1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: It is time for XES and o's with Minnesota Vikings 2 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: head coach Kevin O'Connell on the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network 3 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: now from the TCO studios at Egan. Here is the 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: voice of the Vikings, Paul Allen. 5 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 2: Welcome man x's and o's with Kevin O'Connell, presented by 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,639 Speaker 2: Ken Moore. And Minnesota needed to go to sports everything 7 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 2: high school sports. That's why the Minnesota starts abune creative 8 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 2: Strib Varsity Sign him now, start Tribune dot com, slash 9 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: Strib Varsity, X's and o's. Kevin O'Connell kicks off. 10 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 3: Now Here comes Kevin O'Connell, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, 11 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 3: for XES and o's. The Minnesota Vikings hosts the Baltimore 12 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 3: Ravens at US Bank Stadium Sunday at noon. Ravens are 13 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 3: three and five and more on the Ravens coming up 14 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 3: soon because the Lamar Jackson's back. They've won two consecutive 15 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 3: and it's the National Football League, which means National Football 16 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 3: League Trade deadline day today and the head coach of 17 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,839 Speaker 3: the Minnesota Vikings joins us. Now, guys working on any 18 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 3: whoppers up there in the old second floor, mister O'Connell, I. 19 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 4: Would say the whoppers are more on the whiteboard right 20 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 4: now with the coaching staff drawing some plays, more so 21 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 4: than me being involved directly right. 22 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 5: Now with any of that stuff. But I know there's 23 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 5: a lot of calls going on. Quacy and his staff 24 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 5: do a great job with that. And see where the 25 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 5: day goes all done. Yeah, there you go. 26 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 3: The locker room after the Alliance win, wild, loud and joyous, 27 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 3: and it reminded me it's like you got four wins, 28 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 3: So locker room after the Bengals game, cool, after the 29 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 3: Browns game, everybody's tired, wants to get home. 30 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 5: Cool. 31 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 3: But after the Bears win and after this win kind 32 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 3: of reminded me of each other there and and you know, 33 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 3: with the joyous nature of the locker room after that victory, 34 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 3: you could just tell that those guys worked really really 35 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 3: hard during the week and during the day to win 36 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 3: that game, didn't they. 37 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was Uh, it really started the monday after 38 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 4: we got back from you know, played on Thursday, gave 39 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,239 Speaker 4: the guys the weekend off, and then when they came 40 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:15,040 Speaker 4: in on Monday, you know, I was I'd spent a 41 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 4: lot of time thinking about the direction we needed to 42 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 4: go last week, and I was pretty direct, and I 43 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 4: told them exactly what where I thought we were at 44 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 4: and where we needed to go, and how wildly capable 45 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 4: we were to do the things required to win the 46 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 4: football game last Sunday, And just so proud of the guys, 47 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 4: proud of our leadership. 48 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 5: It's just one game in this league, you know. 49 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 4: Obviously the NFC North battles always seemed to mean a 50 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 4: little bit more, especially on the road. 51 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 5: And we're two and zero on the road this year. 52 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,639 Speaker 4: In the division, right, and we've got we've got to 53 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 4: keep having many of the same principles that we were 54 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 4: able to kind of put in play and really envision 55 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 4: for this team, you know, many many days and months ago. 56 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 4: We got to put it into action every single week. 57 00:02:58,440 --> 00:03:02,679 Speaker 4: And this league, the hardest, the true measure of teams 58 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 4: is their ability once they find their rhythm once there 59 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 4: through some of the adversity that we went through early 60 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 4: on in the season injury wise, can you be consistent. 61 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 4: That's the hardest thing is week in and week out, 62 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 4: teams are game. 63 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 5: Planning, coaching at a high level. 64 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 4: You're playing against another great quarterback this week, and a 65 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 4: team that has really found themselves again. And when they have, 66 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 4: you know, their team built the way they want around 67 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,079 Speaker 4: that quarterback and a defense flying around with a bunch 68 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 4: of talent. This is one of the best teams in football. 69 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 4: So we're gonna have to make sure that we don't 70 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 4: just you know, expect that feeling in that. 71 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 5: Locker room post game. A lot goes into it. 72 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 4: Players deserve all the credit and now I'm gonna put 73 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 4: it on them to try to make sure we can repeat, 74 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 4: well repeat. 