December 1, 2025 • 44 mins
Common Man Hour 1 --Peek at the Purple --Vikings/Seahawks --KOC Presser
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Brought the curtain and fade to black.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Unprecedented, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Have we ever played sad Eyes.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
When the season technically wasn't over, you know, because they
have to play out the string. Our record is now
four and eight, that's twelve weeks. That means we got
five more games. Have we ever done that? I don't
think it's ever been done in the history of the ground.
We've been playing sad Eyes at the conclusion of every
Minnesota sports season, the ones we really pay attention to,
wild Wolves, Twins, Vikings, probably some Gophers, maybe some Frost,
(00:34):
a little bit of Links, whatever the case may be.
I don't know if we've ever done it before the
season was technically over. I mean, it's over. It ain't
over till it's over, but it's over. But I think
this is the first time. And night, I must admit
I was a bit caught off guard, but it certainly
isn't like, well, I'm appalled, how could you do that?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
No, it was very appropriate.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
It mean, here's the way I look at it.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
It's over. Yeah, and you knew that coming day.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Technically, I guess they are still eligible for the postseason
if the Moon and the Sun Venus and whatever.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Mark.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, but.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
I also don't want to get to the point where
when they are officially eliminated, it might come off a
win against you know, the New York Giants. Yeah, and
now you don't have the negative highlights to play with
the associated from being eliminated for the season.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
So I figured, well, the season's over, now let's play.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Somebody emailed me the idea because of where we are,
we could have maybe pa call of Vikings big game
from like nineteen sixty nine when we played the Chiefs.
Just he watches it and calls it and then we
air it. And I said, I basically said, that is loose. Yeah,
(01:53):
And I basically said, that's more work than we have
a model here at the fan us as more. I
don't think anybody wants to go to that work.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
I don't think anybody wants to produce it. That's just work.
Watch your language in front of my wife.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
So, yeah, I is it. John Woolford, is that our
third string? I'd like to see him.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Now, why not? It couldn't possibly any worse. And I'm
the guy that said I thought Roseman was gonna play
pretty well.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
And he really he was like.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Until he he tried the underhanded toss. Yeah, it really
wasn't that bad. I mean, I think Mark Craig had
the number somebody did until that. He was like four
for six for like thirty two yards or something. But
I mean that means well, no, but that means he
was completing passes. Yeah, he wasn't. He wasn't overthrowing wide
(02:51):
receivers by now. He wasn't trying to hit him either,
But man, you gotta have baby steps. You gotta start somewhere.
And then he.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Did.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And even before it he let go, the ball was
was picked off. I'm looking at.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Duce going he's just got to take a sack here.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Twenty yard second, then eighty five yards the other way.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
And that was pretty hard.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
The other hand, throw you just throw it out of bounce, yeah,
to try to save the yardage.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
But you know, he's young, he's not dumb. Apparently he's
a genius, but he's.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Young, and he's young, and he's you know, it happens quick.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
You know again, I don't think he was nervous, nervous
where he was like they had to force him to
go out to the field. He's curled up in his
locker stall saying I can't play. I'm sure he had
some butterflies first time ever playing. And we talked about
this last week. Kids probably pinching himself. Plays for New Hampshire,
gets an opportunity to play for a big ten football team, think, oh,
this will be it for me. He won a great
(03:58):
way in my collegiate career. He had a nice season
for the golfers, played really well. Mat If he played
so well, PJ Fleck decided, maybe we should get out
of the stone Age.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Let's let's get out of the Bronco and the Girsky days.
Let's actually throw the football.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Then they they they went and through the portal or
however they got him. I don't know how they got
the Drake Lindsay guy. They got him, and he actually
can make forward passes that connect for yards, and they've
kind of changed the way that they're more like a
pro set offense. And he gets a call and Kevin O'Connell,
so we would like you to have a free agent tryout.
(04:30):
He's like, he probably didn't even He probably thought.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
It was a buddy pulling his leg.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Right, come on, this ain't O'Connell, Jim stop and he
hung the phone up and o'connorll probably have to call back.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
No arms.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
This is this is Kevin O'Connell love to have you
come out.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Not only does he go to the triot, he makes
the team and then he gets elevated from third string
to second string to getting his first start in the
National Football League.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Tough assignment, tough.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Place to play, really good defense. But he didn't play
that much worse than Sam Darnold did either. But that
that right, even so maddening because their defense has not
always looked as good as they did yesterday, especially against
the run. That's been part of the problem is the
defense has just been And again, when you're on the
field a long time, you do get tuckers. I guess
(05:12):
it seems like the offense. Did we make a first
down yesterday at all?
Speaker 1 (05:16):
During the game? I think we have one or two?
Did we have any? I mean, and then you sent
me all of these.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Well, then when our quarterback occasionally makes a good throw,
we can't catch it.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Well, that's it.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, that's the other part again, both Addison and Jefferson,
the throws weren't perfect, but you got to make those catches.
That's why you're playing in the NFL. And if you're
the best wide receiver in football, make that catchp Did
you see the catch by the Commander's guy yesterday in
the end zone?
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Looked like Odell? Did you see that highlight?
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I saw the one? Well there was one like this. Yeah,
I know, I'm you weren't on the radio right now
and they can't see it. But like his hand backwards,
one hand.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
There's that one. Take a look at the Washington one.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
It was just like Odell Beckham when Odell made douce
and I call him when you make one handed spectacular grabs,
we just go Diddyodell it. Now, this new guy, I
don't know what his name is, Clayton Taylor Stalen kid
makes an incredibly off It was only like a second
catch of the year or two, but it's really good.
But you sent me all of these the Billy Barnwells
(06:17):
of the world, these tweets. This one says Vikings finished
at minus zero point seventy nine EPA slash play on
offense third worst game of the year behind Raiders, Chiefs
and Bengals.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Vikings what is EPA select.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Those the expected points added. I don't even know what's analytic,
and I don't even know what that means. I just
know this means it's really bad. I know ours is
really bad. Whatever it means, I'm not even completely sure
of what it means. Then there was Alec Lewis sent out,
the Vikings are converting thirty six point one percent or
third and shorts this season.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I know what that means.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
That's third and third and three or fewer. That's the
third lowest of any team since two thousand.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Only the twenty fifteen Titans in the two thousand and
one Eagles have been worse. League average over this twenty
five year span is around sixty percent.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
We're thirty six point one.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And then there's did the Light Games play their worst
offensive game ever by DVA yesterday? Yes, number thirty worst
offensive DVO game ever, even after adjusting for Seahawks d
which is now number one again, thirty percent worse than
any other game.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
What is DVA? I know what DOA is dead.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
On a rid offense defense adjusted value over average because they.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Were definitely DA.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Yeah, they were dead on arrival and they're leading the
league and being dead on arrival again that's not really good.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
And then.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
The kid from Thief River who played US football Saint
Cloud State no longer by k We'll get into that too.
There's plenty to there's plenty to sift through the rubble
that is the Vikings twenty twenty five. Notice I didn't
say twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Sies.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Well, I think our last game of the year technically
is in January.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
But that's just a technicality.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
It's not like we're gonna make postseason to make a
deep run. We'll break, we'll come back. We got plenty
to get to. Pea gets purple as next. It's common
in ten to be here on a purple Monday. Here
on the fan, Oh coach should be sometimes they we
just haven't heard when we're twelve thirty five, Well thirty five,
so we'll break.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
We'll come back with more here in the fame.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I want to chime in and what's happening with your
favorite KFM program. We'll make your voice heard on the
Bradshaw on Brian text line. Let us know what you
have to say by texting your message a six four
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our message data rates apply.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Pea gets the Purple.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
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Speaker 1 (09:20):
They are whoa boy, they are shockingly affordable.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
One thing we have learned from this Viking season is
the quarterback position is very difficult to play in, doubly
that when you don't have much of an offensive line.
Darris Haaw couldn't go again. I predicted that to Deuce
when it was when he was questionable. I said, he
won't play.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
He will not play.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
I'm not calling him soft. I just think he's been
very careful with his knee. I guess I don't blame
because I think he's more knee than ankle, even you know,
because if you remember before he's you know, he he
even released a statement of some sort a few weeks
ago said hey, I've come back a lot sooner on
this knee that a lot of people thought I would,
and compared to a lot of other people, and he
doesn't feel right. And you know what, I got to
(10:06):
be honest, if it was me, I'm thinking the same thing,
you know. And then when they when when the season
has gone pear shaped, as the kids like to say,
it doesn't make a lot of sense either. But he
doesn't play. Jackson doesn't play. There's just wasn't much. I
mean again, you can certainly right, and Kelly got hurt
the middle of the game. Kelly got hurt in the
middle of the game. And you can say that the
(10:27):
kid made some poor throws, and he did, but he
didn't much like even mcarthy, they don't have a lot
of them. No, McCarthy had then got better protection at
times and just couldn't find a way to throw. He
just kept throwing throwing it to to he kept throwing
it away, to overthrowing wide receivers, whatever the case may be.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
But neither guy's had a lot of time to throw.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
And and I don't think either of them have a
quick enough process, yeah, to overcome not having enough time
to throw right. Like like I know I'm using the
extreme example here, but like Tom Brady can overcome some
offensive line issues at times, because he knows when to
get rid of the ball because he's just experienced. Those
two are so few in experience that, yeah, if they
don't get the blocking, they're still thinking out well what
(11:11):
they're supposed to be doing.
