The Minnesota Vikings’ opponent this week, the San Francisco 49ers, are well known for their physicality. As Kevin O’Connell embarks on his third season as head coach of the Vikings, he continues to be intentional about conditioning his team to play with physicality, too.
Here’s a look at how far the Vikings have come in this regard and what lies ahead for them.
Vikings’ Physical Play Led to Dominant Win Over New York Giants
While physicality is a trait all football teams look to demonstrate, how a coach develops that in his team can vary.
O’Connell stated in early August that he designed 2024 training camp in a way that would condition his team to be more physical. The Vikings were in pads four times in the first eight days of camp and had a fifth such session planned on the 10th day, but that one was rained out and postponed.
O’Connell’s plan led to the desired outcome. Minnesota went undefeated in the preseason and demonstrated a physical style of play while doing so. They led the NFL in defensive rush success at 75.7% and in rushing yards allowed per attempt at 3.0. They also ranked tied for first in fewest first downs allowed via the run with 12 and ranked seventh with a 4.6 ypc (yards per carry) average on offense.
In the season opener last week, the Vikings kicked it up a notch by thoroughly outplaying the New York Giants in situations that commanded physicality and toughness.
The Vikings were perfect in the red zone and goal-to-go situations, with 100% efficiency on offense and holding the Giants’ offense to 0% efficiency. Minnesota’s red-zone conversions were both from the Giants’ 3-yard line, and the Vikings dug themselves out of the shadow of their own goal post, constructing an 11-play, 99-yard drive that included four positive plays from inside their own 10-yard line.
O’Connell praised his team the day after the game, noting they played with the kind of physicality that was a point of emphasis in training camp.
“I did see some things that I’ve talked to you guys a lot about from a play style standpoint,” O’Connell said on Monday. “I thought the line of scrimmage, on both sides, was…there were a lot of really good performances.
“A lot of times you’re handing out game balls, and you’re doing different things, but you’d like to highlight guys like Harrison Phillips, and (Jonathan) Bullard and (Jerry) Tillery on that [defensive] line. Blake (Brandel) was really solid. Christian Darrisaw was his normal self over there on the left side.”
Vikings Look To Match 49ers Physicality in Upset Bid
Now the 49ers come to town — as six-point favorites, no less.
It’s the first true litmus test for O’Connell’s team. Sure, the Vikings’ preseason opponents and even the Giants were legitimate opportunities and challenges in demonstrating physicality. But no one would disagree that San Francisco poses the ultimate test of physicality and grit.
O’Connell said as much earlier this week.
Coach Kevin O'Connell speaks https://t.co/2AdvuWW6oL
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 11, 2024
“Whether they’re blitzing, or rushing four, playing coverage. They just play so hard,” O’Connell explained. “This is the team I think of when you talk about play style not necessarily being about Xs and Os.
“No matter what side of the ball you’re defending or playing offense against, they don’t particularly care too much if you know what’s coming. I think that’s what’s a really powerful thing about the way Kyle (Shanahan) runs their program there. In a lot of ways, you know what’s coming, and can you stop it?”
The New York Jets were unable to stop it last week in a 32-19 loss on Monday night. Star running back Christian McCaffrey didn’t play, but the 49ers’ rushing attack forged on. Backup Jordan Mason rushed for 147 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries. The Jets, meanwhile, averaged just 3.6 yards per carry.
San Francisco finished the game with a 17-minute advantage in time of possession.
It was the kind of performance O’Connell is conditioning his team to generate.
“You can very easily attach that play style term (physical) I used a lot with you guys and our team every single day, highlighting examples of it, showing them what it looks like from our guys and just hoping that it’s engrained in the fabric of who we are,” O’Connell said. “That it’s not something that I’ve got to give some impassioned speech about every single week.
“So now it’s not establishing it. Can you maintain it regardless of who your opponent is?”
If the Vikings can on Sunday, they’ll have a shot to author one of the week’s biggest upsets and take a big step forward in establishing the brand of physical football their head coach values so much.