Update Clarifies that RT1 Brian O’Neill Now Boasts a Unique Gig for Vikings
Vikings RT1 Brian O’Neill has proven to be a fantastic player on the field. He might be even better off of it.
Go ahead and listen to Kevin O’Connell discuss the blocker along the right side. Or, perhaps, check out how Keith Carter discusses the large lad. In a chat with the VEN’s Tatum Everett, Coach Carter ventured into a variety of topics across the roughly 10-minute conversation. Getting the chance to discuss Mr. O’Neill led to no shortage of praise.
RT1 Brian O’Neill is the Coach Translator
A major part of O’Neill’s value rests in his capacity to untangle what the coach is teaching.
Carter insists that O’Neill is “another coach in the room,” a compliment that points toward the OT’s capacity to transcend the normal responsibilities of a lineman. He can do his job on the field while doing plenty of work off the field, as well, to coach up his teammates. “He has a way to take stuff that we say,” Carter explained, “and put it into a player’s words that they’re going to understand.”
Another key part of the mix is Brian O’Neill’s ability to tell the coaches to slowdown when teaching new things. Anyone who has coached youth football understands what it’s like to explain an idea in seemingly clear terms only to later realize that the players didn’t understand. Apparently, that issue can extend all the way to being a pro.
Carter offered more thoughts: “He makes sure we get those coaching points in. And then there’s a level of trust with him. You’re not worried about teaching B.O. the details of the game plan.” No doubt, that’s some great praise from the OL coach.
O’Neill got chosen at No. 62 in the 2018 NFL Draft. The early word was that he was super athletic but needed time to marinate before getting tossed onto the grill. But while those plans appeared wise, the Vikings quickly had to throw the rookie into the fire due to injury. At no point did he appear to be in over his head.
Indeed, Brian O’Neill has been a fantastic football player since jumping into the starting lineup. Last year, O’Neill earned an 81.6 PFF grade, good for 12th overall among the 84 offensive tackles under consideration. He allowed a pair of sacks alongside 1 QB hit and 21 pressures.
Recent seasons have involved that sort of assessment: being the 16th best in 2024, 24th best in 2023, 8th best in 2022, and so on.
But then consider that the PFF assessment — or something such as ESPN’s pass-block and run-block win rates — only corrals the on-field component. What Keith Carter is speaking to is the value that gets added with O’Neill being a coach who wears shoulder pads.
Lately, a lot of the focus has been on the unsigned Brian O’Neill extension. Over the Cap clarifies that offensive tackle carries a $23,115,657 cap charge. Extending him could involve clearing $14.16 million.
Sounds good, right?
Clearly, there’s some issue with arriving at a sort of unhappy medium. The best deals are the ones where both sides walk away feeling a touch uncomfortable but (mostly) satisfied. Think, for instance, a deal that possibly gives the team a way out after a couple seasons while the player squeezes the franchise for a headline-grabbing number.
New GM Nolan Teasley has been in the Twin Cities for a short time. Still, he shouldn’t struggle to understand how important O’Neill is to the Vikings. The possibility exists that he’ll look to Ryan Van Demark and/or Caleb Tiernan as the long-term solution, but that would be a bold move that appears to contradict what the coaching staff has been saying for a long time.
Brian O’Neill, 30, stands at 6’7″ and is listed as being 310 pounds. The team captain has always been a rugged, athletic guy. Further proving his value by adopting the responsibilities of a pseudo coach enhances his shot at finishing his career as a Viking via extension.
The Minnesota Vikings welcome veterans to training camp on Tuesday, July 28th.
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