Speaker 6 (11:12):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
They were saying part of Brozemer's problem yesterday was he
thinks too quickly, he's so far ahead of the play.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
No really, uhuh? And he had said it himself.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
He says, he knows the guy's got to make his
cut there, you know, where he's supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
He just well, at leastes the ball too soon.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
It's like, well, yeah, because there's that fine line between
waiting that I don't know, it's a quarter second, half
second and tennebe. You know what's more important than anything?
And I don't know if you know this, but I'm
going to let you in on a little secret. It's
having your eyes and your feet aligned.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
That's what it's all about. And if you don't have.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Your eyes and your feet aligned, you're gonna be a
lot of trouble. And you know what's really sad though,
more than anything is I really thought the Christmas Day
game between the Kiddies and the Vikings at the US
Bank Stadium is going to be the game for the
division title. And now it's this Sunday in at Curly
with Chicago got a hand into Green Bay. They were
(12:08):
on Thanksgiving. They just beat the log in every single category.
And you know, part of the problem is Detroit Hutchinson,
I think is I don't know if it's because he's
getting double team or he's just not as good. He's
a poor man's Michael Parsons. I'll tell you that because
he the Lion's got no pressure on on on Jordan
Love at all.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Not he stood back there. That's the thing.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
And I love Jordan Love, but there's a lot of
quarterbacks could have did what he did that because Lions
were just anemic when it came to put in on
pressure and he carved him up. And their defense is good.
That's a good club. And it's sad to say we
hate it.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
I know it.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
It's but they and I still wonder if there are
Packer fans out there that I still wish they would
have drafted a wide receiver to give to errands that
are getting shortan Love, I tried to tell you, man,
you got to get the quarterback when he's available, and.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Is he the best in the league.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
No, but he's upper tier, he's top ten maybe better,
and he just seems to be getting better all the
time in that team's.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
And then.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And then how about the Bears.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I mean, maybe I need to apologize to Ben Johnson,
you know, I said earlier, I said, look, I know
that coordinators and head coaches and all that they make
a difference, but players play. Coaches coach, and I don't
know if I should give all the credits to Ben Johnson.
All I know is he took over a terrible team
and a terrible city, with terrible fans and a terrible city.
Everything about the Bears was terrible, and they're finding ways
(13:30):
to win games. I know the schedule hasn't been the toughest,
you know. You know now they didn't just beat Philadelpha. Now,
of course, Philadelphia had a bad game the week before.
So Philadelphia looks like they're getting into that tailspin they
had two years ago when they lost four or five
games to close the season. But my point is their fine.
I mean, you and I talk about this. I like
picking a different team. Most people can't pick a team
(13:51):
in their division. I've become a temporary Bears fan. I
like watching the Bears. I just think it's fun that
a team that doesn't seem to have the best of
this or the best of that or any of that,
they just find ways to win football games.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
And I love it. I know their scheduled.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
I think the Vikings have been that a little bit
under koc Not yes year obviously, but the two years
that they've got fourteen wins.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Thirteen wins.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
It's not like there were great explosive teams in both
those seasons, but.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Getting the fourth quarter, they would find wins, find ways
win nice to find ways to win games. That's what
the Bears are doing now.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
But oh, by the way, yeah, it was announced not
long ago. I'll read the Vikings a press release statement
from general manager Quasiodopa Mensa. Last week, Adams meaning Adam
Thelen Adam Thielen's representation approached the team and asked we
would be willing to release Adam, expressing his desire to
(14:42):
play a bigger role in the remaining weeks of what
he has indicated will be his final NFL season. Following
discussions through the weekend and out of respect for Adam,
we have agreed to give him the opportunity to pursue
more playing time elsewhere. Adam is one of the all
time great Vikings that we wish him and his family
continued success.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Now.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
I don't know if the reason he didn't play was
because they'd reached that agreement yesterday or before the game,
is they didn't play because theydn'tant to he didn't want
to take a chance of getting hurt before he left,
or if after he was you know, he he wasn't
on the active roster yesterday if they said, you know,
we want out. So I don't know what the timetable is,
but but he is out.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
And this just the uh, well they said he brought
it up last week?
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Oh did they okay? Oh did they say, oh okay?
Oh yeah. His following just as it was just yeah, yeah,
you're right, it was last week. And then there's another
release that just came out.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
It says.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Justin Jefferson, his representation has approached the team and asked
if they would be willing to release him, expressing his
desire to play a bigger role in the remaining weeks
of the season.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Just kidding, I think he'd like to. He looked like
a beaten man yesterday. I mean, he's he's looked that
way for a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yeah, but at least he's putting you know, he's he's
said all the right things about you know, this is
just about winning. I know, you know, it's it's we're
not winning, and it's I get tired of keep saying
we're going to fix things. Then we don't fix it.
But yesterday he did not talk to the Media's first
time he's he's denied a request media wanted to talk
to me, he said no. He sat at the end
(16:28):
of the bench by himself part of the time with
a towel.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Over his head.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And there there there has to be a frustration there, certainly. Right, sure,
you're considered the best wide receiver and pro football are
one of the top two or three. You can make
your argument from week to week who the best is.
Some people would say it's he's probably losing his spot.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
But the other guy for the for the seoxs it
uh Jackson Smith and jig yeah the first time shout done.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
All Yeah, he he he would probably be considered the best.
I mean, statistically, he's the best receiver in football this
year yarded wise, but so I don't know where Thieland
will go. I I just don't know what team is
I mean, does he have any I don't know. Maybe
he's got enough left where a team would like him
for spot duty, but I don't think he goes.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
In as a number one or number two one. But
invest of luck. He's trying to get a quicker ring
at the.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Ring and then go home and start getting ready for
the PGA Tour. That's what his goal is, is to
try to get a tour card. Best of luck to.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
Him on that.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I think he's got a better chance to get a
ring with the Vikings this season than he does to
get a PGA Tour card.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
But that's just me and that's ah.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
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Speaker 1 (17:53):
News conference is next year on the fan.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Kiff Fan and the Vikings are teaming up for toys
for Tots. Join us live at Shields Eden Prairie Tomorrow, Tuesday,
December second, from five thirty am to six thirty pm
for our annual broadcast presented by Unreal Bring It Toy,
Spread some Joy, and if you're one of the first
fifty donors each show, you'll score a sweet KF in
Unreal Winter Beanie. Details of kfan dot com Slash Toys.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
What's the name of the place again, that'd be.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
A Shields and Eden Prairie. Tuesday, December second, that would be.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Tomorrow, tomorrow all day. We're looking forward to that.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Maybe we'll get Adam Feeling as a guest for a
Bondboy Yoash show.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Or do you think he's out he's cleaned up.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Yeah, he's probably still unemployed us tomorrow, so I'm she's available.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Maybe he is available, love to see him, But there
you go.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
We're awaiting the arrival of the soon to be the
head coach of the soon to be Big Game World
champion Minnesota bike is Kevin O'Connell and them. Yeah, the
season certainly didn't you know even look, we talked about
this the beginning there. I thought the bikers would contend
for playoffs, but I thought they would make the playoffs.
There is something to be said, and I have to
(19:13):
admit I pushed back on people. I had a number
of people tell me you can't spend millions of dollars
on other teams aging free agents, and yeah, right, I
mean I don't think you want to make a habit
of that, and you certainly have to do your due
diligence and you have to you have to have a
little luck involved too. You got to find a guy
(19:33):
that's still got a little something left and stays healthy
and that the free agents that we acquired have been,
I would say, tend to be underwhelming at best, right,
I mean, I think Fries has been solid from what
I've heard the people that break those all twenty two
all twenty two films down that they say, he's been
pretty good.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
But we had a bad moment yesterday, but yeah, he did.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
We know that the center hasn't played much and he
was out to gain yesterday. The defensive lineman, they've had moments,
but they've not been because the kid that actually looks
like he's getting a little better is Dallas Turner.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Am I imagining things? That was a good game for
him yesterday. That was an encouraging step.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yeah, that was nice to see. And sometimes they say
it takes a while. Maybe maybe that's maybe that maybe
that's also an encouraging sign for a guy like JJ
McCarthy who has really struggled and looked just absolutely overwhelmed
and really not ready for for the moment.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
But and then I do.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
They basically gave up two drafts for Dallas Turnery and
JJ McCarthy. So when you talk about not getting a
whole lot from your free agents, and then you basically
have devoted to drafts to those two players, those guys
got to be hits. They don't have to be hits,
gotta be home runs. And at least Dallas has shown
signs of life.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
You're you're you're spot on, and then you know the
decision to go the way they went. I was on
record as saying I think I would have resigned Sammy Darnold.
And I know I watched the Lions game last year.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
He was bad.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
I call it a bad case of the jitters rams game.
He wasn't great that you know, in the in the
first round of the playoffs when they when they played
as a fifth seed. But I think that was more
the offensive line. The head coach even admitted it. He said,
if you remember, here's chaos here.
Speaker 6 (21:24):
Right now, all right overall, absolutely a very disappointing tough
day for our offense. The you know, the tape showed,
you know a lot of those things to be what
we felt, but it also showed some missed opportunities early
on in the game that might have you know, whether
it's the third and two conversion to keep an early
(21:47):
drive moving, or a potential explosive here and there, or
just sustaining a little bit more. Our run game was
just not a positive part of our early offense. We
got a lot of our yards late running the football,
and it's got to be a little bit more consistent.
I thought our defense battled, They were really outstanding for
a lot of the day against a good group and
(22:09):
and uh, you know, they were putting some tough situations
and Specialist showed up again from a standpoint of Ryan right,
you know, flipping the field and doing some things there.
