Vikings Links:  It’s Trade Deadline Day!

The Vikings stacked another win on Sunday and it was sweeeeet! Yes, Sam Darnold made a couple of bonehead mistakes but that happens. He started what looks like his 65th game this past weekend. That is about 4 seasons. He is clearly having his best season completing 69.5% of his passes for 1900 yards with 17 TDs and 7 INTs. For comparison …

Lamar Jackson has completing 68.2% of his passes for 2379 yards with 20 TDs and 2 INTs.

Baker Mayfield has completing 71.4% of his passes for 2389 yards with 23 TDs and 9 INTs.

Joe Burrow has completing 70.2% of his passes for 2244 yards with 20 TDs and 4 INTs.

Kirk Cousins has completing 69.2% of his passes for 2328 yards with 17 TDs and 7 INTs.

Josh Allen has completing 64.1% of his passes for 2001 yards with 17 TDs and 2 INTs.

Aaron Rodgers has completing 62.3% of his passes for 2107 yards with 15 TDs and 7 INTs.

Jordan Love has completing 61.3% of his passes for 1820 yards with 15 TDs and 10 INTs.

Jared Goff has completing 74.9% of his passes for 1840 yards with 14 TDs and 4 INTs.

Geno Smith has completing 68.1% of his passes for 2560 yards with 11 TDs and 10 INTs.

Dak Prescott has completing 64.7% of his passes for 1978 yards with 11 TDs and 8 INTs.

Patrick Mahomes has completing 69.9% of his passes for 1942 yards with 11 TDs and 9 INTs.

He is right there with a lot of other QBs in terms of picks thrown. He needs to clean it up a bit and I believe he will do better as he and KOC continue to work together. The one stat where it really is bad is the percentage of time sacked when dropping back to pass. Darnold is at 10.08% which is fourth worst behind Deshaun Watson, Will Levis, and Jacoby Brissett. They need to clean up the time to throw. Darnold is third worst behind Cooper Rush and Brock Purdy. https://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/advanced-stats-qb.php

I think the criticism of Darnold in relation to other QBs around the NFL is over the top. He is doing an outstanding job for the team. He is likely going to get a good deal next year which should factor into the compensatory picks in 2026.

Is Darnold a ‘liability’ for Vikings’ chances?

Since this is the last day to make trades this year, is there any trade that the team should pursue that seems realistic. I’d love to get Jeffrey Simmons but defensive tackles are hard to find. I cant see Tennessee creating a hole just to get a first round pick.

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Minnesota Vikings News and Links

Five bold trade predictions ahead of 2024 NFL deadline: Steelers, Vikings make splashy additions

3. Vikings bolster defensive line

Titans trade Jeffery Simmons to Minnesota

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has already swung two deals, reuniting with Cam Akers and adding Cam Robinson as an emergency fill-in for the injured Christian Darrisaw. Neither move cost a ton, however, and Minnesota remains in the thick of the NFC North race. Simmons would represent a blockbuster upgrade for Brian Flores’ already-feisty defensive front, and he wouldn’t hurt long-term plans, either.

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Vikings-Colts: Minnesota overcomes 3 turnovers from Sam Darnold to outlast Indianapolis 21-13

The Vikings broke a two-game losing streak with the victory. Sam Darnold had three turnovers, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and the Colts still couldn’t win. That’s concerning. It also will bring up questions over the Colts’ decision to bench Richardson for Flacco, and then watched Flacco pass with all of the struggles Richardson had without any of the extra playmaking ability the much younger Richardson brings to the offense.

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What did coach O’Connell change to open up Vikings’ offense?

Justin Jefferson stepped to the microphones last week and delivered a revelation that nearly slipped through unnoticed. During his weekly news conference with local reporters, the Minnesota Vikings’ receiver casually divulged that coach Kevin O’Connell had “kind of dialed it down for us” on offense as the team prepared for its Week 9 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.

It’s an NFL cliché to suggest a team succeeded by simplifying its scheme. That’s not really what the Vikings did in producing their best all-around offensive game — largely via a second-half surge — in their 21-13 victory Sunday night. More accurately, O’Connell curated his menu of plays and concepts to facilitate a quicker and more efficient pace.

In the process, the Vikings set season highs in plays (71), first downs (29), total yards (415) and time of possession (36:54).

