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For more information, visit my pure 6 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: lux dot com backslash Vikings for exclusive offers to Vikings fans. 7 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: That's www dot my pure lux dot com backslash Vikings. 8 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 2: What's going on in Purpormation? 9 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 3: My name is Gabe Henderson and on today's edition of 10 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 3: the Minnesota Vikings Podcast, we catch up with NFL Network 11 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 3: Steve Weisch, who gives his thoughts on his hometown team. 12 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 3: The Minnesota Vikings. OTAs have officially wrapped up and the 13 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 3: time ticks as we itch closer to the start of 14 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 3: training camp in a little over a month. We've got 15 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 3: a lot to cover today, so let's get this show 16 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 3: on the road. We are less than ninety days away 17 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 3: from the start of the twenty twenty four NFL season, 18 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:08,920 Speaker 3: as we welcome you to the Minnesota Vikings Podcast, presented 19 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 3: by Pepsy My name is Gabe Henderson and joining me 20 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 3: inside of the semi empty radio room here today at 21 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 3: the TCO Performance Santa Richie J. Nelson from Vikings dot Com. Jay, 22 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 3: we were holding it down for the fort today. It's 23 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 3: just you and I. Eric Davidson, Tatum Everett are both 24 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 3: at work conferences, but I'm excited to talk ball with 25 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 3: you today. 26 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 4: Yeah. Man, it's always good to get it back in here. 27 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 4: And you know, it's always kind of crazy to think 28 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 4: about how much change is in a week, and especially 29 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,119 Speaker 4: this offseason. We're kind of getting down to the last 30 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 4: couple of days here, actually the last couple hours of 31 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 4: practice and everything for the off season programs. So we 32 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,040 Speaker 4: are definitely starting to shift our gaze ahead and kind 33 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 4: of like you're already counting down the days, you know, 34 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 4: trying to figure out how many days before not only camp, 35 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 4: but then you get into preseason games in the regular season. Yeah, 36 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 4: it's it's already knocking on the doorstep and it's only 37 00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 4: middle of June. 38 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I believe it's what eighty eight as we record today, 39 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 3: it's eighty eight days until September eighth, which is the 40 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 3: first week or the first game Week one against the 41 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 3: new York Giants in the Big Apple. But I'm just 42 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 3: thinking about the conversations I've had with some coaches and 43 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 3: some football personnel this week in the building, and I 44 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 3: feel like everyone has the same demeanor or a similar demeanor, 45 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,399 Speaker 3: like they're happy that OTA's were great and we got 46 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 3: some good work and at least from a passing standpoint, 47 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 3: like the quarterbacks were able to throw to the receivers. 48 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 3: But you can tell that all these coaches are anxious 49 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 3: to get the pads on, like they're ready to see 50 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 3: some real football. And I know, you know, training camp 51 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 3: is on the horizon, but it's one of those things 52 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 3: right now where if you ask any coach, they're like, yeah, 53 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 3: like it's been great, but we really won't know until 54 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 3: the pads actually come on. Your your thoughts on just 55 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 3: this OTA period so far. 56 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 4: I think a lot of times with players and coaches, 57 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 4: you know, the players, I'm sure they're saying, hey, we 58 00:02:57,600 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 4: just want to you know, get the work in there 59 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 4: and get out of here clean, you know, no injuries, 60 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,959 Speaker 4: that kind of stuff. Coaches wise, they're saying, yeah, there's 61 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 4: only so much work that you can truly do until 62 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 4: you actually are able to be more physical and there 63 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 4: are all of the restrictions when it comes to off 64 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 4: season workouts. You don't want to be getting in trouble. 65 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 4: You don't want to be losing you know, practice days, 66 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 4: that kind of stuff, and they're super conscientious of that 67 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 4: here around here, and you know, it makes total sense. 68 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 4: You know, you got to get as much work in 69 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 4: as you can. Kind of feels like right now it's 70 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 4: almost like the time right before when you were a 71 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 4: kid when you go on a school holiday break, you know, 72 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 4: in the winter, and it's just like, all right, you 73 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,119 Speaker 4: got to get your work in, you gotta get gotta 74 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 4: get your tests and your finals and everything done, and 75 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 4: then you get your break for about a month or so, 76 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:38,839 Speaker 4: and then when we come back, it's going to be real, 77 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 4: real and live at that point. So I'm sure the 78 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 4: coaches are like, hey man, let's just get to the dance. 79 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 4: But at the same point, I think there's probably a 80 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 4: couple of them that might have a little bit of 81 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 4: a summer relaxation plans going too, and uh, I can't 82 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 4: blame them for that. So it's got to be very 83 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 4: difficult because what you're working on right now, in my opinion, 84 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 4: is you're working on timing, and you're just working on 85 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 4: chemistry and time for a lot of the new guys 86 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 4: mixing with the old guys. When you come back, though, 87 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 4: that is when it's turning into no, this is serious, 88 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 4: and this is where people's you know, potential careers are 89 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 4: on the line, and so you can show them so 90 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 4: much here and they get a glimpse and they have 91 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 4: that start in the back of their mind. But when 92 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 4: you come back, that is when it's it's more real, 93 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 4: and that's when they got to make some difficult decisions. 94 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, the very difficult decisions. You can you can just tell, 95 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 3: like Kevin O'Connell gave players that are in year three plus, 96 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 3: he gave them this week off, which basically means, you know, 97 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 3: the rookie, second year guys and third year guys, they're 98 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 3: here basically getting an extra week of prep getting ready 99 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 3: for training camp. And I believe that goes a long 100 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 3: way when it comes to preparing some of those young guys. 101 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,040 Speaker 3: But at the same time, the guys that left, they 102 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 3: probably don't want to see this building for the next month. Usually, 103 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 3: you know, guys, they'll you know, they'll take off until 104 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 3: around July fourth, and then after July fourth, that that holiday, 105 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 3: that's when they'll start gearing back up. But this has 106 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 3: been a very rigorous off season when it comes to 107 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 3: implementing a new system, not even a new system, but 108 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 3: implementing a new scheme because you have to play to 109 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,239 Speaker 3: the depth or the stript so you of your player. 