KEVIN O’CONNELL – Page 10 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Jim Harbaugh ‘Cloud’ Again Hangs over Vikings

Posted on April 25, 2024April 25, 2024 by David Shama

Two years ago the Vikings flirted with hiring Jim Harbaugh as their new head coach to succeed Mike Zimmer. The Michigan head coach, and former Super Bowl coach of the 49ers, didn’t strike a deal with the Vikings but his desire to return to the NFL was realized this winter when he took over the Chargers.

Harbaugh, a tough guy leader who teaches and demands physical football, has been a winner wherever he’s been in charge. From San Diego to Stanford, from the 49ers to Michigan, his teams have been winners—with a highlight being the Wolverines’ college playoff national championship in January.

There’s no doubt at this keyboard Harbaugh would have turned the Vikings into an NFL power. While that window is closed, the 60-year-old task master could impact Minnesota’s future if he is interested in giving up the Chargers’ No. 5 first round pick in tonight’s NFL Draft.

Kevin O’Connell image courtesy of Minnesota Vikings

Doing so might allow the Vikings to select a Harbaugh favorite—J.J. McCarthy, his gifted championship quarterback at Michigan. Enabling the Vikings to draft high enough to obtain McCarthy would place the 21-year-old quarterback in a special environment, surrounded by gifted offensive players like tackles Brian O’Neil and Christian Darrisaw, receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, and running back Aaron Jones, and coached by QB savant Kevin O’Connell.

There is near consensus that four quarterbacks, including McCarthy, will go early in the first round. The Bears at No. 1 appear a lock to draft Caleb Williams, the Commanders and Patriots at No. 2 and 3, will likely take quarterbacks, too. But none of those teams has anywhere near the quality resources and support system in place for a rookie quarterback like the Vikings do.

Harbaugh knows about the Vikings’ environment and naturally would like to see his protege prosper in the NFL. But he didn’t get to be a legendary coach by just playing nice guy or concerned mentor. The NFL is cold business and it will take, first and foremost, a trade package that helps the Chargers to get them to move off the No. 5 spot in the first round.

What is that package? Well, giving up Minnesota’s No. 11 spot and No. 23 position in the first round of this year’s draft is common sense and a start. But Harbaugh will demand more, looking for quality opportunities to rebuild the Chargers per his plan that includes aggressive, physical and talented players on both sides of the ball. What he doesn’t need is a proven young quarterback, having inherited Justin Herbert, 26, who has played four pro seasons with the Chargers and should be approaching his peak years, especially with Harbaugh grooming him.

Harbaugh might say yes to an offer that includes the two 2024 first rounders, a fourth-round pick, plus wide receiver Jordan Addison. The Chargers need help at receiver and Addison had a superb first season with Minnesota. An alternate package could be the two 2024 first round picks and the Purple’s No. 1 pick in 2025.

Moving down to No. 11 could give Harbaugh the opportunity to draft Georgia’s Brock Bowers, recognized by many as the top tight end available. Harbaugh has highly valued tight ends everywhere he has used his run-dominant, pass smart system. At No. 23 he is likely to find a behemoth offensive lineman with the scowl and talent Harbaugh covets.

Among the first five selections of the draft there’s considerable media speculation the Commanders will choose Jayden Daniels from LSU. At No. 3 the Patriots might be interested in teasing the market to see how much draft capital they could luck into (think multiple number ones in the years ahead). But they also need a quarterback and Drake Maye from North Carolina or McCarthy are likely their candidates.

At No. 4 in the first round the Cardinals, with veteran QB Kyler Murray, may be delusional if they don’t snap up Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison who appears to be a generational talent.

The Vikings conceivably could swing a trade with the Patriots, but the asking price may be exorbitant. And how can the Cardinals make a trade that costs them the coveted receiver they need? Maybe the Giants, positioned at No. 6, could offer the world and move up by convincing the Cardinals they can be positioned after the first five teams have drafted to take one of the two other wide receiver gems, Malik Nabers from LSU or Rome Odunze from Washington.

While the Cardinals need help at multiple positions, probably making it more unlikely they will trade their top pick is that they also have the No. 27 spot in the first round and third choice in the second round.

It seems likely, though, that if the Vikings want badly to get an elite quarterback in this draft (and there is no reason to believe after Kirk Cousins’ departure they don’t), then they have a better chance to trade with Harbaugh than anyone else who holds a high perch in the first round.

When the Vikings interviewed Harbaugh two years ago the potential was there for him to impact the franchise for a long time. And now with the Chargers, his imprint on the Vikings could have significance too if the Vikings draft McCarthy or Maye, who they may like even better.

