December 31, 2025 • 20 mins
PA hosts Xs and Os ahead of the matchup with the Packers and is joined by Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell!
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
The time for X's and O's with Minnesota Vikings head
coach Kevin O'Connell. Also Minnesota Vikings Radio Network Now from
the TCO studios at Egan. Here is the voice of
the Vikings, Paul Allen.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Welcome in the X's and O's with Kevin O'Connell, presented
by Ken Moore. Final X's and O's program of the season,
previewing the Border Battle.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Here's Ko x'es and O's is in the air at
FM one hundred point three kfa N. This is our
swan song with the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings
for the twenty twenty five and on behalf of yours
truly the radio show, radio station and the x'es and
O's Covenant. Thanks for everything this season. We look forward
(00:46):
to these chats every single week. Hasn't been the greatest
at times on Winny Streak right now, started back in
twenty twenty two, you know where we were in the
TV studio. Switched to this recently and we just really
look forward to it.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
So thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
Yeah, you got it. Really.
Speaker 6 (01:01):
I really appreciate the time, the talkback questions and the
interaction I get to have not only with you guys,
but with all the listeners out there as well.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
So it's been it's been good.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Uh, talkback. I don't I don't know what it's going
to be. Nordo has it all set up. Let's let's
nail that talk back now.
Speaker 7 (01:18):
Hey Pa, Hey Nordo, it's Max re Megan. My question
for Ko is I know that the season didn't go
exactly according to plan, but we've gone on the incline
for the last couple of weeks here and going into
this off season. What lights that fire under your seat
and what gets you excited and motivated going into next season.
Speaker 6 (01:40):
Yeah, it's a great question, and I think you know
first and foremost, you know, I think of all the
things that that I could do better and I can
do to make sure and ensure, whether that's in the
off seasons, that's that's how we prepare our team in
the off season program, when we go into free agency,
in the draft, you know, any any and all input
(02:01):
I can have on you know, with the collaboration of
our coaches of how we're gonna play, where we think
we need to do things differently schematically, like we'll go
into all that, but that always gives you energy to
know that you're already on your way. The moment really
the moment that I get done with meeting with every
player in those exit meetings, you know, the couple days
(02:24):
after we get done, I'm kind of full speed ahead
on the task at hand, which is a daily approach
to trying to grow personally and obviously challenge the staff
and figure out ways for us to grow football wise,
and then figure out what the twenty twenty six vikings
are going to look like, and then how we go
about building that from a standpoint of what we do
(02:47):
on the grass when we get them back in the spring.
But it always starts with me, and there's always going
to be things that I'm learning in this job. And
the beauty of it is we have great players. We
have great people in this organization, and many of which
work tirelessly to make sure that we're constantly improving and
and chasing that ultimate goal, which, as we've learned each
(03:09):
and every season in the NFL, just looking at teams
that didn't make the playoffs last year and now they're
winning divisions, and you're looking at teams that did and
and like ourselves, and we're not going to be a
part of it. But that does not mean that every moment,
every minute will not be massively important as we prepare towards.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
The next season.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
But we'd like to make sure we take care of
business on Sunday and winning five games in a row
after being at the you know, the four and eight
spot we're at where you're right, these these lights in
this studio, we're a little dim those days, and there
was a little a little bit of you know, you know,
angst that we still feel because ultimately we're not going
to be able to participate in the postseason. But at
(03:50):
the same time, very very proud of our guys, very
proud of the way this organization is kind of really
leaned in in some moments where quite quite honestly, and
you know, this may be something that is a surprise
to people.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
A lot of NFL teams don't do.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
What this collection of guys have done over these last
four weeks. And we've got to we've got to finish
it off, and it's important to finish it off the
right way, not only just an NFC North rival opponent.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
We've got a chance to finish four and two in
the division.
Speaker 6 (04:19):
We've got a chance to you know, obviously you know,
win our last five, but most importantly win another game
at home in front of our great fans. What an
atmosphere that last Thursday was. I cannot I know.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
It was unbelievable. It was so happy that.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
Time you got in the building.
Speaker 6 (04:36):
It's just there was energy, there was joy, and then
our players felt that, and we wanted to make sure
we responded to that the right way and find a
way to win that game. And but total compliment to
to to our fans most importantly, but all the folks
that put on that great show for us within this building.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
So after the Green Bay game that there correct me
if I'm wrong here, but there is a shutdown factor.