And we've just got to try to find a way
regardless of the you know, the different guys stepping in
at different positions. There's a standard that that we have
not met offensively, and and it's it's on all of us,
(22:33):
but it starts in a big part of it is
is me getting the best out of this group and
and we've got to do that, and we've got to
make sure we're not only for the present and to
do what you know we need to do to win
a football game. But it's part of what's made us,
you know, have success around here, and we're not doing
that right now. We're not having success. It is clear that,
(22:56):
you know, we we all can be better. But like
I said, I'm gonna personally look at myself and and
and how I can continue to find a way to
coach coach the details of the plays that are called,
and what type of plays we're gonna call, and how
many plays we're going to take into games, and and
if we've got to limit our inventory and just demand uh,
(23:18):
you know, execution will do it even more than we
than we already have. Which has been a part of
the process over these last few weeks. As you guys
have seen, you know, we did. We waived Adam theeling.
I know Quasi addressed the kind of the background on
that and what was behind the move, you know, So
I won't add much to.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
That, but what I will say is just how much I.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
Appreciate Adam, what he means to me, the organization, me personally,
I think Adam Thinel is a special person and a
special player that has meant a lot to not only
this organization but the career he's had. And I just
wish I'm nothing but the best, you know, over these
these final few weeks the year, and sounds like that,
(24:02):
you know, might be the final few weeks of his career.
And and we wanted to make sure that, you know,
after some dialogue and and things, that we we accommodated that.
Just injury wise, we do you know, did get some
good news today on you know, Ryan Kelly had a
you know, the hip flexer. He seems like he's going
to be day to day, but with a real chance
(24:24):
to be able to go this week. Aaron Jones reaggravated
kind of the shoulder he's been dealing with. Doesn't seem
to have made it any any worse for the for
the wear, but he'll be day to day. And then
Blake Brendell did report some discomfort postgame with his head,
and uh, he did show up to so he did.
Speaker 5 (24:45):
Go into the protocol.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
But I will add he did show up today symptom free,
so we'll see how he progresses throughout the week.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
You guys, know how serious.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
We take that and we'll we'll defer to the medical
staff on that. And outside of that, you know, Christian
dar saw as of right now, the plan is for
him to have his normal kind of practice routine and
and uh, you know, hopefully lead that lead into him
playing on Sunday and then Donovan's improven by the day
and and he'll be considered day to day.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
This week is.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Wearing women's underwear. I'm part of your journeys.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
And concern frustrations you about his coming time.
Speaker 5 (25:23):
No, it was more so, you know, Adam is such
a good guy. He was.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
It was more so just the dialogue of we were
trying to you know, knowing we had pretty remarkable health
in that receiver room this year, we're trying to find
ways to get him tagged in there on some plays
here and there, and just we haven't had a lot of.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
Plays as of late. That's been a big issue.
Speaker 6 (25:46):
You know, those ten or eleven or so on average
less plays we're running this year as opposed to kind
of our previous three years has been a has been
a major a major part of it. But but he
also Adam also acknowledged, look, speed, he's playing great and
Jordan and Jets are Jordan and Jets, so he kind
of there was zero you know, Adam and I talk
(26:07):
a lot. There was zero you know, negativity to the conversations.
It was more so the competitor in him and he
wants to, you know, finish this thing off the right way,
and you know, just figured between him and his representation
that they you know, the conversations we had with Quasi
and his staff and this was the outcome that kind
(26:28):
of came out of it. But there was no there
was none of that, and in fact, him and I
were texting back.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
And forth earlier.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
But you know, he's you know, he's one of those
players that will always kind of hold a.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
Spot in my heart.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
And getting to be a part of that first team
and such an impactful player at the organization. You know,
I care so much about all of our current players
for sure, but our former players too.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
That's one of the best parts of this job.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
But if you look back on it, like and I
think it's important to do that sometimes with things like this.
You know, when we acquire that Justin had missed most
of training camp with his hamstring, Speedy was dealing with
an injury where we did not know if we would
have him for the first two weeks of the season,
and everybody knows we were going to be without Jordan
for the first three weeks, and then beyond that, it
(27:14):
was a matter of we felt like we had four
capable starters and two young guys we really like a
lot in Tie and Miles, who were going to be heavily,
heavily involved in the kicking game. So the point is
we you know, we've had that room and credit to
those guys, whether it's Justin and and Jordan with their
ability to be you know, every week contributors and the
(27:37):
work they put in off the field to keep themselves
fresh and healthy. And then Speedy has you know, been
a product of four years in our system and building
up to be a guy that we rely on heavily,
and you know, in a big year for him personally,
he's doing a lot of really good things. So it's
it's one of those things where there's really not a
lot of negatives that although this ends with a trans
(28:00):
action like this, it really is something where you know,
the dialogue and the and the positivity of the relationships
and things kind of winning out in the end to
do what's best for for the players the trade?
Speaker 5 (28:13):
What was the plan for him?
Speaker 7 (28:15):
Uh, after Jordan knew Jordan's come back up the early game,
what was the plan for Adam when you made the
trade knowing that that was just gonna.
Speaker 6 (28:22):
Assured that was that was a that was a part
of the dialogue at the time. You know that that
obviously would be a major thing the first three weeks.
And then you know, if you know, we haven't we
haven't had a particular season where all three of you.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Know, or your three quote unquote starters.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
In this case, the four guys and Adam, Speedy, Justin
and j A that they've been once all available, they've
been all available. So that was communicated and and part
of the reason why throughout the season the dialogue between
my myself and Adam was what it was, and it
just I think he got to the point where maybe,
and I don't want to speak for him, but just
(29:03):
the reflection of this possibly being the final the final
sequence of weeks and possibly his career, and I don't
know if that's an absolute or not, but I think
he thought it was time to maybe to talk about
it a little bit.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
When you talk about limiting inventory, how much of that
is just to get more make it easier on the
quarterback that you're putting in there.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Yeah, and that's really what we've done.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
But but to me, it's more to get the level
of execution even beyond the quarterback position. It's you know,
getting great combinations in the run game. It's handling movement
defensively in the run game so that you don't end
up with unblocked players, you know, at the point of attack,
or in the past game, it's it's maybe where there's
(29:48):
a concerted effort to move justin and and the formations
required for that, you know, where where even if there's
one play in a ten play sequence where if we
don't align properly, whether it's you know, you know, a
backside player split, whether it's on the inside edge or
the outside edge or in a normal split, or if
it's where we want the location of a grouping of receivers.
(30:11):
We just got to do a better job being a
little bit more detailed, and that I do believe that
will lead to a little bit more rhythm and timing
to our past game. And then you know, there we've
got to continue to work through finding ways to still
throw the football where maybe we're using two of our
eligibles to help with some of the things that have
(30:31):
gone on up front, whether it's on the left side
this week, or losing Ryan in game, or at different
times throughout the season, you know, where we've had a
rotation in there, we.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
Have not you know, and a lot of our losses.
Speaker 6 (30:44):
You know, we have not had the the same group
of of linemen either that we anticipated and or more
importantly that started the game, finished the game.
Speaker 5 (30:54):
And I don't think we've handled that well.
Speaker 6 (30:55):
And I don't think I think I've got to do
a better job, you know, finding different avenues to navigate
some of those challenges where you know, maybe it's not
just about hey, we didn't we didn't make the block
on this player, we didn't handle this on this play.
It's you know, are we doing everything but still finding
ways to activate a guy like TJ. Hockkinson, who you
(31:16):
know showed up yesterday, you know, when he wasn't trying
to help on the edges. You know, we were trying
to get him involved in the past game, and that
obviously helped, But that doesn't mean that we can have
you know, a day for for justin like it was.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
It's kind of in the WIEZ but on that fourth
and one is Lawrens coming unblocked like something that is
expected with the play like that.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
It's one of those things. He's a he's a little
bit of a tighter technique right there. You know, you know,
he made a good play to avoid kind of uh
you know Oliver, you know, helping secure that edge to
at least give Max the run pass threat. I didn't
you know, ultimately, I didn't like to play call. That's
it's totally on me in that moment. I think at
(32:01):
that point we were right around you know, uh, you
know one car, you know, a one yard average maybe
and uh, you know, in that moment, you know, we
better have a a schematically more sound play.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
And that's totally on me.
Speaker 6 (32:16):
It's not on Josh, it's not on Max, it's not
anybody that one that was on me.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
And it was a massive play in the game.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Before Kevin was Jordan's supposed to run with the sticks.
Speaker 6 (32:24):
It was right about I think it was a third
and six at the nine and uh, you know, if
you look at it, they're doubling justin and man coverage
and Jordan's got leverage on the route chance to maybe
you know, put your back foot in the ground and
throw that without the hitch there or speedy you know
to the back pilon. Both those guys have leverage to win.
(32:44):
Core concept, core staple thing we've done really since rookie
Mini Camp year one. And it just was a you know,
a bang bang play down there. You run into those
those kind of third downs where they're not goal to
go down there in the in the low red zone
sometimes where you're kind of sometimes right on the line.
Whether it's a uh, you know that route you know
(33:07):
in our playbook might say four to six yards based
upon the release and whether you're whether you're in man coverage,
zone coverage, those things. But we've seen that play many
many times. We caught you know, in stride and and
get the final yard or two needed. But but yeah,
in that case, defender made a good play on it
and and probably a quarter of a second you know,
(33:31):
ball placement out in front. You find a way to
make that or you progress, you know, and Max, you know,
you look at that early third and two where Lawrence
gets the sack and and we got beat pretty quick there.