110 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 3: So I'm excited to see, to your point, what it 111 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 3: looks like when those guys are back, because probably eighty 112 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 3: percent of our team has been here since April fifteenth, 113 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 3: when players were finally allowed to report for offseason organized 114 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 3: team activity. So it'll be interesting to see what that 115 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 3: looks like. But I'm sure a lot of those guys 116 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 3: that are home right now don't want to see this 117 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 3: building for at least in another two or three weeks, 118 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 3: oh for sure. 119 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 4: And I think a lot of it for the coaches 120 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 4: and even those players you're talking about the ones that 121 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 4: are still here versus the ones that are gone. You know, 122 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 4: so much of this game. You talk about it being physical, 123 00:05:41,839 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 4: and they want to see them in paths, But the 124 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 4: same point, mental is almost way more important, Like you 125 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 4: got to know what you're in for, you got to 126 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 4: know what you're supposed to be doing. So there's going 127 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 4: to be a chunk of guys that are, and I 128 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 4: think a majority of them. At some point we'll have 129 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 4: to take a sneak peek at, you know, what's in 130 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 4: that playbook just to make sure that they're staying up 131 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 4: on it. But there is going to be a portion 132 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 4: of guys that, you know, think about all the offseason 133 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 4: moves that happened, all the draft picks, all the free agents, 134 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 4: and people that are going to be expected to be 135 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 4: contributors immediately. You know, there's been a lot of talk 136 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 4: here in the last month about if you were a 137 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 4: previous player, trying to decipher the words and the coding, 138 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 4: you know of what did you know from before versus 139 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 4: what is our termin anology? 140 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 3: Now? 141 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,040 Speaker 4: At this point, I think those players and those coaches 142 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 4: should feel like they're getting pretty dann comfortable with what 143 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 4: the verbiage is going to be, and then it's just 144 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 4: going to be trying to retain that stuff. You know, 145 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,679 Speaker 4: back in the day, training camp was was literally because 146 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 4: players didn't get paid enough, so they had day jobs 147 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 4: and they had to come back and they'd be here 148 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,119 Speaker 4: for six seven weeks trying to get back in shape. 149 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 4: That's not the case anymore. All these guys are going 150 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 4: to be doing their own personal workouts while they're gone. 151 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 4: They're going to be doing vacations and stuff like that too, 152 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 4: but they're going to be expected that when they walk 153 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 4: in the door on report day, and then when they 154 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 4: have those first couple of practices, like, you better be 155 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 4: mentally in the right spot and physically in the right 156 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 4: spot in order to make sure that you know, we 157 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 4: are in go mode. And the first game is not 158 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 4: that far away from I think report day, the first 159 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 4: report day, I think is the first and then that 160 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,000 Speaker 4: first preseason game is August tenth at home. So you 161 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 4: got you basically have two and a half maybe just 162 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 4: under three we. 163 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 3: Have we have less than two months into the first 164 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 3: preseason game from today when we're recording. 165 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, and that was that was the other day we 166 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 4: were going through the numbers, and we are under it's 167 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 4: like it's under forty days for training camp and under 168 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 4: sixty days for the first preseason game. So I know 169 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 4: liber in the past has talked about geting bubble guts 170 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 4: on July fifth, one fourth is over. Yeah, and I 171 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 4: know that there's a lot of people here in the 172 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 4: building tour are trying to get ready for training camp. 173 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 4: So even during the off season, in the off period 174 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 4: here for a lot of players and coaches, there's still 175 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 4: a lot of personnel who are trying to get everything 176 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 4: buttoned up and scared away and just trying to find 177 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 4: some time to get away as well. 178 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 3: So that reminds me of a conversation with TJ. Hockinson 179 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 3: last year, because I believe his is July fifth, and 180 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,640 Speaker 3: he says like right after his birthday ends, like he 181 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 3: starts to get nervous because it's like, like, when do 182 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 3: I need to start working out? Did I waste to 183 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 3: day by celebrating my birthday? Or It's very strategic in 184 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 3: these guys, you know, when it comes to getting their 185 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 3: bodies prepared for hopefully a twenty two week season, there 186 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 3: is a lot that goes into it. So I'm excited 187 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 3: to see what it looks like. But Kevin O'Connell, in 188 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 3: my opinion, has been he's had an edge this offseason, 189 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 3: like a unique edge, and I think that's kind of 190 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 3: been displayed when it comes to some of these practices, 191 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 3: the intensity or just some of the rhetoric that he's 192 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 3: put out into the media. At least over the past week, 193 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 3: he's been on this national media tour and he was 194 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 3: with Rich Eisen earlier this week and he pretty much 195 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 3: talked about the quarterback plans, the team plans, what he's 196 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 3: expecting about I mean expecting from this team, and just 197 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 3: the it's not the nice Kevin anymore, Like he's a 198 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 3: nice guy, but it's not that, you know, we're just 199 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 3: looking to see, you know, how competitive Rebuil will be. 200 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:04,840 Speaker 3: Like no koc is saying, Hey, year three, we're going 201 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 3: to be competitive. We're expecting to get back into the playoffs. 202 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 3: We're expecting to do this, and I'm excited because I 203 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 3: think you have to have that when you have a 204 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 3: look a brand new team, especially a new quarterback that'll 205 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 3: be leading these troops come week. 206 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 4: One head coach sets the tone, you know, and that's 207 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 4: the thing. It's kind of like season one came in, 208 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 4: set the tone, had success, things felt pretty good, but 209 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 4: we're disappointed with the way that the playoff game went. 210 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:34,319 Speaker 4: Season two came in, he dealt with the adversity of 211 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 4: last year, and you know, there was a sense of 212 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 4: frustration at times, just going like I know we are 213 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 4: a good team, and I know we can be better 214 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 4: than what we are currently putting out there, and it 215 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,160 Speaker 4: was you're dealing with adversity. You know, there was a 216 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 4: huge adversity last season, losing your starting quarterback and then 217 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 4: you know, trying to figure out what you had and 218 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 4: you were still competitive and and so I think going 219 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 4: into year three, whether it's you know, front office, head coaching, whatever, 220 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 4: like people are saying, this is officially your team. And 221 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 4: for someone like him to be as competitive as he 222 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 4: is and have expectations like he does, it's no wonder 223 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 4: that you know, he's going to be telling people like, listen, 224 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 4: we have expectations, and you know, tune out the noise 225 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 4: of what the national media is saying at times. You know, 226 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 4: we have expectations for ourselves. And if you really look 227 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 4: at it, look at the moves they made, especially in 228 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 4: for agency, they were there were areas of deficiency that 229 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 4: that they felt like they saw last year, and then 230 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 4: there were other places where you know, players chose to leave, 231 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 4: whether it's quarterback or or d line or whatever, and 232 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:34,760 Speaker 4: they were like, yeah, well we're not gonna sit there 233 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 4: and boohoo, We're gonna go out and make some moves 234 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 4: and get better. So I think for a guy like 235 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 4: Kevin O'Connell. And for the players that are still on 236 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 4: this team, there are going to be expectations, and I 237 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 4: don't think they're going to take, you know, no for 238 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 4: an answer when it comes to you know, are we 239 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 4: going to be able to compete in this division? Because 240 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 4: nobody else stood pat everybody else was trying to get 241 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 4: better too, and and nobody's going to feel sorry for you. 242 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 4: So it's like you gotta be doing it for yourself. 