“I felt like we played a really clean game as an offense besides my turnovers, which was good,” Darnold said. “We were really good with no self-inflicted [mistakes], all those things. Penalty-wise, pre-snap, I felt like we were getting in and out of the huddle. Tempo was really good all day. So we were really efficient as an offense that way. Just got to take care the football.”

Although it wasn’t obvious to casual observers, Darnold surely benefitted from some frank internal discussions about the amount of responsibility he had been shouldering in what can be a complex offense with long playcalls and multiple pre-snap decisions.

Speaking Monday, O’Connell said he cut back some of his “exotic” formations while also working to get the play in to Darnold earlier in the play clock than in previous weeks. In addition, the Vikings modestly reduced the frequency of pre-snap motion from 67.1% of their snaps in the first eight weeks to 54.2% against the Colts, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Finally, to help foster a more efficient huddle, Vikings coaches shortened the play clock during practice to impose greater urgency on getting to the line of scrimmage.

“Sam has done so many really high-level good things, especially throwing the football for us,” O’Connell said last week. “We’ve all got to remember sometimes that it is his first year starting [in Minnesota], and we tried to prepare him as best we could, and there’s still going to be some times in games where the urgency of just playing a lot of football comes into play. I think he’s done a really good job improving on that as he goes through a process of preparation.

“But there’s some other times where part of the bigger picture, the orchestrating of our offense, [is], ‘Can we make it a little easier on him? Can we make it easier on the guys around him to have clarity?’”

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Kevin O’Connell Provides Updates on DePaola & Reichard Injuries; Darrisaw Undergoes Surgery

Two of three Vikings specialists are managing injuries suffered Sunday night against the Colts, Kevin O’Connell said.

Two-time Pro Bowl and 2022 First-Team All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola suffered a hand injury “that will require a procedure.”

O’Connell said it is likely DePaola will be a candidate for short-term Injured Reserve, meaning the Vikings will need to figure out a replacement at the position instead of trying to lean on a player elsewhere on the roster who also serves as an emergency long snapper.

“We do have a couple guys [who practice for emergencies, and] I’m sure if we asked for volunteers, we’d have a few hands go up in the room, but we’ll probably look to solidify it with something a little bit more sustainable than that for the short term here,” O’Connell said.

Rookie kicker Will Reichard was still being evaluated Monday for a quad injury he suffered during Sunday’s game in which he missed for the first and second time in his pro career.

Reichard is now 14-for-16 on field goals and 23-for-23 on extra points this season.

“It’s something where you would love to, you know, have him just continue on the fabulous trajectory he’s been on, really, since he arrived here,” said O’Connell, who has clearly appreciated the consistency by the rookie. “These things kind of come up, and we’ll go through the process here of making sure we put together the best plan so we have him full and doing what he was doing all season long up until really last night.

“With how he’s performed up until this point, I would imagine that [the injury] was a contributing factor in him missing a couple kicks, but he toughed it out and still put the ball in the end zone on some kickoffs and made some extra points,” O’Connell said. “So a tough, tough dude, and loves being out there with his teammates. And as you guys know and can tell, his teammates absolutely love him.”

O’Connell said left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who was having an incredible season, is undergoing surgery Monday. He credited the young star with continuing to help the team last week as newly acquired veteran Cam Robinson arrived in a trade from Jacksonville and played all 73 of Minnesota’s offensive snaps.

“Happy with the fact that C.D. is going to get that thing fixed and start his road to getting back to being one of the best left tackles in football,” O’Connell said. “C.D. has been great. He’s been heavily involved, even in the short term here, in meetings around the guys, was around Cam last week as he first arrived, and was one of the major contributors, along with position coaches and the rest of the offensive line for Cam to be able to go out and play pretty darn well for us yesterday.”

Update: The Vikings released the following statement Monday evening.

Christian Darrisaw underwent successful surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament today at Twin Cities Orthopedics in Eagan. The procedure was led by Vikings Head Team Physician Dr. Chris Larson. The team will continue to provide updates, as appropriate, during Darrisaw’s recovery process.

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Kevin O’Connell on Vikings Progression, O-Line & Impacts by Cam Akers & Dallas Turner

It’s good to be 6-2 and better to have a long runway to improve.