I mean like decompress, you know, or how does that
work for for you, the coaches, you know, before you
before you settle fully into the offseason.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
Yeah, it'll be it'll be a two or three week
process before I probably take a little bit of time
just with the family at some point. But there's there's
a lot of layers to it. Yep, we will as
a you know obviously mentioned the exit interviews. I think
it's important each and every player practice squad in or
roster get a chance to spend some one on one
(05:32):
time with me and make sure that you know, I
can articulate how much I care about those guys. But
also there might be some young players where you can
immediately give them, in conjunction with their position coach or coordinator,
you can immediately give them the pathway, the roadmap to
them improving and finding their their place they ultimately want
to be, which is on the field for our team.
(05:54):
But then there's you know, I'll spend a lot of
time with somebody like Brian O'Neill or Justin Jefferson or
you know, TJ. Hokinson, Harrison Smith for sure, and that
one will be obviously a little bit different, you know
where you know, it'll be part celebration, part recruiting, trying
to see where his head's at. He won't answer the question,
he won't even go there, and I'll still ask it anyway,
(06:15):
But a lot of questions like that and uh, and
then we'll get into, you know, a week or two
of some evaluations of you know, some of the things
we did at the bye week, and then we assess
what we did coming.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
Out of the bye week, what do we do over.
Speaker 6 (06:29):
These last you know, four or five weeks as a
team that allowed us to obviously improve and and and
win some games. And then ultimately we've got to identify,
you know, what we need to do to improve, not
only with our roster, with our team, but like I said,
schematically as well.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
So there's a lot that goes into it.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
And most importantly, making sure that you know, putting a
bow on a season, even when it's not necessarily the
kind of season you wanted, is important because you can't
just move on.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
You can't.
Speaker 6 (06:58):
This isn't a Berryer the Tape kind of year. Although
at times, especially offensively, it's it's been one that you
would like to but at the same time, it's it's
it's how you grow and improve is meeting it head
on and attacking this thing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah, you you you hate not being in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I do, I can tell.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I mean, it's you and I have a lot of
chats together, man, and whether it's your tone of voice
or your outlook is all druistic.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
It has a positive side to it, yep.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
But I've just you know, mentioned to extra or other
ancillary people. It's just, I mean, you just really really
hate this, but you can't dwell either and be like, ah,
if this had happened against Duvernet and this had happened
against Atlanta. I mean you can analyze it and tear
it down, make it better, like you just said, but
this is really eating at you right now, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
Yeah, it's just you know, you you think back to
you think back to moments throughout you think back to
you know, how we how we prepared our team for
for this week or that week, or you know, it
feels like forever ago that we were all in Ireland
and London and we were, you know, taking on that
challenge for January.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
That was the theme into the season, you get them
ready for January.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
And it was you know, you just there's really nothing
else to say. I do hate it.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
I've shared my feelings on winning obviously as the ultimate intent,
the ultimate goal every single game we play, but you know,
the losses do sting, and then when they sting because
you look back on him in these moments where you
could finish a half game out or possibly even have
a better record than teams that are in the playoffs
(08:34):
and maybe in a different division or conference, but ultimately
it's it's not where we want to be. And not
where this organization or our fan base should ever feel
like we don't belong, because we do and we will
be back.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
With Harrison Smith.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
If you come across many who get the respect that
man receives, take away your playing days, yep, I mean,
go right to Tom Brady some other people, but in
your coaching career, the respect he receives from coaches, players, fans,
DJ Reid coming up to him after the game, tapping
him on the shoulder like man fourteen, You're the bomb.
(09:09):
You know that, Just stuff like that resonates. He's one
of the most beloved players in the history of this franchise.
If you come across many who like, win favor with
media of a whole.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
Thing, it's hard to even compare him to anybody else,
just because he's so uniquely Harson and he's never tried
to be anybody else but authentically who he is. And
that's been that's been the best part about it, because
he is a person that I enjoy, you know, I
enjoy my friendship and my relationship with personally.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
He's taught me a lot.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
You know, we have some really really awesome conversations every
Friday morning, and very rarely is it about football.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
But he's smart.
Speaker 6 (09:52):
He's incredibly thoughtful in his approach to not only football,
but life, and he takes that serious in regards to
his leadership role on this team. He's got his own
personal way of you know, his touch points with players
and people in this building. If every organization could have
a Harrison Smith, they'd be doing pretty well. And I'm
just so fortunate to have had this time with him
(10:14):
and then hope to have a little bit more as well.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
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(10:36):
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Speaker 4 (10:45):
If I'm a player.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
I asked, Harrison, what do you do from the time
you leave to the time you get back here. I
don't want to say he's running better than last year
because I don't like I remember him playing last year.
