Kevin O’Connell, the rookie head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, is at an inflection point. His team is 14 games into a deep and a bit worrisome offensive malaise. To be shutout in six straight quarters at any time is enough to put even the most optimistic fan on edge. O’Connell, known for his prowess as an offensive strategist and playcaller, is now tasked with revitalizing an offense that ranks among the worst in the NFL this season.
O’Connell has, in turn, become the envy of rival teams for his extraordinary knack at quarterback whispering. Make no mistake, he knows that he himself helped to create this crisis. Along those same lines, he admitted he possibly overburdened first-year starter J.J. McCarthy with the onus of focusing too much on footwork and mechanics. This narrow focus has put the team back on their heels. The Vikings’ offense now ranks 25th in plays of 10 or more yards. That’s a dramatic dip from their phenomenal success between 2022-2024, where they ranked fifth in the entire league on those types of plays.
In reaction to what the post-pandemic world is proving to be, O’Connell has fundamentally transformed his practice. He’s upped the use of the run game to take some pressure off of McCarthy and new fellow QB Max Brosmer. The team most recently finished up calling designed runs on 45.1% of plays. This is the case when they are tied score as well as when they are ahead. This tactical maneuver is designed to set up a more even playing field, giving McCarthy the ability to focus on making smart decisions without getting flooded.
O’Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips have done an admirable job of avoiding a playbook overburdened by repetition. This collaborative effort is designed to make sure that each actor involved—from players to officials—are aware of their roles and responsibilities on each play. O’Connell explained, “We’ve had some shuffling at some positions type that has contributed maybe to some of the inconsistency. Just like a sports team, we need to get our strategy aligned and ensure that everybody on the playing field is sharp.
As the team prepares for upcoming games against formidable defenses like Green Bay and Seattle, O’Connell recognizes the gap between his expectations for the scheme and its actual performance. He spent a great deal of time worrying about how coverage appears versus what is actually going to hurt the offense the most in key situations.
“In that moment, we better have a schematically more sound play, and that’s totally on me.” – Kevin O’Connell
The Vikings have committed almost $350 million to their roster in the 2025 season. They’re hell bent on rescuing McCarthy this fall, putting together their own potential playoff run. McCarthy is ranked 50th among starting quarterbacks this season. Brosmer is right there, ranking 47th in QBR as the heat gets turned up on O’Connell to start producing wins.
O’Connell’s promise to hold McCarthy’s feet to the fire is very much alive. He especially believes it’s important for his quarterback to focus on reading defenses first going forward. He elaborated on this point by stating, “The biggest thing is what you’re seeing coverage-wise needs to take a backseat to what is the best thing for our offense in that moment.”
Even after the setbacks of these past months, O’Connell prefers to talk about looking ahead, finding answers. The creativity comes in his acknowledgment that coaching needs to change as quickly as the players’ development for the offense to truly blossom.
“My job as a coach is to acknowledge [the offense’s performance] and understand how to coach it better,” – Kevin O’Connell
With a solid foundation achieved, the Vikings continue progressing as they prepare for their latter matches. Fans and analysts will be watching intently to see if O’Connell’s changes truly pay dividends. He is keenly aware of how serious things are. Spurred by this realization, he’s determined to get his team back on track.
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