Niner defensive backs, especially, were all over the Minnesota wide receivers. In 1v1, 7v7 or 11v11, it didn’t matter. Every single video that came out of those joint practices featured SF defensive backs either falling over or grabbing MIN wide receivers. Sometimes, both.

Justin Jefferson inflicts more pain in 49ers CB Ken Crawley #Skol @PFF pic.twitter.com/alVrF1fyBV

— Rick Sosa (@sosarick) August 17, 2022

KOC Asks DeMeco Ryans to Call Off His Dogs

And according to Ben Leber (former Vikings linebacker and current sideline reporter), Kevin O’Connell wasn’t happy about the Niners’ exaggerated aggressiveness. So much so, he told their defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans, to tone it down. This, Leber worried on KFAN’s Power Trip Morning show (Monday), may have been a sign of weakness out of the Vikings’ rookie head coach (07:45 mark – transcribed below).

“There was a time where O’Connell went over to DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator for the Niners, and basically had to have a conversation with him about how aggressive the 49ers defense played in one of the practices. That, to me, was a little bit shocking. Because I don’t think you ever have to go over to another coach and say, ‘I think your guys are playing too hard’.” – Ben Leber on Power Trip Morning Show (KFAN)

Leber was so put off when he heard about O’Connell’s request for less aggressiveness, that he dug into this Vikings sources to find out more. Why would KOC make such a move. What Leber was told by Vikings officials, made him feel a bit better.

Post-Whistle Aggressiveness

Apparently, it was aggressiveness AFTER the whistle that was bugging the new Minnesota Vikings head coach. At least, that’s what Leber was told. Still, Ben wasn’t done with O’Connell’s handling of the Niners’ over-aggressiveness.

“The clarification I got was, it was not so much during the play, it was the things that were happening afterward. DeMeco coaches his guys to go after the football at all times. I heard there was a frustration from the offense because the guys would execute the play, the whistle would be blown, and then one or two defensive players would come over and try to punch the ball out. A little extra pushing and shoving afterward. It made me feel a little bit better.”– Ben Leber on Power Trip Morning Show (KFAN)

Oh, well contact after the whistle is different, right? Maybe, but not enough to satisfy a still-flummoxed Ben Leber, who quickly turned his gaze back to KOC. He even went deep into how O’Connell could’ve better handled the Niners’ fighting spirit. Ben makes some great points during his rant, too.

Leber’s Coaching Lessons for KOC

When games start to matter, good defenders are going to try rattling the Vikings’ offensive players. They will punch at the ball and, oftentimes, get away with extracurricular activities both before and after the whistle. If that’s the energy brought on by the Niners last week, KOC should have used it as a chance for his team to grow. Instead, he gave off an impression of weakness. And a former NFL defender immediately picked that up. How do you think current defenders will see it?

But at the same time, I still don’t think that you have to go over to the [opposing] coach and be like, ‘Hey, your guys are being to rough with our offensive players‘. It shouldn’t take you very long to realize that that’s the way they’re coached. If you got a bunch of defensive backs punching at the ball and going after it, you bring your guys back and say, ‘you see what those [DBs] are doing? You’re going to get that in a football game. You’re going to get that in a real game. These guys are coming to work on their trade, which is to get the ball out and create turnovers. We need that.’ So, accept the challenge. Don’t go up to the defensive coordinator, at the end of practice, and be like ‘your guys are too aggressive’.”– Ben Leber on Power Trip Morning Show (KFAN)

O’Connell made it clear to Minnesota Vikings players that fights would not be tolerated during joint practices with the San Francisco 49ers. But that was a message reportedly echoed by the Niners, to their players, too. Yet, they still brought that fire. A fire the rookie Vikings coach wasn’t willing to match.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The candidate pool has apparently been whittled down to four finalists and the Vikings head coach search committee is in Los Angeles today, to conduct three of four final interviews. Here are the four remaining candidates and the latest steam behind their possible hire.

Jim Harbaugh – University of Michigan Head Coach

Jim Harbaugh is, by far, the most intriguing candidate remaining on the list of possibilities. Not only did he coach the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl birth during his first stint in the NFL, but Harbaugh’s one of the most polarizing coaches in all of football, no matter the level.

There’s no doubt that Harbaugh is serious about returning to the NFL. It’s been reported by multiple league insiders and those who cover the Michigan Wolverines at the college level. If he doesn’t get the Minnesota job, there are new rumors linking him to the Dolphins open position. So if the Vikings want him, they can probably get him.

Jim Harbaugh conveyed legitimate interest in the Vikings' head-coaching job during his interview with the team, per source, with Minnesota coming away feeling Harbaugh is ready for a return to the NFL. As of now, he's still considered in the mix for that job.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 31, 2022

Everyone I’ve spoken to in Michigan circles believes Jim Harbaugh’s interest in the Vikings is genuine and that he will formally interview as indicated in multiple reports. Where Michigan’s headman is in Minnesota’s pecking order heading into this week’s process is the real question.

Sam Webb – “The Michigan Insider” (247Sports)

Kevin O’Connell – LA Rams Offensive Coordinator

If I had to lay money down on one candidate to be the next Minnesota Vikings head coach, I’d place my bets on Kevin O’Connell. He’s the first finalist to get a second interview and the only coordinator remaining on the list who coaches on the offensive side of the ball. He’s consistently had the most steam behind his name since the beginning of this process, as well.

O’Connell doesn’t call plays for the Rams but he’s widely seen as one of the brightest young offensive minds in the league. After nearly a decade with defensive-minded Mike Zimmer, a shift to an offensive focus seems natural. I’m not the only one who thinks O’Connell is the favorite.

pic.twitter.com/z0SpfiWaEu

— Skol Vikes (@SkolBros) January 31, 2022

Raheem Morris – LA Rams Defensive Coordinator

Raheem Morris was a late add to the list of second interviews today. In fact, Sports Illustrated released an article this morning naming just three finalists. They had to update it to include Morris, after it was posted. That doesn’t mean Morris is out of the running or won’t get the job but it is worth noting since the Vikings were already in route to Los Angeles to interview O’Connell (who works in the same building).

Interviews with Morris and Ryans will satisfy the NFL’s “Rooney Rule“, which mandates teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for any open head coach position. O’Connell and Morris are the only two candidates who will coach in the Super Bowl two weeks from yesterday. Still, the Vikings could have a verbal agreement in place before and make it official after a 2021-22 NFL champion is named.

The #Vikings’ coaching search committee is en route to Southern California right now, where interviews with Kevin O’Connell and Raheem Morris should occur first. DeMeco Ryans is also slated for a second interview.

— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) January 31, 2022

DeMeco Ryans – San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator

DeMeco Ryans is the last candidate remaining for this blog. I’d place him as the 3rd most-likely to get the Minnesota Vikings head coaching job. His 49ers were eliminated from Super Bowl contention on Sunday night when they lost to the LA Rams. That would make his hire a bit easier from a procedural standpoint. Not that the Vikings would make a decision based on that.

New general manager Adofo-Mensah has worked most recently with Ryans (2017-19). They were together during his final years in San Francisco. Recency bias is something to keep in mind, given Kwesi hasn’t worked with the other candidates since prior to 2015.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan