December 2, 2025 • 36 mins
For Hour 3 Vikings head couch Kevin O'Connell joins the show to answer questions from tots.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Healing, Welcome back to Shields and Toys for Tops and
(00:54):
at them one hundred point three k F A N.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And also those of you watching at the Viking Stock.
This is the time each and every week Tuesdays around
eleven o'clock we do x's and o's generally from the
TCO radio studio, but yours truly is here at Chiels
for Toys for Tots and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell
joins us now from TCO PC round up applause for
(01:19):
the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Please Kevin Ocano
who can see us and we can't see him, but
that's okay. It's the Kevin, It's the Toys for Tots
drive here annually at Shields and you you are a
person that is very generous with your time, very generous
with your means, So days like this, especially for kids,
(01:42):
I would imagine it resonates with you in good morning.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Good morning, and hello to everybody out there. And I
just wanted to, you know, highlight Toys for Tots and
some of our players being out there today. They we've
got one of the best groups, I believe in the
whole NFL of giving their time, giving their energy, giving
their joy back to the great community, not only here
(02:06):
in the Twin Cities, but in many of the cities
that our players come from from around the country. And
I know how much it means to those guys that
are going to be there today, and just how great
of a cause that is for so many folks this
time of year. To bring joy to anybody's face, anybody's
life is a special, special thing, and it's not lost
on any of us.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
So sorry I can be there.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I wanted to try to make it out there, but
as you can imagine, we are hard at work here
at tco.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Kevin O'Connell face and the Vikings face, the three and
nine Washington Commanders here Sunday at noon on FM one
hundred point three KAM, and this is a Toys for
Tots drive, so we have opted to have some tots,
some kids ask Kevin O'Connell some questions, an opportunity to
(02:54):
chat with head coach of the Minnesota Vikings coming up
here Connor, and I got excited about it.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
The first one, your name is Connor? Where are you from?
Speaker 6 (03:01):
Arlington?
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Arlington? Okay?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Look right there, the head coaches on the other side
of the camera. That's Paige Iyager from the ve and
waiting at you. And what is your question for head
coach Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
If you had a superpower, what would it be, Connor?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
That is a great question. I think I think it
would be for me. It would be being able to
be two places at one time. Be able to be,
you know, with my family here at the Vikings training
facility every single day like I am, but also to
be able to be home with my kids.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
I've got four of them.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
One of a couple of them actually don't look all
that different from you and age and they wear their
their purple Vikings jerseys on Sunday to the games, just
like you. I see you there in the justin Jefferson
looking sharp, my man. But that would be that would
be to be at, you know, multiple places at once
and be able to be all in wherever you are.
(03:57):
Would be my would be in the superpower. But it
would also allow me to maybe be in the meeting
rooms of our opponents and find out the game plans
they may be using against us ahead of time and
use that to our advantage.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Would be another reason, but great question, Connor.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Hey, Connor High. Bye Man, round the applause for Connor
from Arlington. Come on up here, Jacob boys for tots,
So we got to takes takes from Tot's so to speak.
For the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin O'Connell. Jacob,
where are you from Burnsville? And what's your question for
Ko if you.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Could play golf? Of three other people who were to
be in.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Why Man, Well, unfortunately, Pa would not be one.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Of those people.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
I'm the one that arranged the distraction known as the kids.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
I mean, not the distraction the kids.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
But but Jacob, I would say, I would say one
of them would have to be Tiger Woods. I would
just want to see what that looks like getting to
play next to him, and then, believe it or not,
I would probably want my two boys, Kaden and Colton
to join me out there, even though Caden's getting pretty
close to being able to beat me every time we play,
having him out there and Colton as well. My I've
(05:11):
got a six year old and eleven year old and
and uh, like I said, that would be that would
be the group there us three in tiger Wood sounds
pretty fun, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Yeah, well, let me turn it on you. If you
could golf with any two people, Jacob, who would it be?
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Probably tell your woods?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, and and.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
You haven't seen me golf, Jacob, You haven't seen me golf.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Actually has that's why he wants to play with you.
So there you go from Minnatamka. Thank you up here, Charlie.
Last one takes from Tots Toys for Tots, Charlie. Where
are you from? Wood Bear, Woodbury? What's your question for
Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
My question is just that the past few weeks have
not gone our way, and I was just wondering, what
are you telling the guys and what's the game plan
for coming into this week?
Speaker 7 (06:08):
Next week?
Speaker 5 (06:09):
We're getting in the weeds?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Yeah, good, good question.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
So a lot of a lot of the struggles, and
we are certainly in a tough time right now. We
have not won a game in far too long, and
we've gotten used to around here winning games. So what
I've been really challenging the guys to do is stay
the course, continue to show that we're willing and capable
(06:33):
of playing extremely hard working throughout the week, putting together
great game plans, getting these players to understand what they've
built here culturally can't just be something we endorse and
ring the bell about when we're winning. It's more important
to be able to show what we're all made of
in these moments where things are tough vikings. Fans want
(06:54):
to see their teams, their team have success, and we
want to bring that energy and that juice to you
Bank Stadium this week, and we're playing against a team
that also is looking to win a football game and
desperately needs to as well, So we're both gonna be
laying it all on the line, and hopefully we can
put together a great game plan for our team offense,
(07:15):
defense and special teams and go play a good game
of complimentary football, which we have not done lately. And
we're learning and seeing in the real time you do
when you do a lot of things that lose football games,
you really don't give yourself a chance to win them.
And we've got to get back to doing the things
that win football games, which over the course of my
time here, we know what that looks like, but we've
(07:37):
got to make it happen, and talking about it outside
of that great question from you is.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Not going to do much to do it.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
So we've got to get to work and continue to
step forward, step together, and make sure that the best
parts of this organization come out when needed, which is now.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Charlie, ladies and gentlemen. Hi by Bud, Great job, great
job with that question.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Good job Charley.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
You guys can watch all of that backup vikings dot
Com later. Our final question a tot A take from
a tot Are tot is Eric from Chaska. Eric from Chaska.
This child as the final question. What's your question, Eric, well.
Speaker 8 (08:16):
Coach as you talk about trying to improve sor a
forty one year old tot from Chaska coach amidst some
of the negative things talking about putting things back together
five games less than this season, how do you balance
out trying to win games or parse through wins and
losses with really cherishing the successes and the growth that
(08:37):
your team has seen over the course of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yeah, it's a great question, Eric, and hopefully you get
your hands on a toy or two today as well.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
But no, I think I think you know.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
The way I look at it right now is although
we are, you know, putting everything we have into going
want to know this week finding to win a game,
bring some joy back to our locker room and most
importantly to our fans at US Bank Stadium this Sunday.
But in the midst of the struggle, in the midst
of this journey we've been on with some bumps in
(09:13):
the road, no question, I do believe you can be
building and forging something that can be built well into
the future of We can remember these moments, we can
remember who and what it felt like and it looked
like when we were all in in these moments, and
this team continued to stay together. This team continued, even
(09:33):
without the results, to be about the things that we
say we're about in our locker room.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
All well known. We've got to improve the football.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
We've got to get the football right, We've got to
play games the certain ways that when we look back
on the moments that we came out of this stretch,
hopefully in a positive way, I think we'll be able
to build on that and build on that and look
back on this when adversity inevitably hits down the road,
we'll remember these moments and how we dealt with these moments.
(10:03):
Because obviously, you know, you know, the spirit and the
culture that exists in the drought will only be enhanced
in the harvest.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
I tell our team that all the time.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
And we've got to be able to look inward right now,
and it's not easy to do. It's very easy to
find that exit ramp and look the other way. But
not this group, not any team I ever.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Coach Eric Connor, Jacob Charlie round of applause for all
these wonderful.