But you know, that play was really there to be
had and what could that be? And then the you know,
the Jordan Addison in cut on the I believe on
(33:52):
the next drive on second and nine, you know, just
the did that play that was his previous pass, Did
that play speed him up to the point where the
normal rhythm of that play, maybe that ball's caught just
just outside the the near hash there and we're you know,
we're throwing that ball a little bit early, maybe, and
it's just it's kind of what it's been for us
(34:13):
on offense. One play effects the next, and you look
at it where you know, if if you're telling me
those plays that coverage, those those two plays, you're probably
talking a third down conversion on the first one and
probably an explosive with Jordan Addison running with a lot
of grass out in front of them, and both of
them end up being in one case of sack and
(34:33):
then and the other a third nap nine on.
Speaker 5 (34:35):
The next snap.
Speaker 6 (34:36):
So that's a micro cosm a little bit of our
pass game right now, and just the plays that aren't
made early in games that could potentially set the table
in the course for the entire rest of the game.
Speaker 4 (34:48):
When you talk about looking inward and find success for
the offense, What exactly does that look like for you?
Speaker 1 (34:53):
I guess you're trying to figure out ways.
Speaker 6 (34:55):
To Yeah, I think, you know, I think there has
been an element of, for you know, in our efforts
to commit to the run game, when when you are
efficiently running the ball, it becomes easier to stack those runs.
Speaker 5 (35:12):
But where maybe.
Speaker 6 (35:13):
Historically we've whether it was you know, twenty two, twenty three,
or twenty four, the explosiveness of our past game and
being a top five or six passing offensive league was
kind of always the standard, and we just haven't we haven't,
you know, been anywhere near our standard of doing things.
And a lot of them are kind of little, tiny
(35:34):
examples that we just talked about with Darren, but you know,
some other ones are just you know, me trying to
understand maybe we're not going to be a statistically impressive team,
but we do have to find a way when you're
playing a really good football team in that kind of environment,
to get the game to where we need to get
it to. And if you look at the last two weeks,
two tough road games against teams that are playing really
(35:57):
good football, we had first half fourth downs where you know,
I'm trying to be aggressive recognizing the need for seven
points specifically yesterday off of that turnover great to turnover
forest by defense, and you know we end up with
with not only no points, but they end up with
points off of it. Where the last thing you're thinking on,
(36:19):
no matter the my like or which I've told you
already dislike of the play call, looking back on it,
you're really not thinking that's going to end up though
the movement keeper game kind of those types of plays
are normally relatively safe from a turnover risk reward proposition,
and it went back the other way. So regardless, it's
(36:40):
a catastrophic playing the game. But I think overall it's
just kind of figuring out exactly what we need to
be where you know we've we've tried to do that,
and then in moments where you know, maybe you're trying
to get justin going or covered, the biggest thing is
what you're seeing coverage wise, is just taking it needs
(37:02):
to take a back seat to what is the best
thing for for our offense in that moment. If I'm
you know, in in full transparency of that things that
I may see chances to maybe get in cut screaming
or you know, high crosses, running or vertical chances that
that have kind of always gave us the lift in
games where maybe the consistency wasn't always there, we we
(37:23):
found those plays. That's where I think it's just a
continued understanding of exactly you know, we called a lot
of screens yesterday didn't have uh, didn't have the success
we thought we would have on all of them. We
had a few decent, decent chances.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
With uh, you know, called a lot of you know, kind.
Speaker 6 (37:39):
Of ball out plays as well, quick game kind of plays,
and you know, and and those are great from a
completion standpoint, but if number one is not open, those
those those plays can become uh kind of wasted opportunities
as well, or when we don't hit the backside incut
for whatever reason that is, those become you know, just
(37:59):
another Chane's to huddle up and play a third and
longer situation, which we had too many of yesterday.
Speaker 7 (38:05):
On a personal level, how difficult has it been for
you to kind of acknowledge that that there's things that
might in very begettable that they just can't be executed
right now. And someone has come from an offensive background
and you know, took a lot of ride in this, Like,
I'm just curious how this is all hit you in
the past couple of weeks.
Speaker 6 (38:23):
You know, it's it's it's really something Kevin, where I
don't I don't really think it it hits you. You know,
my job as a coach is to acknowledge it and
and and and understand a how to coach it better
and still try to strive to see the improvement and
and and try to stay true to who who or
(38:44):
really what our offensive philosophy is and has really helped
us have a lot of success. And but at the
same time, it's you don't really get mired down in
the in the feelings of it as much as just
what's the what's the best path moving forward? And we've
tried to, you know, coming out of the last few games,
we've tried to put together plans that that did that,
(39:05):
whether it's making sure you're play pass protections, have an
ability to get you know, to block the teeth of
whatever pressure you may get, whether it's you know, double
you know, corner cat nickel coming, or it's an overload
from one side or the other. And schematically, you're just
trying to make sure you eliminate some of the negative
variables if you're going to attempt some of those plays,
(39:27):
and we're just even when you know, all those things
go right, we're just not seeing the benefit of it
on the back side of it right now. So it's
it's becoming much more difficult than it has been at
times for us to function for the course of four
quarters where the defense is going to make some plays
here and there, especially the level of defense we've played
the last two weeks. Those are those are two pretty
(39:49):
good groups, and I think it's just a matter of
adjusting to what is required to win, you know, throughout
the course of a season. But even in the midst
of where we're at right now, which is not even
remotely acceptable, still finding a way to press onward.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
When you're struggling, you know, struggling, you listen as much.
Are there any unexpected challenges playing at home?
Speaker 5 (40:14):
Like, I mean, look at it.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
I had never heard Pittsburgh bow and the Steelers and
they heard it yesterday. Is there any challenges that you
have to prepare for?
Speaker 5 (40:22):
Like, no, I don't. I don't think you prepare for it.
Speaker 6 (40:25):
But look, I trust me, we uh you know, we
this this this standard we talk about of offensive football
around here. You know, our fans have seen, at least
since I've been here, a certain way that h no
matter no matter what, you kind of know, you should
be seeing some things when you show up to watch
the Vikings play.
Speaker 5 (40:44):
And so I understand, uh.
Speaker 6 (40:46):
When when the frustration sets in, I understand how passionate
our fans are and how much they love the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaker 5 (40:54):
And that is not lost on me in one moment.
Speaker 6 (40:56):
If anything, you feel a total complete obligation to you know,
our our team first and foremost, you know, everybody that
puts so much hard work.
Speaker 5 (41:07):
In at this organization.
Speaker 6 (41:08):
But it's not lost on me how important our fans
are to us and how much they mean to us
from an energy standpoint and the support we do get.
And you want to probably you want to provide them
with reasons to to cheer and reasons to be excited
about their team. And and not always the easiest thing
to do when you're kind of having to transform you know,
(41:30):
kind of what you are, you know in your current
state as an offense. But also it's about winning football games,
and that's what we need to continue to do and
put everything we have into uh, you know, winning a
game on Sunday at home, and and uh, we've got
five opportunities left, and I really look at it like
opportunities to you know, take every moment we have, sign
(41:50):
up to sundown all day every day to see the
fruits of the improvement show up so that we can
play complimentary with a defense that's you know, health getting
healthy and and and should be in a good place
with some I didn't want to you know, end today
without talking about Dallas Turner and the game he had yesterday,
Eric Wilson having another great game. We saw Jay Ward
(42:11):
get out there and play his role you know that
that he's found kind of as of late in our
defense from a physicality standpoint, tackling all those things like
there's a lot of bright spots and we're just not
doing enough that you know, offensively to allow some of
those bright spots to help us win. And that's what
we've got to try to continue to work towards. I
know this, everybody's going to be totally all in on
(42:33):
whatever needs to get done, and we're going to continue
to work to do that. Cards uh symptom free And
now the last phase I believe of the protocols just
he needs to just have a full practice day and
that should come on Wednesday. So, like I told you, guys,
I think yesterday expecting that, you know, barring any unforeseen
(42:57):
changes to where he's at today and and uh, you know,
hopefully he can have a I think just having that
Wednesday will allow him to have a normal full week
and likely be able to go in as as our
starter on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
And there you go.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
There those are the comments of the head coach of
the soon to be in Big Game World champion Minnesota Vikings,
Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
Takes us to the.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Top of the hour, so we'll take a short pause
all of our reaction to all of the news conference
action break down some more Vikings.
Speaker 1 (43:28):
There were other.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Teams in action this weekend. Wolves have won a few
in a row. The Wild continue to be the best
team in the National Hockey League. Golfers and the regular
season on a winning note. I think the Frost started
their season off with the victory. If I'm not mistaken,
did they or did they lose?
Speaker 1 (43:46):
I thought I know they wanted Seattle, Yeah, they wanted Seattle.
I don't know if I don't think that's the first
game of the year, though, oh okay, and then.
Speaker 2 (43:53):
Wolves won a few games, so we got plenty to
get to five, three, four on the other side of
the break, ten.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
To be what a guy. The small ball spurred the
Wolves last night.
Brought the curtain and fade to black.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Unprecedented, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Have we ever played sad Eyes.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
When the season technically wasn't over, you know, because they
have to play out the string. Our record is now
four and eight, that's twelve weeks. That means we got
five more games. Have we ever done that? I don't
think it's ever been done in the history of the ground.
