EAGAN, Minn. — Not lengthy after he was named the Minnesota Vikings’ new coach, Kevin O’Connell made a request. He needed a brand designed to seize the values he deliberate to impart on the workforce. The ultimate product was formed like a defend and carried these phrases: Our Approach, Our Course of, Our Group.
The Tradition Protect, as it’s recognized across the Vikings’ observe facility, offered a transparent metaphor for O’Connell’s first summer time in Minnesota. He stood behind it as he pursued an alternate coaching method that prioritized well being over preseason taking part in time, instructing over browbeating and method over hitting.
It revealed a coach who’s assured in his method however itching to justify it with some early success in a schedule that opens with consecutive opponents — the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles — who’re thought-about consensus playoff groups.
“You by no means need to say [imposing culture] was simple,” O’Connell stated, “however I simply suppose it was the correct time and the correct place for me with these gamers.”
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Initially, a minimum of, O’Connell’s model prompted whiplash amid a company inured to the cantankerous methods of former coach Mike Zimmer. Veteran gamers waited for emotional outbursts that by no means got here.
“Typically it nearly feels awkward,” receiver Adam Thielen stated. “You are like, ‘Is he not going to tear us? What is going on on right here?’ And it has nothing to do with the previous teaching workers we had right here. That is the way it’s been my entire life, whether or not highschool, school, first yr within the NFL after I had a unique coach. It is totally different, however it’s thrilling as a result of it is like now we will go in there and we will train. We are able to be taught. Even when we do some issues unsuitable, and have some psychological errors, it is like, ‘Hey, that wasn’t OK, however let’s concentrate on the method.’”
Additionally they appreciated the relative lack of pounding on their our bodies. No established starter performed greater than 14 snaps within the preseason, and all of them got here in Week 1. 9 of their top-line gamers — quarterback Kirk Cousins, operating again Dalvin Prepare dinner, receivers Thielen and Justin Jefferson, linebacker Eric Kendricks, pass-rushers Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith and defensive backs Patrick Peterson and Harrison Smith — had been wholesome scratches for all the preseason.
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Cousins, for one, stated he would not have minded some preseason work. However he famous the Vikings misplaced tight finish Irv Smith Jr. for all the 2021 season due to a knee harm he suffered within the Vikings’ closing preseason sport final summer time.
“There’s a cause for what we’re doing,” Cousins stated. “There’s drawbacks to it too, however it’s a must to make the very best resolution you possibly can and go along with it. No excuses and be able to go [when the season begins].”
Practices had been not often grueling. Gamers adopted an individualized sports activities science plan designed to reduce accidents, particularly soft-tissue strains. There have been no “stay” durations, that means no tackling to the bottom, and key gamers repeatedly restricted their reps and typically took whole days off. Essentially the most intense durations of camp got here throughout two days of observe in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers.
There have been no fights, however it was notable that the one chippy moments got here when Vikings offensive gamers objected to the 49ers protection’s aggressive post-contact makes an attempt to wrap up ball carriers and punch out the ball.
“I feel it is a totally different model from what their protection [does],” 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans stated afterward. “We assault. We’re [an] attack-first mentality, so it is a totally different model I do know for his or her scheme, for his or her offense and our protection going in opposition to them.”
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The instant outcomes, nevertheless, appear apparent. Just one Vikings participant suffered a major harm throughout coaching camp observe; Irv Smith Jr. injured a thumb ligament whereas blocking on the primary day of pads, requiring surgical procedure. In any other case, the workforce was so wholesome that common supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah didn’t must make a single roster transfer till the primary NFL-mandated cutdown.
The philosophy was not dissimilar from the one employed by the Los Angeles Rams when O’Connell was their offensive coordinator for the previous two seasons; he employed former Rams director of sports activities science Tyler Williams as his govt director of participant well being and efficiency in Minnesota. And by all metrics, the Rams had been prepared for Week 1. They began the 2020 season 7-1 and had been 4-1 after 5 video games in 2021 en path to profitable Tremendous Bowl LVI.