Speaker 7 (10:28):
Tots, but takes for the next coach at.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Coach of the Minnesota Vikings back at the vastin never
expandingdco Radio studio, Vikings Entertainment Network. Let me get the
head coach from Pineapple right now now. Kevin in twenty
seventeen to twenty nineteen was with Washington and in fact,
in twenty nineteen it was his first opportunity as an
offensive coordinator. And twenty nineteen Kevin in looking at the
(10:54):
current iteration of Washington football now called the Commanders, they
have a current defensive lineman named Ron Payne and a
punter named trust Way who were there with Kevin back
either seventeen eighteen or nineteen. I think trust Way was
there before he got there. I just you know Harrison
Smith would be an example here. I just think it's
(11:15):
really cool and unique. It certainly is unique, but it's
cool when players play with one team all of their careers,
you know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
And those those two guys, I mean, Drown Payne was there.
I believe his rookie year may have been my last
year there, and we felt his impact immediately. We felt
he was going to be the player that he's become,
which is an impact defensive lineman, no doubt on all
three downs. And then Trustway might be you know, over
(11:48):
the course of the last ten years in the NFL,
maybe Longer might be the best punter in football. Tremendous,
tremendous guy, locker room guy, beloved in that organization, much
like Harrison Smith. I mean, I think players of that
caliber that are able to stay with a team and
play in front of the same fan base for their
(12:10):
whole careers.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
You know.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I think in a day and age where it's becoming
more and more popular, even at the lower levels of football,
to change schools, go to a different place, change jobs,
go here, go there. I still think there is such
value in building a relationship and rapport with such great
fans like we have here in Minnesota, and I think
that matters to Harrison Smith. I think it's always mattered
(12:34):
to him, and I think it's why he takes so
much pride in putting on the purple every week and
going to play in front of our great fans.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
And what a career he's had.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
And like I said, I think it should be celebrated
when players do those things and do it at such
a high level in front of the same fan base
for the same team, for the better parts of their
whole careers.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Yeah, I love how you laid it out, and I'm
glad you laid it out that way because to do
that requires not having wander lust. And you know, if
people want to make what's best for them or best
for them and their families and they feel it's elsewhere,
I'm not negative on that. I understand that too, But
you know, sometimes and Kevin has seen a thousand times
more stuff than I and we ever will see. But nevertheless,
(13:18):
it requires sometimes taking less than you want, but placing
quality of life for yourself or your families first. And
not everybody is in lockstep with that, but that's part
of the requirement when you stay one place, and it
also fortifies the village, right, Kevin?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
It does you become such a foundational peace to build
around and somebody that Harrison you're speaking of seeing at all.
Harrison's been through just about everything as in Minnesota Viking.
So for a head coach like me with a team
right now where we've fallen on some very difficult circumstances
in times where we need to go get a win,
(14:00):
this isn't Harrison's first time going through a tough stretch.
This isn't his first time seeing what the locker room
is really made of during these moments, and it happens
to be. He's got a big gold sea on his
chest for a reason. So he's one of those players
that not only do I rely on, but I know
our whole team relies on in these moments to continue
to press onward and upward and do everything for for
(14:23):
this week and any week we get gifted to go compete, Let's.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Make it a good one.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Let's put a heck of a plan together, and let's
go one to know this week.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Now, you you Kevin has been here longer than any
place else in his career from a coaching standpoint, how
taxing has this season been on you and your staff.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Kevin, Yeah, it's been it's been difficult. They're always hard, Pa.
And that's the one thing I've I've shared with you
and in this very radio studio on your show, is
you do this long enough and you start realizing exactly
what the wins really mean. But it's more so the
life of a coach is the wins are very quickly
(15:05):
you move on very quickly from those because you know
the next challenge is coming, and you don't really get
the same enjoyment out of the wins that maybe you
once did when you know the totality of this. But
I can tell you the losses they there's not a
Sunday where a loss comes our way that it doesn't
hit me incredibly hard. And it's the same goes for
(15:26):
our staff. And we want so badly to see our
players experience success and with the way they work and
the way and what they put into this, nothing is
given in this league.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
It isn't.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
It is hard to win. We've learned that first hand
this year. It's not something we could come to expect.
It's something that we've got to know. Uh the work
that it takes, no matter what to try to go
get a win every week in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
But but I will say this this.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Season, although it's been very difficult, it's been trying, it's
it's it's challenged a lot of players and coaches alike
in this building, I've been incredibly proud of the fight
where we've been at each and every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
to restart weeks and then what it looks like on
the practice field to continue to fight and battle and
continue to try to improve because we're on our way.
(16:17):
I can't tell you when it's going to be, but
we're on our way to getting to where we want
to get to as an organization, and sometimes there's temporary
pitfalls along the way that if you allow those to
inevitably tarnish your ability to go get ultimately the end
goal done, whether that's in the near future or in
the future to come, then shame on all of us
for not being about what we say we're about. And
(16:39):
that's not something that I will ever allow happen in
this organization while I get to be the leader of it.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
And after the Seattle game, you said something fascinating about
Max Prosmer, So I'm just gonna lay it out like
this because we all know, because we all watch or
listen to the games. There are two young quarterbacks on
whom Kevin and the team are relying. So the young
quarterbacks one sometimes has seen it, sometimes a beat slowly,
(17:08):
the other a little too quickly. That they both generally
do it well in practice up to the games. So
how do you get it to work the way you
you you and they wanted to work during the games?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Well, I think we simulate as best as we can
on the practice field, simulate what it's going to feel
like for him, what the timing and rhythm of things
are going to be. But you also tend to learn
some things on a Sunday, and as a young quarterback,
both of our both of our guys who both JJ
and Max, this past Sunday, we've seen the inevitable impact
(17:48):
of the speed, the physicality, the difficulties of navigating an
NFL game for a quarterback. It's why it's the hardest
position in sports, because so many things, so many variables,
both with the guys wearing the same uniform as you,
but most importantly, the guys on the other side of
the ball can have an impact on you. Snap to
(18:09):
snap and in Max's case, you know, I think I
mentioned it after the game. He was, you know, inevitably
when the game starts to speed up, and it was
his first time.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
What a challenge.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I mean, being at Seattle and that environment against one
of the best defenses in the league. He got a
little sped up at times. And he's already a quick processor.
So when a quick processor gets sped up, well, you
can get through reads a little quick. Sometimes you can
maybe you know, not be as accurate as you want,
either anticipating a throw or throwing a ball out to
the boundary on a third down to Jordan Addison. All
(18:43):
these throws that if you go back and watch the
tape and I did with Max of the week of
practice where he made those throws and we threw and
caught those balls. I wanted to show that to him
because it was a message of everything that took place Sunday,
what you felt, how you reacted to things, even when
you didn't want to allow the game to impact you
(19:04):
in a way, it still did. I wanted him to
know that that's normal what took place there, and some
of the trials and tribulations that he went through in
an NFL game, against a really good team on Sunday.
It can be an incredible growth moment for him. And
although he's disappointed the result wasn't what he wanted, I
sure hope he bottles up a lot of that experience
(19:25):
for the next time he gets an opportunity and he
can apply it at that point and be better for it.