But his blitzing and his running now, he really takes
care of his body, doesn't he He does.
Speaker 6 (11:02):
And the other thing to mention is, you know, he
had a pretty significant kind of issue he had to
work through an early part of the season training camp,
and that might have in many cases, you know, maybe
slowed his start to what has been, you know, a
really really good season. And I think his finish to
this season and the amount of snaps he's playing and
(11:24):
just the energy he has and the physicality like you're
talking about he's playing with, I think is a is
a credit to him. It's a credit to how he
handles the off seasons, how he manages his body, how
he recovers after games. We try to obviously take care
of him as you're around here a lot, you see,
we're trying to make sure we know twenty two is
gonna be ready to go on Sunday, But what can
(11:44):
we do to make sure he's prepared and ready to
do a lot of the super impactful things that he does,
but at the same time be physically turned over. And
that's part of it too, that's part of the plan
for what that may indeed look like moving forward. And
that's the off season, that's training camp and then on
into hopefully next season. But he is, you know, And
(12:05):
the one thing about it is that I think is
really really special is I don't believe our fans. Every
time he runs out of the tunnel. You can feel it.
Our fans don't take it for granted.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
They don't.
Speaker 6 (12:15):
That's what makes our fan base so special, as they
understand not only the player, oh yeah, the impact he's had,
but the person and the leader in the human as well.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Yeah. There are a lot of eighteens in the stands.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Yeah, a lot of threes, a lot of thirty threes,
a lot of twenty two's, Yeah, I mean a lot
of old goal twenty twos. They go all the way
back to twenty twelve. Kevin Kevin o'connellay coach of the
Minnesota Vikings, Swan Song x'es and o's Fabian Moreau. Yeah,
all right, you've known him since your Washington days. And
the reason I bring it up is there are just
(12:47):
so many ancillary facets to this defensive success that are underrated.
And the reason I bring up baby is he never splashes,
but he's never on the wrong side of anything catastrophic. Yeah,
well that right, there is a work of art in
its own right from the way that transpires.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Correct.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
Yeah, And I think you know why Fabian's been so
important is you think of how we play defense and
there's a lot of moving parts. There's a lot of
changing happening second to second, pre snap and even post
snap in many ways depending on how the play kind
of you know, takes takes shape. There from an offensive standpoint,
when you're defending an offense, Fabe is just so constant,
(13:31):
so consistent, the same guy. He can be relied upon
an end game is probably my favorite thing about him.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
It is never too big for him.
Speaker 6 (13:40):
He always is, you know, ready to meet the moment
when those plays do inevitably come his way. And I
think he's answered the bell this year when we absolutely
needed him to. As a guy that has played a
lot of football, like you mentioned, whether it was Washington days,
New York, Denver here, but you know wherever he's gone
Fabian's been ultra consistent and he's always he's kind of
been in that role where you know, what really is
(14:03):
his role. It's going to be to play a lot
of football where maybe he came out of training camp thinking, hey,
we're lucky we got him, but he's not necessarily going
to be the starter, or maybe it's not going to
be a you know, it hasn't been the long term
play in one particular place for Fabian.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
But that's what I love about him.
Speaker 6 (14:19):
Great relationship with him, that goes back to his rookie
year and he's just always a guy that I know
I'm going to get the same Fabian Moreau every day.
And that is deemed very much been a good thing
for the Vikings this year.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
In our defense and Kevin, you mentioned the Christmas Day
victory over Detroit, the joy in the building and Harrison
Smith and now he factored into it. It also was
joyous when ty Chandler ran into the game as the
backup running back. You know what a kind human being,
super fast, been on an arduous trail to get to
(14:53):
that moment and then you see then you're like, well, hey,
fresh legs too, I mean from like a football standpoint hard.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
But man, how how great was that for Ty?
Speaker 5 (15:03):
Yeah? It was. It was a long time coming.
Speaker 6 (15:05):
And obviously Aaron's been, you know, so tough and working
through some things and and continuing to be out there
every week for this team. But to have Tie to
be able to come in there and and really run
the football hard Detroit, Detroit, it's always a physical game.
And when you're playing against those guys and he was
running through some tackles, finishing forward, uh, you know, really
(15:27):
stealing a yard or two or three extra on some
of those carries. That really allowed us, especially when we
were stacking the runs as well as we were at
times in that game, to move the football. Ty was
a big part of it. And you know, he's he's
a guy that Vikings fans can always know they're going
to get Ty Chandler the physical, the speed, the burst,
(15:48):
the guy that has really grown within this program over
these last few years. And you put him right there
with Jalen Naylor and Jay Ward and some of these
guys that were here early on in our tenure here.