That’s the message Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell imparted Monday afternoon at TCO Performance Center on the heels of a hard-fought 21-13 win over Indianapolis on Sunday Night Football.

“That’s been a goal of mine since we really reported to training camp, is just to be constantly chasing the progression throughout the season and having that be what our process is all about,” O’Connell stated.

Minnesota’s identity isn’t crystal clear through eight games, but it’s taking shape. O’Connell senses it.

“Every year it seems like you want to build a new – not a new identity – but you want to allow a natural identity to take place with the guys you have, the type of players you have in all three phases,” he said.

“What am I trying to build with our coaching staff, with our players, building it together to make sure this year’s version of our team can reach what our potential is going to be, all while overcoming some temporary, short-term results, adversity, or the ebbs and flows of injuries throughout an NFL season,” O’Connell said of the big picture. “We want to be able to withstand both and continue to improve.”

O’Connell is in constant communication right now with General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. They’re looking at ways to strengthen the club’s identity, exploring all trade options by fielding and making calls.

There’s a balance, however, to bringing in new personnel — O’Connell loves his team’s current make-up.

“We’re also very cognizant and aware of our team and what’s been built here. And we have a lot of confidence in our team,” he said. “But if there’s an opportunity to improve our team, or there’s an opportunity to improve our ability to build the team in the future, I think it’s something we’ll consider.”

1. On the offensive line

Cam Robinson fared well in his Vikings debut, which happened 72 hours after his first practice.

The veteran offensive lineman gave up four pressures but no sacks, and was integral to Minnesota setting the tone in the trenches. O’Connell mentioned that although his technique “might not have been perfect,” his length, strength and physicality were key to the offense’s 415-yard output. Robinson should be praised for his swift integration and ability to pick up verbiage – but it’s also a testament to the guys to the right of him: left guard Blake Brandel and center Garrett Bradbury. It was a collaborative effort.

“He did get some help at different times throughout the night,” said O’Connell, pointing out the team devised ways to lessen the load for that position early in the week because of general uncertainty, “but as the game kind of went on and the interior became a little bit more of something that I was thinking about, we left him like a left tackle; we left him by himself a few times, and he answered the bell.

“I also want to highlight Blake and Garrett for their communication,” O’Connell continued. “It’s pretty unique, the way they’re able to have that dialogue and make sure Cam was rock-and-roll and ready to go without having any of those [pre-snap infractions].” (Note: A holding call on Robinson was the lone penalty on the Vikings offense, ending a weeks-long period of “self-inflicteds” stalling possessions.)

Another layer O’Connell addressed, which likely has a trickle-down effect on the entire o-line and gets overlooked because consistency gets taken for granted, is the job Brian O’Neill has done manning the right flank.

“I cannot say enough about what he means to our offense and what he’s been able to do this year,” O’Connell said of the longest-tenured Vikings OL. “[He’s] playing some of the best football of his career.”

2. Taking advantage of opportunities

Cam Akers and Dallas Turner were unleashed against the Colts.

O’Connell emphasized that it will be important to continue infusing Akers and Ty Chandler into the action so that Jones, who rushed 21 times in Week 9, isn’t overworked. The knowledge that Akers has of O’Connell’s vision for the run game lets him play fast and make smart, sharp second-level cuts.

“He really, he does know, kind of the origin of a lot of the things at the base level of our offense, from the standpoint of tracks and reads and where maybe some balls may hit, versus some fronts or movement or things like that,” O’Connell said, noting that dirty runs set up the chunks. “I think he’s a guy that can watch the game and see how we’re being defended, see how certain runs are kind of looking, either on the tablet or in real time, and then he goes out there and he can adjust on the fly.”

On the flip side of the ball, Turner earned his most extensive work on defense, 26 snaps, since playing 36 snaps in his NFL debut in Week 1. He flourished with the uptick in opportunities, with four pressures on Flacco, and did a mix of everything – Turner dropped into coverage six times; he flashed great rush speed off the edge; and even dimmed RB Jonathan Taylor’s impact, strongly taking on lead blocks in the run game and folding inside to assist once Taylor picked a hole.

“We wanted to make sure he was a little bit more involved in the game, and he showed up,” O’Connell commented. “I thought it was a performance that I was not surprised by, and kind of had been telling you guys [could happen] as we move forward here, and based upon game plans and things like that. But I thought it was a real great step in the right direction for Dallas, and one that I think he’ll build on.”