And that's ultimately how young quarterbacks grow and get better
in this league.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Is in your estimation, Kevin, is Dallas Turner turning a
corner to potentially becoming a big timer.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Well, I'll tell you he had one of his best
games this past Sunday. And obviously the stat sheet is
always what I know a lot of folks look at,
but to me, especially with a player like Dallas, the
eye test of just what it felt like watching him
play with such speed, his athleticism on display, physicality. I mean,
he was all over the field, sideline to sideline, great
(20:03):
pass rush when he got his ops, especially in some
of those.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
One on one opportunities.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Was just a physical force throughout the game and you
saw it in a lot of different ways. And that's
why we were so excited to bring Dallas here. And
I think he's getting better and better and after a
couple you know, really nice performances here of late. You know,
my challenge to him and to himself, I know from
Dallas himself is a consistency.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Now be that guy every single week.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Be a force for our defense, Be a force for
Flow and that defensive staff to be able to turn
him loose. And I think we're gonna see more and
more playmaking out of Dallas Turner here over the final
five games of our regular season.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Yeah, you credited a punter, Ryan Wright in your press
conference yesterday, and rightfully so, and but frustrating as it
may be to hear right now, he and the kicker
Will rekerd. I mean they're super important during a season
like this, right.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Yeah, I think any time you're not having the type
of production as an offense that really we've had for
the better part of three years coming into this season,
We've really never had to play too many games where
field position was so important, Flipping the field when you're
backed up or pinning somebody deep to allow our defense
to be able to defend ninety plus yards of grass
(21:21):
to keep people out of.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
The end zone.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
The kicking game has you know, there's been some moments
where our special teams have had one or two plays
where they've been catastrophically impactful on the game, and but
for the better part of the whole season, I think
our coverage units have been very good. Will Rekert's been
out standing, Like you said, the fifty nine yard at
Green Bay was one of the more impressive kicks I've seen.
(21:44):
And then Ryan Wright has had his best year. He's
been consistent. It's not just the hangtime, it's not just
the distance, it's the location. It's really playing almost a
pitch and catch game with our gunners. You know, Tavier
Thomas and Tym Fleming have both been just absolutely lights out,
winning versus double teams, single blocks out there, and it's
(22:04):
all come together in ways that have helped us try
to navigate some of these choppy waters offensively, because it
gives our defense a chance to then impose their will
and see if we can get these games to the
fourth quarter and have a chance to win them in
the end. And we've got to do a lot more
things better in other aspects of our team.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
But there's no question that Ryan and Will have been
phenomenal for us.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Last couple here, for Kevin O'Connell, head coach of the
Minnesota Vikings. This is every Tuesday on KFA N and
Vikings dot Com. It's called x'es and o's and Kevin
is very gracious with his time each and every Tuesday.
Christian dearisop the left tackle is so vital to the
success of your offense. Does does much of what you
(22:45):
want to when he doesn't play? Does much have to change?
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:53):
I think you just end up, you know, having to
make some sacrifices to some scheme, some different aspect of
how you're going to try to protect, especially against you know,
specifically in regards to last Sunday, I mean, you're playing against,
if not the best defensive front across the board. They're
right up there with some of Green Bay we played
(23:15):
the previous week. And what happens is you've got to
make some sacrifices to try to help who's ever stepping in,
in this case justin school there on the left side.
Try to help him as best we can. Maybe that
you know, mitigates the impact that TJ. Hockinson can have
is a you know, a rhythm part of our past game.
(23:35):
And although TJ eventually made his impact.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
On the game.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
It was not without risk of trying to maybe not
do everything we could always for the sake of protection,
you're trying to activate as many eligibles as you can.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Christian darrisol is a force in the run game. You
get him and Josh Oliver working together over on that
left side.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
We've we've had some real, real impactful plays this year
in the run game behind those guys.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
So you just look at it. He's one of our
best players.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
There's a reason why those franchise caliber left tackles aren't
on every roster in the National Football League, and the
loss of those players is felt. Not only last year,
you know, when we were able to overcome it, winning
a lot of games without CD once he went down
in the fifth game. It's been a little bit more
difficult for us this year to just kind of overcome
(24:22):
just the ebbs and flows of CD's recovery, as he's
been able to come back and be on the field,
but just not to the level at which we all,
you know, have come to expect, just because of the
natural progression of that rehab process. And he's getting better
and better every week. He's gonna have a good week
this week and We're absolutely hopeful. CD himself included in
(24:43):
that that he'll be out there in the seventy one
Jersey at left tackle this weekend.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
I mentioned Dallas Turner.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Your defense at Darnold all messed up pretty much the
entire game Sunday, when you graded the defensive performance outside
of Darisaw, what did you see? I mean, outside of
Dallas Turner, what did you see?
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (25:03):
I think what I saw was great disguise. They were
doing a lot of things to try to cause some
confusion pre snap for not only Sam, but the play
caller there and the rest of the guys on the
offensive team there. For the Seahawks, there was great disguise,
and then there was a play style there that encompassed
(25:24):
we wanted to be a good tackling team, and I
thought they were on the field a lot. They were
on the field too much and maybe wore down a
little bit as the game went on, but they continued
to find a way to force some of those third
downs where there was potential for the ball to get
turned over and give us a chance to get back
in the game. There was a chance to make some
impactful plays, not only by Dallas Eric Wilson had a
(25:45):
very nice game. Blake Cashman. We saw Van Ginkel continue
to impact the game. Doesn't always do it in the
stat sheet where people can see it, but he's so impactful.
Getting Jonathan Gernard back I think he played fifteen snaps
is obviously huge as one of our best player. And
then how about a guy like Jay Ward stepping in
and bringing a physicality and a level of play style
(26:06):
and tackling to that corner position. Flow and his staff
have come up with ways to get Jay Ward on
the field, which I love because I love watching just
the way Jay Ward plays football and that.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
He does it in the kicking game. But now we're
starting to see it a little bit on the defensive side.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Yeah you so Rogers comes out for a few plays,
in comes Jay Ward. I mean, just well, welcome to
the show Man. Is a corner your opposite Jackson Smith
and Jigba and you know, defenses disguise so beautifully it
initially looks like, wow, that might be one on one
and then of course there's a little help, but I
think they would call that baptism by fire. Yeah, Jay's
(26:40):
giving you some good reps this year. Lastly, football being
the ultimate team games. It's very difficult at least for
me to hone in on one thing and say this
is the most important thing, But arguably Kevin is the
single most important thing with the twenty twenty five minutes,
the vikings moving forward, the improvement and maturation of JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Yeah, I just think it's the quarterback position and the
ability to play at a consistent level that allows the
other guys to have an impact on the game. Everything
goes through the quarterback position. And we've seen some moments,
you know, you go back through our season, you see
some moments where uh, JJ gets in a great rhythm
(27:28):
and we're able to really see the fruits of the
special players we have on our offense, like Justin and
Jordan and TJ and Jalen Naylor and and and I
think just the consistency factor of not only JJ doing
his job, but the detail of everybody around him, the
ability to make sure we're limiting any and all self
inflicted causes that either eliminate our chances for success on
(27:53):
a given play. UH sequencing of a play on a
drive a critical third and two?
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Can we get third and three? Third? Can we get
all eleven?
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Guys doing their job and find a way to get
those new set of downs and then see if we
can stack more positive plays.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
On that all.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
Well, you know this PA is as well as anybody.
We've got to try to find a way to generate
some of those explosive plays that help you not have
to drive at twelve, thirteen, fourteen plays every time you
touch it. And it's been kind of a hallmark of
our offense over the course of our time here.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
Even when maybe we've.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Hit a stretch during a game where we don't consistently
have positive plays, we've been able to overcome it by
generating those seven to ten explosive type plays in the
game that either flip the field, put you in the
scoring zone, or ultimately provide the lift needed to then
stack whatever's required to go get a win.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
And even if that's coming but from.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Behind a fourth quarter comeback, you know, one score games
that we've been pretty successful at. Those plays are just
something that we've lacked and we haven't had enough of
this year. And the continue to growth and development of JJ.
Coming back hopefully with a full week of practice this
week will be uh will be a real positive and
I can't wait to watch him play.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
When you're foreign eight.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
As you know, there's a lot of noise all over
the place speaking for one hundred or so here, specifically
the kids and the families with whom I've chatted, Nordo
and yours truly, ma'am. They all love and they all care,
and they want you to win every single game. And
we'll be pulling for you and the team hard this weekend.