243 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 4: And I feel like Kevin has been, like you said, 244 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 4: almost a little more focused or blunt video wise, just 245 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 4: to say like this is what I expect. And I 246 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 4: like it. I like the fact that, you know, a 247 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 4: guy like him is constantly looking for an edge and 248 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 4: a way to get better, and makes total sense to 249 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 4: me for him to feel that way to say, like 250 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 4: my expectations, this team's going to produce and we're going 251 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 4: to win games. 252 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 3: We've seen what success looks like, we've won a division. 253 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:27,239 Speaker 3: We know what it looks like to get to the playoffs. 254 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 3: Now that we've tasted it, let's get past that and 255 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 3: let's get over this hump and ultimately get to where 256 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 3: we want to get to. And I was at the 257 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 3: Minnesota Vikings Foundation Golf tournament earlier this week, and Kevin 258 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 3: O'Connell addressed some of the people that were in the room. 259 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 3: They were, you know, partners of the Minnesota Vikings as 260 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 3: well as former and current players. And Kevin when he 261 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 3: addressed the room, I didn't have to ask him one question. 262 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 3: I said, Hey, here's our hair coach, Kevin O'Connell. Hey, Kevin, 263 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 3: do you want to give some opening comments? He literally 264 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 3: grabbed a mic and talked for twenty minutes. Yeah, And 265 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 3: in those twenty minutes, he basically set the tone for 266 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 3: the entire room for the entire season. And there you 267 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 3: could hear a pin drop when Kevin O'Connell was addressing 268 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 3: the room, Like there were a few choice words that 269 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,559 Speaker 3: he used to kind of you know, some of the 270 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 3: people up at Mystic Lake. But still like there's a 271 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 3: there's a different energy about head coach Kevin O'Connell this year, 272 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 3: and I'm excited to see it. You know, I've worked 273 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 3: with Kevin since you know, Washington, and you know, just 274 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 3: kind of seeing that edge when he was a quarterbacks 275 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 3: coach to offensive coordinator to now the head coach, Like 276 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,439 Speaker 3: this is this is different, Jay, And you've been around 277 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 3: this this team for a while. You you know this 278 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 3: Vikings team through and through, and just understanding the edge 279 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 3: that this Vikings team has this year. What gets you 280 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 3: excited at heading into training camp. 281 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 4: I think the biggest thing is just kind of the 282 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 4: influx of talent. You know, there's been a chunk of teams, 283 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 4: that chunk of players on this team that have been 284 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 4: your leaders for a very long time. And you know, 285 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 4: once they had made the shift and Kirk was the 286 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 4: guy at quarterback, that was kind of the Kirk Cousins era. 287 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:03,439 Speaker 4: And and I feel like this year, given the changes 288 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 4: and kind of the youth movement over the last couple 289 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 4: of seasons, especially defensively, I am very excited to know that, 290 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 4: you know, Brian Flores with the changes that happened last 291 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 4: season and how well things seem to kind of turn 292 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 4: around quickly. Now you've got a couple of off seasons, 293 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 4: and especially this past offseason where he kind of got 294 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 4: a la carte what he was looking for. So for 295 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 4: him to be able to cherry pick a hand pick 296 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 4: a bunch of these players and be able to push 297 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 4: them in here and know that we went into basically 298 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,960 Speaker 4: the top ten last year in a lot of categories. Again, 299 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 4: there's that expectation and feeling like, you know, we're going 300 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 4: to take another step. And so that's what excites me 301 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 4: is the idea of, yeah, there's going to be some 302 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 4: changes in a lot of different spots, but what does 303 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 4: that look like? And I think that's why every year 304 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 4: for preseason games, there's always the excitement of ooh, you know, 305 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 4: football's here. But even this year, even with vanilla defenses 306 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 4: and vanilla offense is and everything, you're gonna start to 307 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 4: see a little bit more of you know, what do 308 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 4: we got under the hood for this car? And I'm 309 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 4: hoping that, you know, we'll start to see a little 310 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 4: glimpses here in training camp, you get a little bit 311 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 4: more in preseason games, and then come Week one in 312 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 4: New York, they can just start to unleash what they've 313 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 4: been planning for the last six months. 314 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I agree. I'm just thinking of a last year 315 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 3: preseason game. The defense, right, like we I think we 316 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 3: ran like two or three coverages and everybody was like, okay, 317 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 3: like our defense will be okay, and then by Week 318 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 3: three we were blitzing teams eighty percent of the game. Yeah, 319 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 3: And that was that was Brian flore As his call 320 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 3: when it comes to that. But a guy, I guess 321 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 3: who who understood that this Vikings defense would be very 322 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 3: unique and very dominant in his year in year one 323 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 3: here for this Vikings team. Well, Steve Weisch, he's a 324 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 3: hometown kid. Uh knows Brian floor As very well, loves 325 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 3: this Minnesota Vikings team, grew up in Minnesota, and he 326 00:14:53,240 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 3: graces us with his presence today on this Minnesota Vikings podcast. 327 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 3: So let's get right into it with our interview with 328 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 3: NFL netw Works Steve Weiss. NFL Network Steve Weisch joins 329 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 3: me virtually here on the Minnesota Vikings Podcast, and Steve, 330 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 3: always a pleasure having you on our platforms. We know 331 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 3: you're from the state of Minnesota. I grew up a 332 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 3: Vikings fan, but I know you have to be objective 333 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 3: for the job. And during this time frame right now, 334 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,320 Speaker 3: I like to call it the calm before the storm 335 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 3: players are gone. Ota is just wrapped up, but we 336 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 3: know in about a month or so it's going to 337 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 3: be all hands on deck getting ready for training camp 338 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 3: and the regular season. When you address your your home 339 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 3: state team, how would you assess the current state of 340 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 3: the Vikings since the last time we talked to you 341 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 3: at the annual league meeting. 342 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 5: First and foremost game, Thanks so much for having me. 343 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 5: And the first thing I have to get off my 344 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 5: chest is they better wear those white where they call 345 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 5: those white? Winter Land Man? Where are those every game? 346 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 2: What's a Warrior home? 347 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 5: Those are the best? Oh my god, I love them. 348 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 5: Those are so ice cold. 349 00:15:59,000 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 2: We have to send you on. 350 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 5: Oh my god, those are so nice. But look, it's 351 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 5: it's it's clearly a transition, right in terms of you've 352 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 5: got a new quarterback situation, got a new running back situation. 