 232 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 5: guys with a ton of experience. Yeah, really both guys 233 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,679 Speaker 5: having the keys to do just about whatever they wanted 234 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 5: at the line of scrimmage and the and the game 235 00:11:37,200 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 5: between those two guys. Of essentially, Harry is you know, 236 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:44,080 Speaker 5: deciding in the moment with the way flow kind of 237 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,360 Speaker 5: empowers him to do. So, whether we're going to send 238 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 5: six or seven guys on a pressure, whether we're going 239 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 5: to show that look and drop out and play a 240 00:11:52,200 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 5: certain kind of coverage, you know, that's really totally in 241 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 5: Harry's command, and he's gauging it off of what he 242 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 5: feels instinctual. The offense and most importantly the quarterback is 243 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 5: trying to get to as that play clock goes lower and. 244 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 4: Lower and lower. 245 00:12:06,679 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 5: And it was fascinating to watch the way that back 246 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 5: and forth went and Harry did a phenomenal job. 247 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 4: Was fun to watch. 248 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 2: Minnesota needed to go to source for everything high school sports. 249 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 2: That's why Minnesota Starts Abune created Strip Varsity. You sign 250 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,319 Speaker 2: up now at starts immune dot com, slash strib Varsity, 251 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 2: Start tribune dot com slash strib Varsity, more x and 252 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 2: o's around the corner on the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network. 253 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 2: Hey Vikings fans, right now you can pick up a 254 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:34,959 Speaker 2: commemorative Pepsi Vikings Cup at us Bank Stadium, participating High 255 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 2: v Fast and Fresh and Buffalo Wild Wings locations for 256 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 2: your chance to win Victor's Ride and other great prizes. 257 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 2: Vikings fans deserve Pepsi, more x's and o's with Kevin O'Connell. 258 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 3: Andrew Depaula and to the kickers have been at a 259 00:12:46,240 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 3: just terrific in at a high level all year. It's 260 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 3: it's been fantastic with that battery. 261 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 5: No, they've been great, they've been you know, Ryan wright's 262 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 5: had an unbelievable year. You think back on so many 263 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 5: moments in games where we've needed to whether we're back 264 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 5: here or we're needing to flip the field after a 265 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 5: slow start to the game the other night, and Ryan 266 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:10,640 Speaker 5: ends up pinning them down in there deep and defense 267 00:13:10,679 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 5: gets a stop and two plays later we score a touchdown. 268 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 5: It's all complimentary football, But those guys have been weapons 269 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 5: for us. And I've had, you know, whether you're thinking 270 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 5: about late late in half letting you know, letting Will 271 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 5: kick a long field goal, or even at the end 272 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 5: of the game playing it in a certain way where 273 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 5: if we get it, you know, we get it in 274 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 5: his range, which is you know, as you mentioned, you know, 275 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 5: there's there's no. 276 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,239 Speaker 4: Better kicker in football from a. 277 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,559 Speaker 5: Kick it from anywhere in the building than Aubrey, and 278 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 5: and Will stepped up toe to toe and made some 279 00:13:41,160 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 5: huge kicks. 280 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 4: In the game. 281 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 5: The Alpoust win that thing and get that lead to 282 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 5: eleven points there late in the game was all part 283 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 5: of how we were trying to, you know, make sure 284 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 5: we came out of there with a win. 285 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:52,400 Speaker 3: Maybe Aubrey got tired on the fake field goal. 286 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 4: I mean, it's possible. 287 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 3: He never misses kicks. Might have gotten tired on that thing, 288 00:13:56,920 --> 00:13:58,679 Speaker 3: all right? Did a couple a couple more here for 289 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 3: Kevin O'Connell. Eric Wilson, Okay, first and foremost watching these 290 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 3: things back. Eric Wilson and Blake Cashman. I mean, they 291 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,480 Speaker 3: just bring the proverbial would when they're hitting people in 292 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:10,120 Speaker 3: these games. 293 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 4: Right. 294 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 3: But Eric Wilson, and you probably know this is Eric. 295 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 3: You know, when he came here, I was calling games 296 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 3: undrafted from Cincinnati, and he's been affable, you know for 297 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 3: many years. His first deal twenty seventeen to twenty nineteen 298 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 3: with the Vikings five hundred and fifty eight thousand dollars 299 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 3: a year. He's got a ten thousand dollars signing bonus, 300 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 3: un draft let's go. E Will then six years of 301 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 3: one year, one million dollar deals. You guys doubled his 302 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 3: pay from one to three at Green Bay to two 303 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 3: six here, and we're right now. He'll he'll he'll play 304 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 3: more than a thousand snaps again this year with some 305 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 3: special teams mixed in fifteen and a half tackles for loss. 306 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 3: That's sixth in the NFL. Is he just exhausted after games? 