What if the Vikings find Harbaugh isn’t answering his phone, and nobody else presents the opportunity to move up into the first four spots in the first round? The Vikings could still go quarterback, with either Oregon’s Bo Nix or Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. likely to be available.

Both are experienced college quarterbacks with attributes, and if not for this being a deep QB draft, might have been likely top 10 choices. Nix appears to be a savvy talent who could fit effectively in O’Connell’s offense while Penix’s skill at throwing the deep ball is probably the best among the six quarterbacks mentioned so much in this draft.

At No. 23 the Vikings could address another position of need, cornerback. Cooper DeJean, the Iowa native who was denied a touchdown punt return against the Gophers because of an invalid fair catch, will likely be available. He is athletic, tough, smart and uber competitive. And the ex-Hawkeye is no longer the “enemy.”

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‘Ant’ Rubbing Elbows with LeBron, Jordan & Oscar

Posted on April 16, 2024 by David Shama

Anthony Edwards is in elite company after finishing the regular season on Sunday with 2,049 points, 430 rebounds and 405 assists.

At 22 years and 253 days old, Edwards became the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to total 2,000 plus points, 400 plus rebounds and 400 plus assists in a season. The others are legends LeBron James (three times), Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson.

Edwards finished the season as the only player in franchise history to average 25 plus points, five plus rebounds and five plus assists. His 2,049 points rank second in Wolves history to Karl-Anthony Towns’ 2,061 in 2016-2017.

Edwards’ value was significant defensively, too, helping the Wolves to a second-best franchise record of 56-26. President of basketball operations Tim Connelly told Sports Headliners that Edwards and teammate Jaden McDaniels (23-year-old starting small forward) “are two of the best perimeter defenders in the league.”

The Wolves finished the season No. 1 in scoring defense in the NBA, allowing 106.5 points per game. They also led in defensive field goal percentage, allowing 45 percent. It’s a franchise first for Minnesota to finish a season ranked first in either category.

The defense, which also led the NBA in advanced defensive rating, is led by 7-1 center Rudy Gobert. He’s the favorite to win his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award and is part of a total team commitment limiting scoring by opponents.

“When you have that many guys committed to playing defense…it’s infused through your team and everybody buys in,” head coach Chris Finch told Sports Headliners.

As the No. three seed in the playoffs, the Wolves will need to play better defensively and offensively against the sixth seeded Suns who swept them during the regular season including an embarrassing 125-106 loss in Minneapolis Sunday. The Wolves, trying to drive the basketball where there were no openings and throwing errant passes, committed a ghastly 19 turnovers leading to 26 points in the first half.

The Suns, 49-33 during the regular season, present matchup problems for Minnesota. Point guard Mike Conley is only 6-foot tall and faces a Phoenix backcourt with 6-6 Devin Booker Beal and 6-4 Bradley Beal. Up front the Suns have 6-11 shot master Kevin Durant who was guarded by the Wolves’ 6-6 Edwards on Sunday.

The Suns have mobile and effective scorers in Beal, Booker, Durant and 6-4 small forward Grayson Allen. That raises questions about whether the Wolves can play Gobert and 7-foot-power forward Karl-Anthony Towns, the Twin Towers, for long stretches defensively.

Offensively, on Sunday the Suns constricted offensive opportunities for Edwards, who averaged 25.9 points per game this season. Double teams and constant attention resulted in just seven field goal attempts and 13 points for Edwards.

The NBA is all about adjustments from game to game and it will be pivotal for the Wolves to not only create more opportunities for Edwards to score but also move the basketball better to present better opportunities for other players.

The Wolves, who were resoundingly defeated by the Suns in all three games this season, have home court advantage in the potential seven-game series starting with Saturday’s opener in Minneapolis. The Suns are about a two-point underdog for Saturday.

The Wolves, who finished 42-40 last season, have a strong Coach of the Year candidate in Finch. Edwards will draw some attention for NBA MVP and power forward Naz Reid is a legit contender for Sixth Man of the Year.

Quoting Kevin O’Connell on QB Hunt and Justin Jefferson

The Vikings have a lot of voices providing input as they evaluate quarterbacks for the upcoming NFL Draft. Head coach Kevin O’Connell offered insight yesterday when asked about a situation where the Vikings could be trying to decide on who to draft when a couple of quarterbacks are almost equally valued by them.:

“Yeah, I mean, luckily, we’ve got a lot of really smart people in this building and between Kwesi’s (GM Adofo-Mensah) staff and our coaching staff, the process has been really good. The quarterback position is one where you may have 10 really smart coaches or personnel folks watch the same cut-up, and you might come away with 10 different opinions on a player.

