1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: It's time for x's and o's with Minnesota Vikings head 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: coach Kevin O'Connell on the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network now 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,240 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 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 2: Welcome into x's and o's Kevin O'Connell, presented by Ken Moore. 6 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 2: The coach joined pa from the Toys for Tot's charity 7 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 2: fund at Shields. Let's listen. 8 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 3: Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell joins us now from TCO 9 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:31,319 Speaker 3: PC round up applause for the head coach of the 10 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 3: Minnesota Vikings. Please Kevin O'Connell, who can see us and 11 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 3: we can't see him, but that's okay. It's the Kevin. 12 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 3: It's the Toys for Tots drive here annually at Shields 13 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 3: and you you are a person that is very generous 14 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 3: with your time, very generous with your means, so days 15 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 3: like this, especially for kids, I would imagine it resonates 16 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 3: with you in good morning. 17 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 4: Good morning, and hello to everybody out there, and just 18 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 4: wanted to highlight Toys for Tots and some of our 19 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 4: players being out there today. We've got one of the 20 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 4: best groups I believe in the whole NFL of giving 21 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 4: their time, giving their energy, giving their joy back to 22 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 4: the great community, not only here in the Twin Cities, 23 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 4: but in many of the cities that our players come from. 24 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 5: From around the country. 25 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 4: And I know how much it means to those guys 26 00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 4: that are going to be there today, and just how 27 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,559 Speaker 4: great of a cause that is for so many folks 28 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 4: this time of year. To bring joy to anybody's face, 29 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 4: anybody's life is a special, special thing and it's not 30 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 4: lost on any of us. So sorry I can be there. 31 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 4: I wanted to try to make it out there, but 32 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 4: as you can imagine, we are hard at work here at. 33 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 3: Tco Kevin O'Connell face and the Vikings face, the three 34 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:52,559 Speaker 3: and nine Washington Commanders here Sunday at noon on FM 35 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 3: one hundred point three KFAM and this is a Toys 36 00:01:56,440 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 3: for Tots drive, so we have opted to have some tots. 37 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 3: Some kids ask Kevin O'Connell some questions, an opportunity to 38 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 3: chat with head coach and the Minnesota Vikings coming up 39 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 3: here Connor, and they got excited about it. 40 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 5: The first one, your name is Connor, Where are you from? 41 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 6: Arlington? 42 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 3: Arlington, Okay? Look right there the head coaches on the 43 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,679 Speaker 3: other side of the camera. That's Paige Jaeger from the 44 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 3: ve and waving at you. And what is your question 45 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:24,519 Speaker 3: for head coach Kevin O'Connell. 46 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 5: If you had a superpower, what would it be? 47 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 4: Connor? That is a great question. I think I think 48 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 4: it would be for me. It would be being able 49 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 4: to be two places at one time. Be able to be, 50 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 4: you know, with my family here at the Vikings training 51 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 4: facility every single day like I am, but also to 52 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 4: be able to be home with my kids. I've got 53 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 4: four of them, one of a couple of them actually 54 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 4: don't look all that different from you and age and 55 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 4: they wear their purple Vikings jerseys on Sunday to the games, 56 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 4: just like you. I see you there in the justin Jefferson. 57 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 4: I'm looking sharp, my man. But that would be that 58 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 4: would be to be at, you know, multiple places at 59 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 4: once and be able to be all in wherever you are. 60 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 4: Would be my We would be in the superpower. But 61 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 4: it would also allow me to maybe be in the 62 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 4: meeting rooms of our opponents and find out the game 63 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 4: plans they may be using against us ahead of time 64 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 4: and use that to our advantage would be another reason. 65 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 5: But great question. Connor. 66 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 3: Yeh hey Connor high bye ma'am Pronda, applause for Connor 67 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 3: from Arlington. Come on up here, Jacob, boys for tots, 68 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 3: so we got to takes takes from tots, so to 69 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,160 Speaker 3: speak for the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin O'Connell, Jacob, 70 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 3: where are you from Burnsville? 