75 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 5: Those performances well. Also, I think there's a lot of 76 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 5: things we. 77 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 4: Can still do better, Pa, you know, as we continue 78 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 4: to grow. And it sounds crazy to say that after 79 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 4: playing eight games, but it does feel like in many 80 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 4: ways a new season for our team, just the feeling of, 81 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 4: you know, wanting to continue to grow through getting guys 82 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 4: back on the field, really finding that formula of what 83 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 4: the twenty twenty five vikings are going to be when 84 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 4: it's all said and done. 85 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 3: Kevin, I'm really glad you said that about the division, 86 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 3: the NFC North, because into that game, okay, it's you 87 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 3: guys were either perceived underdogs or pointspread underdogs into. 88 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 5: That game on the okay, right off place to go play. 89 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 3: However, I'm rarely stunned when a perceived underdog wins a 90 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 3: division game. Yep, because of the familiarity, you know what 91 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 3: I mean, Yeah. 92 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 5: And you just I mean, you know them well, they 93 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 5: know us well. 94 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 4: There's a there was some new coordinators on that side, 95 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 4: but obviously Dan's done a heck of a job, you know, 96 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 4: building a staff that can kind of transition from losing 97 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 4: both coordinators and kind of keep guys that were very 98 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 4: much aware of how they've had a lot of their 99 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 4: success on offense and on defense. So but yeah, it's 100 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 4: they always mean a little bit more. 101 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 5: But it also means a little bit. 102 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 4: More because in both the Chicago and Detroit wins, we 103 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 4: know we're gonna see these guys again, and we're gonna 104 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 4: see them at us Bank Stadium. But that doesn't mean 105 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,560 Speaker 4: we're gonna let one get away from us today and just. 106 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 5: Try to play good football. 107 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 4: And it helps to have a team that you know 108 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 4: well and you know some of the big cast of 109 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 4: characters that you've got to basically, you know, try to 110 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 4: win matchups against and see if you can win enough 111 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 4: of the one on ones across the field throughout the game. 112 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 5: In all three phases that they add up. 113 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 3: Yeah, division wins are the bomb, and really the underdog 114 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 3: status kind of gets thrown out the window no matter 115 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 3: the records, because they know each other so well, not 116 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 3: all the time, but sometimes. Now to the meat and 117 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 3: potatoes and McCarthy portion of the equation, and from a 118 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 3: meat and potatoes standpoint, and I'm gonna have to read 119 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,280 Speaker 3: this because I don't want to mess it up. Is 120 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 3: they get down there? The Porter goes three sixty six 121 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 3: and one. All right, places loud, they're up seven zero. Yep, 122 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 3: you get that kick return which so well timed to 123 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:56,679 Speaker 3: like get people to sit down for a second. Ford 124 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,520 Speaker 3: Field has become a place that said this during the 125 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 3: radio broadcast. The fans are always up. I mean they're 126 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 3: just really really into it. The stands are close to 127 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 3: the field, so it can be a really really daunting 128 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 3: home environment. Miles gets that sixty one. But on that 129 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 3: play with that kick return after laporter score Baddie and Felton, 130 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 3: I mean, what wonderful meat and potatoes work they did 131 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 3: to help free him. And then you get Eric Wilson, 132 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 3: all right, the same Eric Wilson who's tied for the 133 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 3: team lead, in sacks messing with a guy late where 134 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 3: Miles price that gave him a chance to get clear. 135 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 3: I was just so impressed by that, the meat and 136 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 3: potatoes aspect of Baddie and Felton, but then leading sacks 137 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 3: guy out there trying to free him for a touchdown. 138 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, no, it was a huge play for Miles, who's 139 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 4: a guy that we think every time he touches the 140 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 4: ball's got a chance to do something with it, especially 141 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 4: because of those guys he's had on that unit in 142 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 4: front of him. And really we've had some really really 143 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 4: good execution, specifically in the kick return phase and punt 144 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 4: return phase. But many of those opportunities you've seen that 145 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 4: yellow flag come flying on the field, just as guys 146 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 4: it's a different play. Guys are a lot closer together. 