We first that got here the first couple of years
and have really grown within the system. We've got great
coaches coaching those guys, and they have now become guys
(16:08):
that are really the you know, the standard barrier for
our culture because they've been a part of building it
from day one.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
You mentioned Jalen Naylor currently set to be on restricted
after the year. You've put so much time and belief
into jail and Naylor. I'll never forget a couple of
preseasons to go into it. How excited you were to
say when we did those production meetings for the SIMPA,
We're going to feature Jailen. You know, Okay, it's a
pre people be like it's a preseason game. No for
(16:38):
the offense for Jailen for that moment, that's massive, you know.
And it just and like when you put the C
on Mittellis at Soldier Field. Little things like that, you know,
just really really play into the totality of the story.
But talk about Jailing and all the time and belief
you put into him.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
Yeah, it really started.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
I remember way back watching him at Michigan State. Remember,
you know, Jaden Reed, you know, from Green Bay, was
also a receiver on that team, and both of them
had very impressive film and you're kind of watching it
envisioning a guy and you were trying to figure out
exactly what he was going to be in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Hey, what position does.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
He you know, maybe slate as whether it's an inside
and outside. How is he going to compliment Justin Jefferson
and the other receivers we either had at the time
or eventually you know, built that receiver room to be.
And I remember coming to the conclusion he can be
anything he wants because he's big, he's fast, he's strong,
catches the football well, has a football intelligence that allows
(17:39):
him to really play any and all spot required. And
I'm on record saying when you play receiver in an
offense with Justin Jefferson, the way he lines up everywhere
in motions and moves in our offense, you've got to basically,
but there is no such thing as I'm a slot receiver.
I'm an outside receiver that can be where you do
a lot of.
Speaker 5 (17:58):
Your work and have a lot of success.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
But the guys that thrive here around Justin are the
guys that can do a little bit of everything at
a high level. Jordan Addison's done a lot of those
things as well, but I think Speedy is just a
great example. He's got Keenan McCardell, who I think is,
if not the best, one of the best receiver coaches
in football. His experience as a player, his ability to teach,
(18:20):
his ability to relate to these guys all at different
points in their journey. It's just been awesome to watch
with Speedy and I love him. I think he's I
think he's earned everything that's coming to him. Hopefully we're
able to keep him in this building. But as you know,
you know, these football coaches that watch the tape, they
know exactly what Jon Taylor has been able to do.
(18:42):
He's fast and ultimately is going to I think he's
going to be a very popular player.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
You know.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
I'm not two to go here with Kevin O'Connell, Vikings
and Packers Sunday at noon. It's the season finale for
Kevin's team. I'm not trying to make Will Fries sound
like a cross between Randall McDaniel, Steve hutch and Marshall Yonda. However,
in a season where a Minnesota Moving companies had at
least twenty five different offensive line combinations, and then him
(19:10):
coming back from that injury, having to get himself in
shape in training camp up during preseason games, and to
make all the dances, assuming he's starting this weekend, and
to make all the dances he's starting this weekend, right
he is. That's seventeen consecutive Yeah, on a Minnesota moving
company that's been makeshift.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I mean, that's pretty good, he is.
Speaker 6 (19:29):
You know, there's been a lot of combinations, as you mentioned,
there's been a lot of uh, there's been a lot
of snaps without either, you know, either one of our
tackles or both potentially, which is always difficult. There's been
multiple centers, there's been multiple guys.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
At that left guard spot.
Speaker 6 (19:44):
And although Donovan I think has had a great year
and a really exciting first year here, Will Fries has
been a guy that you know, that injury was significant, right,
And you know, a lot of times you find out
about guys and you find out about their makeup and
their and their life of a football throughout that journey
back from an injury. And I think just the way
(20:04):
he's been able to attack it, I don't think he's
you know, truly felt like himself for much of the season,
just because of the grind of the season coming.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
Back from an injury like that.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
But I will tell you I'm really excited about Will
and think he's going to continue to ascend in our offense,
you know, knowing that he's had all this time a
full season and now he'll you know, obviously knock on
Wood have a great full offseason ready to hit the
ground running.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Thank you for joining us for this week's episode of
x'es and O's and this season of X's and O's
with Kevin O'Connell. It's presented by Ken Moore and is
an official production of the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network.