353 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 5: But I think foundationally they're still going to be a 354 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 5: very solid team. I mean, you've got the offensive lineback, 355 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 5: you still have some of the gut to the defense back, 356 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,760 Speaker 5: You've got some different things on the edges, you know, 357 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 5: losing a guy like the Neil Hunter, he's gone. But 358 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 5: I think what the coaching staff has established over the 359 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:34,160 Speaker 5: past year or so is a foundational footprint. It's keyter 360 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 5: on Justin Jefferson. Well, these guys know what's expected. I 361 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 5: think they're going to be better than what probably some 362 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 5: people think when they look at the overall NFC North. 363 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 5: I think Kevin O'Connell has earned the right to be 364 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 5: considered one of the better coaches in the NFL, as 365 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 5: along with DC Brian Flores. So look, you know, regardless 366 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 5: of how the quarterback situation plays out, I think there's 367 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 5: some principles in place where they're still gonna put points 368 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 5: on the board and be a very, very tough out 369 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 5: for all seventeen game. 370 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 3: Yeah, you mentioned the quarterback situation. When you have Justin Jefferson, 371 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 3: just throw it anywhere near where his hands can catch 372 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 3: it because he's going to come down with the ball. 373 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 3: But speaking of JJ, he's arguably the greatest or the 374 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 3: best non quarterback in the NFL, and the Vikings paid 375 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 3: him as such and understanding that he's, you know, almost 376 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 3: broken every single receivering record in his first four years 377 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 3: in the league. What's next for him in his career, 378 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:27,080 Speaker 3: giving that he has this new contract. 379 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 5: Yeah, look, I think what's going to be interesting for 380 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 5: him now is he's going to be integrating a new quarterback. Right. 381 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 5: He had to do it to some degree last year 382 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 5: when when Kirk got hurt and you know, and they 383 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 5: were running quarterbacks through. But I'm kind of looking at 384 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 5: it and this is maybe a bad comparison. But this 385 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:42,920 Speaker 5: is what I'm kind of looking at is when look 386 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:44,680 Speaker 5: at the forty nine ers and you see what Deebo, 387 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,919 Speaker 5: Samuel Brandon Aiyuk did for brock Perty right when Perty 388 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 5: had to come in when Garoppolo got hurt. I think 389 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 5: that's where Justin Jefferson can really establish his footprint. We 390 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,520 Speaker 5: know he's a great receiver, right, but instead of putting 391 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 5: up the numbers, let's bring a new quarterback, whether Sam 392 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,160 Speaker 5: Darnold or j. J. McCarthy. You do something like that, 393 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 5: you bring in a young dude like Jerry Rice did 394 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 5: with Steve Young. You bring in someone like that only 395 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 5: adds to your legacy of greatness. Right, how do you Okay, 396 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 5: you've had an established veteran who get the ball to 397 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 5: you on time and get to the ball ball to 398 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 5: you in certain situations. But now, how do you help 399 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 5: a young person, a young quarterback, you're a young leader, 400 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 5: become a legitimate starter to make you guys a competitive 401 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 5: team and a great a very tough top to bottom division. 402 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 5: That right there, I think is this gym. That's the 403 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 5: short term for Justin Jefferson. He stays healthy, he's gonna 404 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 5: go down the record books. Right, He's just that talented, 405 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 5: that determined, that motivated. But I think this year, in 406 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 5: the short term, I think that's something to look at 407 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,919 Speaker 5: when you look at how some of these guys have. 408 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 5: You know a lot of times you talk about how 409 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 5: the quarterback making the young receiver. Let's see how the 410 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:58,000 Speaker 5: young receiver helps make the quarterback. That's a legacy building 411 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 5: rung of the ladder that I think JJ is ready 412 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 5: to step on. 413 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 3: That's a really good point. Having the receiver or the 414 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,760 Speaker 3: skill positions build up the quarterback position and ultimately to 415 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 3: your point, that's what we've seen the forty nine ers. 416 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 3: Do you bring in a young guy in brock Party 417 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 3: and you have all the other pieces around him to 418 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 3: ultimately make him look better, and then brock Purty builds 419 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 3: his confidence up and ultimately leads those guys to a super. 420 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 5: Bowl And Tyreek Hill did it with too. 421 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. 422 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 5: I mean it's a similar type of thing. And now 423 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:28,439 Speaker 5: as you were two is in his careers, you were 424 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 5: pretty bus in his career. It's an accelerated curve by 425 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:35,360 Speaker 5: having an outstanding receiver be unselfish enough to say, let 426 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 5: me help you get there. 427 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 3: And to that point, how much of Sam Darnold's experience 428 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 3: being in San Francisco, seeing what that looks like. How 429 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 3: much of that helped him being on this new team, 430 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 3: having those weapons around him to make him ultimately build 431 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 3: his confidence to get to that level. 432 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 5: Well, it's huge. I mean, he knows the scheme, he 433 00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 5: knows what's expected, but he's also coming from an organization 434 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 5: where winning is is the culture right, where player accountability 435 00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 5: is the culture right. His initial part of his career, 436 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 5: he was looked at as a savior and it was 437 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 5: chaos though behind him. Now he comes from an organization 438 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 5: and I think this is very strategic what the Vikings did. 439 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 5: Let's get somebody who not only knows what we want 440 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 5: to do, but again comes from where he can now say, guys, 441 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 5: this is what we need to do. I can be 442 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 5: a leader in a front and center role, but maybe 443 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,600 Speaker 5: not the role where you're expecting to be the messiah 444 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 5: and you know whether he's guiding JJ McCarthy gut in 445 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 5: this offense or whatever. And that's going to help generate 446 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 5: player accountability. Again, the Vikings do have a core of veterans, 447 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 5: you know that can bring things along, but they've also 448 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 5: imported some new veterans. You know a Van Ginkel, you 449 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 5: know who's won, Jonathan Gernard who had some success last year. 450 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 5: So I think all of these and the way that 451 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 5: Quasi has brought in some of these veterans are all 452 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 5: tactical young veterans, establish veterans, but also someone like Sam 453 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,679 Speaker 5: Donald who knows what to expected when it comes to 454 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 5: player accountability. 455 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, you talked about Sam Donald and some of the 456 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 3: defensive acquisitions that the Vikings made this offseason, and that 457 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 3: leads me to my next question, because every time we 458 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 3: see you here in the summer at TCOPC, there's this 459 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 3: one guy that always makes an intentional effort to come 460 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 3: grab you, come make some jokes, and then go back 461 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 3: onto the field. His name is Brian Flores, the Minnesota 462 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,480 Speaker 3: Vikings defensive coordinator and a guy that you've built a 463 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 3: really good relationship with. And in my opinion, Brian Flores 464 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 3: is a guy that hasn't been talked about much at 465 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 3: all this offseason because everybody's talking about the quarterback position. 466 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 3: What he did in year one for this Minnesota Vikings defense, 467 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 3: Like I don't think we've seen that in quite some time, 468 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 3: and the fact that he gets to run it back 469 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 3: with those guys and then get some guys on the 470 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 3: defensive side of the ball via free agency and the draft. 