We've been playing sad Eyes at the conclusion of every
Minnesota sports season, the ones we really pay attention to,
wild Wolves, Twins, Vikings, probably some Gophers, maybe some Frost,
(00:34):
a little bit of Links, whatever the case may be.
I don't know if we've ever done it before the
season was technically over. I mean, it's over. It ain't
over till it's over, but it's over. But I think
this is the first time. And night, I must admit
I was a bit caught off guard, but it certainly
isn't like, well, I'm appalled, how could you do that?
Speaker 1 (00:52):
No, it was very appropriate.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
It mean, here's the way I look at it.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
It's over. Yeah, and you knew that coming day.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Technically, I guess they are still eligible for the postseason
if the Moon and the Sun Venus and whatever.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Mark.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, but.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
I also don't want to get to the point where
when they are officially eliminated, it might come off a
win against you know, the New York Giants. Yeah, and
now you don't have the negative highlights to play with
the associated from being eliminated for the season.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
So I figured, well, the season's over, now let's play.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Somebody emailed me the idea because of where we are,
we could have maybe pa call of Vikings big game
from like nineteen sixty nine when we played the Chiefs.
Just he watches it and calls it and then we
air it. And I said, I basically said, that is loose. Yeah,
(01:53):
And I basically said, that's more work than we have
a model here at the fan us as more. I
don't think anybody wants to go to that work.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I don't think.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
I don't think anybody wants to produce it. That's just work.
Watch your language in front of my wife.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
So, yeah, I is it. John Woolford, is that our
third string? I'd like to see him.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Now, why not? It couldn't possibly any worse. And I'm
the guy that said I thought Roseman was gonna play
pretty well.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
And he really he was like.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Until he he tried the underhanded toss. Yeah, it really
wasn't that bad. I mean, I think Mark Craig had
the number somebody did until that. He was like four
for six for like thirty two yards or something. But
I mean that means well, no, but that means he
was completing passes. Yeah, he wasn't. He wasn't overthrowing wide
(02:51):
receivers by now. He wasn't trying to hit him either,
But man, you gotta have baby steps. You gotta start somewhere.
And then he.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
Did.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And even before it he let go, the ball was
was picked off. I'm looking at.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Duce going he's just got to take a sack here.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Twenty yard second, then eighty five yards the other way.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
And that was pretty hard.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
The other hand, throw you just throw it out of bounce, yeah,
to try to save the yardage.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
But you know, he's young, he's not dumb. Apparently he's
a genius, but he's.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Young, and he's young, and he's you know, it happens quick.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
You know again, I don't think he was nervous, nervous
where he was like they had to force him to
go out to the field. He's curled up in his
locker stall saying I can't play. I'm sure he had
some butterflies first time ever playing. And we talked about
this last week. Kids probably pinching himself. Plays for New Hampshire,
gets an opportunity to play for a big ten football team, think, oh,
this will be it for me. He won a great
(03:58):
way in my collegiate career. He had a nice season
for the golfers, played really well. Mat If he played
so well, PJ Fleck decided, maybe we should get out
of the stone Age.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Let's let's get out of the Bronco and the Girsky days.
Let's actually throw the football.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Then they they they went and through the portal or
however they got him. I don't know how they got
the Drake Lindsay guy. They got him, and he actually
can make forward passes that connect for yards, and they've
kind of changed the way that they're more like a
pro set offense. And he gets a call and Kevin O'Connell,
so we would like you to have a free agent tryout.
(04:30):
He's like, he probably didn't even He probably thought.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
It was a buddy pulling his leg.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Right, come on, this ain't O'Connell, Jim stop and he
hung the phone up and o'connorll probably have to call back.
Speaker 5 (04:41):
No arms.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
This is this is Kevin O'Connell love to have you
come out.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Not only does he go to the triot, he makes
the team and then he gets elevated from third string
to second string to getting his first start in the
National Football League.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Tough assignment, tough.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Place to play, really good defense. But he didn't play
that much worse than Sam Darnold did either. But that
that right, even so maddening because their defense has not
always looked as good as they did yesterday, especially against
the run. That's been part of the problem is the
defense has just been And again, when you're on the
field a long time, you do get tuckers. I guess
(05:12):
it seems like the offense. Did we make a first
down yesterday at all?
Speaker 1 (05:16):
During the game? I think we have one or two?
Did we have any? I mean, and then you sent
me all of these.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Well, then when our quarterback occasionally makes a good throw,
we can't catch it.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Well, that's it.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, that's the other part again, both Addison and Jefferson,
the throws weren't perfect, but you got to make those catches.
That's why you're playing in the NFL. And if you're
the best wide receiver in football, make that catchp Did
you see the catch by the Commander's guy yesterday in
the end zone?
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Looked like Odell? Did you see that highlight?
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I saw the one? Well there was one like this. Yeah,
I know, I'm you weren't on the radio right now
and they can't see it. But like his hand backwards,
one hand.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
There's that one. Take a look at the Washington one.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
It was just like Odell Beckham when Odell made douce
and I call him when you make one handed spectacular grabs,
we just go Diddyodell it. Now, this new guy, I
don't know what his name is, Clayton Taylor Stalen kid
makes an incredibly off It was only like a second
catch of the year or two, but it's really good.
But you sent me all of these the Billy Barnwells
(06:17):
of the world, these tweets. This one says Vikings finished
at minus zero point seventy nine EPA slash play on
offense third worst game of the year behind Raiders, Chiefs
and Bengals.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Vikings what is EPA select.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Those the expected points added. I don't even know what's analytic,
and I don't even know what that means. I just
know this means it's really bad. I know ours is
really bad. Whatever it means, I'm not even completely sure
of what it means. Then there was Alec Lewis sent out,
the Vikings are converting thirty six point one percent or
third and shorts this season.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
I know what that means.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
That's third and third and three or fewer. That's the
third lowest of any team since two thousand.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Only the twenty fifteen Titans in the two thousand and
one Eagles have been worse. League average over this twenty
five year span is around sixty percent.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
We're thirty six point one.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And then there's did the Light Games play their worst
offensive game ever by DVA yesterday? Yes, number thirty worst
offensive DVO game ever, even after adjusting for Seahawks d
which is now number one again, thirty percent worse than
any other game.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
What is DVA? I know what DOA is dead.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
On a rid offense defense adjusted value over average because they.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Were definitely DA.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Yeah, they were dead on arrival and they're leading the
league and being dead on arrival again that's not really good.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
And then.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
The kid from Thief River who played US football Saint
Cloud State no longer by k We'll get into that too.
There's plenty to there's plenty to sift through the rubble
that is the Vikings twenty twenty five. Notice I didn't
say twenty twenty five to twenty twenty six.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Sies.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Well, I think our last game of the year technically
is in January.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
But that's just a technicality.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
It's not like we're gonna make postseason to make a
deep run. We'll break, we'll come back. We got plenty
to get to. Pea gets purple as next. It's common
in ten to be here on a purple Monday. Here
on the fan, Oh coach should be sometimes they we
just haven't heard when we're twelve thirty five, Well thirty five,
so we'll break.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
We'll come back with more here in the fame.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
I want to chime in and what's happening with your
favorite KFM program. We'll make your voice heard on the
Bradshaw on Brian text line. Let us know what you
have to say by texting your message a six four
six eighty six. That six four six eighty six stand
our message data rates apply.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Pea gets the Purple.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
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Speaker 1 (09:20):
They are whoa boy, they are shockingly affordable.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
One thing we have learned from this Viking season is
the quarterback position is very difficult to play in, doubly
that when you don't have much of an offensive line.
Darris Haaw couldn't go again. I predicted that to Deuce
when it was when he was questionable. I said, he
won't play.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
He will not play.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
I'm not calling him soft. I just think he's been
very careful with his knee. I guess I don't blame
because I think he's more knee than ankle, even you know,
because if you remember before he's you know, he he
even released a statement of some sort a few weeks
ago said hey, I've come back a lot sooner on
this knee that a lot of people thought I would,
and compared to a lot of other people, and he
doesn't feel right. And you know what, I got to
(10:06):
be honest, if it was me, I'm thinking the same thing,
you know. And then when they when when the season
has gone pear shaped, as the kids like to say,
it doesn't make a lot of sense either. But he
doesn't play. Jackson doesn't play. There's just wasn't much. I
mean again, you can certainly right, and Kelly got hurt
the middle of the game. Kelly got hurt in the
middle of the game. And you can say that the
(10:27):
kid made some poor throws, and he did, but he
didn't much like even mcarthy, they don't have a lot
of them. No, McCarthy had then got better protection at
times and just couldn't find a way to throw. He
just kept throwing throwing it to to he kept throwing
it away, to overthrowing wide receivers, whatever the case may be.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
But neither guy's had a lot of time to throw.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
And and I don't think either of them have a
quick enough process, yeah, to overcome not having enough time
to throw right. Like like I know I'm using the
extreme example here, but like Tom Brady can overcome some
offensive line issues at times, because he knows when to
get rid of the ball because he's just experienced. Those
two are so few in experience that, yeah, if they
don't get the blocking, they're still thinking out well what
(11:11):
they're supposed to be doing.
Speaker 6 (11:12):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
They were saying part of Brozemer's problem yesterday was he
thinks too quickly, he's so far ahead of the play.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
No really, uhuh? And he had said it himself.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
He says, he knows the guy's got to make his
cut there, you know, where he's supposed to be.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
He just well, at leastes the ball too soon.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
It's like, well, yeah, because there's that fine line between
waiting that I don't know, it's a quarter second, half
second and tennebe. You know what's more important than anything?