71 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 5: And what's your question for Ko? If you could play golf? 72 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 5: Of three other people who were to. 73 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 4: Be in why man, Well, unfortunately, Pa would not be 74 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 4: one of those people. 75 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 3: I'm the one that arranged the distraction known as the kids. 76 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 5: I mean, not the distraction the kids, that's right, that's right. 77 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 4: But but Jacob, I would say, I would say. 78 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 5: One of them would have to be Tiger Woods. 79 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 4: I would just want to see what that looks like, 80 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 4: getting to play next to him, and then, believe it 81 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 4: or not, I would probably want my two boys, Kaden 82 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 4: and Colton to join me out there, even though Caden's 83 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 4: getting pretty close to being able to beat me every 84 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 4: time we play. Having him out there and Colton as well. 85 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 4: My I've got a six year old and eleven year 86 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 4: old and and like I said, that would be that 87 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 4: would be the group there us three in Tiger Woods. 88 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 4: Sounds pretty fun, doesn't it. 89 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, let me turn it on you. If you 90 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 3: could golf with any two people, Jacob, who would it be? 91 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 5: Probably tell your woods? 92 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, and and. 93 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 4: You haven't seen me golf, Jacob, You haven't seen. 94 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 3: Me golf actually has that's why he wants to play 95 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 3: with you. There you go, Jacob from Minutamka. Thank you 96 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 3: up here, Charlie. Last one takes from Tots Toys for Tots, Charlie. 97 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 3: Where are you from? Wood Bear, Woodbury? What's your question 98 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 3: for Kevin O'Connell. 99 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 6: My question is just that the past few weeks have 100 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 6: not gone our way, and I was just wondering, what 101 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 6: are you telling the guys and what's the game plan 102 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 6: for coming into this week? 103 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 5: Next week? We're getting in the weeds? Yeah, good, good questions. 104 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 4: So a lot of the a lot of the struggles, 105 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 4: and we are certainly in a tough time right now. 106 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 4: We have not won a game in far too long, 107 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 4: and we've gotten used to around here winning games. So 108 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 4: what I've been really challenging the guys to do is 109 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 4: stay the course, continue to show that we're willing and capable. 110 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 4: Of playing extremely hard, working throughout the week, putting together 111 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 4: great game plans, getting these players to understand what they've 112 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 4: built here culturally can't just be something we endorse and 113 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,799 Speaker 4: ring the bell about when we're winning. It's more important 114 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 4: to be able to show what we're all made of 115 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 4: in these moments where things are tough vikings. Fans want 116 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 4: to see their teams, their team have success, and we 117 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 4: want to bring that energy and that juice to us 118 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 4: Bank Stadium this week. And we're playing against a team 119 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 4: that also is looking to win a football game and 120 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 4: desperately needs to as well, So we're both going to 121 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 4: be laying at all on the line, and hopefully we 122 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 4: can put together a great game plan for our team offense, 123 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,559 Speaker 4: defense and special teams and go play a good game 124 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 4: of complimentary football, which we have not done lately. And 125 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 4: we're learning and seeing in the real time you do 126 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:38,040 Speaker 4: when you do a lot of things that. 127 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 5: Lose football games, you. 128 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 4: Really don't give yourself a chance to win them. And 129 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 4: we've got to get back to doing the things that 130 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 4: win football games, which over the course of my time here, 131 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 4: we know what that looks like, but we've got to 132 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 4: make it happen. And talking about it outside of that 133 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 4: great question from you is not going to do much 134 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 4: to do it. So we've got to get to work 135 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 4: and continue to step forward, step together and make sure 136 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 4: that the best parts of this organization come out when needed, 137 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 4: which is now. 138 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 3: Charlie, ladies and gentlemen, Hi by Bud, great job, great 139 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:09,280 Speaker 3: job with that question. 