The Minnesota Vikings are firmly in phase three of organized team activities and things are getting more serious as time goes by.
The intensity has picked up as the team works to install the defense and continue the continuity on offense.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores spoke with the media on Wednesday afternoon and spoke about his experience so far with the Vikings and OTAs.
OTAs are about building relationships
Flores was asked about what needs to happen to make this a top 10 defense. His answer was centered around building relationships.
“I think I think what’s happening now is is really the start to that. We’re really trying to, you know, lay the groundwork build this foundation, really across the team, not necessarily just defensively every year is new. So we’re really laying laying groundwork with terminology and, you know, basic information. But really, you know, trying to build those relationships that you need, you know, in order to have success in this league. So, I think that’s, you know, individually you know, from our coaches, our players, and I will say they’ve worked extremely hard up to this point in phase one, two, and these first couple of days of phase three, but it’s really a day in day out grind of, you know, learning new things, and new information, learning to tune in and techniques and new fundamentals. But it’s one thing to learn them as a different thing to apply them. So we talk about a lot in our meeting room. So our guys are working harder to apply the new techniques, new fundamentals and new terminology. They’re all working extremely hard, and it’s a process. It’s a process. And we’re really at the beginning stages of that process. And it will go on but these OTA practices are important. The meet every meeting is important. The time over the last few years, it’s shrunk a little bit. So, you know, it’s all important. And, you know, we got to make every day count.”
Flores loves every aspect of coaching
Coaching is a true grind and few know that more than Flores. When asked about the building process, he wasn’t shy in saying all of it.
“I mean, it’s, I love all of it. You know, I can’t say that there’s a part of coaching in the National Football League that I don’t enjoy. But yeah, I mean, this process, this is this is a part of that. You know, you say development I think immediately the rookies and how they come in to the to our league to this league onto this team or any team is a slew of rookies across the league. Who they got a long way to go. They got a lot of catching up to do. It’s not here, it’s across the league. Whether it’s, you know, new environment, new coaches, they’ve been in some instances in the locker room that they’re very comfortable, and now they’re in a totally different locker room. You know, they don’t know for 94 is a 35 W, which is Easter and so they’re trying to, you know, get acclimated and figure things out. And there’s a lot of development there and they can develop quickly because they don’t know as much. But yeah, all of this this is exciting for me. You know, getting to know the guys spend the time with them. Finding out the things that they do well, what buttons to push buttons, not to push, I mean, it’s all part of it. And again, we’re in the beginning of the beginning phases, something we just got done with phase one, which is two weeks phase two or three weeks. So do the math, you know, just six weeks or whatever it is. I’m not good at math. But all of it is fun for me.”
Everyone is equal
KSTP’s Chris Long asked a really intriguing question about the install, specifically the defensive line, when there are some major questions on what that could look like.
“I think you coach every player on a specific technique and fundamental you know, based on what we’re putting in that day, but every team’s gonna look different, you know from now until you know the start of the season. We’re at 90 Now everything’s gonna be different. And that’s an unfortunate part of this, of this business. But you know, we teach every guy the same again, I’ve told our guys this, I don’t care where you know where they came from, or what by what means they got to this team first. Round trade. You know, free agent. You know undrafted, when you come here you put into work. You find a way to learn and you know, even more than that, apply what you’ve learned and contribute. And you’ll have an opportunity that’s across the board.”
Akayleb Evans is changing his tackling technique
After sucffering three concussions in the 2022 season, injuries are now a major concern with Akayleb Evans. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert asked about him changing his tackling technique and gave this answer while also directing more specific questions on the matter to inside linebackers coach Mike Siravo.
“But yeah, we’d safety safety is obviously the the number one, you know, point that we make with our players. Keeping your head out of the tackle. You know, there was you know, when I grew up, it was get your head across. Which if you just look at the mechanics and get your head across, you know, there’s instances where you need to do it, you know, it’s 30 inches, 14 inches. You don’t want to fall forward, you do what you got to do. Most cases when you’re tackling you want to keep your head out of it completely wrapped, roll and do those things.”
The intensity is real
Early reports from OTAs, including from Alexander Mattison. are that the defense is really intense and already giving exotic looks and Flores loves it.
“I mean, you know, Mattison’s pretty intense. He’s coming at us pretty good too, which is you know, I like it’s competitive. And like I said we you know we’ve tried to install Well, or I shouldn’t say well, we’re installing an aggressive style of defense. But I think you know, identity is a big part of it as well. And building an identity is a big part of playing defense in this league and it’s early but you know, that’s part of it, too. I understand that. I try to impart that to our players. And that happens over time. And every time we step on the practice field, you know, what is our identity? What are people going to say about us? Not that we’re worried about that, but you know, what do we want it to look like? And that’s, that’s, you know, a lot of the conversation that’s happening in our meeting room and we’ll continue to have it, you know, try to continue to work to you know, put that product on the field that we we’ve talked about making them look like”
Accelerator program
Seeing minority coaches getting opportunities is something that Flores has a passion for and the reason why he currently has an open lawsuit against the NFL. He was asked about special teams coordinator Matt Daniels and wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell taking part in the accelerator program.
“I mean, I think it’s great. You know, I think, you know, I walked over there the other day and, you know, saw a few guys obviously, that I’ve known, you know, for a number of years and, you know, great exposure for them. Greater great, great opportunity for them to spend time together to meet new people to you know, I would say exposure leads to expansion. I think that’s that’s a real and true statement. And I think I think, you know, once guys are exposed to that, that, you know, to certain people to certain situations. They grow. So I’m, I’m all for it, and I was happy to go over there and spend a little bit of time with you know, a couple of guys out there. I was I was, I wasn’t able to make it but I want to say hello to a few guys. But yeah, I think it’s great.”