307 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 3: You know, what I'm saying, he plays so much and 308 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 3: he plays so hard. 309 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 4: Well, first of all, you've seen him, you know, walking 310 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 4: around here. 311 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 3: He's yeah maybe. 312 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:04,480 Speaker 5: You know, yeah, just he never misses a day in 313 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 5: the weight room. It seems like, you know, that's a 314 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 5: good joke that I walked by him every day and 315 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 5: ask him if he skipped he skipped leg day And. 316 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 3: But but people can lift weights every single day, like 317 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 3: maybe you did back in the collegiate days, but no, 318 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 3: you didn't. 319 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 4: That was more when it was the beach season. 320 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 3: But still to get that that look where it's like 321 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 3: there's a band tied around your arm, the superman luck. 322 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 5: But you know what people, you know, last year in 323 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 5: Green Bay, he played a lot of defensive snaps. We 324 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 5: played against him in two games where he played almost 325 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 5: significantly as a starting linebacker with some of the injuries 326 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 5: that they had, and it just always stuck out the physicality, 327 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,920 Speaker 5: the instincts. He was exactly where he was supposed to be, 328 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 5: defeating blocks, you know, making tackles, and and he's been 329 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 5: everything we had hoped and and a lot more. When 330 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 5: you think about the versatility. I mean, you've seen him 331 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 5: line up on the line of scrimmage. You know, he 332 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 5: helped us really weather the storm of Andrew Van Ginkel's 333 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 5: time where he missed right and then you know, whether 334 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 5: it's when cash is out, he takes over the green 335 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 5: dot when it's you know, he's really filled multiple roles 336 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,160 Speaker 5: and he still had a dynamic role in the Creaking 337 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 5: Geam as well. So he's had a huge year. I'm 338 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 5: glad you're noticing. And love Will deserves a ton of credit. Yeah, 339 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 5: like with him and Jalen Naylor. 340 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 3: Man, I mean there's some decisions in the offseason that 341 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 3: they're gonna be easy, you know what I'm saying. All Right, 342 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 3: A couplet to close here for Kevin O'Connell Byron Murphy 343 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 3: Junior needs a pick, all right. Eighteen consecutive without one, 344 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 3: nineteen is a career long for him from Arizona to 345 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 3: hear you think maybe he gets one in this final 346 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 3: road game. 347 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 4: And I think maybe you just spoke it into it. 348 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 3: He almost did against Dallas too. I'm pulling for him, man. 349 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 4: Now he's been he's been close on a few. 350 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, we've been going to playing a lot of snaps. 351 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:43,600 Speaker 5: We got we got our hands on a footballer too. 352 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 5: We got a couple of chances at some tips and overthrows. 353 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 5: We just got to keep on forcing some of those 354 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 5: ops to come our way, and our guys will. 355 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 4: Make those plays. 356 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:55,120 Speaker 3: The Giants have lost four of six, all right, but 357 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 3: beat the Chargers and the Eagles and almost beat Denver. 358 00:16:58,400 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 3: What's going on there with them? 359 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 5: I think you're seeing a team that, you know, defensively, 360 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 5: they're very, very talented. I mean you talk about up 361 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 5: front with Dexter, Lawrence and Burns, and obviously they've they 362 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 5: draft car high in the draft, and they've got some 363 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 5: other really impactful interior guys, you know, good middle linebacker 364 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 5: and and Bobby and and and then you look at 365 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 5: the yeah, and then they've got you know, really talented 366 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 5: safeties that show up, you know, both in the run game, 367 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 5: in in the past game, and so defensively, those guys 368 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 5: are keeping him in games. And and then offensively, I 369 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 5: think they've got you know, Jackson darts bin. You can 370 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 5: see it. It jumps out on the tape. He's he's he's 371 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 5: shown demonstrated some really really high level throws, you know, 372 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:43,160 Speaker 5: the ability to you know, to attack the deeper part 373 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 5: of the field, and then his athleticism is real, and 374 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 5: they'll run them too. I mean, you're seeing designed quarterback 375 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 5: runs that go beyond the realm of just zone reads. 