The time for X's and O's with Minnesota Vikings head
coach Kevin O'Connell. Also Minnesota Vikings Radio Network Now from
the TCO studios at Egan. Here is the voice of
the Vikings, Paul Allen.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Welcome in the X's and O's with Kevin O'Connell, presented
by Ken Moore. Final X's and O's program of the season,
previewing the Border Battle.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Here's Ko x'es and O's is in the air at
FM one hundred point three kfa N. This is our
swan song with the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings
for the twenty twenty five and on behalf of yours
truly the radio show, radio station and the x'es and
O's Covenant. Thanks for everything this season. We look forward
(00:46):
to these chats every single week. Hasn't been the greatest
at times on Winny Streak right now, started back in
twenty twenty two, you know where we were in the
TV studio. Switched to this recently and we just really
look forward to it.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
So thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (01:00):
Yeah, you got it. Really.
Speaker 6 (01:01):
I really appreciate the time, the talkback questions and the
interaction I get to have not only with you guys,
but with all the listeners out there as well.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
So it's been it's been good.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Uh, talkback. I don't I don't know what it's going
to be. Nordo has it all set up. Let's let's
nail that talk back now.
Speaker 7 (01:18):
Hey Pa, Hey Nordo, it's Max re Megan. My question
for Ko is I know that the season didn't go
exactly according to plan, but we've gone on the incline
for the last couple of weeks here and going into
this off season. What lights that fire under your seat
and what gets you excited and motivated going into next season.
Speaker 6 (01:40):
Yeah, it's a great question, and I think you know
first and foremost, you know, I think of all the
things that that I could do better and I can
do to make sure and ensure, whether that's in the
off seasons, that's that's how we prepare our team in
the off season program, when we go into free agency,
in the draft, you know, any any and all input
(02:01):
I can have on you know, with the collaboration of
our coaches of how we're gonna play, where we think
we need to do things differently schematically, like we'll go
into all that, but that always gives you energy to
know that you're already on your way. The moment really
the moment that I get done with meeting with every
player in those exit meetings, you know, the couple days
(02:24):
after we get done, I'm kind of full speed ahead
on the task at hand, which is a daily approach
to trying to grow personally and obviously challenge the staff
and figure out ways for us to grow football wise,
and then figure out what the twenty twenty six vikings
are going to look like, and then how we go
about building that from a standpoint of what we do
(02:47):
on the grass when we get them back in the spring.
But it always starts with me, and there's always going
to be things that I'm learning in this job. And
the beauty of it is we have great players. We
have great people in this organization, and many of which
work tirelessly to make sure that we're constantly improving and
and chasing that ultimate goal, which, as we've learned each
(03:09):
and every season in the NFL, just looking at teams
that didn't make the playoffs last year and now they're
winning divisions, and you're looking at teams that did and
and like ourselves, and we're not going to be a
part of it. But that does not mean that every moment,
every minute will not be massively important as we prepare towards.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
The next season.
Speaker 6 (03:28):
But we'd like to make sure we take care of
business on Sunday and winning five games in a row
after being at the you know, the four and eight
spot we're at where you're right, these these lights in
this studio, we're a little dim those days, and there
was a little a little bit of you know, you know,
angst that we still feel because ultimately we're not going
to be able to participate in the postseason. But at
(03:50):
the same time, very very proud of our guys, very
proud of the way this organization is kind of really
leaned in in some moments where quite quite honestly, and
you know, this may be something that is a surprise
to people.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
A lot of NFL teams don't do.
Speaker 6 (04:04):
What this collection of guys have done over these last
four weeks. And we've got to we've got to finish
it off, and it's important to finish it off the
right way, not only just an NFC North rival opponent.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
We've got a chance to finish four and two in
the division.
Speaker 6 (04:19):
We've got a chance to you know, obviously you know,
win our last five, but most importantly win another game
at home in front of our great fans. What an
atmosphere that last Thursday was. I cannot I know.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
It was unbelievable. It was so happy that.
Speaker 5 (04:35):
Time you got in the building.
Speaker 6 (04:36):
It's just there was energy, there was joy, and then
our players felt that, and we wanted to make sure
we responded to that the right way and find a
way to win that game. And but total compliment to
to to our fans most importantly, but all the folks
that put on that great show for us within this building.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
So after the Green Bay game that there correct me
if I'm wrong here, but there is a shutdown factor.
I mean like decompress, you know, or how does that
work for for you, the coaches, you know, before you
before you settle fully into the offseason.
Speaker 6 (05:11):
Yeah, it'll be it'll be a two or three week
process before I probably take a little bit of time
just with the family at some point. But there's there's
a lot of layers to it. Yep, we will as
a you know obviously mentioned the exit interviews. I think
it's important each and every player practice squad in or
roster get a chance to spend some one on one
(05:32):
time with me and make sure that you know, I
can articulate how much I care about those guys. But
also there might be some young players where you can
immediately give them, in conjunction with their position coach or coordinator,
you can immediately give them the pathway, the roadmap to
them improving and finding their their place they ultimately want
to be, which is on the field for our team.