3. Surging belief in Sam Darnold

It definitely looked like O’Connell’s confidence in Sam Darnold gave the Vikings a winning edge Sunday.

There’s no doubt O’Connell’s confident play-calling has bled into Darnold’s demeanor down the field.

“There’s a lot of really good quarterbacks in the NFL, a lot of unbelievable talent throwing the ball, and I think Sam has demonstrated the ability to make some really high-level throws,” O’Connell shared.

While the explosives are alive and well – he had six completions of 20-plus yards against a good Colts defense en route to a season-best 290 yards – the smaller gains are boosting O’Connell’s confidence, too.

“It’s not always dynamic catch-and-run plays, but … I do believe every completion of any kind has a negative effect on the defense,” said O’Connell, explaining they provide the offense a chance to change tempo and alternate between run and pass. “We were kind of exhausting a lot of those things last night.”

4. Talented tight ends

As soon as T.J. Hockenson rejoined the fold, Josh Oliver reminded the world he’s pretty darn good, too.

Oliver set a career high with five receptions, for 58 yards, on Sunday Night Football and showed a solid catch radius by readjusting and collecting a touchdown pass from Darnold on his last throw of the game in the final couple of minutes. Oliver also caught Darnold’s first pass, reinforcing that he’ll be part of the offensive plans even as Hockenson works his way up to a normal snap count. So will Johnny Mundt.

“It was great to have T.J. back out there,” O’Connell said, “but the best thing was having that collection of three guys with T.J., Josh and Johnny – the versatility that they can bring, and then that feeling in the fourth quarter when we could, whether it was 21 personnel with Josh and C.J., Josh and Johnny out there [in 12], T.J. and Josh, whatever it was, we got fresh bodies that can go really handle the edge [in the run game].”

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Vikings snap counts, PFF grades vs. Colts: Bradbury, Ingram get high marks

Top 5 PFF grades on offense (min. 20 snaps)

1. Oliver — 94.3

2. Bradbury — 80.0

3. Jefferson — 79.1

4. Darnold — 76.1

5. O’Neill — 74.8

Five others — Hockenson, Addison, Ingram, Robinson, and Akers — also had grades above 65 on a night where the Vikings moved the ball with ease.

Top 5 PFF grades on defense (min. 20 snaps)

1. Phillips — 83.2

2. Bynum — 77.1

3. Ward —72.2

4. Greenard — 71.5

5. Turner — 71.3

Murphy, Griffin, and Metellus also received quality grades. Greenard had five more pressures and two late sacks, extending his streak of games with 5+ pressures to eight to begin the season. He now leads all of football with 48 pressures on the season, and his 7 sacks are tied for sixth.

The worst grades went to Van Ginkel, Tillery, and Bullard. Those last two names reinforce the Vikings’ need to add a pass-rushing defensive tackle before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

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Vikings Go All-in on $44 Million Cowboys Star in Blockbuster Trade Proposal

Currently third in the NFC East, Dallas’ season (3-5) seems kaput with Dak Prescott expected to miss significant time due to injury.

Odighizwua is also in the final year of his rookie deal. The 2021 third-round pick has not missed a game in his career and has emerged as a top-15 talent at defensive tackle in the league.

The 25-year-old has shown to eat gaps and handle double teams to open up opportunities for his teammates and still managed to force 43 pressures in 2023.

“Odighizuwa managed just three sacks on the year — all within the first two weeks of the season — and has never finished with more than four in a year. However, he also finished as the 15th-highest-graded interior defensive lineman (81.4) with the 12th-best PFF pass-rush grade (80.0),” Pro Football Focus’ Jonathon Macri wrote, penning Odighizuwa as a 2024 breakout candidate. “He should deliver even bigger sack numbers in future seasons as long as he continues to produce the strong underlying metrics that he has continued to build upon in his NFL career.”

Last offseason, the Vikings sought to land a dominant defensive tackle as one of the team’s vying for top free agent Christian Wilkins. That role remains a need at the trade deadline, and Minnesota (6-2) could secure Odighizuwa before having to chase him in free agency next spring.

He’d likely cost at minimum a third-round pick and the Vikings would still have to extend him.

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Report: Minnesota Vikings Seeking Defensive Help At NFL Trade Deadline

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