Za’Darius Smith stated there was a “massive distinction” within the O’Connell’s coaching camp in comparison with his different stops with the Baltimore Ravens and in Inexperienced Bay and added: “It was nice. It was massive for us. We did not have too many accidents, and it is good that coach confirmed us the system that he used beforehand with the Rams. It actually labored. … You possibly can see now that I am wholesome.”
These seasons, after all, had been the fourth and fifth of Rams coach Sean McVay’s tenure. A traditionalist may argue that the Vikings, within the first yr of a brand new teaching regime, would have benefitted from a extra bodily summer time.
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O’Connell took a number of alternatives to notice the elements of camp that had been undeniably taxing, from the 49ers practices to an early stretch of 5 full-pads practices in six days to an Aug. 25 intrasquad scrimmage designed to simulate lengthy drives.
“There’s a constructive of preserving starters wholesome by not taking part in in preseason video games,” O’Connell stated. “Is there a detrimental? I feel it relies upon the way you take a look at it. In case you’re a workforce that simply type of practices in a typical manner, there’s so much that may be taken out of the normal mannequin of type of getting ready guys in regular observe, taking part in them barely in every sport build up.
“We select to type of do issues a little bit in a different way, a little bit bit totally different mannequin the place in the event you ask our guys bodily the place they’re at, they in all probability would say they’re as wholesome as they have been. However on the identical time, I feel they’d say they’re feeling an increasing number of ready by the day. … They need to really feel like they’re proper on schedule from a bodily standpoint, stamina-wise of with the ability to play a full sport.”
The Vikings have left no confusion this summer time about their postseason expectations. As an alternative of tearing down a roster that missed the playoffs 3 times previously 4 seasons, they retained and supplemented the core.
Once they waived second-year quarterback Kellen Mond final week, O’Connell famous the danger of an untested backup “being a snap away” on a workforce with a powerful aggressive outlook.
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Did his “manner” and “course of” put the Vikings in place to open the season robust in opposition to two powerful opponents? We’re about to search out out.
MADISON, Wis. – Steven Crowl got run into by Minnesota forward Frank Mitchell with a head of steam. No foul was called, much to the frustration of the Wisconsin bench. When the Badgers coaching staff and reserves saw next, it elicited a different reaction.
Crowl drove to the open lane with Mitchell out of position and the bench erupted with fist pumps after he finished with his right hand, again through contact from Mitchell for a three-point play. It added to the momentum of a big second half that turned a close game into an 80-59 Wisconsin rout over the Gophers at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin (13-3, 4-2 Big Ten) ran its winning streak to five games and as the Badgers and Crowl continued mastery over the Gophers. UW has won eight straight against its border rivals and Crowl – following his team-high 18 points – is averaging 15.7 points on 66.1 percent shooting in six career starts against his home-state team.
John Tonje added 11 of his 16 points in the second half, as the Badgers shot 57.7 percent in the second half to outscore Minnesota, 50-30.
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Wisconsin went 11-for-28 from three, three of which came on a 13-2 run early in the second half that pushed the lead to double digits. Nolan Winter (eight points), John Blackwell (nine), and Crowl all hit from the perimeter over a 2-minute, 40-second run, hitting as many threes as UW hit the entire first half.
Dawson Garcia was the only player in double figures for Minnesota (8-8, 0-5), finishing with a game-high 22.
The Badgers struggled out of the game with Kamari McGee (15 points) replacing Max Klesmit (right ankle) in the starting lineup. UW started 2-for-10 and got only marginally better throughout the half. McGee, Tonje, and Blackwell combined to shoot 4-for-18 from the floor, as UW shot only 32.3 percent (10-for-31).
Down as many as 10 in the opening minutes, UW chipped away at the deficit to lead at the break with its defense. The Badgers turned eight turnovers into nine points and 3-for-10 on shots around the rim.
Minnesota took the lead on a pair of Garcia free throws early in the second half, but UW outscored them, 40-12, over the next 12 minutes, and 40 seconds.
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What it means: The first half looked like what Wisconsin-Minnesota games have been the last few seasons, as the last five games have been decided by a total of 16 points. The second half looked like the Wisconsin offense we’re getting used to seeing.
Star of the game: Crowl was the only steady offensive weapon through both halves for Wisconsin. The graduate center had nine points on 3-for-4 shooting in the first half and nine points on 3-for-3 shooting in the second half.