471 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 3: How dominate can this defense being year two under Brian Flores. 472 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,800 Speaker 5: It can be real dominant in terms of and here's 473 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 5: where flow doesn't get and I'm cool enough to call flow, 474 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 5: here's where he doesn't get enough respect. Right. He came 475 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 5: in with one ideology and had to adjust. Right, That's 476 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 5: the one thing he did throughout the seasons to where 477 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 5: they got better week by week. Right, you know, they 478 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 5: got better up front, they got better at the next level. 479 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,800 Speaker 5: He showed the faith and I and pace in the 480 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 5: middle to be his quarterback on the defense, and so 481 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 5: the communication, all this stuff started to build. And so 482 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 5: now that he's got some of those those pieces in place, 483 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 5: he can get a young guy like Grenard. Right. The 484 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 5: one thing that that Brian Floyd is going to tell 485 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:31,880 Speaker 5: you about his his edge guys, they better set the edge. 486 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 5: They better be rock solid in the run game, roast. 487 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 5: Nothing they do principally on defense is going to operate well. 488 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:41,439 Speaker 5: So that's going to be driven home, and then they 489 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 5: can figure out some of the other things. You get 490 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 5: a guy like Van Ginkel's who's got to experience, who's 491 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 5: a high energy for every second he's on the field 492 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 5: type of guy, and an as sending player as well. 493 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 5: And these are guys he's going to have to factor in. 494 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 5: So I think the defense is going to be better, 495 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:03,400 Speaker 5: you know, especially if they can put points on the board. 496 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:05,320 Speaker 5: They're not going to be expected to hold it down 497 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,240 Speaker 5: like they were for a lot of games last year 498 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:10,199 Speaker 5: when the offense, you know, had some giveaway issues and 499 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 5: just some issues putting points on the board, especially in 500 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:12,920 Speaker 5: the red zone. 501 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 2: I love that. 502 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,520 Speaker 3: I'm just thinking about just this new kickoff rule right 503 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,400 Speaker 3: on your show The Insiders, which airs daily six pm 504 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 3: Central Time in NFL Network. You discussed that earlier this offseason, 505 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 3: and I was looking at some of the Vikings stats 506 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:30,919 Speaker 3: when it comes to kick return yards. I believe the 507 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 3: Vikings have the seventh most kick return yards since Kevin 508 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 3: O'Connell has become head coach for this Minnesota Vikings team. 509 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 3: Understanding that new rule and how the Vikings like their 510 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 3: return kicks, how much of an advantage is that going 511 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 3: into the twenty twenty four season. 512 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 5: I think it's big, especially since so many of their 513 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 5: games we're in a dome, so there's not you know, 514 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 5: weather so to speak, issues, except when they're playing in 515 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,639 Speaker 5: Chicago and Green Bay when it comes to division games, 516 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:56,960 Speaker 5: because you know, when you talked to some of the 517 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,360 Speaker 5: special teams coordinators, they think a lot more kickoffs are 518 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 5: going to remain and play. They're not going to be touchbacks, 519 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 5: and that's why they're changing the kickoff rules because like 520 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 5: eighty two percent of kickoffs, if not more, we're touchbacks. 521 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:13,080 Speaker 5: They want to bring it back into the game. So 522 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 5: when you watch the old XFL rules, if somebody broke 523 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 5: through that initial gate, they were gone. So a lot 524 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:23,960 Speaker 5: of this, you know it's gonna be interesting game. The 525 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 5: roster building, right because I here some people say, yeah, 526 00:24:26,600 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 5: I think you're gonna see a lot more big guys kept, 527 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 5: like you know, an extra big tight end or you know, 528 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 5: an extra big d end because of the spacing on 529 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:41,160 Speaker 5: the kickoff return and the coverage teams. I personally think 530 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 5: you're gonna see teams keep an extra f type back 531 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 5: or tight end and an extra outside linebacker type because 532 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 5: they're used to playing in that five yard window that 533 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 5: you're gonna see players squared up against on that they're 534 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:58,359 Speaker 5: used to in those coverage schemes. They're used to getting 535 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 5: open in those games. So it's going to be interesting. 536 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 5: But I think when it comes to the Vikings and 537 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 5: what they like to do, if they're able to exploit this, 538 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 5: if you're able to get beyond that twenty five yard 539 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 5: line on thirty to forty percent of you of your possessions, 540 00:25:13,080 --> 00:25:16,480 Speaker 5: you know after kickoffs, it's a great head start for 541 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 5: an offense. That's that's got potential. You know, look, defense 542 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:21,880 Speaker 5: is now they want you to go twelve plays before 543 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 5: you get into the end zone. Well you know you 544 00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 5: start at the at the thirty or thirty five, Well 545 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:29,480 Speaker 5: maybe that twelve plays is now nine, right, and that 546 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:33,400 Speaker 5: that saves you physically, it can give you tactical advantage 547 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,879 Speaker 5: if you need another possession in a game. So it's 548 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 5: you know, the special teams is going to be huge, 549 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,400 Speaker 5: and like you said, the Vikings returns, that can really 550 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 5: adjust what they want to do. And it can help 551 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,800 Speaker 5: out a young quarterback as well, if he doesn't have 552 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:48,399 Speaker 5: to go eighty every time he touches. 553 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, having a guy at Kane wang Wu, who yes, 554 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 3: I believe it's been on the All Pro team twice 555 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:57,080 Speaker 3: in his career that is going to favor his Vikings team. Well, 556 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:58,879 Speaker 3: but to your point, if you start the ball in 557 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 3: the thirty five yard line and let's say you get 558 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,439 Speaker 3: thirty forty yards, that's the reason why the Vikings drafted 559 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 3: Will Reker from Alabama this past year. He can make 560 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:10,399 Speaker 3: those fifty plus yard feel good. So it'll be a 561 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 3: three phase game as it always is. And that leads 562 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 3: me to my final question for you, because we know 563 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 3: that Kevin O'Connell was preaching as he should that, Hey, 564 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 3: I want people to rule this Minnesota Vikings team out great, 565 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 3: don't don't rank us high, but we know this Vikings 566 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 3: team isn't going to be seventeen to oh, but they're 567 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 3: not going to be zero and seventeen. For you, what 568 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 3: are the realistic expectations for this twenty twenty four Minnesota 569 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 3: Vikings team. 570 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:35,320 Speaker 5: I honestly, I would expect them to be a plus 571 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 5: five hundred team. I think just culturally with Kevin O'Connell, 572 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 5: would Cuasy have put in place that should be the expectation. 573 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:45,880 Speaker 5: I just yeah, people that the Bears could be better. 574 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 5: The Lions are what they are than Packers are definitely 575 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 5: on the come up, but it's not like the Vikings 576 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 5: are starting from scratch. They should expect themselves to be 577 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 5: a plus five hundred team. I said it last year 578 00:26:57,080 --> 00:26:58,879 Speaker 5: when people didn't think that they were going to be 579 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 5: that good like I and they made life hell even 580 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 5: without Kurk for a lot of teams. So I think 581 00:27:06,760 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 5: the Vikings are gonna be one of those teams you're 582 00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:10,679 Speaker 5: gonna be talking about by the end of the season. 