When Adversity Arrives
K. Joudry
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Since being hired, Kevin O’Connell has been very positive in his assessment of the Vikings.
During his recent press conference, O’Connell was upbeat with the media. He downplayed injuries for Ihmir Smith-Marsette, K.J. Osborn, and Za’Darius Smith. He spoke about how the team really needs to learn the new system while praising the players for doing so. There was emphasis on preparing this team for a long season.
One thing we haven’t yet seen, though, is adversity.
Injuries will occur; brutal calls from the refs will put the Vikings in a tough spot. Will Kevin O’Connell be able to keep his team focused and playing up their potential?
As a first-time head coach, O’Connell is navigating the various challenges of his position for the first time. It’s thus anyone’s guess how he’ll respond to the tough weeks, the times when seemingly everything goes against him. Mike Zimmer was outspoken about his desire to conquer adversity, to prove people wrong by overcoming less-than-ideal circumstances.
The NFL is incredibly competitive. Minnesota may do everything right and still fall short. In those moments, O’Connell will need to find a way to ensure his team stays focused and on track.
The new leadership group has been consistent throughout the offseason. We’ve heard a lot about prioritizing collaboration. There has been an emphasis on teaching in an effective manner. All of these things are good, and yet we need to see how this team performs when life becomes more difficult.
Kevin O’Connell is entering a really challenging year. After two consecutive subpar seasons, Vikings fans are looking for more from a talented roster. There is no such thing as a Super-Bowl-winning team that doesn’t overcome at least some adversity. To reach the ultimate goal, O’Connell will need to show that he’s capable of leading this team through these challenging patches.
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