Stat of the game: Wisconsin went 19-for-24 from the line while Minnesota was only 8-for-13.
Reason to be Concerned: Klesmit went through warmups but missed his first game in two years, not a surprise after hearing head coach Greg Gard talking about the injury Wednesday. How long Klesmit will be out, especially with some tougher competition coming up on the schedule, is a storyline.
Don’t overlook: Wisconsin has touted its depth since the beginning of the season but stuck with its same starting five and eight-to-nine-man rotation. Without Klesmit, McGee had 15 points, five rebounds, three steals, two assists, and is 3-for-4 on 3-point attempts in his first collegiate start.
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What’s next: Wisconsin stays at home for its opening against Ohio State on Tuesday night. The Buckeyes (10-6, 2-3) registered two of the Big Ten’s best out-of-conference wins in knocking off No.19 Texas and No.4 Kentucky on neutral sites but have struggled in conference play, having lost two of three with the one win coming in double overtime at Minnesota. Led by Bruce Thornton’s 17.1 points, Ohio State has four players averaging in double figures and seven players scoring at least 7.0 per game.
UW has won four of the last five meetings in the series. The tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. and will be televised on Peacock.
Crosby-Ironton four-star guard Tori Oehrlein verbally committed to the Gophers in November and it looks like they will have a future star when she arrives on campus in 2026. She has absolutely dominated to begin her junior campaign.
Oehrlein has been putting up unbelievable numbers all season, averaging 29.8 points, 16.7 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 7.3 steals per game — and her performance on Tuesday night might’ve been her most impressive.
The 5-foot-11 guard broke the Minnesota high school girls basketball state record with 21 assists in a 113-33 victory over Hinckley-Finlayson. She ended Tuesday night’s game with a ridiculous box score of 30 points, 21 assists, 12 rebounds and 12 steals, marking her third quadruple-double of the season.
Oehrlein is only a junior this year, so head coach Dawn Plitzuweit and the Gophers will have to wait more than a year until she’s able to play for Minnesota. Crosby-Ironton is a perfect 14-0 this season and Oehrlein looks like one of the best players in the state regardless of class.
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According to ESPN’s recruiting rankings, Oehrlein ranks No. 43 nationally in the class of 2026. The only high schooler in Minnesota who ranks high in 2026 is Kentucky commit Maddyn Greenway, who ranks 18th nationally.
Greenway, the daughter of former Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway, is averaging 31.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 4.8 steals per game at Providence Academy.
Another high school phenom who has been offered by the Gophers is Duluth Marshall ninth-grader Chloe Johnson. The class of 2028 recruit is averaging 28.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.8 steals per game for the Hilltoppers.
Stay up to date on all things Gophers by bookmarking Minnesota Gophers On SI, subscribing to our YouTube Channel, and signing up to receive our free Gophers newsletter, which will enter you into a drawing for the EA College Gameday 25 video game (you choose between PS5 or Xbox).
Memphis Grizzlies (24-14, third in the Western Conference) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-17, seventh in the Western Conference)
Minneapolis; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: Minnesota heads into a matchup with Memphis as winners of three games in a row.
The Timberwolves are 16-10 in conference matchups. Minnesota is third in the Western Conference at limiting opponent scoring, giving up just 107.2 points while holding opponents to 45.4% shooting.
The Grizzlies are 11-11 against Western Conference opponents. Memphis ranks second in the league scoring 56.9 points per game in the paint led by Jaren Jackson Jr. averaging 12.1.
The Timberwolves average 15.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 13.6 per game the Grizzlies allow. The Grizzlies average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 12.5 per game the Timberwolves give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Anthony Edwards is averaging 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Timberwolves.
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Jackson is scoring 22.6 points per game with 6.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists for the Grizzlies.
LAST 10 GAMES: Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 107.5 points, 46.0 rebounds, 23.8 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.0 points per game.
Grizzlies: 5-5, averaging 122.8 points, 49.5 rebounds, 28.8 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.0 points.
INJURIES: Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham: out (ankle).
Grizzlies: Cam Spencer: day to day (thumb), Marcus Smart: out (finger), Vince Williams Jr.: out (ankle), GG Jackson II: out (foot ).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