583 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 5: That's that's kind of a surprise team. 584 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:16,199 Speaker 3: Steve, looking forward to talking to you, so appreciate you 585 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:16,879 Speaker 3: joining me today. 586 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:20,399 Speaker 5: Absolutely push the White UNI for those are nice. 587 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 3: Never a dull moment when talking to Steve Wis. I 588 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 3: know we talked to Jordan Reid a few weeks ago 589 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 3: and can fill it every time they talk about the 590 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 3: team in the Purple Jay. When you when you hear 591 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 3: everything that that Steve Wisse said and some of his 592 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,919 Speaker 3: rhetoric on the realistic expectations for his team, what were 593 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:39,919 Speaker 3: some things that stood out to you? 594 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 4: I think you know his points we were just kind 595 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:44,639 Speaker 4: of talking about it before the interview too, just his 596 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 4: points on the defense, saying that he feels like Flow 597 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:51,120 Speaker 4: is gonna definitely kind of have have an additional kind 598 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:54,359 Speaker 4: of tweak to this year's defense was able to, you know, 599 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:57,159 Speaker 4: to make some moves here and to address some of 600 00:27:57,160 --> 00:27:59,680 Speaker 4: the deficiencies that they had, let alone replacing some of 601 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 4: the guys that left. But the other thing too with him, 602 00:28:02,840 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 4: I mean, he's got always got a finger on the 603 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 4: pulse nationally, and just for him to kind of understand, 604 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:11,200 Speaker 4: like I think that there are expectations with this team. 605 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:15,639 Speaker 4: I think that the team itself is pressing that. Like 606 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 4: we were just talking about with Kevin O'Connor before. What's 607 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 4: interesting to me is you talked about it too, Jordan 608 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 4: Reed and Steve, both of them on the national stage 609 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 4: being kind of Minnesota for lack of what I turned 610 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 4: Minnesota backers, you know, at least paying attention and putting 611 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 4: some extra and both of them kind of having that 612 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 4: feeling of I know it's going to be a grind 613 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 4: within this division, but that team is actually kind of 614 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 4: a sleeper for a lot of people nationally. And I 615 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 4: just think part of it too, is because of the leadership. 616 00:28:44,680 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 4: So to hear him kind of reiterate what Jordan had 617 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 4: talked about it when some other people have talked about 618 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 4: that we've talked to is just kind of a little 619 00:28:52,160 --> 00:28:54,760 Speaker 4: bit more confidence building when you have multiple people kind 620 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 4: of reiterating the same thing. And he's as plugged in 621 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:00,959 Speaker 4: as it gets when it comes to what's going on nationally. 622 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 4: So I always like hear in his opinion, and it's 623 00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:04,720 Speaker 4: always great whenever he does show up here at the 624 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 4: facility for training camp, preseason and in between. It's it's 625 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 4: been great for you to be able to be booking 626 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 4: these kind of guests as well. I've been pulling some 627 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:16,560 Speaker 4: really good people lately and it's been fun to kind 628 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 4: of just hear everybody's take on what's going on because 629 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,520 Speaker 4: we're still in kind of speculation mode at this point 630 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 4: of what we got. 631 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it's it's like layers of speculation, right, Like 632 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 3: you have the layers of the free agency, and you 633 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 3: have the combine, and you have the speculation of the 634 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:33,040 Speaker 3: draft and the guys are drafted, and the speculation of 635 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 3: O t A. So it's like layers on layers on layers, 636 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 3: so which which ultimately means we're getting closer to the 637 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:41,040 Speaker 3: football season. So even looking at NFL dot Com and 638 00:29:41,080 --> 00:29:44,719 Speaker 3: seeing Adam Rank's article in NFL dot Com talking about, uh, 639 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:47,239 Speaker 3: the current state of the Vikings like you know that 640 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 3: something is brewing, Like people are starting to notice that, hey, 641 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 3: Kevin O'Connell, like they're they're they're doing something over here 642 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 3: and there there's a buzz right now and and ultimately 643 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 3: it's making national waves and it's always great to have 644 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 3: those on our podcast. 645 00:30:00,960 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 4: I think a lot of it too. You go back 646 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:05,080 Speaker 4: to that NFL dot com article. You know, part of 647 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:08,960 Speaker 4: what they're talking about too, was we were a heavy 648 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 4: note within just national football. What's going to happen with Kirk, 649 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:14,960 Speaker 4: what's going to happen with the quarterback situation? To Neil 650 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 4: Hunter leaves, we make two first round picks, we end 651 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:22,120 Speaker 4: up having some top draft picks overall, and so this 652 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 4: is a very intriguing team because there's a lot of questions, 653 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:28,560 Speaker 4: you know, I think, and then for guys like O'Connell 654 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 4: and Flores and Phillips and some of these guys to 655 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 4: publicly talk about the fact that, yeah, we're not tampering 656 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:38,680 Speaker 4: down expectations, we're actually ramping them up. That's the thing 657 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:40,719 Speaker 4: that I think is intriguing for people because they're like, 658 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 4: if they can do this, and if they pull this off, 659 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 4: this is a huge feat just to keep the train 660 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 4: rolling the way we have been and you can talk 661 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 4: about teardowns and rebuilds and competitive rebuilds or whatever. There 662 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,760 Speaker 4: has been an expectation since Kevin O'Connell came in the 663 00:30:55,760 --> 00:30:57,800 Speaker 4: building that we weren't going to miss a step. We're 664 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:01,280 Speaker 4: going to keep keep growing and progressing. And so that's 665 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 4: the thing going into year three, with all the moves 666 00:31:03,120 --> 00:31:04,959 Speaker 4: that have been made, and even just looking at these 667 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 4: articles just talking about the infusion of new talent, That's 668 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:12,959 Speaker 4: what the main talker is for all of this is 669 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:16,160 Speaker 4: what have the Vikings done and have they done enough 670 00:31:16,200 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 4: to try to get to that next level, especially when 671 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 4: they're going to have to face the crazy schedule that 672 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 4: they do this season. 673 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. 674 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:25,480 Speaker 3: In that Adam Rank article which is on NFL dot com, 675 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 3: I believe it is titled something along the lines of 676 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:30,959 Speaker 3: state of the twenty twenty four Minnesota Vikings, when does 677 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 3: JJ McCarthy take over and will the overhaul pass rush 678 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 3: lift the Vikings defense? So it's a lot going on 679 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 3: in that article, a lot to know and something that 680 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 3: I did agree with. You know, you can't agree with 681 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 3: everything that people say. Well, one thing I did agree 682 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 3: with is at the end of the article, he had 683 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 3: a title label for twenty twenty four to be a success, 684 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 3: the Vikings must and it was like dot dot dot, 685 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:56,800 Speaker 3: and there were you know, different there were like five 686 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 3: different scenarios and he picked the scenario the Vikings must 687 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 3: show progress. And granted last year this was a seven 688 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,920 Speaker 3: to ten team that went through four different quarterbacks. If 689 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 3: the Vikings show progress in this article, he says, this 690 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 3: could be a team that could surprisingly make a playoff run. 691 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 3: And I think that's, you know, kind of what we've 692 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 3: talked about this entire show, is this is a team 693 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 3: that Kevin O'Connell expects to make the playoffs with, and 694 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:22,720 Speaker 3: he's hoping that teams, you know, rule us out or 695 00:32:22,760 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 3: teams overlook us because this this Purple, this team in 696 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,200 Speaker 3: Purple that they're building something. And Adam Rank pretty much 697 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 3: expresses that or conveys that in this article. 