Creative O’Connell Could Spur Minnesota Vikings To Early-Season Success

If there’s one area that the new coaching regime can show significant improvement over the previous one, it is creativity.

Former head coach Mike Zimmer was associated with old-school offensive formations that often resulted in predictability. Running play on first down, running play on second down, passing play on third down. Few teams were as likely to attack in this manner than the Minnesota Vikings with Gary Kubiak or Klint Kubiak calling the plays.

First-year head coach Kevin O’Connell worked as the right hand to Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, one of the most innovative play callers in the league. O’Connell knows how McVay attacked opposing defenses, and presumably he will employ many of the same tactics that his former boss used.

That’s the starting point, and Vikings fans would love to see O’Connell take it a couple of steps further. When it comes to Minnesota’s offensive personnel, the Vikings are one of the most talented teams in the NFL at running back and wide receiver. Dalvin Cook was one of the best running backs in the league in Zimmer’s predictable offense, and he is joined by talented backups in Alexander Mattison and speedy Kene Nwangnu.

O’Connell does not plan to line Cook up behind quarterback Kirk Cousins and hand the ball to him on first and second downs and do the same with Mattison or Nwangnu on every third or fourth series. Instead, look for the running backs to be used in pass patterns far more often than they were in the previous regime.

Cook caught quite a few passes in recent seasons – his high point came in 2018 when he caught 53 passes for 519 yards – but many of those receptions came as a safety valve for Cousins. Cook has enough skill as a receiver to run more intricate patterns and to cause huge problems for the defense.

O’Connell will give opportunities to Mattison and Nwangnu as well. If the Vikings had the most predictable offense in the NFL previously, O’Connell has a chance to change the way the Vikings attack. They can put opposing defenses on their heels because of the unpredictability factor.

Add in the top two receivers in Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. They provide the Vikings with one of the best 1-2 punches in the league at that position. Bisi Johnson, Jalen Nailor, K.J. Osborn and Ihmir Smith-Marsette form the supporting cast, and O’Connell will need to get a grasp on their talent level and find a way to work them in to the game plan.

Jefferson and Thielen were dominant in a predictable offensive set. There may be no limitations on what they can do in the new offense. The Vikings should have a chance to come out of the gate in excellent shape.

NFL defenses have a way of catching up. If O’Connell is able to shock defenses in the first month of the season, opponents will start to catch up in October. By November, they should have a good idea of how the Vikings will play and the surprise factor will dissipate.

In the final half of the season, the battle will have to be won in the trenches, and if the Vikings can’t do that, their early-season gains may start to fall by the wayside. If they can get excellent play from their offensive line, they could become one of the most dangerous teams in the league.

The advantage the Vikings should have is the creativity factor of the new coach. He will come into training camp with enthusiasm and a high motor, and that could translate into explosiveness and early-season success.

If it does, the Vikings will be tough for their NFC North opponents to handle and they could make a serious run at the Green Bay Packers for the division title. If not, they will author another disappointing chapter to their recent history.