376 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 4: And things like that. 377 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:55,919 Speaker 5: They're running quarterback counter, they're running, they're asking him to 378 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 5: be a major part of their run game. And uh, 379 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 5: they've done a nice job running the football year and 380 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:02,920 Speaker 5: they're at their best when they can be efficient running 381 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 5: the ball and stay ahead of those, uh, those distances 382 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 5: where then they're not in third and lungs. They're not 383 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 5: asking that old line to hold up very long. They're 384 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 5: getting the ball out of Jackson's hands. And and you know, 385 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,120 Speaker 5: obviously it's a it's a team that's you know, transitioned, 386 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,199 Speaker 5: and you know on the coaching staff a little bit 387 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 5: on really with you know, Dave's you know, being let 388 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 5: go and then they you know, a new play caller 389 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 5: on defense. So you're you're seeing some new aspects of 390 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:29,359 Speaker 5: maybe how they want to play and trying to match 391 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 5: that with what they've been in the totality. 392 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 4: Of the season. 393 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 5: But it's gonna be a challenge, you know, it's a 394 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 5: they're gonna go play hard, they're gonna it's you know, 395 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 5: it's another road game for us. Yeah, we just want 396 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 5: to continue stacking playing good football, and that's what we've 397 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 5: done the last two weeks and we've got to do 398 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 5: it again this week. 399 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 3: Lastly, I save this for a last purposely Jonathan Bernard 400 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 3: and the shoulder. He's gonna miss me. He's going to 401 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,159 Speaker 3: miss the final three. What what does he mean to 402 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 3: you as a captain for your team? 403 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, he's uh. 404 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 5: I tried to you know, make noted this yesterday at 405 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 5: the presser. But just when you when you when you 406 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 5: have players like JG that are are willing to come 407 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 5: here and truly establish themselves as a foundational player. And 408 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 5: he's so talented, and he's so explosive and impactful on 409 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,439 Speaker 5: the edges, it doesn't you know, it's it's hard to 410 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 5: get the quarterback on the ground these days with you know, 411 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,440 Speaker 5: both the athleticism of these guys at the quarterback position, 412 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:25,600 Speaker 5: but then the rules that are set up as well. 413 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 5: But he's he's getting the quarterback off the spot, he's 414 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 5: making an impact. 415 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 4: In the run game. 416 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:32,880 Speaker 5: You're feeling his presence when he's out there. But it's 417 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 5: even more so with what he's brought to this building 418 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 5: every single day. You know, a professionalism, a focus he's 419 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 5: he's brought guys along with him. He's you know, there's 420 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 5: very very few times where you see JG and you 421 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 5: don't see Dallas Turner walking right there with him. 422 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 4: And the way he's brought Dallas along, which. 423 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 5: Is gonna be huge for these next three weeks because 424 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 5: Dallas is you know, gonna once again, as he has 425 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 5: at times this year, really you know, assumed and every 426 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 5: down role. It was when Gink was out in the 427 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 5: couple of weeks JG was out and and I think 428 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 5: Dallas is ready to really assume that role and try 429 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 5: to pick up for the huge loss that we'll feel 430 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 5: not having JG out there. But and also want to 431 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 5: commend him for you know, really fighting through that injury 432 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 5: and rehabbing it and getting his strength back and then 433 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 5: getting back on on the field, and you know, I 434 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 5: thought he played one of his best teams of the 435 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 5: season against the Cowboys. Unfortunate we're not going to have him, 436 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 5: but he'll get fixed up and he'll be back good 437 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:27,359 Speaker 5: as new and no. 438 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:28,120 Speaker 4: Time the best. 439 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 3: That was fantastic. Thank you, appreciate you man, you too. 440 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 2: Thank you for joining us for this week's episode of 441 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 2: X's and O's is Kevin O'Connell. It's presented by Ken 442 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 2: Moore and is an official production of the Minnesota Vikings 443 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 2: Audio Network.