140 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 6: Good job Charlie. 141 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 3: You guys can watch all of that backup vikings dot 142 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 3: Com later. Our final question a tot A take from 143 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 3: a tot are tot is Eric from Chaska. Eric from Chaska. 144 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:28,239 Speaker 3: This child as the final question. What's your question, Eric. 145 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 7: Well, coach as you talk about trying to improve sor 146 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 7: a forty one year old tot from Chaska coach amidst 147 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,040 Speaker 7: some of the negative things talking about putting things back 148 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 7: together five games less than this season, how do you 149 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 7: balance out trying to win games or parse through wins 150 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 7: and losses with really cherishing the successes and the growth 151 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 7: that your team has seen over the course of twenty 152 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 7: twenty five. 153 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's a great question, Eric, and hopefully you get 154 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 4: your hands on a toy or two today as well. 155 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 4: But but no, I think you know the way I 156 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 4: look at it, right, now is although we are, you know, 157 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 4: putting everything we have into going want to know this week, 158 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 4: finding a way to win a game, bring some joy 159 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 4: back to our locker room and most importantly to our 160 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 4: fans at US Bank Stadium this Sunday. But in the 161 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 4: midst of the struggle, in the midst of this journey 162 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 4: we've been on with some bumps in the road, no question, 163 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 4: I do believe you can be building and forging something 164 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 4: that can be built well into the future of we 165 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 4: can remember these moments, we can remember who and what 166 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 4: it felt like and it looked like when we were 167 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 4: all in in these moments, and this team continued to 168 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 4: stay together. 169 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 5: This team continued, even. 170 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 4: Without the results, to be about the things that we say. 171 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 5: We're about in our locker room all well, knowing. 172 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 4: We've got to improve the football, We've got to get 173 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 4: the football right, We've got to play games the certain 174 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 4: ways that when we look back on the moments that 175 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 4: we can team out of this stretch, hopefully in a 176 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 4: positive way. I think we'll be able to build on 177 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 4: that and build on that and look back on this 178 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 4: when adversity inevitably hits down the road, We'll remember these 179 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 4: moments and how we dealt with these moments, because obviously, 180 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 4: you know, you know, the spirit and the culture that 181 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 4: exists in the drought will only be enhanced in the harvest. 182 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 4: I tell our team that all the time, and we've 183 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 4: got to be able to look. 184 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:27,560 Speaker 5: Inward right now. And it's not easy to do. 185 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 4: It's very easy to find that exit ramp and look 186 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 4: the other way. But not this group, not any team 187 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 4: I ever. 188 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 3: Coach Eric Connor, Jacob Charlie, roundup applause for all these wonderful. 189 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 5: Tots, what takes for the next coach and go to 190 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 5: the Minnesota Vikings. 191 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 3: It's back at the vast and never expandingd CEO Radio Studio, 192 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 3: Vikings Entertainment Network. 193 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 2: Minnesota needed to go to source for everything high school sports. 194 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 2: That's why the Minnesota Star Tribune created Strib Varsity. You 195 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 2: can sign up now at Star Tribune dot com slash 196 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 2: Strib Varsity. Start Tribune slash Strib Varsity. More x's and 197 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 2: o's around the corner of the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network. 198 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 2: Hey Vikings fans, right now you can pick up a 199 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 2: commemorative PEPSI Vikings Cup at us Bank Stadium or participating 200 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:16,719 Speaker 2: high v Fast and Fresh and Buffalo Wild Wings locations 201 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 2: for your chance to win Victor's Ride and other great prizes. 202 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,599 Speaker 2: Vikings fans deserve PEPSI MOREX and O's with Kevin O'Connell. 203 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 3: Right now in your estimation, Kevin is Dallas Turner turning 204 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,080 Speaker 3: a corner to potentially becoming a big timer. 