698 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 4: And it's kind of similar to what wife says too, 699 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 4: because like on his end, he was saying he expects 700 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 4: us to be in above five hundred team and so, 701 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 4: you know, the one thing that's really nice about this 702 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 4: article is it does kind of lay out everything that happened, 703 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 4: whether it's you know who the front office is, who 704 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 4: all the additions are, who the subtractions are, what the 705 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 4: questions are, and makes a couple of predictions in it 706 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 4: as well. But I think everyone expects this team to 707 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:55,120 Speaker 4: show progress. I don't think anyone felt like, you know, 708 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:57,200 Speaker 4: I know, the whole saying is you are what your 709 00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 4: record is. But at the same point, there were a 710 00:32:59,480 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 4: lot of factors last year that led into that, and 711 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 4: so I do feel like given the changes and some 712 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 4: of the things that we keep harping on here, the 713 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:09,800 Speaker 4: idea is everyone feels like we should be a better 714 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 4: team than we were last year. And so this is 715 00:33:13,080 --> 00:33:17,160 Speaker 4: why the critical nature of off season is so important, 716 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 4: just to get to the point of saying we've put 717 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:21,840 Speaker 4: in the work to get up to expectations and now 718 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:23,680 Speaker 4: we just need to go work hard to exceed it. 719 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:29,040 Speaker 3: Nice well, look, speaking of exceeding expectations, no one is 720 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:32,800 Speaker 3: exceeding the expectations of a guy who is arguably the 721 00:33:32,840 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 3: greatest running back in Viking history. His name is Adrian Peterson, 722 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:40,080 Speaker 3: and back in twenty fourteen he graced the cover of Madden. 723 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:42,880 Speaker 3: He was him and Barry Sanders were on the cover. 724 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 3: I believe it was the twenty fifth anniversary of the game, 725 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:49,840 Speaker 3: and it was recently announced earlier this week that Christian 726 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,160 Speaker 3: McCaffrey will now grace the cover of Madden and he 727 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:54,960 Speaker 3: will be the first running back to do so since 728 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:59,840 Speaker 3: Adrian Peterson and Jay. That's a great accomplishment one too. 729 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:03,160 Speaker 3: We talked about it before the show started, just you know, 730 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 3: are you a video game guy that you play EA 731 00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 3: college football? But longster short, I do think this is 732 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:11,880 Speaker 3: a great accomplishment and it's kind of a stray for 733 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:13,839 Speaker 3: the right, like the Viking's called a straight right here 734 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:17,480 Speaker 3: with Adrian Peterson, It's like, look, running backs do make it. 735 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 3: Adrian Peterson made it back in twenty fourteen. Yeah, it's 736 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:21,960 Speaker 3: been a while, but I think it was pretty cool 737 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:23,399 Speaker 3: to see Christian McCaffrey on the cover. 738 00:34:23,560 --> 00:34:24,760 Speaker 4: I think it's very fitting. 739 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:25,920 Speaker 2: He's a quarterback. 740 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's the thing. Like, it's very fitting. 741 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 2: You know. 742 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:30,759 Speaker 4: I think he just signed that new deal, you know, 743 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:34,839 Speaker 4: the two years nineteen mili apiece for an era right 744 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:38,440 Speaker 4: now where running backs are kind of, for lack of 745 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:40,359 Speaker 4: a better term, cast aside, are kind of seen as 746 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:44,359 Speaker 4: an afterthought. He isn't a dominant player where he's he 747 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 4: is a hybrid. He is not just a running back 748 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:48,319 Speaker 4: where you're handing the ball off and he's smashing, you know, 749 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 4: two three yards per He is a hybrid. They want 750 00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 4: to get him in space and he is an absolute 751 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 4: home run hitter and difference maker, and defenses will spy 752 00:34:57,200 --> 00:34:59,480 Speaker 4: him with double and triple coverage every chance they get, 753 00:34:59,480 --> 00:35:03,279 Speaker 4: which is why I Debo and Kittle tend to be 754 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:06,480 Speaker 4: as strong as they do. And he's a quarterback's best 755 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:08,319 Speaker 4: friend at this point, so you know he helps out 756 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:11,399 Speaker 4: party as well. And I think it's completely undeniable. I mean, 757 00:35:11,440 --> 00:35:15,000 Speaker 4: his dad was incredible, but he has one hundred percent 758 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 4: stamped his legacy in the NFL, and I think for 759 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:21,440 Speaker 4: somebody to do what he's done, not only for the 760 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:25,600 Speaker 4: Panthers organization and now the Niners, to get recognized like this, 761 00:35:25,719 --> 00:35:27,799 Speaker 4: I think it is a fitting tribute for a guy 762 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:30,480 Speaker 4: who is absolutely dominant in this league. And when I 763 00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:32,800 Speaker 4: saw his name pop up, I'm like, yeah, totally fitting 764 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:34,560 Speaker 4: because of who he is and what he's done in 765 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:35,000 Speaker 4: the field. 766 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:37,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's just a whenever he has the ball in 767 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:40,799 Speaker 3: his hand, you know, it's big play potential, like he's 768 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:44,640 Speaker 3: I still personally believe that Christian McCaffrey is the best 769 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:46,920 Speaker 3: running back in the NFL today, And I know a 770 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:49,400 Speaker 3: lot of people would disagree with that sentiment, but he 771 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:52,319 Speaker 3: can pretty much do everything. Like he was the first 772 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 3: running back to get a thousand receiving yards and a 773 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 3: thousand rushing yards in the same season and almost did 774 00:35:57,239 --> 00:36:00,319 Speaker 3: it twice. So just think, just thinking of, you know, 775 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:03,560 Speaker 3: what he means to this game. I do think the 776 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:07,279 Speaker 3: ultimate evolution of non quarterbacks being on the front cover 777 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:09,640 Speaker 3: of Madden. I think that will continue to evolve because 778 00:36:09,640 --> 00:36:12,640 Speaker 3: of how Christian McCaffrey has evolved the game, or at 779 00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:13,800 Speaker 3: least the running back position. 780 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:16,279 Speaker 4: He's one of those guys that even in college, well 781 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:18,160 Speaker 4: even prior to college. In high school, you'd see him 782 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 4: all Star game type things, but in college he was 783 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:24,680 Speaker 4: completely undeniable. He'd touch the ball and you're like, this 784 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,200 Speaker 4: person is different. And then you see the McCaffrey name. 785 00:36:27,640 --> 00:36:29,719 Speaker 4: You know, the legacy from his dad, who is a 786 00:36:29,719 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 4: great wide receiver for the Broncos for many years. But 787 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:35,640 Speaker 4: sometimes when you get to the NFL, it's to that 788 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:38,360 Speaker 4: next level. It's like can this guy dominate to that level? 789 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:42,359 Speaker 4: And he has completely surpassed any expectation think a lot 790 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:44,759 Speaker 4: of people had of him coming out of Stanford. He's 791 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:46,880 Speaker 4: a guy that you don't see getting in trouble, you 792 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:49,759 Speaker 4: don't see him doing anything. So like for Madden to 793 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:52,560 Speaker 4: be kind of the pinnacle video game when it comes 794 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,120 Speaker 4: to the NFL and football in general. I know college 795 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:57,080 Speaker 4: football is coming out here soon for a bunch of people, 796 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 4: and they're excited about that, but Madden. 797 00:36:59,719 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 2: Already my PTO set aside for that week. 798 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 4: Madden's been the gold standard for a lot of years 799 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:08,600 Speaker 4: and and and I just I think it's completely fitting 800 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:11,239 Speaker 4: for him to be a no brainers as somebody to 801 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:14,000 Speaker 4: be representative of that brand in the NFL in general. 