And I don't know if you know this, but I'm
going to let you in on a little secret. It's
having your eyes and your feet aligned.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
That's what it's all about. And if you don't have.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Your eyes and your feet aligned, you're gonna be a
lot of trouble. And you know what's really sad though,
more than anything is I really thought the Christmas Day
game between the Kiddies and the Vikings at the US
Bank Stadium is going to be the game for the
division title. And now it's this Sunday in at Curly
with Chicago got a hand into Green Bay. They were
(12:08):
on Thanksgiving. They just beat the log in every single category.
And you know, part of the problem is Detroit Hutchinson,
I think is I don't know if it's because he's
getting double team or he's just not as good. He's
a poor man's Michael Parsons. I'll tell you that because
he the Lion's got no pressure on on on Jordan
Love at all.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Not he stood back there. That's the thing.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
And I love Jordan Love, but there's a lot of
quarterbacks could have did what he did that because Lions
were just anemic when it came to put in on
pressure and he carved him up. And their defense is good.
That's a good club. And it's sad to say we
hate it.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
I know it.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
It's but they and I still wonder if there are
Packer fans out there that I still wish they would
have drafted a wide receiver to give to errands that
are getting shortan Love, I tried to tell you, man,
you got to get the quarterback when he's available, and.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Is he the best in the league.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
No, but he's upper tier, he's top ten maybe better,
and he just seems to be getting better all the
time in that team's.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
And then.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And then how about the Bears.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I mean, maybe I need to apologize to Ben Johnson,
you know, I said earlier, I said, look, I know
that coordinators and head coaches and all that they make
a difference, but players play. Coaches coach, and I don't
know if I should give all the credits to Ben Johnson.
All I know is he took over a terrible team
and a terrible city, with terrible fans and a terrible city.
Everything about the Bears was terrible, and they're finding ways
(13:30):
to win games. I know the schedule hasn't been the toughest,
you know. You know now they didn't just beat Philadelpha. Now,
of course, Philadelphia had a bad game the week before.
So Philadelphia looks like they're getting into that tailspin they
had two years ago when they lost four or five
games to close the season. But my point is their fine.
I mean, you and I talk about this. I like
picking a different team. Most people can't pick a team
(13:51):
in their division. I've become a temporary Bears fan. I
like watching the Bears. I just think it's fun that
a team that doesn't seem to have the best of
this or the best of that or any of that,
they just find ways to win football games.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
And I love it. I know their scheduled.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
I think the Vikings have been that a little bit
under koc Not yes year obviously, but the two years
that they've got fourteen wins.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Thirteen wins.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
It's not like there were great explosive teams in both
those seasons, but.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Getting the fourth quarter, they would find wins, find ways
win nice to find ways to win games. That's what
the Bears are doing now.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
But oh, by the way, yeah, it was announced not
long ago. I'll read the Vikings a press release statement
from general manager Quasiodopa Mensa. Last week, Adams meaning Adam
Thelen Adam Thielen's representation approached the team and asked we
would be willing to release Adam, expressing his desire to
(14:42):
play a bigger role in the remaining weeks of what
he has indicated will be his final NFL season. Following
discussions through the weekend and out of respect for Adam,
we have agreed to give him the opportunity to pursue
more playing time elsewhere. Adam is one of the all
time great Vikings that we wish him and his family
continued success.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Now.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
I don't know if the reason he didn't play was
because they'd reached that agreement yesterday or before the game,
is they didn't play because theydn'tant to he didn't want
to take a chance of getting hurt before he left,
or if after he was you know, he he wasn't
on the active roster yesterday if they said, you know,
we want out. So I don't know what the timetable is,
but but he is out.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
And this just the uh, well they said he brought
it up last week?
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Oh did they okay? Oh did they say, oh okay?
Oh yeah. His following just as it was just yeah, yeah,
you're right, it was last week. And then there's another
release that just came out.
Speaker 5 (15:43):
It says.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Justin Jefferson, his representation has approached the team and asked
if they would be willing to release him, expressing his
desire to play a bigger role in the remaining weeks
of the season.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Just kidding, I think he'd like to. He looked like
a beaten man yesterday. I mean, he's he's looked that
way for a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yeah, but at least he's putting you know, he's he's
said all the right things about you know, this is
just about winning. I know, you know, it's it's we're
not winning, and it's I get tired of keep saying
we're going to fix things. Then we don't fix it.
But yesterday he did not talk to the Media's first
time he's he's denied a request media wanted to talk
to me, he said no. He sat at the end
(16:28):
of the bench by himself part of the time with
a towel.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Over his head.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
And there there there has to be a frustration there, certainly. Right, sure,
you're considered the best wide receiver and pro football are
one of the top two or three. You can make
your argument from week to week who the best is.
Some people would say it's he's probably losing his spot.
Speaker 1 (16:52):
But the other guy for the for the seoxs it
uh Jackson Smith and jig yeah the first time shout done.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
All Yeah, he he he would probably be considered the best.
I mean, statistically, he's the best receiver in football this
year yarded wise, but so I don't know where Thieland
will go. I I just don't know what team is
I mean, does he have any I don't know. Maybe
he's got enough left where a team would like him
for spot duty, but I don't think he goes.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
In as a number one or number two one. But
invest of luck. He's trying to get a quicker ring
at the.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Ring and then go home and start getting ready for
the PGA Tour. That's what his goal is, is to
try to get a tour card. Best of luck to.
Speaker 5 (17:35):
Him on that.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
I think he's got a better chance to get a
ring with the Vikings this season than he does to
get a PGA Tour card.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
But that's just me and that's ah.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
You know what affordable Dasheelectric dot com for all of
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with the day after the game.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
News conference is next year on the fan.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Kiff Fan and the Vikings are teaming up for toys
for Tots. Join us live at Shields Eden Prairie Tomorrow, Tuesday,
December second, from five thirty am to six thirty pm
for our annual broadcast presented by Unreal Bring It Toy,
Spread some Joy, and if you're one of the first
fifty donors each show, you'll score a sweet KF in
Unreal Winter Beanie. Details of kfan dot com Slash Toys.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
What's the name of the place again, that'd be.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
A Shields and Eden Prairie. Tuesday, December second, that would be.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Tomorrow, tomorrow all day. We're looking forward to that.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Maybe we'll get Adam Feeling as a guest for a
Bondboy Yoash show.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Or do you think he's out he's cleaned up.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Yeah, he's probably still unemployed us tomorrow, so I'm she's available.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Maybe he is available, love to see him, But there
you go.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
We're awaiting the arrival of the soon to be the
head coach of the soon to be Big Game World
champion Minnesota bike is Kevin O'Connell and them. Yeah, the
season certainly didn't you know even look, we talked about
this the beginning there. I thought the bikers would contend
for playoffs, but I thought they would make the playoffs.
There is something to be said, and I have to
(19:13):
admit I pushed back on people. I had a number
of people tell me you can't spend millions of dollars
on other teams aging free agents, and yeah, right, I
mean I don't think you want to make a habit
of that, and you certainly have to do your due
diligence and you have to you have to have a
little luck involved too. You got to find a guy
(19:33):
that's still got a little something left and stays healthy
and that the free agents that we acquired have been,
I would say, tend to be underwhelming at best, right,
I mean, I think Fries has been solid from what
I've heard the people that break those all twenty two
all twenty two films down that they say, he's been
pretty good.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
But we had a bad moment yesterday, but yeah, he did.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
We know that the center hasn't played much and he
was out to gain yesterday. The defensive lineman, they've had moments,
but they've not been because the kid that actually looks
like he's getting a little better is Dallas Turner.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Am I imagining things? That was a good game for
him yesterday. That was an encouraging step.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yeah, that was nice to see. And sometimes they say
it takes a while. Maybe maybe that's maybe that maybe
that's also an encouraging sign for a guy like JJ
McCarthy who has really struggled and looked just absolutely overwhelmed
and really not ready for for the moment.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
But and then I do.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
They basically gave up two drafts for Dallas Turnery and
JJ McCarthy. So when you talk about not getting a
whole lot from your free agents, and then you basically
have devoted to drafts to those two players, those guys
got to be hits. They don't have to be hits,
gotta be home runs. And at least Dallas has shown
signs of life.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
You're you're you're spot on, and then you know the
decision to go the way they went. I was on
record as saying I think I would have resigned Sammy Darnold.
And I know I watched the Lions game last year.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
He was bad.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
I call it a bad case of the jitters rams game.
He wasn't great that you know, in the in the
first round of the playoffs when they when they played
as a fifth seed. But I think that was more
the offensive line. The head coach even admitted it. He said,
if you remember, here's chaos here.
Speaker 6 (21:24):
Right now, all right overall, absolutely a very disappointing tough
day for our offense. The you know, the tape showed,
you know a lot of those things to be what
we felt, but it also showed some missed opportunities early
on in the game that might have you know, whether
it's the third and two conversion to keep an early
(21:47):
drive moving, or a potential explosive here and there, or
just sustaining a little bit more. Our run game was
just not a positive part of our early offense. We
got a lot of our yards late running the football,
and it's got to be a little bit more consistent.
I thought our defense battled, They were really outstanding for
a lot of the day against a good group and
(22:09):
and uh, you know, they were putting some tough situations
and Specialist showed up again from a standpoint of Ryan right,
you know, flipping the field and doing some things there.