205 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 4: Well, I'll tell you he had one of his best 206 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 4: games this past Sunday. And obviously the stat sheet is 207 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 4: always what I know a lot of folks look at, 208 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,880 Speaker 4: but to me, especially with a player like Dallas, the 209 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 4: eye test of just what it felt like watching him 210 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 4: play with such speed, his athleticism on display, physicality. I mean, 211 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 4: he was all over the field, sideline to sideline, great 212 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 4: pass rush when he got his ops, especially in some 213 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 4: of those one on one opportunities. Was just a physical 214 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 4: force throughout the game. And you saw it in a 215 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 4: lot of different ways. And that's why we were so 216 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 4: excited to bring Dallas here. And I think he's getting 217 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 4: better and better and after a couple you know, really 218 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 4: nice performances here of late. You know, my challenge to 219 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 4: him and to himself, I know from Dallas himself is 220 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 4: a consistency. Now be that guy every single week, be 221 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 4: a force for our defense, be a force for Flow 222 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,319 Speaker 4: and that defensive staff to be able to turn him loose. 223 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,080 Speaker 4: And I think we're gonna see more and more playmaking 224 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 4: out of Dallas Turner here over the final five games 225 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:29,080 Speaker 4: of our regular season. 226 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, you credited a punter, Ryan Wright in your press 227 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 3: conference yesterday, and rightfully so, and but frustrating as it 228 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 3: may be to hear right now, he and the kicker 229 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 3: Will Rekerd, I mean they're super important during a season. 230 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:51,439 Speaker 4: Like this, right Yeah, I think anytime you're not having 231 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 4: the type of production as an offense that really we've 232 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 4: had for the better part of three years coming into 233 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 4: this season, We've really never had to play too many 234 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,959 Speaker 4: games where field position was so important, flipping the field 235 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 4: when you're backed up or pinning somebody deep to allow 236 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 4: our defense to be able to defend ninety plus yards 237 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 4: of grass to keep people out. 238 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 5: Of the end zone. 239 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 4: The kicking game has you know, there's been some moments 240 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 4: where our special teams have had one or two plays 241 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 4: where they've been catastrophically impactful on the game. But for 242 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,199 Speaker 4: the better part of the whole season, I think our 243 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 4: coverage units have been very good. Will Reikert's been out standing. 244 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 4: Like you said, the fifty nine yard at Green Bay 245 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 4: was one of the more impressive kicks I've seen. And 246 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 4: then Ryan Wright has had his best year. He's been consistent. 247 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 4: It's not just the hangtime, it's not just the distance, 248 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,719 Speaker 4: it's the location. It's really playing almost a pitch and 249 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 4: catch game with our gunners. You know, Tavier Thomas and 250 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:50,840 Speaker 4: Tym Fleming have both been just absolutely lights out winning 251 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 4: versus double teams, single blocks out there, and it's all 252 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 4: come together in ways that have helped us try to 253 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 4: navigate some of these choppy waters offense, because it gives 254 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 4: our defense a chance to then impose their will and 255 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 4: see if we can get these games to the fourth 256 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 4: quarter and have a chance to win them in the end. 257 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 5: And we've got to do. 258 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 4: A lot more things better in other aspects of our team, 259 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 4: but there's no question that Ryan and Will have been 260 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 4: phenomenal for us. 261 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 3: Last couple here for Kevin O'Connell, head coach of the 262 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 3: Minnesota Vikings. This is every Tuesday on kf a N 263 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,439 Speaker 3: and Vikings dot com. It's called x'es and o's and 264 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 3: and Kevin is very gracious with his time each and 265 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 3: every Tuesday. Christian deisop the left tackle is so vital 266 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 3: to the success of your offense. Does does much of 267 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 3: what you want to when when he doesn't play, does 268 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 3: much have to change? 269 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 1: Yeah? 270 00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 4: I think you just end up, you know, having to 271 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 4: make some sacrifices to some scheme, some different aspects of 272 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 4: how you're going to try to protect, especially against you know, 273 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 4: specifically in regards to the last Sunday, I mean, you're 274 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 4: playing against, if not the best defense front across the board, 275 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 4: they're right up there with some of Green. 