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 1,000th 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 14th as 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 74th birthday last Tuesday.
Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor’s 83rd 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.