“That’s why we have to spend a lot of time together. That’s why we spend a lot of time with the players themselves and really envision not only what they’re going to be like as an NFL quarterback, but what are they going to be like as a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings if we’re able to get one of these guys. …”

Superstar receiver Justin Jefferson didn’t attend yesterday’s first voluntary offseason workout program. That’s not unexpected from an uber talent who is in a year of contract talks.

O’Connell is unsure when Jefferson might participate in workouts, with volunteer days now and mandatory activities ahead. “… I know I’ve had a lot of great dialogue with Justin throughout even the early part of this offseason and leading up. So, you know, my hope is we can get him around the team.

“He’s obviously such a special player, but it goes beyond that. Especially this time of year because of just the energy and the flat-out way he comes in when he’s in this building and he goes to work and how his teammates respond to him.

“So, I want him here as much as we can have him, but also understand that there are a lot of factors involved. And like I said, there’s nobody I love having more around on a daily basis, just because of how he elevates others. Truly a special, special player.”

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Give Kevin O’Connell Final Authority on QB Draftee

Posted on April 14, 2024April 14, 2024 by David Shama

Who will have the final word in the draft room next week when the Vikings presumably select their future starting quarterback? If this is a movie, leading roles go to GM Kwesi-Adofo Mensah, new quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and owners Zygi and Mark Wilf but the star of the drama figures to be head coach Kevin O’Connell.

The evening of Thursday, April 25, is potentially a franchise transformative night for the Vikings who haven’t been able to lock in long term on a superlative quarterback this millennium. The chatter has been ceaseless about who the Vikings will draft and whether they can move up from their No. 11 spot in the first round.

Despite the likelihood of taking a quarterback in the first round, there is no guarantee that will happen. But the Vikings will take a quarterback at some point in the NFL Draft and when they do it makes no sense for anyone to have as much say as O’Connell who could see attributes in a prospect that others can’t. He will also be tasked above all others in the newcomer’s development.

With other pro teams a heavyweight GM could have the most clout in the QB process, but Adofo-Mensah is about two years into his role as front office boss. His background is in business, data and analytics and he’s never played football or coached it. He and O’Connell work closely together including the deep-dive process for preparing for this draft and selection of a quarterback but their backgrounds and experience are different.

The Wilfs, as in the past, will know what their organization leaders are doing and will be aware of final recommendations. But why would they dictate the decision of who to draft when that’s the job of those they hired?

McCown’s input will be highly valued. He was hired this year after being the Panthers’ quarterback coach last season where he worked with rookie QB Bryce Young. McCown has nearly 20 years of QB playing experience in the NFL and a past relationship with O’Connell.

McCown and others will have O’Connell’s ear but ultimately, he figures to have the final decision whether it’s a consensus or contrarian choice. In two years as Minnesota’s head coach he’s earned a reputation as one of the NFL’s brightest young offensive strategists and teachers. The 38-year-old has the demeanor and knowledge to make the most out of whoever the Vikings count on to lead them at quarterback, the NFL’s most important position.

With O’Connell’s wherewithal and resume that should give him the biggest soap box in the draft room. He not only deserves it but his future security as head coach depends on it.

Worth Noting

The Twins announced this morning they have returned left-handed pitcher Caleb Thielbar to the roster after his rehab assignment at AAA St. Paul and reinstated him from the 15-day Injured List. Right-handed pitcher Jorge Alcala has been optioned to St. Paul to make room on the 26-man roster.

The Twins are averaging 22,448 fans in their first five home games, per ESPN.com, and expect to draw two million or more this season.

As of late last week, fewer than 1,000 tickets remained for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics, at Target Center June 27-30.

The Holy Family Catholic High School football program, losers of 23 straight games until last season’s turnaround 7-4 season, returns seven starters each on offense and defense. Also back will be head coach Dan O’Brien, the former Gophers assistant coach, and veteran assistants Dave Nelson and Jeff Ferguson.

Nelson is assistant executive director of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association that had a record number 1,660 registrants for its annual clinic earlier this month in St. Louis Park.

The Twin Cities Dunkers celebrate their 1,000^th speaker program on May 14 when Golden Gophers baseball coach John Anderson, who is retiring after this season, speaks to the club. It will be Anderson’s 14^thas the lead speaker, the most in Dunkers’ history. The organization began as the Minneapolis Dunkers in 1948.

That was former Golden Gophers head football coach Glen Mason’s 74^th birthday last Tuesday.

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor’s 83^rd birthday is Saturday (April 20).

Condolences to the family and friends of Gordy Genz who passed away earlier this month. He was a hockey coaching icon at Warroad and Alexander Ramsey High School. A superb athlete at Hamline, he scored 11 points in a 1959 hockey game against Augsburg, according to Hamline.edu.

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