147 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 4: There's a lot bigger bodies out there. The change of 148 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 4: direction with all those bodies clumped together basically five yards apart, 149 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 4: you've got to know when, as we learned on the 150 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 4: touchdown later in the game, you got to go know 151 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 4: when to let go. But you win those one on 152 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 4: ones in those in those blocking battles with guys like Baddie, 153 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 4: you know, felt and then obviously you will, it will 154 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 4: give you a chance to very at the very least 155 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 4: flip the field, at the very least give us a 156 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 4: little shot of life there after they did score early, 157 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 4: and then what I loved about that is the offense 158 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 4: getting the ball in the end zone and then the 159 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 4: defense going out and getting to stop and we go 160 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 4: right back. And for the first time and since I've 161 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 4: been the head coach here, really felt like we had 162 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 4: total control the football game early. Obviously, against a really 163 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 4: good team like that, you can lose it in a heartbeat, 164 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 4: but it just felt like our team's kept on stacking 165 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 4: plays when we needed him to have them happen to 166 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 4: maintain the momentum pay that we had in the game, 167 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 4: and then that allowed us to play things like field 168 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 4: position that still matters in twenty twenty five in the NFL. 169 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 4: I think a lot of people have lost sight of 170 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 4: what it's like to win that battle, Ryan right, you know, 171 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 4: keeping those guys inside the ten. And then obviously us 172 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 4: being able to have short fields coming back for a 173 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 4: variety of different reasons. 174 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 3: And meet and potatoes than McCarthy more meet and potatoes. 175 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 3: The Jones long one, the one that they took from 176 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 3: a pass to a run. Nice floater by McCarthy. You 177 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 3: hit on that at your press conference yesterday. It was 178 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 3: a really nice touch floater. Hockinson did enough with Branch, 179 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 3: all right, so that was fine. Jordan Addison demolished Arthur Molett, 180 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 3: the cornerback, legally demolished him. And I think Terry and 181 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 3: Arnold wanted to fight Jordan Addison during the play until 182 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,439 Speaker 3: he saw Jones whipping down the up the sideline. 183 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 5: Hey, I got to go get him. Yeah, but you know, 184 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 5: you know what I'm talking about here. 185 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, Addison crushes Mallett and then like Terry and Arnold 186 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 3: took umbrage to it right there, and I thought he 187 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 3: was going to go after Jordan. 188 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, it was. 189 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 4: It was a play we we didn't have a lot 190 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 4: of plays up in the game with both Jordan Mason 191 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 4: and Aaron Jones on the field, So when I called 192 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 4: that personnel grouping, everybody knew what play was coming. 193 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 5: But it was the execution. We got the exact look 194 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 5: we wanted. 195 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:29,319 Speaker 4: Jordan actually was being covered by Terry on Arnold on 196 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 4: the play, so he gets you know, he trails Jordan 197 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 4: down in there as he's blocking Mallet and when he 198 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,839 Speaker 4: makes that block and puts him on the ground. You're right, 199 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 4: Terry On didn't know whether to you know, stick up 200 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 4: for his guy or go try to run down the play. 201 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:43,719 Speaker 4: And I did think that was a big time throw 202 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 4: by JJ. Not an easy one, not for you know, 203 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 4: to get that up and over the defensive end right 204 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 4: there and give Aaron a chance to be out the 205 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 4: gate for what was a huge play in the moment. 206 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 5: Thought it was pass yards. 207 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,199 Speaker 4: You know, JJ's would have been in the one seventies 208 00:09:57,880 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 4: if that was past yards. 209 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 5: But hel the yards for attempt the whole thing. I 210 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 5: watched it. I watched it. Really don't understand it. 211 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 4: I watched it really close. It is as close as 212 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 4: you can possibly be. So whoever was scoring the play 213 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 4: on the day, I think they were more of an 214 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:16,880 Speaker 4: Aaron Jones or maybe not a JJ McCarthy fan who 215 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 4: knows well. 216 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 3: Keeping momentum obviously is key. And we have a talk 217 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 3: back each and every Tuesday for Viking's head coach Kevin O'Connell. 218 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 5: And here's this week's. 219 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 6: Good Morning Nordo on PA. It's Mike from Tampa. This 220 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 6: is for the head coach. Koc First and foremost, congrats, 221 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 6: on a great win, a great team effort from coaching 222 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 6: on down, firing on all cylinders, a couple of things 223 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 6: for improvements. 