Kevin O'Connell and The Billboard for the NFL's Beleaguered QBs
Essentially, Coach O'Connell has let the NFL's beleaguered QBs know that coming to Minnesota can turn their career around.
Kevin O’Connell is being praised as a QB expert.
Recently, Greg Olsen — a tremendous announcer — sent over some high praise: “If you're starting a franchise and you need a great coach, play-caller, quarterback whisperer, he might be the guy.”
Olsen isn’t wrong.
As most know, O’Connell got snagged in the 2008 NFL Draft in the 3rd Round. The New England Patriots made the selection, doing so to reinforce the quarterback spot behind Tom Brady. Obviously, things didn’t work out for O’Connell, but that was his start in the NFL. Being the backup to the greatest passer to ever play.
Before it was all said and done, O’Connell picked up a bit of work as a Lion, Jet, Dolphin, and Charger. At no point, though, did he become a serious threat to be a team’s lasting solution at QB1. The 6’5”, 225-pound passer who ran a 4.61 forty played in just a pair of games in his career. He went 4/6 for 23 yards, picking up a single first down in the process.
Fast forward several years and he’s now the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Kirk Cousins played the best football of his career working under O’Connell and was rewarded accordingly (four years and $180 million from Atlanta). The recent benching may further underscore the brilliance of the head coach, but it’s possible that being an aging QB coming off of a torn Achilles is more impactful than originally believed.
Joshua Dobbs had some temporary magic with O’Connell and then moved on to become the QB2 with the 49ers.
More recently, of course, there has been the development of Sam Darnold, someone who is playing so well that there’s chatter about defying the criteria and winning the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award. What does this tell us about Mr. O’Connell?
The Success of Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold has been a top-ten passer in 2024.
The elite 12-2 win/loss record stands alongside a 67.6% completion rate, 3,530 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Excellent numbers.
The wild thing is that a lot of the plays he’s making are high level. Yes, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson have a knack for making their quarterback look good, but Darnold has often put the ball in the perfect spot for the pass catchers to make a play.
At this stage, no one can question Darnold’s arm talent. His decision making has improved across the season and his athleticism is gaining more recognition. He’s elusive in the pocket, allowing him to buy extra time to fling the ball down the field. Somewhat regularly, Darnold relies on his legs to earn a first down. The quarterback has picked up 21 first downs with his legs, a career high.
All of this sounds relatively bland at this stage, but the scouting report on Sam Darnold coming into the season wouldn’t have been so flattering. Not even close. Somehow, O’Connell has coaxed this out of his QB. Yes, Darnold deserves praise, too, but the head coach happens to have created an excellent environment for a passer to succeed.
With 29 touchdowns, Darnold has a chance to set the single-season record for most touchdown passes by a Viking. Daunte Culpepper sits in the top spot with 39. Who would have foreseen Darnold having a chance at franchise history alongside a chance at winning the conference?
The Vikings’ Future at Quarterback
Daniel Jones offers the latest clue.
The No. 6 pick from 2019 flopped with the Giants. To be fair, a lot of talented passers would flop in that situation. New York isn’t a good franchise, so Jones’ lacklustre start to his career can be at least partially attributed to the surroundings.
The wild thing is simply that he opted to become a Vikings. Right now, the QB hierarchy is pretty entrenched. Darnold’s play has left the team with zero uncertainty: the QB1 is going to remain as the QB1. Next up is Nick Mullens, a laudable QB2 who can succeed at a moment’s notice. Finally, there’s Brett Rypien, someone who has been in town all year but who could reasonably get demoted in favor of Jones.
The upside in Minnesota, then, is to push for a QB3 placement. What’s Jones’ motivation?
Well, it’s similar to what Darnold did last season with the San Francisco 49ers. The 2023 season involved Darnold functioning as a season-long backup so that he could re-develop his game under Kyle Shanahan’s tutelage. Jones may be pursuing a similar path.
In the offseason, Jones seems like a good bet to re-sign in Minnesota. Doing so would (temporarily) put his career on the backburner. Or, at least, his career as a team’s top option. Minnesota won’t be interested in re-signing Jones to be the starter even if there ends up being chatter about an open competition. Rather, the thinking would be that Jones would be an upside QB2 who has plenty of athleticism, starting experience, and even a bit of playoff success.
Kevin O’Connell has made all of this possible. Yes, the talk about culture may inspire some eye rolling from time to time, but the proof is in the purple pudding. Culture matters. The vibes — to borrow a trendy word — inside TCO Performance Center are strong. Players want to be part of it, especially if there’s potential to turn one’s career around and land a huge deal in the future.
O’Connell has basically built a billboard in Eagan, MN. There’s an advertisement on there that invites the NFL’s bruised and beleaguered QBs to try Minnesota for a year or two. Doing so could be the key to resurrecting their career(s).
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
Odds & Ends
Vikings at Seahawks Prediction
Generally speaking, Seattle is a tough place to play, a truth that’s especially prominent for Minnesota.
Working in Minnesota’s favor is that Geno Smith is a bit banged up. Nobody wants to win due to an injury, so the hope is that Smith will be ready to play in time for Sunday’s tilt. Can Brian Flores’ defense hang with all of that skill on Seattle’s offense alongside a healthy Smith? Do the Vikings have enough tricks on offense to neutralize the impact of Leonard Williams, Tariq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon, etc.?
Give me the road team in a close game.
Final Score: Vikings 30 — Seahawks 24
Season Prediction Record: 11-3
Dad Joke of the Week
Yet again, the professionals. Check out the joke:
“My friend claims that he ‘accidentally’ glued himself to his autobiography, but I don't believe him. But that's his story, and he's sticking to it.” — Dadsaysjokes
Vikings Tidbits and Thoughts
Will there be a game in Week 16 with more receiver talent? All of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be sharing a field. There are going to be some nervous corners in this one.
Minnesota’s run defense needs to be better. In Week 13, the Vikings allowed 154 yards on the ground; in Week 14, the Vikings allowed 158 yards on the ground; in Week 15, the Vikings allowed 113 yards on the ground. Need to be better.
Good to see Dallas Turner get rewarded with a sack. Any chance the rookie starts to hit his stride as the season comes to a close?
A perfect Reichard is what everyone is hoping to see through the holiday season. The kid can kick. Any chance he pushes his FG percentage beyond 90% before the season reaches its end?
If the Vikings extend their win streak to eight games, things are going to get loud — in a good way — for the Minnesota Vikings. All that would remain is a game against the Packers and Lions, foremost rivals who have proven to be strong teams. Take care of business and (potentially) finish as the NFC’s top team.
Links for the Dinks
Brian O’Neill Delivers an Excellent Update Regarding his Week 15 Injury: Great to learn that we’re dealing with soreness rather than a major injury. O’Neill is a stud at right tackle. Replacing him would be impossible.
Vikings’ Next Opponent May Feature a Familiar Face at Quarterback: Jaren Hall got let go, leading to him travelling to Seattle for his next opportunity. Does Hall get elevated for the game against the team that drafted him?
Already, The Kirk Cousins Possible Return to Minnesota Has Ignited Online: Life moves pretty fast in the NFL; life moves even faster online. I don’t see Cousins coming back to The Gopher State but I’ve been wrong before.
Thanks for reading and take care of yourself.