276 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 5: Bay we played the previous week. 277 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:09,280 Speaker 4: And what happens is you've got to make some sacrifices 278 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 4: to try to help who's ever stepping in, in this 279 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 4: case justin school there on the left side, try to 280 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:18,679 Speaker 4: help him as best we can. Maybe that mitigates the 281 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 4: impact that TJ. Hockinson can have. Is a rhythm part 282 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 4: of our past game, and although TJ eventually made his 283 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 4: impact on the game, it was not without risk of 284 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 4: trying to maybe not do everything we could always for 285 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 4: the sake of protection, you're trying to activate as many 286 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 4: eligibles as you can. Christian Darsol is a force in 287 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 4: the run game. You get him and Josh Oliver working 288 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 4: together over on that left side. We've had some real, 289 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 4: real impactful plays this year in the run game behind 290 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 4: those guys, So you. 291 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 5: Just look at it. He's one of our best players. 292 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 4: There's a reason why those franchise caliber left tackles aren't 293 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 4: on every roster in the National Football League, and the 294 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 4: loss of those players is belt. Not only last year, 295 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 4: you know, when we were able to overcome it, winning 296 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 4: a lot of games without CD once he went down 297 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 4: in the fifth game. It's been a little bit more 298 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 4: difficult for us this year to just kind of overcome 299 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 4: just the ebbs and flows of CD's recovery, as he's 300 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 4: been able to come back and be on the field, 301 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 4: but just not to the level at which we all, 302 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 4: you know, have come to expect, just because of the 303 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 4: natural progression of that rehab process. 304 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 5: And he's getting better and better every week. 305 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 4: He's gonna have a good week this week, and we're 306 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 4: absolutely hopeful CD himself included in that that he'll be 307 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 4: out there in the seventy one Jersey at left tackle 308 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 4: this weekend. 309 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 5: I mentioned Dallas Turner. 310 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 3: Your defense at Darnold all messed up pretty much the 311 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 3: entire game Sunday, when you graded the defensive performance outside 312 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 3: of Darisaw, what did you see? I mean, outside of 313 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 3: Dallas Turner, what did you see? 314 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 5: Yeah? 315 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 4: I think what I saw was great disguise. They were 316 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 4: doing a lot of things to try to cause confusion 317 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 4: pre snap for not only Sam, but the play caller 318 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 4: there and the rest of the guys on the offensive 319 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 4: team there. For the Seahawks, there was great disguise, and 320 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 4: then there was a play style there that you know, encompassed. 321 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 4: We wanted to be a good tackling team, and I 322 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 4: thought they were on. 323 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 5: The field a lot. They were on the field too 324 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 5: much and maybe wore down a little. 325 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 4: Bit as the game went on, but they continued to 326 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 4: find a way to force some of those third downs 327 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 4: where there was potential for the ball to get turned 328 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 4: over and give us a chance to get back in 329 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 4: the game. There was a chance to make some impactful plays, 330 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 4: not only by Dallas. Eric Wilson had a very nice game, 331 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 4: Blake Cashman. We saw Van Ginkle continue to impact the game. 332 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 4: Doesn't always do it in the stat sheet where people 333 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 4: can see it, but he's so impactful. 334 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 5: Getting Jonathan Garnard back. 335 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 4: I think he played fifteen snaps is obviously huge as 336 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 4: one of our best players. And then how about a 337 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 4: guy like Jay Ward stepping in and bringing a physicality 338 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 4: and a level of play style and tackling to that 339 00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 4: corner position. Flow and his staff have come up with 340 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 4: way to get Jay Ward on the field, which I 341 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,920 Speaker 4: love because I love watching just the way Jay Ward 342 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 4: plays football and that he does. 343 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 5: It in the kicking game. But now we're starting to 344 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 5: see it a little bit on the defensive side. 345 