Was Brian Flores the Acquisition of the Offseason?
The Minnesota Vikings employed Brian Flores last season. His abilities as a defensive leader were apparent, but he was still dealing with a new group. Returning for a second season, it may be overlooked how much his impact could truly be.
Was Brian Flores the Acquisition of the Offseason?
The Vikings should have been expected to turn over a handful of positions this offseason. On the coaching front, it was somewhat shocking that a resurgent Brian Flores wasn’t a hotter commodity. Regardless, Minnesota stands to benefit by having his services for a second season, and that may be overlooked regarding the overall impact of their performance in the year ahead.
Plenty of uncertainty is tied to the quarterback position. Kirk Cousins is gone, and first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy is not expected to start out of the gate. That means Sam Darnold and his shaky track record will be put to the test. He could definitely work out in the best situation of his career, but banking on that will require some proof of concept.
There has never been a point in which a Brian Flores-led defense has struggled. Fox Sports’ Carmen Vitali suggests that a second year of the Vikings defensive coordinator could be a significant come-up for the Vikings.
“What people are really sleeping on, when it comes to Minnesota, is Brian Flores’ defense.”
If people are sleeping on Darnold or the offense, it’s even more real to suggest that overlooking the defense is a thing. It’s certainly a problem that the cornerback position leaves plenty to be desired. The edge rushers have been entirely turned over, and the linebacker group also has some new faces. The safety role isn’t getting young as Harrison Smith returns, and Lewis Cine will be gone before he contributes anything. Yes, those are the downsides.
The positives revolve around another year of Flores and being able to impart his development to the group as a whole. What the cornerbacks provide remains to be seen, and the bar isn’t high, but if they answer the call for Flores, then things could change. That remains true with multiple positions on the roster, and Flores should be given a year to let it play out.
The Vikings were expected to lose their defensive coordinator over the winter. That didn’t happen, and his return is definitely beneficial to the group as a whole. How his presence manifests itself in continued development remains to be seen. It could show up in a huge way, though.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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