224 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 5: Where we can tighten up. 225 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 6: I think the biggest question that fans and myself have 226 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 6: is how do you keep the team on a high 227 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 6: off a great win like that at Ford Field with 228 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,679 Speaker 6: a strong Baltimore team coming in and keep them focused 229 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 6: so that they keep firing on all cylinders upcoming. 230 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,839 Speaker 4: Yeah, Mike, I think it's a great question, and you 231 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 4: think a lot about those things as many times as 232 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 4: in minutes and hours you plan. Like I mentioned of 233 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 4: having the team back after that long weekend where we 234 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 4: had some time off, you spend a lot of time 235 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 4: thinking about what is the direction that I need to 236 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 4: make sure I present and then actively hold our guys too. 237 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 4: Throughout the week after a win like that, you absolutely 238 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 4: have to give it the same amount of care and concern. 239 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 4: But what I would say is the journey we've been 240 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 4: on this year has been filled with many, many moments 241 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 4: where it'd be easy for these guys to, you know, 242 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 4: just say, you know, maybe it's not our year. 243 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 5: There's a lot of things going wrong. 244 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 4: There's a lot of things injury wise where we just 245 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 4: need that guy or this guy and we just don't 246 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 4: have him, maybe in game losing linemen, right. 247 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 5: Tackle, left, haack, whatever it is. 248 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 4: We've kind of taken a journey up until this point 249 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 4: that I think has kind of calcified us as a 250 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 4: team to know these guys are really it's a different 251 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 4: kind of it's a different kind vibe in a good 252 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:02,640 Speaker 4: way where hey, we get off to a five and 253 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 4: oh start. Last year, we lose two in a row 254 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:06,680 Speaker 4: and it's hey, let's write this ship and get back 255 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 4: to where we were. We really never felt, you know, 256 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 4: outside of you know, beating Chicago and the opener, and 257 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 4: even then we didn't play a good game in the 258 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 4: first half, specifically on offense, we never have really felt 259 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 4: like we've earned the right to feel like we've arrived. 260 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 5: And through that time we've had. 261 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 4: To really look inward and have a little grit and 262 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 4: and a different kind of feel to how we go 263 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,840 Speaker 4: about our business and persevering through some adversity directly starting 264 00:12:34,040 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 4: you know, the season where it hasn't really been like 265 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 4: that always for us. I know we started oh and 266 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,000 Speaker 4: three a couple of years ago, but Pa, what I 267 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 4: mean by that is, I think these guys are showing 268 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 4: back up in the building with kind of a workmanlike 269 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 4: approach now of understanding the margin of error is razor thin, 270 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 4: and we need to do everything in our power to 271 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:55,319 Speaker 4: prepare for every every game each week like it is 272 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 4: the only thing that matters, and do it with our 273 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 4: same culture and guys having an absolute you know blast 274 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 4: competing daily and getting better and all those things that 275 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 4: we do around here. But in the end, there is 276 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 4: a level of edge to this team now that I 277 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 4: think Vikings fans you know, hopefully can appreciate because of 278 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:15,679 Speaker 4: the journey we've been on that we have not been 279 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 4: happy about up until this point in the season. But 280 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 4: nine games left and I feel like this team is 281 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 4: now prepared to do a lot of the things required 282 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 4: and have the personality of a football team that can 283 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 4: go do those things. 284 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 2: Join the Vikings Middle LIGHTE and k FA N for 285 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,079 Speaker 2: the Salute to Service Bar Tour November fourth through the seventh, 286 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 2: when Vikings tickets, merch and enjoy a beer. Final The 287 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 2: details on the Viking Street Team Instagram page at Vikings 288 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 2: Street Team. More x's and o's around the corner on 289 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 2: the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network. Football fans meet Pays, a 290 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 2: convenient new online checkout offered by bank and credit unions. 291 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 2: Learn more at pays dot com pa Ze pays dot Com. 292 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:54,559 Speaker 2: Back to X's and O's the Kevin O'Connor. 293 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 3: Garra saw with O'Neill, it just changes everything, doesn't. 294 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,440 Speaker 4: I mean, there's these guys, it's hard to put into 295 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 4: words just what they mean to our offense and the 296 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 4: combination of both those guys together. I thought Christian had 297 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:10,760 Speaker 4: one of his, you know, one of his best games 298 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 4: he's had this season, and. 299 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 5: And just the fight. 