How Josh Dobbs and Kevin O’Connell Pulled Off an Incredible Feat in Atlanta
“He won’t say it about himself, but Kevin O’Connell did one heck of a job during that game,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “A situation like that is not easy. Trying to get to the right plays but also dealing with all the different factors. And then talking with (Dobbs) in the huddle, any break we could get, while he’s at the line of scrimmage standing in the shotgun, talking to him about things … before that play clock hits 15 seconds and it cuts off. There’s just a lot to manage there and Kevin did an excellent job.”
Late in that game, the Vikings were essentially down to their fourth-string quarterback and playing without Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, K.J. Osborn, and Cam Akers. And they still got it done in crunch time.
“It’s one of those moments where you kind of earn your paycheck, so to speak,” Phillips said.
O’Connell continues to look like a home run hire for the Vikings late in the second full year of his tenure. He’s helped create a great culture in the organization, he’s a leader who players clearly respect, and his ability to devise effective game plans and call successful plays has been on full display all season. He also deserves some credit for moving on quickly from Ed Donatell this past offseason and hiring Brian Flores, who has been a revelation at defensive coordinator.
After Sunday’s game, O’Connell is tied for the seventh-best odds to be the coach of the year, according to BetOnline. If the Vikings win enough games with either Dobbs or Hall at quarterback to reach the postseason, he’ll deserve serious consideration for the award.