(05:54):
But then there's you know, I'll spend a lot of
time with somebody like Brian O'Neill or Justin Jefferson or
you know, TJ. Hokinson, Harrison Smith for sure, and that
one will be obviously a little bit different, you know
where you know, it'll be part celebration, part recruiting, trying
to see where his head's at. He won't answer the question,
he won't even go there, and I'll still ask it anyway,
(06:15):
But a lot of questions like that and uh, and
then we'll get into, you know, a week or two
of some evaluations of you know, some of the things
we did at the bye week, and then we assess
what we did coming.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
Out of the bye week, what do we do over.
Speaker 6 (06:29):
These last you know, four or five weeks as a
team that allowed us to obviously improve and and and
win some games. And then ultimately we've got to identify,
you know, what we need to do to improve, not
only with our roster, with our team, but like I said,
schematically as well.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
So there's a lot that goes into it.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
And most importantly, making sure that you know, putting a
bow on a season, even when it's not necessarily the
kind of season you wanted, is important because you can't
just move on.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
You can't.
Speaker 6 (06:58):
This isn't a Berryer the Tape kind of year. Although
at times, especially offensively, it's it's been one that you
would like to but at the same time, it's it's
it's how you grow and improve is meeting it head
on and attacking this thing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Yeah, you you you hate not being in the playoffs.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
I do, I can tell.
Speaker 3 (07:14):
I mean, it's you and I have a lot of
chats together, man, and whether it's your tone of voice
or your outlook is all druistic.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
It has a positive side to it, yep.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
But I've just you know, mentioned to extra or other
ancillary people. It's just, I mean, you just really really
hate this, but you can't dwell either and be like, ah,
if this had happened against Duvernet and this had happened
against Atlanta. I mean you can analyze it and tear
it down, make it better, like you just said, but
this is really eating at you right now, isn't it.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
Yeah, it's just you know, you you think back to
you think back to moments throughout you think back to
you know, how we how we prepared our team for
for this week or that week, or you know, it
feels like forever ago that we were all in Ireland
and London and we were, you know, taking on that
challenge for January.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
That was the theme into the season, you get them
ready for January.
Speaker 5 (08:08):
And it was you know, you just there's really nothing
else to say. I do hate it.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
I've shared my feelings on winning obviously as the ultimate intent,
the ultimate goal every single game we play, but you know,
the losses do sting, and then when they sting because
you look back on him in these moments where you
could finish a half game out or possibly even have
a better record than teams that are in the playoffs
(08:34):
and maybe in a different division or conference, but ultimately
it's it's not where we want to be. And not
where this organization or our fan base should ever feel
like we don't belong, because we do and we will
be back.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
With Harrison Smith.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
If you come across many who get the respect that
man receives, take away your playing days, yep, I mean,
go right to Tom Brady some other people, but in
your coaching career, the respect he receives from coaches, players, fans,
DJ Reid coming up to him after the game, tapping
him on the shoulder like man fourteen, You're the bomb.
(09:09):
You know that, Just stuff like that resonates. He's one
of the most beloved players in the history of this franchise.
If you come across many who like, win favor with
media of a whole.
Speaker 6 (09:20):
Thing, it's hard to even compare him to anybody else,
just because he's so uniquely Harson and he's never tried
to be anybody else but authentically who he is. And
that's been that's been the best part about it, because
he is a person that I enjoy, you know, I
enjoy my friendship and my relationship with personally.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
He's taught me a lot.
Speaker 6 (09:44):
You know, we have some really really awesome conversations every
Friday morning, and very rarely is it about football.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
But he's smart.
Speaker 6 (09:52):
He's incredibly thoughtful in his approach to not only football,
but life, and he takes that serious in regards to
his leadership role on this team. He's got his own
personal way of you know, his touch points with players
and people in this building. If every organization could have
a Harrison Smith, they'd be doing pretty well. And I'm
just so fortunate to have had this time with him
(10:14):
and then hope to have a little bit more as well.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
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around the corner on the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network. Hey
Vikings fans, right now you can pick up a commemorative
Pepsi Vikings Cup at us Bank Stadium or participating High
(10:36):
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Speaker 4 (10:45):
If I'm a player.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
I asked, Harrison, what do you do from the time
you leave to the time you get back here. I
don't want to say he's running better than last year
because I don't like I remember him playing last year.