300 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:16,079 Speaker 4: I mean, he's he's he's still in a position, pa 301 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 4: where you know, the reps as they stack up and 302 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 4: and and he gets into a game where it is 303 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 4: a mental test for him, you know, every single week, 304 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 4: but he's passing it and and he is continuing. I 305 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 4: love the way he handled himself in the football game. 306 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 4: He was one of the first on the field out 307 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,040 Speaker 4: in the huddle, set in the tone for those guys. 308 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 4: And then I thought Brian O'Neill, you know, had a 309 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 4: really tough matchup ended up having Hutchinson on him quite 310 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 4: a bit on that right side, and. 311 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 5: He fought a heck of a battle against what you know. 312 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 5: As now, I don't know whether he is or not. 313 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 4: I haven't done the math on it, but feels like 314 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 4: they made him a pretty well compensated pass rusher last week. 315 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 4: But somehow about the block on the early screen against 316 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 4: the zero pressure, Yeah, where he gets out on the 317 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 4: corner and kid just some of the other things he did. 318 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 4: Those guys are so so important to what we do. 319 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 4: And and also you know, Donovan Jackson played a really 320 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 4: great game, having seventy one in there right next to him, 321 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 4: and then Will Fries with bo and just how the 322 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 4: Nick Finett's blocking in the run game and stepping in 323 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 4: for Josh Oliver and next to those tackles. 324 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 5: They have a lot to do with a lot of 325 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 5: our success. 326 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 3: All right, Ravens to close here with, By the way, 327 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 3: did Christian Christian exit the game? 328 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 5: Okay? 329 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 3: Yes, Darrisaw came out of it. Okay, good the Ravens. 330 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 3: What does the number five fifty two mean to you? 331 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 3: Five fifty two Ravens, I don't know. Uh, it's the 332 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 3: combined weight of Derrick Henry and Patrick Ricard, which means 333 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 3: that's a two man jumbo package runner right at you. 334 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: Right right. 335 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, we're gonna see it. We're gonna see it. 336 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 4: We've seen bigger groupings from people just about in every 337 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 4: game we've played this year. You hear the official announcing 338 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 4: either somebody as an eligible and extra alignment as ineligible, 339 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 4: or you've got you know, some of the big fullbacks 340 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 4: and tight ends, you know, Washington from Pittsburgh, who I 341 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 4: think is you know, if he's not close to three 342 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 4: hundred pounds, I'd like to see the scale, you know. 343 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 4: And then just some of the people are choosing to 344 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 4: try to get bigger with our defense and try to 345 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 4: play that kind of game to avoid some of the 346 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 4: risk factors that you know very well. 347 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 5: Pa. When you play against Brian. 348 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 4: Four at Flores and you want to spread him out 349 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 4: with a bunch of skilled people on the field, you know, 350 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 4: you know you're signing up for some potential problems. 351 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 5: And so people are going the other way. 352 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 4: They're trying to get bigger, they're trying to play physical. 353 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 4: That's why I love the fact that we had the 354 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 4: type of knockback we had won the line of scrimmage 355 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,080 Speaker 4: in the interior of the D line. The edges were 356 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 4: set by Grenard and Turner and Van Ginkel, and then 357 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 4: obviously Cashman and Eric were flying all over the place 358 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,920 Speaker 4: making a lot of tackles and many of them for loss. 359 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 3: Oh you mean Eric Wilson, who has four sacks, one 360 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 3: of your leading sacrists, super important on kick return. 361 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 5: That's right. 362 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 3: Oh, that fifty five Cole Redford Michigan, twenty minutes away 363 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 3: from Detroit. Talk to his mom before every game. I 364 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 3: see him. Shannon's her name, I believe, And they had 365 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 3: about twenty five people there. 366 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 5: They were super excited. That was really cool. 367 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 3: I don't know who the best player in the Ravens 368 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,479 Speaker 3: defense is at this time of the week. Rokwan switz Smith, 369 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 3: I've looked at that. Kyle Hamilton, just the Notre Dame safety. 370 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 3: How does he play like Kyle Hamilton? What do you 371 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 3: think about him? 372 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 5: Yeah? 373 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 4: I think you know, they've kind of throughout the season, 374 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 4: you know, he really was playing a lot more of 375 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 4: the safety position. 