Thank you, Kevin. Have a great day, Kevin O'Connor.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Appreciate you guys. Man. We got the best fans in
the world.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Thanks Pa Da. Have a good day, mans. Kevin O'Connell,
head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. This is nine to
noon at kf A n back after this, sir, all right,
(30:06):
how about some takes for tots for those of you
listening and have been one hundred point three kfam You kids,
you wacky kids, you children, you tots. You want to
be the smartest at your school, in the lunch room,
in the classroom, in the hallway, or wherever you are.
Yearly when we are at Shields for toys for tots,
So we will offer up some takes for tots.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
And Donordo has a couple guys.
Speaker 8 (30:29):
Well, I'm gonna hit you with with this one off
the conversation with the head coach.
Speaker 7 (30:32):
I've kind of been focused with him a couple of times.
Speaker 8 (30:34):
But if you're sitting at the lunch table, the key
is is, I think the Vikings are going to be
better next year. Okay, well that's awesome, that's optimistic. We
appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
Yeah, but you.
Speaker 7 (30:43):
Gotta go big and you got to hit something.
Speaker 8 (30:45):
So we've heard a lot about Dallas Turner today a
couple of different occasions.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
TJ.
Speaker 8 (30:49):
Hawkinson praising him. You heard the head coach last segment.
When you're in the lunch room today, you're going to
hit your buddies or maybe later this week, you're gonna
hit your buddies with Dallas Turner will lead the Vikings
defense in sacks a year from now. You're gonna ride
this wave the three games we've seen in a row,
and I anticipate a positive finish to the end of
this season. And the key to this is it's different.
(31:11):
Jonathan Grenard. You heard the head coach say one of
the best players on our team. He certainly is, and
the gink.
Speaker 7 (31:17):
Is on fire.
Speaker 8 (31:17):
Who expected number forty three jerseys to be prominently displayed
here at Shields. We love the gang, but number fifteen's
coming to play, and number fifteen is growing up. Number
fifteen has found maybe might you say a little swerve
or a swivel, as PA would.
Speaker 7 (31:32):
Say, because he's getting a second move.
Speaker 8 (31:35):
He's answering questions in front of him with the offensive line,
which has led to some splash and some success. So
Dallas Turner will lead the Minnesota Vikings in sacks next year.
And the cool thing about this kid's takes for tots
you're from not No one's gonna remember that.
Speaker 7 (31:48):
You said that at the lunch table in December twenty
twenty five, So right or wrong?
Speaker 8 (31:53):
Hit him hard with that, Dallas Turner leading the squad
in sacks a year from now.
Speaker 5 (31:57):
All right, Well, being the I think he's tied for.
Speaker 7 (31:59):
The lead in sacks right now as well.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
So yeah, four and a half maybe something like that.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Now, being racetrack raised and they're racing at Canterbury Park,
being a racetrack raised, he goes down that road. I
immediately think, all right, well, I'm gonna make a morning
line for him and see which way, because I'm big.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Put your money where your mouth is loud mouth. Okay.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
I face a lot of that in my life, So
that generally is the line of delineation in the conversations
is like, Okay, I hear what you're saying, and you're
kind of taking me deep here. Let's put our money
where our mouths are and figure out how that works out,
because then people don't really like to get into their
pockets and they back off. So I'm gonna lay these
odds on what you said, right, leader in Sacks on
(32:44):
the Minnesota Vikings in twenty twenty six. Yes, your even
money favorite is Jonathan Grenard. I agree, your nine to
five second choice, that's slightly under two to one. Your
nine to five second choice is Andrew Van Ginkle. Your
three to one third choice is Dallas Turner, and then
(33:06):
at five to one is pass Rusher Dujore, who will
be drafted? Oh, which, uh wait, I'm not even gonna
go free agency. Just I guess I could say new
shooter in the conversation, but I understand, Yeah, let's just
make a new shooter, because a new guy then you
get free agents or drafted players. Grenard even money, Dan
(33:28):
Ginkle nine to five, Dallas Turner three to one and
new player Dujore five to one.
Speaker 8 (33:34):
So am I Am I splitting up a mythical one
hundred dollars or let's say.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
Yeah, you would be betting against yourself.
Speaker 8 (33:40):
Though in some ways, yes, So I actually I will
continue to put my my mythical I'd put half a
honeybe I'd put my mythical honeybee, half my mythical bank
role on Dallas Turner to lead the team in sacks.
I would brace myself with maybe a twenty or a
thirty percent hedge on Grenard, And that's where I would
place my cash new guy, given how this defense is operated, PA,
(34:05):
we've seen Dallas Turner not only just have to improve
and get better, but how's he going to get on
the field behind Grenard and Van Kinkle. Now number fifteen's
working on that new guy touted via free I mean,
unless you're talking, I mean, if new guys Miles Garrett,
then I'm just going bus.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Well, new guy can be corner Doujore in free agency
or the draft, right, And yeah he's athletic, yes he's fast,
Yes he covers well, but holy cow, he's one of
the best blitzing corners in the twenty twenty six draft.
Speaker 8 (34:36):
Well, unless this blitzing corner is going to have nine sacks,
which Dallas Turner will eclipse in twenty twenty six, I
don't see that as an option.
Speaker 7 (34:44):
We could talk about, you will.
Speaker 8 (34:46):
How has Eric Wilson been deployed by Brian Flores this year?
Speaker 2 (34:49):
We do this bit this time last year and say, well,
we know Wilson's on the team. Yeah, for twenty twenty five,
he's twenty to one. Well not just twenty to one.
We're doing odds on number of snow apps. He's even
freaking playing in games, much less what he's been able
to produce.
Speaker 8 (35:04):
Really usurping. I mean, he just walked in and said,
love you, Ivan Pace. I think they're both Cincinnati Bearcats. Yeah,
we'll catch you at the team reunions and the cool
dinners down in Cincy. I'm taking your job, Eric Wilson
when I took it, Ivan, when you played for the Bearcats,
had a really really good run.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
But I was the one playing there that they used
as an example with all the film, and the same
thing's gonna happen here. With all due respect, all right,
hit me a final take for tot because it's very
important for the future of humanity. Teach the children and
let them lead the way. Copyright Whitney Houston. May God
(35:40):
rest her soul. What's the last one? Well, I mentioned
this earlier is with Lavelle. Go to the lunch room
and find them, identify them.
Speaker 8 (35:47):
The rivals, the enemies of the North have infiltrated and
in some ways infested, are otherwise super peaceful, vikings, loving community.
So you got a couple of kids, maybe they're from Iowa.
In fairness, you know Iowa. You can go all kinds
different directions, but you might see some Bears fan go
up to them at school and tell them.
Speaker 7 (36:04):
The Bears are the fakes team in the NFL. And
in fact, I mean they're.
Speaker 8 (36:07):
Building hopes and dreams, and the coach is cool, and
they're beaten on bad teams, and so they're getting believed.
Speaker 7 (36:12):
That's cool.
Speaker 8 (36:13):
They're going to get worked in their first playoff game,
and the Grinch will steal the soul of every Bears
fan in the Windy City and predict that they have
a regression to the mean and find themselves third in the.
Speaker 5 (36:23):
North next year. Oh that's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
That is a hardcore take for a tot. That's more
high school asque. Let's not take that one via middle
school or elementary school. People might not understand it. You
might want to get punched, you might get punched. Nine
to Noon does not condone violence. He's Nordo. I'm Paul Allen.
Our final segment from Shields is next
Healing, Welcome back to Shields and Toys for Tops and
(00:54):
at them one hundred point three k F A N.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And also those of you watching at the Viking Stock.