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, you so Rogers comes out for a few plays, 346 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 3: in comes Jay Ward. I mean, just welcome to the 347 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 3: show Man. Is a corner your opposite Jackson Smith and 348 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 3: Jigba and you know, defenses disguise so beautifully it initially 349 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 3: looks like, wow, that might be one on one and 350 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 3: then of course there's a little help, but I think 351 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,200 Speaker 3: they would call that baptism by fire. Yeah, j Jay's 352 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 3: giving you some good reps this year. Lastly, football being 353 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 3: the ultimate team game, it's very difficult at least for 354 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 3: me to hone in on one thing and say this 355 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 3: is the most important thing. But arguably Kevin is the 356 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 3: single most important thing. With the twenty twenty five Minnesota 357 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:56,120 Speaker 3: Vikings moving forward, the improvement and maturation of JJ McCarthy. 358 00:17:57,119 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, I just think it's the quarterback position and the 359 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 4: ability to play at a consistent level that allows the 360 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,360 Speaker 4: other guys to have an impact on the game. Everything 361 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 4: goes through the quarterback position. And we've seen some moments, 362 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 4: you know, you go back through our season, you see 363 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 4: some moments where JJ gets in a great rhythm and 364 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 4: we're able to really see the fruits of the special 365 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 4: players we have on our offense, like Justin and Jordan 366 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 4: and TJ and Jalen Naylor and and and I think 367 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 4: just the consistency factor of not only JJ doing his job, 368 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,520 Speaker 4: but the detail of everybody around him, the ability to 369 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 4: make sure we're limiting any and all self inflicted causes 370 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 4: that either eliminate our chances for success on a given play, 371 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 4: sequencing of a play on a drive, a critical third 372 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 4: and two? Can we get third and three, third and four? 373 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 4: Can we get all eleven guys doing their job and 374 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 4: find a way to get those new set of downs 375 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 4: and then see if we can stack more positive plays. 376 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 5: On that all. Well, you know this PA is as. 377 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,320 Speaker 4: Well as any We've got to try to find a 378 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 4: way to generate some of those explosive plays that help 379 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 4: you not have to drive at twelve, thirteen, fourteen plays 380 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 4: every time you touch it. And it's been kind of 381 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 4: a hallmark of our offense over the course of our 382 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 4: time here. Even when maybe we've you know, hit a 383 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 4: stretch during a game where we don't consistently have positive plays, 384 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 4: we've been able to overcome it by generating those seven 385 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 4: to ten explosive type plays in the game that either 386 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 4: flip the field, put you in the scoring zone, or 387 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 4: ultimately provide the lift needed to then stack whatever's required 388 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 4: to go get a win. And even if that's coming 389 00:19:37,880 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 4: from behind a fourth quarter comeback, you know, one score 390 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 4: games that we've been pretty successful at. Those plays are 391 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 4: just something that we've lacked and we haven't had enough 392 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 4: of this year. And the continue to growth and development 393 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 4: of JJ coming back hopefully with a full week of 394 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:57,120 Speaker 4: practice this week will be will be a real positive 395 00:19:57,119 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 4: and I can't wait to watch them play. 396 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,439 Speaker 3: When you're foreign, as you know, there's a lot of 397 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 3: noise all over the place, speaking for one hundred or 398 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 3: so here, specifically the kids and the families with whom 399 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 3: I've chatted, Nordo and yours truly ma'am. They all love 400 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 3: and they all care, and they want you to win 401 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 3: every single game, and we'll be pulling for you and 402 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 3: the team hard this weekend. 403 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 4: Thank you, Kevin. Have a great day. Kevin o'connory appreciate 404 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 4: you guys. Man, We got the best fans in the world. 405 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:24,400 Speaker 4: Thanks Pa, Da have a good day. 406 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 3: Man's Kevin O'Connell, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. 407 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 2: Thank you for joining us for this week's episode of 408 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,320 Speaker 2: X's and O's of Kevin O'Connell. It's presented by Ken 409 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,880 Speaker 2: Moore and is an official production of the Minnesota Vikings 410 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,359 Speaker 2: Audio Network.