376 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 5: Early on in the year. 377 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 4: They make a trade for a third safety, Gilman from 378 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 4: the Chargers, who is a very good player, and that's 379 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 4: really allowed Kyle Hamilton almost Josh mattelis like to get 380 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 4: down near the box a little bit more and be 381 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 4: a major factor as a blitzer, major factor around the 382 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 4: line of scrimmage. You know, they want to get him 383 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,960 Speaker 4: closer to the ball. Derwin James like that we saw 384 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 4: a couple of weeks ago because he's. 385 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:52,120 Speaker 5: That kind of impact. 386 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 4: I think he's one of the best defensive players in 387 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:56,640 Speaker 4: the National Football League right now when you really think 388 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 4: about his impact at all levels of the defense, running pass, 389 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 4: affecting the quarterback as a pressure player, but then matching 390 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 4: up with the likes of you know, Puka Nakua or 391 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 4: DeVante Adams when they played the Rams, and you look 392 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 4: at him against the Bears receivers and we know those guys, well, 393 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,119 Speaker 4: you just see a guy that's got a total complete 394 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 4: skill set football IQ off the charts, and a physicality 395 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 4: to how he plays as a big, old, long, you know, 396 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 4: strong player in the middle of the defense. Now that 397 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 4: we've got to know where he is at all times, 398 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 4: Rokwan's obviously a very very good player, and I think 399 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,199 Speaker 4: they've got some really good corners. They're very big and 400 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 4: physical in the interior. Their D line challenge for sure, 401 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 4: and I think they're doing a really good job figuring 402 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 4: out exactly who they want to be. They've been a 403 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 4: lot better against the run the last two three weeks, 404 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:45,439 Speaker 4: and they can always turn the ball over with the 405 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 4: type of scheme they play if you're not really tight 406 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 4: with your operation and how you're playing. 407 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 3: And lastly, Lamar Jackson his rookie year, all right, he 408 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 3: played sixteen games his rookie year through for just twelve 409 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:01,160 Speaker 3: hundred yards fifty eight percent on the completions. Later last 410 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:05,119 Speaker 3: year four seventy two yards sixty six and a half. 411 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 3: Where has he grown as a passer over the half. 412 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 5: Decade, Yeah, it's been. 413 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 4: I was on the field when he worked out as 414 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 4: a quarterback at the combine. 415 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: Wow. 416 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 4: I was on the field working out, you know, some 417 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 4: of the other quarterbacks and then watching the workout up close, 418 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 4: and I remember that day vividly and talking to him 419 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 4: after that workout. What you knew about Lamar Jackson has 420 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 4: been proven to be correct, which is this guy is 421 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:33,919 Speaker 4: an ultimate competitor, one of the most gifted quarterbacks you 422 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 4: know in our league right now, both as a runner 423 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 4: clearly and the way. 424 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 5: He dynamically changes the game. 425 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 4: But he is making throw after throw from the pocket 426 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 4: in rhythm, great fundamentals, seeing coverage, seeing the field. They 427 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 4: do a really good job of marrying things all together 428 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 4: with a pretty elite run game with him included in that. 429 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:58,440 Speaker 4: That makes it very hard constantly putting defenders in pass 430 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 4: run conflict. And then they've got Flowers and obviously a 431 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 4: whole cast of really, really good skilled players. 432 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 5: It's going to be a challenge. 433 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 4: I know, talking to Flow yesterday, you know, everything you 434 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,439 Speaker 4: know starts with obviously Lamar Jackson, but then Derrick Henry 435 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:14,239 Speaker 4: is a guy that at any point in time you 436 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:16,800 Speaker 4: give him any kind of space, he's proven to be 437 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 4: able to take at the distance. So we've got to 438 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 4: have our sharpest, most impactful defensive game of the season 439 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 4: with them coming to US Bank Stadium on Sunday. 440 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 5: Thank you for the time. Appreciate it. 441 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 3: Appreciate it Man Kevin O'Connell, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, 442 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 3: and I'm Paul Allen. 443 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 5: That's X's and O's. 444 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 2: Thank you for joined us for this week's episode of 445 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 2: X's and O's. Kevin O'Connell. X AS and O's is 446 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 2: presented by Ken Moore and is an official production of 447 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:39,199 Speaker 2: the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network.