802 00:37:14,040 --> 00:37:16,080 Speaker 3: I'm excited to see just what the future of that 803 00:37:16,080 --> 00:37:19,640 Speaker 3: that game can be, especially now with EA college Football 804 00:37:20,200 --> 00:37:23,400 Speaker 3: taking form again. I think that's just for EA Sports 805 00:37:23,520 --> 00:37:25,880 Speaker 3: like that, that's it's just great for that brand. Actually, 806 00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:29,120 Speaker 3: Maleia and I were at a hashtag Sports conference last 807 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 3: week in New York and we sat beside someone who 808 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,839 Speaker 3: was the social media manager for EA Sports and she's 809 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:39,319 Speaker 3: working directly with the college football portion of the game, 810 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 3: and just some of the excitement that she had around it, Like, 811 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:44,040 Speaker 3: granted she has to be a little biased, but the 812 00:37:44,120 --> 00:37:47,200 Speaker 3: excitement that she had around it. I do think gaming 813 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:49,320 Speaker 3: as far as e A is going to take another 814 00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:52,600 Speaker 3: step as far as like making games better. I know 815 00:37:52,600 --> 00:37:56,560 Speaker 3: a lot of people have complaints about man like Madden 816 00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:58,920 Speaker 3: doesn't really have much competition, but now they do, Like 817 00:37:58,960 --> 00:38:01,160 Speaker 3: now you have something to the game off of, and 818 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:03,840 Speaker 3: it ultimately drives more excitement for for EA Sports. 819 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:07,160 Speaker 4: Yeah. I know when I was I before getting this job, 820 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:09,400 Speaker 4: I went to film school out in Vancouver, Canada, and 821 00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:12,440 Speaker 4: that's where EA's headquarters are in North America, and some 822 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:16,560 Speaker 4: of my yeah, some of my instructors were worked for EA, 823 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:19,399 Speaker 4: and so just getting to hear to them, hear from 824 00:38:19,400 --> 00:38:23,279 Speaker 4: them about the intricacies of how much work goes into 825 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:24,839 Speaker 4: that stuff at the time. And I mean, this is 826 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:27,280 Speaker 4: almost twenty years ago at this point. It's like seventeen 827 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:29,640 Speaker 4: eighteen years ago at this point, But like to talk 828 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:32,600 Speaker 4: to them about what it takes all the mo cap 829 00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,520 Speaker 4: everything else, in the amount of man hours it went 830 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,920 Speaker 4: to work on that kind of thing. Yes, there are 831 00:38:37,920 --> 00:38:39,920 Speaker 4: a lot of complaints about feeling like things can be 832 00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:43,520 Speaker 4: a retread, but I will say I to this day, 833 00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:45,839 Speaker 4: I still get my nephew and stuff saying, Hey, any 834 00:38:46,400 --> 00:38:48,480 Speaker 4: news on if or one that stuff's coming out or 835 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:50,080 Speaker 4: if anyone's going to be on the cover. So it's 836 00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:52,400 Speaker 4: still got the buzz, it still has a cachet in 837 00:38:52,440 --> 00:38:55,560 Speaker 4: the public. And I, like you said, I think with 838 00:38:55,600 --> 00:38:57,560 Speaker 4: college football coming out now that there's going to be 839 00:38:57,560 --> 00:38:59,759 Speaker 4: a little bit more competition, and with EA being the 840 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:02,880 Speaker 4: mom that they still are, you know, I will be 841 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:04,919 Speaker 4: curious to see if they make some of the modifications 842 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:07,359 Speaker 4: with the fans are looking for. But in general, if 843 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:09,239 Speaker 4: you're looking for a fun game to be able to 844 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:12,640 Speaker 4: sit there and as somebody who used to be able to, 845 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:16,000 Speaker 4: you know, play it pretty well. Yeah, I sit down 846 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:17,640 Speaker 4: now with my fourteen year old nephew and he just 847 00:39:17,680 --> 00:39:20,560 Speaker 4: absolutely smokes me. And so I'm just like, all right, Uh, 848 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:23,399 Speaker 4: you can go to school on Monday and talk about 849 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:25,760 Speaker 4: how you kicked your uncle's but who works for the NFL. 850 00:39:25,880 --> 00:39:27,080 Speaker 4: So yeah, it's a lot of fun. 851 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:29,120 Speaker 2: That's bragging Rice for exactly right, and I'll beat him 852 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:33,600 Speaker 2: with the vikings. Yeah, I love it, man. This was 853 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:35,319 Speaker 2: this was This was a great show. 854 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:39,320 Speaker 3: I'm just thinking about the future of gaming, the future 855 00:39:39,400 --> 00:39:42,480 Speaker 3: of sports, and how it's all gonna intertwine as we 856 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:47,680 Speaker 3: continue to grow, uh, this sports brand, Like it's crazy, 857 00:39:47,719 --> 00:39:51,960 Speaker 3: Like we're doing content series now around video games. 858 00:39:52,440 --> 00:39:52,640 Speaker 2: There. 859 00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:56,320 Speaker 3: There's so much that fans are going to be blessed 860 00:39:56,320 --> 00:39:58,560 Speaker 3: with on our on our platforms in the near future. 861 00:39:58,560 --> 00:40:00,000 Speaker 3: But yeah, I know you you're working on a few 862 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:02,040 Speaker 3: projects also, what you got cooking up? 863 00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:03,799 Speaker 4: Yeah, we got something coming here in the next couple 864 00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:06,000 Speaker 4: of weeks where we're still kind of in the editing 865 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:08,960 Speaker 4: phase on my end, but it's called Viking's Viewpoint. We 866 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:12,840 Speaker 4: were lucky to have John Randall, Random McDaniel, Jonathan Grenard, 867 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:16,960 Speaker 4: and Brian O'Neill sit down and just kind of, you know, 868 00:40:17,080 --> 00:40:19,960 Speaker 4: talk ball and talk about kind of shared experiences between 869 00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:22,760 Speaker 4: kind of the Hall of famers and the current plays 870 00:40:22,760 --> 00:40:24,080 Speaker 4: and the roster. And it was a lot of fun 871 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:27,560 Speaker 4: to shoot. So we're gonna kind of put that out 872 00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:29,440 Speaker 4: in a couple different platforms here, but as we get 873 00:40:29,440 --> 00:40:32,640 Speaker 4: closer with that, I'll definitely be promoting that and something 874 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:34,120 Speaker 4: to look forward to. It's a lot of fun. Anytime 875 00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:36,960 Speaker 4: you get John Randall, Random McDaniel together is great, but 876 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:40,319 Speaker 4: then infuse the newer players as well and for them 877 00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:42,600 Speaker 4: to be able to kind of realize just kind of 878 00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:44,920 Speaker 4: the shared experiences over the years is really fun. And 879 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,719 Speaker 4: then I know there's a bunch of other content coming out. 880 00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:51,320 Speaker 4: You get Loving Football coming out here from Malia, working 881 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:53,360 Speaker 4: with a bunch of the players and their significant others 882 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:56,359 Speaker 4: and kind of talking about their relationships. And then on 883 00:40:56,400 --> 00:40:59,200 Speaker 4: top of that, you know, we've got an other one 884 00:40:59,239 --> 00:41:01,000 Speaker 4: on one interview and some of the other. 885 00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:05,319 Speaker 3: Pieces that team off Pagejeger. That's a that's one of 886 00:41:05,320 --> 00:41:06,759 Speaker 3: my favorite ones to consume, and. 887 00:41:06,719 --> 00:41:08,880 Speaker 4: It's always great because that's fun where you get the 888 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:11,800 Speaker 4: guys off out of the locker room, off the practice 889 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:13,399 Speaker 4: field and get them out on a golf course where 890 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:16,880 Speaker 4: they're still competitive, and there's a lot of production that 891 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:18,560 Speaker 4: goes into that. So yeah, they're currently working at that. 892 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:20,960 Speaker 4: So there's a ton of pieces. Even though we do 893 00:41:21,040 --> 00:41:23,200 Speaker 4: have the off season coming up here fourth of July break, 894 00:41:23,200 --> 00:41:26,399 Speaker 4: et cetera, there's still a lot of content that we've 895 00:41:26,440 --> 00:41:29,239 Speaker 4: been kind of gearing up and banking for you, and 896 00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:31,480 Speaker 4: so just continue to watch for that, and then don't 897 00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:33,480 Speaker 4: forget to go out and get your Winter Warrior jerseys, 898 00:41:33,560 --> 00:41:36,280 Speaker 4: yes sir, and all the other stuff, and then pretty 899 00:41:36,280 --> 00:41:39,600 Speaker 4: soon you'll also have the training camp gear that'll get 900 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:42,279 Speaker 4: unleashed by the NFL as well. So there's just a 901 00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:45,200 Speaker 4: ton of news going on, So do not miss and 902 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:47,880 Speaker 4: do not, you know, kind of steer away even in 903 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:50,480 Speaker 4: your ad vocation. Pop up on the Vikings app and 904 00:41:50,800 --> 00:41:52,279 Speaker 4: check out the content we're throwing out for you. 905 00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:54,960 Speaker 3: I love it, Jay, This was a great show. Steve 906 00:41:55,000 --> 00:41:57,600 Speaker 3: Weiss graces with his presence. We talked THEA we talk 907 00:41:57,719 --> 00:42:01,360 Speaker 3: Vikings and now as the building starts to get more quiet, 908 00:42:01,520 --> 00:42:04,759 Speaker 3: there is a lot to look forward to. So for 909 00:42:04,880 --> 00:42:08,120 Speaker 3: Steve Wiss, J Nelson, Tatum Everett, and Eric Davidson. My 910 00:42:08,239 --> 00:42:09,880 Speaker 3: name is Gabe Henderson. When we will talk to you 911 00:42:09,920 --> 00:42:13,280 Speaker 3: guys next week right here on the Minnesota Vikings podcast. 912 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:14,680 Speaker 5: S. 913 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:17,640 Speaker 1: Blond Montage is the Twin Cities premier salon and SPA 914 00:42:17,800 --> 00:42:22,400 Speaker 1: destination and proud official hair sponsor of the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders, 915 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:26,680 Speaker 1: with three convenient locations in a Dinah, Woodbury, and chan Hassen. 916 00:42:26,960 --> 00:42:29,920 Speaker 1: There is a Spalan close to you. Visit online at 917 00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:31,080 Speaker 1: spolon dot com. 918 00:42:31,120 --> 00:42:34,439 Speaker 3: Eighty seven percent of our food comes from rural America. 919 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:38,520 Speaker 3: Farmers are incredible, agriculture is incredible, and rural is incredible. 920 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:40,520 Speaker 2: Lando Lakes is a former owned 921 00:42:40,560 --> 00:42:43,840 Speaker 3: Cooperative and proud official sponsor of the Minnesota Vikings