This is the time each and every week Tuesdays around
eleven o'clock we do x's and o's generally from the
TCO radio studio, but yours truly is here at Chiels
for Toys for Tots and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell
joins us now from TCO PC round up applause for
(01:19):
the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Please Kevin Ocano
who can see us and we can't see him, but
that's okay. It's the Kevin, It's the Toys for Tots
drive here annually at Shields and you you are a
person that is very generous with your time, very generous
with your means, So days like this, especially for kids,
(01:42):
I would imagine it resonates with you in good morning.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Good morning, and hello to everybody out there. And I
just wanted to, you know, highlight Toys for Tots and
some of our players being out there today. They we've
got one of the best groups, I believe in the
whole NFL of giving their time, giving their energy, giving
their joy back to the great community, not only here
(02:06):
in the Twin Cities, but in many of the cities
that our players come from from around the country. And
I know how much it means to those guys that
are going to be there today, and just how great
of a cause that is for so many folks this
time of year. To bring joy to anybody's face, anybody's
life is a special, special thing, and it's not lost
on any of us.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
So sorry I can be there.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I wanted to try to make it out there, but
as you can imagine, we are hard at work here
at tco.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Kevin O'Connell face and the Vikings face, the three and
nine Washington Commanders here Sunday at noon on FM one
hundred point three KAM, and this is a Toys for
Tots drive, so we have opted to have some tots,
some kids ask Kevin O'Connell some questions, an opportunity to
(02:54):
chat with head coach of the Minnesota Vikings coming up
here Connor, and I got excited about it.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
The first one, your name is Connor? Where are you from?
Speaker 6 (03:01):
Arlington?
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Arlington? Okay?
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Look right there, the head coaches on the other side
of the camera. That's Paige Iyager from the ve and
waiting at you. And what is your question for head
coach Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
If you had a superpower, what would it be, Connor?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
That is a great question. I think I think it
would be for me. It would be being able to
be two places at one time. Be able to be,
you know, with my family here at the Vikings training
facility every single day like I am, but also to
be able to be home with my kids.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
I've got four of them.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
One of a couple of them actually don't look all
that different from you and age and they wear their
their purple Vikings jerseys on Sunday to the games, just
like you. I see you there in the justin Jefferson
looking sharp, my man. But that would be that would
be to be at, you know, multiple places at once
and be able to be all in wherever you are.
(03:57):
Would be my would be in the superpower. But it
would also allow me to maybe be in the meeting
rooms of our opponents and find out the game plans
they may be using against us ahead of time and
use that to our advantage.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Would be another reason, but great question, Connor.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Hey, Connor High. Bye Man, round the applause for Connor
from Arlington. Come on up here, Jacob boys for tots,
So we got to takes takes from Tot's so to speak.
For the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, Kevin O'Connell. Jacob,
where are you from Burnsville? And what's your question for
Ko if you.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
Could play golf? Of three other people who were to
be in.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Why Man, Well, unfortunately, Pa would not be one.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Of those people.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
I'm the one that arranged the distraction known as the kids.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
I mean, not the distraction the kids.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
But but Jacob, I would say, I would say one
of them would have to be Tiger Woods. I would
just want to see what that looks like getting to
play next to him, and then, believe it or not,
I would probably want my two boys, Kaden and Colton
to join me out there, even though Caden's getting pretty
close to being able to beat me every time we play,
having him out there and Colton as well. My I've
(05:11):
got a six year old and eleven year old and
and uh, like I said, that would be that would
be the group there us three in tiger Wood sounds
pretty fun, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Yeah, well, let me turn it on you. If you
could golf with any two people, Jacob, who would it be?
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Probably tell your woods?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, and and.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
You haven't seen me golf, Jacob, You haven't seen me golf.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Actually has that's why he wants to play with you.
So there you go from Minnatamka. Thank you up here, Charlie.
Last one takes from Tots Toys for Tots, Charlie. Where
are you from? Wood Bear, Woodbury? What's your question for
Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
My question is just that the past few weeks have
not gone our way, and I was just wondering, what
are you telling the guys and what's the game plan
for coming into this week?
Speaker 7 (06:08):
Next week?
Speaker 5 (06:09):
We're getting in the weeds?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Yeah, good, good question.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
So a lot of a lot of the struggles, and
we are certainly in a tough time right now. We
have not won a game in far too long, and
we've gotten used to around here winning games. So what
I've been really challenging the guys to do is stay
the course, continue to show that we're willing and capable
(06:33):
of playing extremely hard working throughout the week, putting together
great game plans, getting these players to understand what they've
built here culturally can't just be something we endorse and
ring the bell about when we're winning. It's more important
to be able to show what we're all made of
in these moments where things are tough vikings. Fans want
(06:54):
to see their teams, their team have success, and we
want to bring that energy and that juice to you
Bank Stadium this week, and we're playing against a team
that also is looking to win a football game and
desperately needs to as well, So we're both gonna be
laying it all on the line, and hopefully we can
put together a great game plan for our team offense,
(07:15):
defense and special teams and go play a good game
of complimentary football, which we have not done lately. And
we're learning and seeing in the real time you do
when you do a lot of things that lose football games,
you really don't give yourself a chance to win them.
And we've got to get back to doing the things
that win football games, which over the course of my
time here, we know what that looks like, but we've
(07:37):
got to make it happen, and talking about it outside
of that great question from you is.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Not going to do much to do it.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
So we've got to get to work and continue to
step forward, step together, and make sure that the best
parts of this organization come out when needed, which is now.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Charlie, ladies and gentlemen. Hi by Bud, Great job, great
job with that question.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
Good job Charley.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
You guys can watch all of that backup vikings dot
Com later. Our final question a tot A take from
a tot Are tot is Eric from Chaska. Eric from Chaska.
This child as the final question. What's your question, Eric, well.
Speaker 8 (08:16):
Coach as you talk about trying to improve sor a
forty one year old tot from Chaska coach amidst some
of the negative things talking about putting things back together
five games less than this season, how do you balance
out trying to win games or parse through wins and
losses with really cherishing the successes and the growth that
(08:37):
your team has seen over the course of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yeah, it's a great question, Eric, and hopefully you get
your hands on a toy or two today as well.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
But no, I think I think you know.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
The way I look at it right now is although
we are, you know, putting everything we have into going
want to know this week finding to win a game,
bring some joy back to our locker room and most
importantly to our fans at US Bank Stadium this Sunday.
But in the midst of the struggle, in the midst
of this journey we've been on with some bumps in
(09:13):
the road, no question, I do believe you can be
building and forging something that can be built well into
the future of We can remember these moments, we can
remember who and what it felt like and it looked
like when we were all in in these moments, and
this team continued to stay together. This team continued, even
(09:33):
without the results, to be about the things that we
say we're about in our locker room.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
All well known. We've got to improve the football.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
We've got to get the football right, We've got to
play games the certain ways that when we look back
on the moments that we came out of this stretch,
hopefully in a positive way, I think we'll be able
to build on that and build on that and look
back on this when adversity inevitably hits down the road,
we'll remember these moments and how we dealt with these moments.
(10:03):
Because obviously, you know, you know, the spirit and the
culture that exists in the drought will only be enhanced
in the harvest.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
I tell our team that all the time.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
And we've got to be able to look inward right now,
and it's not easy to do. It's very easy to
find that exit ramp and look the other way. But
not this group, not any team I ever.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Coach Eric Connor, Jacob Charlie round of applause for all
these wonderful.
