Questions Answered: Garrett Bradbury, KOC Back to Basics, Donatell and the Future
Dustin Baker
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Questions Answered: Garrett Bradbury, KOC Back to Basics, Donatell and the Future
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the December 13th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: Do you think Garrett Bradbury will be back against the Colts on Saturday?
A: No, we do not. We believe Bradbury will miss at least one more game, paving the way for Austin Schlottmann to start versus Indianapolis.
Bradbury is having difficulty walking with the back injury, and that’s obviously not a good football player — or anyone.
However, we do think Christian Darrisaw and Harrison Smith are trending toward a return this weekend, so it’s not all bad news.
Q: Will Kevin O’Connell get “back to basics” after the cute miscues in Detroit?
A: There isn’t much to fix in terms of his coaching style. He’s 10-3 inside his first season, and that cannot be labeled as bad.
We took issue with his onside kick but fully supported his “trick playcall” for Dalvin Cook and his decision to go for two points after the Adam Thielen touchdown. The onside kick was dumb, and the other two controversial decisions were analytics-focused and hence bore method to their madness.
So, perhaps O’Connell will change his onside-kick philosophy? That would be swell.
Listen, it was a game where a rookie coach wasn’t at his best. He’ll improve.
Q: Will Ed Donatell be fired in December, after the regular season, or not at all?
A: Ed Donatell won’t be fired before the end of the season. We’re 15 weeks into this thing.
If there is any change at defensive coordinator, it will be decided when the season concludes for Minnesota. Real life isn’t a video game where a defense can be installed on an XBOX controller.
Donatell’s 2023 employment depends on how he responds to Kevin O’Connell’s requested adjustments. The Vikings head coach seemed to realize that the defense in the last month has stunk and will probably ask Donatell to make some repairs (if he hasn’t already).
We shall see what those look like versus the Colts on Saturday.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).