But his blitzing and his running now, he really takes
care of his body, doesn't he He does.
Speaker 6 (11:02):
And the other thing to mention is, you know, he
had a pretty significant kind of issue he had to
work through an early part of the season training camp,
and that might have in many cases, you know, maybe
slowed his start to what has been, you know, a
really really good season. And I think his finish to
this season and the amount of snaps he's playing and
(11:24):
just the energy he has and the physicality like you're
talking about he's playing with, I think is a is
a credit to him. It's a credit to how he
handles the off seasons, how he manages his body, how
he recovers after games. We try to obviously take care
of him as you're around here a lot, you see,
we're trying to make sure we know twenty two is
gonna be ready to go on Sunday, But what can
(11:44):
we do to make sure he's prepared and ready to
do a lot of the super impactful things that he does,
but at the same time be physically turned over. And
that's part of it too, that's part of the plan
for what that may indeed look like moving forward. And
that's the off season, that's training camp and then on
into hopefully next season. But he is, you know, And
(12:05):
the one thing about it is that I think is
really really special is I don't believe our fans. Every
time he runs out of the tunnel. You can feel it.
Our fans don't take it for granted.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
They don't.
Speaker 6 (12:15):
That's what makes our fan base so special, as they
understand not only the player, oh yeah, the impact he's had,
but the person and the leader in the human as well.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Yeah. There are a lot of eighteens in the stands.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Yeah, a lot of threes, a lot of thirty threes,
a lot of twenty two's, Yeah, I mean a lot
of old goal twenty twos. They go all the way
back to twenty twelve. Kevin Kevin o'connellay coach of the
Minnesota Vikings, Swan Song x'es and o's Fabian Moreau. Yeah,
all right, you've known him since your Washington days. And
the reason I bring it up is there are just
(12:47):
so many ancillary facets to this defensive success that are underrated.
And the reason I bring up baby is he never splashes,
but he's never on the wrong side of anything catastrophic. Yeah,
well that right, there is a work of art in
its own right from the way that transpires.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Correct.
Speaker 6 (13:08):
Yeah, And I think you know why Fabian's been so
important is you think of how we play defense and
there's a lot of moving parts. There's a lot of
changing happening second to second, pre snap and even post
snap in many ways depending on how the play kind
of you know, takes takes shape. There from an offensive standpoint,
when you're defending an offense, Fabe is just so constant,
(13:31):
so consistent, the same guy. He can be relied upon
an end game is probably my favorite thing about him.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
It is never too big for him.
Speaker 6 (13:40):
He always is, you know, ready to meet the moment
when those plays do inevitably come his way. And I
think he's answered the bell this year when we absolutely
needed him to. As a guy that has played a
lot of football, like you mentioned, whether it was Washington days,
New York, Denver here, but you know wherever he's gone
Fabian's been ultra consistent and he's always he's kind of
been in that role where you know, what really is
(14:03):
his role. It's going to be to play a lot
of football where maybe he came out of training camp thinking, hey,
we're lucky we got him, but he's not necessarily going
to be the starter, or maybe it's not going to
be a you know, it hasn't been the long term
play in one particular place for Fabian.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
But that's what I love about him.
Speaker 6 (14:19):
Great relationship with him, that goes back to his rookie
year and he's just always a guy that I know
I'm going to get the same Fabian Moreau every day.
And that is deemed very much been a good thing
for the Vikings this year.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
In our defense and Kevin, you mentioned the Christmas Day
victory over Detroit, the joy in the building and Harrison
Smith and now he factored into it. It also was
joyous when ty Chandler ran into the game as the
backup running back. You know what a kind human being,
super fast, been on an arduous trail to get to
(14:53):
that moment and then you see then you're like, well, hey,
fresh legs too, I mean from like a football standpoint hard.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
But man, how how great was that for Ty?
Speaker 5 (15:03):
Yeah? It was. It was a long time coming.
Speaker 6 (15:05):
And obviously Aaron's been, you know, so tough and working
through some things and and continuing to be out there
every week for this team. But to have Tie to
be able to come in there and and really run
the football hard Detroit, Detroit, it's always a physical game.
And when you're playing against those guys and he was
running through some tackles, finishing forward, uh, you know, really
(15:27):
stealing a yard or two or three extra on some
of those carries. That really allowed us, especially when we
were stacking the runs as well as we were at
times in that game, to move the football. Ty was
a big part of it. And you know, he's he's
a guy that Vikings fans can always know they're going
to get Ty Chandler the physical, the speed, the burst,
(15:48):
the guy that has really grown within this program over
these last few years. And you put him right there
with Jalen Naylor and Jay Ward and some of these
guys that were here early on in our tenure here.