Speaker 7 (10:28):
Tots, but takes for the next coach at.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Coach of the Minnesota Vikings back at the vastin never
expandingdco Radio studio, Vikings Entertainment Network. Let me get the
head coach from Pineapple right now now. Kevin in twenty
seventeen to twenty nineteen was with Washington and in fact,
in twenty nineteen it was his first opportunity as an
offensive coordinator. And twenty nineteen Kevin in looking at the
(10:54):
current iteration of Washington football now called the Commanders, they
have a current defensive lineman named Ron Payne and a
punter named trust Way who were there with Kevin back
either seventeen eighteen or nineteen. I think trust Way was
there before he got there. I just you know Harrison
Smith would be an example here. I just think it's
(11:15):
really cool and unique. It certainly is unique, but it's
cool when players play with one team all of their careers,
you know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Yeah, I do.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
And those those two guys, I mean, Drown Payne was there.
I believe his rookie year may have been my last
year there, and we felt his impact immediately. We felt
he was going to be the player that he's become,
which is an impact defensive lineman, no doubt on all
three downs. And then Trustway might be you know, over
(11:48):
the course of the last ten years in the NFL,
maybe Longer might be the best punter in football. Tremendous,
tremendous guy, locker room guy, beloved in that organization, much
like Harrison Smith. I mean, I think players of that
caliber that are able to stay with a team and
play in front of the same fan base for their
(12:10):
whole careers.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
You know.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I think in a day and age where it's becoming
more and more popular, even at the lower levels of football,
to change schools, go to a different place, change jobs,
go here, go there. I still think there is such
value in building a relationship and rapport with such great
fans like we have here in Minnesota, and I think
that matters to Harrison Smith. I think it's always mattered
(12:34):
to him, and I think it's why he takes so
much pride in putting on the purple every week and
going to play in front of our great fans.
Speaker 4 (12:40):
And what a career he's had.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
And like I said, I think it should be celebrated
when players do those things and do it at such
a high level in front of the same fan base
for the same team, for the better parts of their
whole careers.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Yeah, I love how you laid it out, and I'm
glad you laid it out that way because to do
that requires not having wander lust. And you know, if
people want to make what's best for them or best
for them and their families and they feel it's elsewhere,
I'm not negative on that. I understand that too, But
you know, sometimes and Kevin has seen a thousand times
more stuff than I and we ever will see. But nevertheless,
(13:18):
it requires sometimes taking less than you want, but placing
quality of life for yourself or your families first. And
not everybody is in lockstep with that, but that's part
of the requirement when you stay one place, and it
also fortifies the village, right, Kevin?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
It does you become such a foundational peace to build
around and somebody that Harrison you're speaking of seeing at all.
Harrison's been through just about everything as in Minnesota Viking.
So for a head coach like me with a team
right now where we've fallen on some very difficult circumstances
in times where we need to go get a win,
(14:00):
this isn't Harrison's first time going through a tough stretch.
This isn't his first time seeing what the locker room
is really made of during these moments, and it happens
to be. He's got a big gold sea on his
chest for a reason. So he's one of those players
that not only do I rely on, but I know
our whole team relies on in these moments to continue
to press onward and upward and do everything for for
(14:23):
this week and any week we get gifted to go compete, Let's.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Make it a good one.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Let's put a heck of a plan together, and let's
go one to know this week.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Now, you you Kevin has been here longer than any
place else in his career from a coaching standpoint, how
taxing has this season been on you and your staff.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Kevin, Yeah, it's been it's been difficult. They're always hard, Pa.
And that's the one thing I've I've shared with you
and in this very radio studio on your show, is
you do this long enough and you start realizing exactly
what the wins really mean. But it's more so the
life of a coach is the wins are very quickly
(15:05):
you move on very quickly from those because you know
the next challenge is coming, and you don't really get
the same enjoyment out of the wins that maybe you
once did when you know the totality of this. But
I can tell you the losses they there's not a
Sunday where a loss comes our way that it doesn't
hit me incredibly hard. And it's the same goes for
(15:26):
our staff. And we want so badly to see our
players experience success and with the way they work and
the way and what they put into this, nothing is
given in this league.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
It isn't.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
It is hard to win. We've learned that first hand
this year. It's not something we could come to expect.
It's something that we've got to know. Uh the work
that it takes, no matter what to try to go
get a win every week in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
But but I will say this this.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
Season, although it's been very difficult, it's been trying, it's
it's it's challenged a lot of players and coaches alike
in this building, I've been incredibly proud of the fight
where we've been at each and every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
to restart weeks and then what it looks like on
the practice field to continue to fight and battle and
continue to try to improve because we're on our way.
(16:17):
I can't tell you when it's going to be, but
we're on our way to getting to where we want
to get to as an organization, and sometimes there's temporary
pitfalls along the way that if you allow those to
inevitably tarnish your ability to go get ultimately the end
goal done, whether that's in the near future or in
the future to come, then shame on all of us
for not being about what we say we're about. And
(16:39):
that's not something that I will ever allow happen in
this organization while I get to be the leader of it.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
And after the Seattle game, you said something fascinating about
Max Prosmer, So I'm just gonna lay it out like
this because we all know, because we all watch or
listen to the games. There are two young quarterbacks on
whom Kevin and the team are relying. So the young
quarterbacks one sometimes has seen it, sometimes a beat slowly,
(17:08):
the other a little too quickly. That they both generally
do it well in practice up to the games. So
how do you get it to work the way you
you you and they wanted to work during the games?
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Well, I think we simulate as best as we can
on the practice field, simulate what it's going to feel
like for him, what the timing and rhythm of things
are going to be. But you also tend to learn
some things on a Sunday, and as a young quarterback,
both of our both of our guys who both JJ
and Max, this past Sunday, we've seen the inevitable impact
(17:48):
of the speed, the physicality, the difficulties of navigating an
NFL game for a quarterback. It's why it's the hardest
position in sports, because so many things, so many variables,
both with the guys wearing the same uniform as you,
but most importantly, the guys on the other side of
the ball can have an impact on you. Snap to
(18:09):
snap and in Max's case, you know, I think I
mentioned it after the game. He was, you know, inevitably
when the game starts to speed up, and it was
his first time.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
What a challenge.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I mean, being at Seattle and that environment against one
of the best defenses in the league. He got a
little sped up at times. And he's already a quick processor.
So when a quick processor gets sped up, well, you
can get through reads a little quick. Sometimes you can
maybe you know, not be as accurate as you want,
either anticipating a throw or throwing a ball out to
the boundary on a third down to Jordan Addison. All
(18:43):
these throws that if you go back and watch the
tape and I did with Max of the week of
practice where he made those throws and we threw and
caught those balls. I wanted to show that to him
because it was a message of everything that took place Sunday,
what you felt, how you reacted to things, even when
you didn't want to allow the game to impact you
(19:04):
in a way, it still did. I wanted him to
know that that's normal what took place there, and some
of the trials and tribulations that he went through in
an NFL game, against a really good team on Sunday.
It can be an incredible growth moment for him. And
although he's disappointed the result wasn't what he wanted, I
sure hope he bottles up a lot of that experience
(19:25):
for the next time he gets an opportunity and he
can apply it at that point and be better for it.