And we've just got to try to find a way
regardless of the you know, the different guys stepping in
at different positions. There's a standard that that we have
not met offensively, and and it's it's on all of us,
(22:33):
but it starts in a big part of it is
is me getting the best out of this group and
and we've got to do that, and we've got to
make sure we're not only for the present and to
do what you know we need to do to win
a football game. But it's part of what's made us,
you know, have success around here, and we're not doing
that right now. We're not having success. It is clear that,
(22:56):
you know, we we all can be better. But like
I said, I'm gonna personally look at myself and and
and how I can continue to find a way to
coach coach the details of the plays that are called,
and what type of plays we're gonna call, and how
many plays we're going to take into games, and and
if we've got to limit our inventory and just demand uh,
(23:18):
you know, execution will do it even more than we
than we already have. Which has been a part of
the process over these last few weeks. As you guys
have seen, you know, we did. We waived Adam theeling.
I know Quasi addressed the kind of the background on
that and what was behind the move, you know, So
I won't add much to.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
That, but what I will say is just how much I.
Speaker 6 (23:40):
Appreciate Adam, what he means to me, the organization, me personally,
I think Adam Thinel is a special person and a
special player that has meant a lot to not only
this organization but the career he's had. And I just
wish I'm nothing but the best, you know, over these
these final few weeks the year, and sounds like that,
(24:02):
you know, might be the final few weeks of his career.
And and we wanted to make sure that, you know,
after some dialogue and and things, that we we accommodated that.
Just injury wise, we do you know, did get some
good news today on you know, Ryan Kelly had a
you know, the hip flexer. He seems like he's going
to be day to day, but with a real chance
(24:24):
to be able to go this week. Aaron Jones reaggravated
kind of the shoulder he's been dealing with. Doesn't seem
to have made it any any worse for the for
the wear, but he'll be day to day. And then
Blake Brendell did report some discomfort postgame with his head,
and uh, he did show up to so he did.
Speaker 5 (24:45):
Go into the protocol.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
But I will add he did show up today symptom free,
so we'll see how he progresses throughout the week.
Speaker 5 (24:53):
You guys, know how serious.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
We take that and we'll we'll defer to the medical
staff on that. And outside of that, you know, Christian
dar saw as of right now, the plan is for
him to have his normal kind of practice routine and
and uh, you know, hopefully lead that lead into him
playing on Sunday and then Donovan's improven by the day
and and he'll be considered day to day.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
This week is.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
Wearing women's underwear. I'm part of your journeys.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
And concern frustrations you about his coming time.
Speaker 5 (25:23):
No, it was more so, you know, Adam is such
a good guy. He was.
Speaker 6 (25:29):
It was more so just the dialogue of we were
trying to you know, knowing we had pretty remarkable health
in that receiver room this year, we're trying to find
ways to get him tagged in there on some plays
here and there, and just we haven't had a lot of.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
Plays as of late. That's been a big issue.
Speaker 6 (25:46):
You know, those ten or eleven or so on average
less plays we're running this year as opposed to kind
of our previous three years has been a has been
a major a major part of it. But but he
also Adam also acknowledged, look, speed, he's playing great and
Jordan and Jets are Jordan and Jets, so he kind
of there was zero you know, Adam and I talk
(26:07):
a lot. There was zero you know, negativity to the conversations.
It was more so the competitor in him and he
wants to, you know, finish this thing off the right way,
and you know, just figured between him and his representation
that they you know, the conversations we had with Quasi
and his staff and this was the outcome that kind
(26:28):
of came out of it. But there was no there
was none of that, and in fact, him and I
were texting back.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
And forth earlier.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
But you know, he's you know, he's one of those
players that will always kind of hold a.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
Spot in my heart.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
And getting to be a part of that first team
and such an impactful player at the organization. You know,
I care so much about all of our current players
for sure, but our former players too.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
That's one of the best parts of this job.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
But if you look back on it, like and I
think it's important to do that sometimes with things like this.
You know, when we acquire that Justin had missed most
of training camp with his hamstring, Speedy was dealing with
an injury where we did not know if we would
have him for the first two weeks of the season,
and everybody knows we were going to be without Jordan
for the first three weeks, and then beyond that, it
(27:14):
was a matter of we felt like we had four
capable starters and two young guys we really like a
lot in Tie and Miles, who were going to be heavily,
heavily involved in the kicking game. So the point is
we you know, we've had that room and credit to
those guys, whether it's Justin and and Jordan with their
ability to be you know, every week contributors and the
(27:37):
work they put in off the field to keep themselves
fresh and healthy. And then Speedy has you know, been
a product of four years in our system and building
up to be a guy that we rely on heavily,
and you know, in a big year for him personally,
he's doing a lot of really good things. So it's
it's one of those things where there's really not a
lot of negatives that although this ends with a trans
(28:00):
action like this, it really is something where you know,
the dialogue and the and the positivity of the relationships
and things kind of winning out in the end to
do what's best for for the players the trade?
Speaker 5 (28:13):
What was the plan for him?
Speaker 7 (28:15):
Uh, after Jordan knew Jordan's come back up the early game,
what was the plan for Adam when you made the
trade knowing that that was just gonna.
Speaker 6 (28:22):
Assured that was that was a that was a part
of the dialogue at the time. You know that that
obviously would be a major thing the first three weeks.
And then you know, if you know, we haven't we
haven't had a particular season where all three of you.
Speaker 5 (28:38):
Know, or your three quote unquote starters.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
In this case, the four guys and Adam, Speedy, Justin
and j A that they've been once all available, they've
been all available. So that was communicated and and part
of the reason why throughout the season the dialogue between
my myself and Adam was what it was, and it
just I think he got to the point where maybe,
and I don't want to speak for him, but just
(29:03):
the reflection of this possibly being the final the final
sequence of weeks and possibly his career, and I don't
know if that's an absolute or not, but I think
he thought it was time to maybe to talk about
it a little bit.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
When you talk about limiting inventory, how much of that
is just to get more make it easier on the
quarterback that you're putting in there.
Speaker 5 (29:23):
Yeah, and that's really what we've done.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
But but to me, it's more to get the level
of execution even beyond the quarterback position. It's you know,
getting great combinations in the run game. It's handling movement
defensively in the run game so that you don't end
up with unblocked players, you know, at the point of attack,
or in the past game, it's it's maybe where there's
(29:48):
a concerted effort to move justin and and the formations
required for that, you know, where where even if there's
one play in a ten play sequence where if we
don't align properly, whether it's you know, you know, a
backside player split, whether it's on the inside edge or
the outside edge or in a normal split, or if
it's where we want the location of a grouping of receivers.
(30:11):
We just got to do a better job being a
little bit more detailed, and that I do believe that
will lead to a little bit more rhythm and timing
to our past game. And then you know, there we've
got to continue to work through finding ways to still
throw the football where maybe we're using two of our
eligibles to help with some of the things that have
(30:31):
gone on up front, whether it's on the left side
this week, or losing Ryan in game, or at different
times throughout the season, you know, where we've had a
rotation in there, we.
Speaker 5 (30:42):
Have not you know, and a lot of our losses.
Speaker 6 (30:44):
You know, we have not had the the same group
of of linemen either that we anticipated and or more
importantly that started the game, finished the game.
Speaker 5 (30:54):
And I don't think we've handled that well.
Speaker 6 (30:55):
And I don't think I think I've got to do
a better job, you know, finding different avenues to navigate
some of those challenges where you know, maybe it's not
just about hey, we didn't we didn't make the block
on this player, we didn't handle this on this play.
It's you know, are we doing everything but still finding
ways to activate a guy like TJ. Hockkinson, who you
(31:16):
know showed up yesterday, you know, when he wasn't trying
to help on the edges. You know, we were trying
to get him involved in the past game, and that
obviously helped, But that doesn't mean that we can have
you know, a day for for justin like it was.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
It's kind of in the WIEZ but on that fourth
and one is Lawrens coming unblocked like something that is
expected with the play like that.
Speaker 6 (31:39):
It's one of those things. He's a he's a little
bit of a tighter technique right there. You know, you know,
he made a good play to avoid kind of uh
you know Oliver, you know, helping secure that edge to
at least give Max the run pass threat. I didn't
you know, ultimately, I didn't like to play call. That's
it's totally on me in that moment. I think at
(32:01):
that point we were right around you know, uh, you
know one car, you know, a one yard average maybe
and uh, you know, in that moment, you know, we
better have a a schematically more sound play.
Speaker 5 (32:15):
And that's totally on me.
Speaker 6 (32:16):
It's not on Josh, it's not on Max, it's not
anybody that one that was on me.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
And it was a massive play in the game.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
Before Kevin was Jordan's supposed to run with the sticks.
Speaker 6 (32:24):
It was right about I think it was a third
and six at the nine and uh, you know, if
you look at it, they're doubling justin and man coverage
and Jordan's got leverage on the route chance to maybe
you know, put your back foot in the ground and
throw that without the hitch there or speedy you know
to the back pilon. Both those guys have leverage to win.
(32:44):
Core concept, core staple thing we've done really since rookie
Mini Camp year one. And it just was a you know,
a bang bang play down there. You run into those
those kind of third downs where they're not goal to
go down there in the in the low red zone
sometimes where you're kind of sometimes right on the line.