We first that got here the first couple of years
and have really grown within the system. We've got great
coaches coaching those guys, and they have now become guys
(16:08):
that are really the you know, the standard barrier for
our culture because they've been a part of building it
from day one.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
You mentioned Jalen Naylor currently set to be on restricted
after the year. You've put so much time and belief
into jail and Naylor. I'll never forget a couple of
preseasons to go into it. How excited you were to
say when we did those production meetings for the SIMPA,
We're going to feature Jailen. You know, Okay, it's a
pre people be like it's a preseason game. No for
(16:38):
the offense for Jailen for that moment, that's massive, you know.
And it just and like when you put the C
on Mittellis at Soldier Field. Little things like that, you know,
just really really play into the totality of the story.
But talk about Jailing and all the time and belief
you put into him.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
Yeah, it really started.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
I remember way back watching him at Michigan State. Remember,
you know, Jaden Reed, you know, from Green Bay, was
also a receiver on that team, and both of them
had very impressive film and you're kind of watching it
envisioning a guy and you were trying to figure out
exactly what he was going to be in the NFL.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Hey, what position does.
Speaker 6 (17:17):
He you know, maybe slate as whether it's an inside
and outside. How is he going to compliment Justin Jefferson
and the other receivers we either had at the time
or eventually you know, built that receiver room to be.
And I remember coming to the conclusion he can be
anything he wants because he's big, he's fast, he's strong,
catches the football well, has a football intelligence that allows
(17:39):
him to really play any and all spot required. And
I'm on record saying when you play receiver in an
offense with Justin Jefferson, the way he lines up everywhere
in motions and moves in our offense, you've got to basically,
but there is no such thing as I'm a slot receiver.
I'm an outside receiver that can be where you do
a lot of.
Speaker 5 (17:58):
Your work and have a lot of success.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
But the guys that thrive here around Justin are the
guys that can do a little bit of everything at
a high level. Jordan Addison's done a lot of those
things as well, but I think Speedy is just a
great example. He's got Keenan McCardell, who I think is,
if not the best, one of the best receiver coaches
in football. His experience as a player, his ability to teach,
(18:20):
his ability to relate to these guys all at different
points in their journey. It's just been awesome to watch
with Speedy and I love him. I think he's I
think he's earned everything that's coming to him. Hopefully we're
able to keep him in this building. But as you know,
you know, these football coaches that watch the tape, they
know exactly what Jon Taylor has been able to do.
(18:42):
He's fast and ultimately is going to I think he's
going to be a very popular player.
Speaker 5 (18:47):
You know.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
I'm not two to go here with Kevin O'Connell, Vikings
and Packers Sunday at noon. It's the season finale for
Kevin's team. I'm not trying to make Will Fries sound
like a cross between Randall McDaniel, Steve hutch and Marshall Yonda. However,
in a season where a Minnesota Moving companies had at
least twenty five different offensive line combinations, and then him
(19:10):
coming back from that injury, having to get himself in
shape in training camp up during preseason games, and to
make all the dances, assuming he's starting this weekend, and
to make all the dances he's starting this weekend, right
he is. That's seventeen consecutive Yeah, on a Minnesota moving
company that's been makeshift.
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I mean, that's pretty good, he is.
Speaker 6 (19:29):
You know, there's been a lot of combinations, as you mentioned,
there's been a lot of uh, there's been a lot
of snaps without either, you know, either one of our
tackles or both potentially, which is always difficult. There's been
multiple centers, there's been multiple guys.
Speaker 5 (19:43):
At that left guard spot.
Speaker 6 (19:44):
And although Donovan I think has had a great year
and a really exciting first year here, Will Fries has
been a guy that you know, that injury was significant, right,
And you know, a lot of times you find out
about guys and you find out about their makeup and
their and their life of a football throughout that journey
back from an injury. And I think just the way
(20:04):
he's been able to attack it, I don't think he's
you know, truly felt like himself for much of the season,
just because of the grind of the season coming.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
Back from an injury like that.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
But I will tell you I'm really excited about Will
and think he's going to continue to ascend in our offense,
you know, knowing that he's had all this time a
full season and now he'll you know, obviously knock on
Wood have a great full offseason ready to hit the
ground running.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Thank you for joining us for this week's episode of
x'es and O's and this season of X's and O's
with Kevin O'Connell. It's presented by Ken Moore and is
an official production of the Minnesota Vikings Audio Network.
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