And that's ultimately how young quarterbacks grow and get better
in this league.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Is in your estimation, Kevin, is Dallas Turner turning a
corner to potentially becoming a big timer.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
Well, I'll tell you he had one of his best
games this past Sunday. And obviously the stat sheet is
always what I know a lot of folks look at,
but to me, especially with a player like Dallas, the
eye test of just what it felt like watching him
play with such speed, his athleticism on display, physicality. I mean,
he was all over the field, sideline to sideline, great
(20:03):
pass rush when he got his ops, especially in some
of those.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
One on one opportunities.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Was just a physical force throughout the game and you
saw it in a lot of different ways. And that's
why we were so excited to bring Dallas here. And
I think he's getting better and better and after a
couple you know, really nice performances here of late. You know,
my challenge to him and to himself, I know from
Dallas himself is a consistency.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Now be that guy every single week.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Be a force for our defense, Be a force for
Flow and that defensive staff to be able to turn
him loose. And I think we're gonna see more and
more playmaking out of Dallas Turner here over the final
five games of our regular season.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Yeah, you credited a punter, Ryan Wright in your press
conference yesterday, and rightfully so, and but frustrating as it
may be to hear right now, he and the kicker
Will rekerd. I mean they're super important during a season
like this, right.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
Yeah, I think any time you're not having the type
of production as an offense that really we've had for
the better part of three years coming into this season,
We've really never had to play too many games where
field position was so important, Flipping the field when you're
backed up or pinning somebody deep to allow our defense
to be able to defend ninety plus yards of grass
(21:21):
to keep people out of.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
The end zone.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
The kicking game has you know, there's been some moments
where our special teams have had one or two plays
where they've been catastrophically impactful on the game, and but
for the better part of the whole season, I think
our coverage units have been very good. Will Rekert's been
out standing, Like you said, the fifty nine yard at
Green Bay was one of the more impressive kicks I've seen.
(21:44):
And then Ryan Wright has had his best year. He's
been consistent. It's not just the hangtime, it's not just
the distance, it's the location. It's really playing almost a
pitch and catch game with our gunners. You know, Tavier
Thomas and Tym Fleming have both been just absolutely lights out,
winning versus double teams, single blocks out there, and it's
(22:04):
all come together in ways that have helped us try
to navigate some of these choppy waters offensively, because it
gives our defense a chance to then impose their will
and see if we can get these games to the
fourth quarter and have a chance to win them in
the end. And we've got to do a lot more
things better in other aspects of our team.
Speaker 4 (22:21):
But there's no question that Ryan and Will have been
phenomenal for us.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Last couple here, for Kevin O'Connell, head coach of the
Minnesota Vikings. This is every Tuesday on KFA N and
Vikings dot Com. It's called x'es and o's and Kevin
is very gracious with his time each and every Tuesday.
Christian dearisop the left tackle is so vital to the
success of your offense. Does does much of what you
(22:45):
want to when he doesn't play? Does much have to change?
Speaker 4 (22:52):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (22:53):
I think you just end up, you know, having to
make some sacrifices to some scheme, some different aspect of
how you're going to try to protect, especially against you know,
specifically in regards to last Sunday, I mean, you're playing against,
if not the best defensive front across the board. They're
right up there with some of Green Bay we played
(23:15):
the previous week. And what happens is you've got to
make some sacrifices to try to help who's ever stepping in,
in this case justin school there on the left side.
Try to help him as best we can. Maybe that
you know, mitigates the impact that TJ. Hockinson can have
is a you know, a rhythm part of our past game.
(23:35):
And although TJ eventually made his impact.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
On the game.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
It was not without risk of trying to maybe not
do everything we could always for the sake of protection,
you're trying to activate as many eligibles as you can.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Christian darrisol is a force in the run game. You
get him and Josh Oliver working together over on that
left side.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
We've we've had some real, real impactful plays this year
in the run game behind those guys.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
So you just look at it. He's one of our
best players.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
There's a reason why those franchise caliber left tackles aren't
on every roster in the National Football League, and the
loss of those players is felt. Not only last year,
you know, when we were able to overcome it, winning
a lot of games without CD once he went down
in the fifth game. It's been a little bit more
difficult for us this year to just kind of overcome
(24:22):
just the ebbs and flows of CD's recovery, as he's
been able to come back and be on the field,
but just not to the level at which we all,
you know, have come to expect, just because of the
natural progression of that rehab process. And he's getting better
and better every week. He's gonna have a good week
this week and We're absolutely hopeful. CD himself included in
(24:43):
that that he'll be out there in the seventy one
Jersey at left tackle this weekend.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
I mentioned Dallas Turner.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Your defense at Darnold all messed up pretty much the
entire game Sunday, when you graded the defensive performance outside
of Darisaw, what did you see? I mean, outside of
Dallas Turner, what did you see?
Speaker 4 (25:03):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (25:03):
I think what I saw was great disguise. They were
doing a lot of things to try to cause some
confusion pre snap for not only Sam, but the play
caller there and the rest of the guys on the
offensive team there. For the Seahawks, there was great disguise,
and then there was a play style there that encompassed
(25:24):
we wanted to be a good tackling team, and I
thought they were on the field a lot. They were
on the field too much and maybe wore down a
little bit as the game went on, but they continued
to find a way to force some of those third
downs where there was potential for the ball to get
turned over and give us a chance to get back
in the game. There was a chance to make some
impactful plays, not only by Dallas Eric Wilson had a
(25:45):
very nice game. Blake Cashman. We saw Van Ginkel continue
to impact the game. Doesn't always do it in the
stat sheet where people can see it, but he's so impactful.
Getting Jonathan Gernard back I think he played fifteen snaps
is obviously huge as one of our best player. And
then how about a guy like Jay Ward stepping in
and bringing a physicality and a level of play style
(26:06):
and tackling to that corner position. Flow and his staff
have come up with ways to get Jay Ward on
the field, which I love because I love watching just
the way Jay Ward plays football and that.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
He does it in the kicking game. But now we're
starting to see it a little bit on the defensive side.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Yeah you so Rogers comes out for a few plays,
in comes Jay Ward. I mean, just well, welcome to
the show Man. Is a corner your opposite Jackson Smith
and Jigba and you know, defenses disguise so beautifully it
initially looks like, wow, that might be one on one
and then of course there's a little help, but I
think they would call that baptism by fire. Yeah, Jay's
(26:40):
giving you some good reps this year. Lastly, football being
the ultimate team games. It's very difficult at least for
me to hone in on one thing and say this
is the most important thing, But arguably Kevin is the
single most important thing with the twenty twenty five minutes,
the vikings moving forward, the improvement and maturation of JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Yeah, I just think it's the quarterback position and the
ability to play at a consistent level that allows the
other guys to have an impact on the game. Everything
goes through the quarterback position. And we've seen some moments,
you know, you go back through our season, you see
some moments where uh, JJ gets in a great rhythm
(27:28):
and we're able to really see the fruits of the
special players we have on our offense, like Justin and
Jordan and TJ and Jalen Naylor and and and I
think just the consistency factor of not only JJ doing
his job, but the detail of everybody around him, the
ability to make sure we're limiting any and all self
inflicted causes that either eliminate our chances for success on
(27:53):
a given play. UH sequencing of a play on a
drive a critical third and two?
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Can we get third and three? Third? Can we get
all eleven?
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Guys doing their job and find a way to get
those new set of downs and then see if we
can stack more positive plays.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
On that all.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
Well, you know this PA is as well as anybody.
We've got to try to find a way to generate
some of those explosive plays that help you not have
to drive at twelve, thirteen, fourteen plays every time you
touch it. And it's been kind of a hallmark of
our offense over the course of our time here.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
Even when maybe we've.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Hit a stretch during a game where we don't consistently
have positive plays, we've been able to overcome it by
generating those seven to ten explosive type plays in the
game that either flip the field, put you in the
scoring zone, or ultimately provide the lift needed to then
stack whatever's required to go get a win.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
And even if that's coming but from.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Behind a fourth quarter comeback, you know, one score games
that we've been pretty successful at. Those plays are just
something that we've lacked and we haven't had enough of
this year. And the continue to growth and development of JJ.
Coming back hopefully with a full week of practice this
week will be uh will be a real positive and
I can't wait to watch him play.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
When you're foreign eight.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
As you know, there's a lot of noise all over
the place speaking for one hundred or so here, specifically
the kids and the families with whom I've chatted, Nordo
and yours truly, ma'am. They all love and they all care,
and they want you to win every single game. And
we'll be pulling for you and the team hard this weekend.