Whether it's a uh, you know that route you know
(33:07):
in our playbook might say four to six yards based
upon the release and whether you're whether you're in man coverage,
zone coverage, those things. But we've seen that play many
many times. We caught you know, in stride and and
get the final yard or two needed. But but yeah,
in that case, defender made a good play on it
and and probably a quarter of a second you know,
(33:31):
ball placement out in front. You find a way to
make that or you progress, you know, and Max, you know,
you look at that early third and two where Lawrence
gets the sack and and we got beat pretty quick there.
But you know, that play was really there to be
had and what could that be? And then the you know,
the Jordan Addison in cut on the I believe on
(33:52):
the next drive on second and nine, you know, just
the did that play that was his previous pass, Did
that play speed him up to the point where the
normal rhythm of that play, maybe that ball's caught just
just outside the the near hash there and we're you know,
we're throwing that ball a little bit early, maybe, and
it's just it's kind of what it's been for us
(34:13):
on offense. One play effects the next, and you look
at it where you know, if if you're telling me
those plays that coverage, those those two plays, you're probably
talking a third down conversion on the first one and
probably an explosive with Jordan Addison running with a lot
of grass out in front of them, and both of
them end up being in one case of sack and
(34:33):
then and the other a third nap nine on.
Speaker 5 (34:35):
The next snap.
Speaker 6 (34:36):
So that's a micro cosm a little bit of our
pass game right now, and just the plays that aren't
made early in games that could potentially set the table
in the course for the entire rest of the game.
Speaker 4 (34:48):
When you talk about looking inward and find success for
the offense, What exactly does that look like for you?
Speaker 1 (34:53):
I guess you're trying to figure out ways.
Speaker 6 (34:55):
To Yeah, I think, you know, I think there has
been an element of, for you know, in our efforts
to commit to the run game, when when you are
efficiently running the ball, it becomes easier to stack those runs.
Speaker 5 (35:12):
But where maybe.
Speaker 6 (35:13):
Historically we've whether it was you know, twenty two, twenty three,
or twenty four, the explosiveness of our past game and
being a top five or six passing offensive league was
kind of always the standard, and we just haven't we haven't,
you know, been anywhere near our standard of doing things.
And a lot of them are kind of little, tiny
(35:34):
examples that we just talked about with Darren, but you know,
some other ones are just you know, me trying to
understand maybe we're not going to be a statistically impressive team,
but we do have to find a way when you're
playing a really good football team in that kind of environment,
to get the game to where we need to get
it to. And if you look at the last two weeks,
two tough road games against teams that are playing really
(35:57):
good football, we had first half fourth downs where you know,
I'm trying to be aggressive recognizing the need for seven
points specifically yesterday off of that turnover great to turnover
forest by defense, and you know we end up with
with not only no points, but they end up with
points off of it. Where the last thing you're thinking on,
(36:19):
no matter the my like or which I've told you
already dislike of the play call, looking back on it,
you're really not thinking that's going to end up though
the movement keeper game kind of those types of plays
are normally relatively safe from a turnover risk reward proposition,
and it went back the other way. So regardless, it's
(36:40):
a catastrophic playing the game. But I think overall it's
just kind of figuring out exactly what we need to
be where you know we've we've tried to do that,
and then in moments where you know, maybe you're trying
to get justin going or covered, the biggest thing is
what you're seeing coverage wise, is just taking it needs
(37:02):
to take a back seat to what is the best
thing for for our offense in that moment. If I'm
you know, in in full transparency of that things that
I may see chances to maybe get in cut screaming
or you know, high crosses, running or vertical chances that
that have kind of always gave us the lift in
games where maybe the consistency wasn't always there, we we
(37:23):
found those plays. That's where I think it's just a
continued understanding of exactly you know, we called a lot
of screens yesterday didn't have uh, didn't have the success
we thought we would have on all of them. We
had a few decent, decent chances.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
With uh, you know, called a lot of you know, kind.
Speaker 6 (37:39):
Of ball out plays as well, quick game kind of plays,
and you know, and and those are great from a
completion standpoint, but if number one is not open, those
those those plays can become uh kind of wasted opportunities
as well, or when we don't hit the backside incut
for whatever reason that is, those become you know, just
(37:59):
another Chane's to huddle up and play a third and
longer situation, which we had too many of yesterday.
Speaker 7 (38:05):
On a personal level, how difficult has it been for
you to kind of acknowledge that that there's things that
might in very begettable that they just can't be executed
right now. And someone has come from an offensive background
and you know, took a lot of ride in this, Like,
I'm just curious how this is all hit you in
the past couple of weeks.
Speaker 6 (38:23):
You know, it's it's it's really something Kevin, where I
don't I don't really think it it hits you. You know,
my job as a coach is to acknowledge it and
and and and understand a how to coach it better
and still try to strive to see the improvement and
and and try to stay true to who who or
(38:44):
really what our offensive philosophy is and has really helped
us have a lot of success. And but at the
same time, it's you don't really get mired down in
the in the feelings of it as much as just
what's the what's the best path moving forward? And we've
tried to, you know, coming out of the last few games,
we've tried to put together plans that that did that,
(39:05):
whether it's making sure you're play pass protections, have an
ability to get you know, to block the teeth of
whatever pressure you may get, whether it's you know, double
you know, corner cat nickel coming, or it's an overload
from one side or the other. And schematically, you're just
trying to make sure you eliminate some of the negative
variables if you're going to attempt some of those plays,
(39:27):
and we're just even when you know, all those things
go right, we're just not seeing the benefit of it
on the back side of it right now. So it's
it's becoming much more difficult than it has been at
times for us to function for the course of four
quarters where the defense is going to make some plays
here and there, especially the level of defense we've played
the last two weeks. Those are those are two pretty
(39:49):
good groups, and I think it's just a matter of
adjusting to what is required to win, you know, throughout
the course of a season. But even in the midst
of where we're at right now, which is not even
remotely acceptable, still finding a way to press onward.
Speaker 4 (40:06):
When you're struggling, you know, struggling, you listen as much.
Are there any unexpected challenges playing at home?
Speaker 5 (40:14):
Like, I mean, look at it.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
I had never heard Pittsburgh bow and the Steelers and
they heard it yesterday. Is there any challenges that you
have to prepare for?
Speaker 5 (40:22):
Like, no, I don't. I don't think you prepare for it.
Speaker 6 (40:25):
But look, I trust me, we uh you know, we
this this this standard we talk about of offensive football
around here. You know, our fans have seen, at least
since I've been here, a certain way that h no
matter no matter what, you kind of know, you should
be seeing some things when you show up to watch
the Vikings play.
Speaker 5 (40:44):
And so I understand, uh.
Speaker 6 (40:46):
When when the frustration sets in, I understand how passionate
our fans are and how much they love the Minnesota Vikings.
Speaker 5 (40:54):
And that is not lost on me in one moment.
Speaker 6 (40:56):
If anything, you feel a total complete obligation to you know,
our our team first and foremost, you know, everybody that
puts so much hard work.
Speaker 5 (41:07):
In at this organization.
Speaker 6 (41:08):
But it's not lost on me how important our fans
are to us and how much they mean to us
from an energy standpoint and the support we do get.
And you want to probably you want to provide them
with reasons to to cheer and reasons to be excited
about their team. And and not always the easiest thing
to do when you're kind of having to transform you know,
(41:30):
kind of what you are, you know in your current
state as an offense. But also it's about winning football games,
and that's what we need to continue to do and
put everything we have into uh, you know, winning a
game on Sunday at home, and and uh, we've got
five opportunities left, and I really look at it like
opportunities to you know, take every moment we have, sign
(41:50):
up to sundown all day every day to see the
fruits of the improvement show up so that we can
play complimentary with a defense that's you know, health getting
healthy and and and should be in a good place
with some I didn't want to you know, end today
without talking about Dallas Turner and the game he had yesterday,
Eric Wilson having another great game. We saw Jay Ward
(42:11):
get out there and play his role you know that
that he's found kind of as of late in our
defense from a physicality standpoint, tackling all those things like
there's a lot of bright spots and we're just not
doing enough that you know, offensively to allow some of
those bright spots to help us win. And that's what
we've got to try to continue to work towards. I
know this, everybody's going to be totally all in on
(42:33):
whatever needs to get done, and we're going to continue
to work to do that. Cards uh symptom free And
now the last phase I believe of the protocols just
he needs to just have a full practice day and
that should come on Wednesday. So, like I told you, guys,
I think yesterday expecting that, you know, barring any unforeseen
(42:57):
changes to where he's at today and and uh, you know,
hopefully he can have a I think just having that
Wednesday will allow him to have a normal full week
and likely be able to go in as as our
starter on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
And there you go.
Speaker 2 (43:11):
There those are the comments of the head coach of
the soon to be in Big Game World champion Minnesota Vikings,
Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 1 (43:19):
Takes us to the.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Top of the hour, so we'll take a short pause
all of our reaction to all of the news conference
action break down some more Vikings.
Speaker 1 (43:28):
There were other.
Speaker 2 (43:30):
Teams in action this weekend. Wolves have won a few
in a row. The Wild continue to be the best
team in the National Hockey League. Golfers and the regular
season on a winning note. I think the Frost started
their season off with the victory. If I'm not mistaken,
did they or did they lose?
Speaker 1 (43:46):
I thought I know they wanted Seattle, Yeah, they wanted Seattle.
I don't know if I don't think that's the first
game of the year, though, oh okay, and then.
Speaker 2 (43:53):
Wolves won a few games, so we got plenty to
get to five, three, four on the other side of
the break, ten.
Speaker 1 (43:59):
To be what a guy. The small ball spurred the
Wolves last night.
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