Thank you, Kevin. Have a great day, Kevin O'Connor.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
Appreciate you guys. Man. We got the best fans in
the world.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Thanks Pa Da. Have a good day, mans. Kevin O'Connell,
head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. This is nine to
noon at kf A n back after this, sir, all right,
(30:06):
how about some takes for tots for those of you
listening and have been one hundred point three kfam You kids,
you wacky kids, you children, you tots. You want to
be the smartest at your school, in the lunch room,
in the classroom, in the hallway, or wherever you are.
Yearly when we are at Shields for toys for tots,
So we will offer up some takes for tots.
Speaker 5 (30:28):
And Donordo has a couple guys.
Speaker 8 (30:29):
Well, I'm gonna hit you with with this one off
the conversation with the head coach.
Speaker 7 (30:32):
I've kind of been focused with him a couple of times.
Speaker 8 (30:34):
But if you're sitting at the lunch table, the key
is is, I think the Vikings are going to be
better next year. Okay, well that's awesome, that's optimistic. We
appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
Yeah, but you.
Speaker 7 (30:43):
Gotta go big and you got to hit something.
Speaker 8 (30:45):
So we've heard a lot about Dallas Turner today a
couple of different occasions.
Speaker 5 (30:48):
TJ.
Speaker 8 (30:49):
Hawkinson praising him. You heard the head coach last segment.
When you're in the lunch room today, you're going to
hit your buddies or maybe later this week, you're gonna
hit your buddies with Dallas Turner will lead the Vikings
defense in sacks a year from now. You're gonna ride
this wave the three games we've seen in a row,
and I anticipate a positive finish to the end of
this season. And the key to this is it's different.
(31:11):
Jonathan Grenard. You heard the head coach say one of
the best players on our team. He certainly is, and
the gink.
Speaker 7 (31:17):
Is on fire.
Speaker 8 (31:17):
Who expected number forty three jerseys to be prominently displayed
here at Shields. We love the gang, but number fifteen's
coming to play, and number fifteen is growing up. Number
fifteen has found maybe might you say a little swerve
or a swivel, as PA would.
Speaker 7 (31:32):
Say, because he's getting a second move.
Speaker 8 (31:35):
He's answering questions in front of him with the offensive line,
which has led to some splash and some success. So
Dallas Turner will lead the Minnesota Vikings in sacks next year.
And the cool thing about this kid's takes for tots
you're from not No one's gonna remember that.
Speaker 7 (31:48):
You said that at the lunch table in December twenty
twenty five, So right or wrong?
Speaker 8 (31:53):
Hit him hard with that, Dallas Turner leading the squad
in sacks a year from now.
Speaker 5 (31:57):
All right, Well, being the I think he's tied for.
Speaker 7 (31:59):
The lead in sacks right now as well.
Speaker 5 (32:01):
So yeah, four and a half maybe something like that.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Now, being racetrack raised and they're racing at Canterbury Park,
being a racetrack raised, he goes down that road. I
immediately think, all right, well, I'm gonna make a morning
line for him and see which way, because I'm big.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Put your money where your mouth is loud mouth. Okay.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
I face a lot of that in my life, So
that generally is the line of delineation in the conversations
is like, Okay, I hear what you're saying, and you're
kind of taking me deep here. Let's put our money
where our mouths are and figure out how that works out,
because then people don't really like to get into their
pockets and they back off. So I'm gonna lay these
odds on what you said, right, leader in Sacks on
(32:44):
the Minnesota Vikings in twenty twenty six. Yes, your even
money favorite is Jonathan Grenard. I agree, your nine to
five second choice, that's slightly under two to one. Your
nine to five second choice is Andrew Van Ginkle. Your
three to one third choice is Dallas Turner, and then
(33:06):
at five to one is pass Rusher Dujore, who will
be drafted? Oh, which, uh wait, I'm not even gonna
go free agency. Just I guess I could say new
shooter in the conversation, but I understand, Yeah, let's just
make a new shooter, because a new guy then you
get free agents or drafted players. Grenard even money, Dan
(33:28):
Ginkle nine to five, Dallas Turner three to one and
new player Dujore five to one.
Speaker 8 (33:34):
So am I Am I splitting up a mythical one
hundred dollars or let's say.
Speaker 5 (33:38):
Yeah, you would be betting against yourself.
Speaker 8 (33:40):
Though in some ways, yes, So I actually I will
continue to put my my mythical I'd put half a
honeybe I'd put my mythical honeybee, half my mythical bank
role on Dallas Turner to lead the team in sacks.
I would brace myself with maybe a twenty or a
thirty percent hedge on Grenard, And that's where I would
place my cash new guy, given how this defense is operated, PA,
(34:05):
we've seen Dallas Turner not only just have to improve
and get better, but how's he going to get on
the field behind Grenard and Van Kinkle. Now number fifteen's
working on that new guy touted via free I mean,
unless you're talking, I mean, if new guys Miles Garrett,
then I'm just going bus.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
Well, new guy can be corner Doujore in free agency
or the draft, right, And yeah he's athletic, yes he's fast,
Yes he covers well, but holy cow, he's one of
the best blitzing corners in the twenty twenty six draft.
Speaker 8 (34:36):
Well, unless this blitzing corner is going to have nine sacks,
which Dallas Turner will eclipse in twenty twenty six, I
don't see that as an option.
Speaker 7 (34:44):
We could talk about, you will.
Speaker 8 (34:46):
How has Eric Wilson been deployed by Brian Flores this year?
Speaker 2 (34:49):
We do this bit this time last year and say, well,
we know Wilson's on the team. Yeah, for twenty twenty five,
he's twenty to one. Well not just twenty to one.
We're doing odds on number of snow apps. He's even
freaking playing in games, much less what he's been able
to produce.
Speaker 8 (35:04):
Really usurping. I mean, he just walked in and said,
love you, Ivan Pace. I think they're both Cincinnati Bearcats. Yeah,
we'll catch you at the team reunions and the cool
dinners down in Cincy. I'm taking your job, Eric Wilson
when I took it, Ivan, when you played for the Bearcats,
had a really really good run.
Speaker 2 (35:19):
But I was the one playing there that they used
as an example with all the film, and the same
thing's gonna happen here. With all due respect, all right,
hit me a final take for tot because it's very
important for the future of humanity. Teach the children and
let them lead the way. Copyright Whitney Houston. May God
(35:40):
rest her soul. What's the last one? Well, I mentioned
this earlier is with Lavelle. Go to the lunch room
and find them, identify them.
Speaker 8 (35:47):
The rivals, the enemies of the North have infiltrated and
in some ways infested, are otherwise super peaceful, vikings, loving community.
So you got a couple of kids, maybe they're from Iowa.
In fairness, you know Iowa. You can go all kinds
different directions, but you might see some Bears fan go
up to them at school and tell them.
Speaker 7 (36:04):
The Bears are the fakes team in the NFL. And
in fact, I mean they're.
Speaker 8 (36:07):
Building hopes and dreams, and the coach is cool, and
they're beaten on bad teams, and so they're getting believed.
Speaker 7 (36:12):
That's cool.
Speaker 8 (36:13):
They're going to get worked in their first playoff game,
and the Grinch will steal the soul of every Bears
fan in the Windy City and predict that they have
a regression to the mean and find themselves third in the.
Speaker 5 (36:23):
North next year. Oh that's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
That is a hardcore take for a tot. That's more
high school asque. Let's not take that one via middle
school or elementary school. People might not understand it. You
might want to get punched, you might get punched. Nine
to Noon does not condone violence. He's Nordo. I'm Paul Allen.
Our final segment from Shields is next
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