Questions Answered: Life after Evero, Backup DC Plan, Irv Smith
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the February 5th 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.
Questions Answered: Life after Evero, Backup DC Plan, Irv Smith
Q: What’s the Vikings plan for defensive coordinator now that Ejiro Evero didn’t even get interviewed?
A: Well, they’ve interviewed two men still available during this coaching carousel — Brian Flores and Mike Pettine.
So, it’s down to those two as Ejiro Evero took the Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator job, which should be a good gig for him. The Vikings didn’t even get a chance to chat with Evero. Bummer.
It’s a two-horse race between Flores and Pettine — a race that is always expandable.
Q: Do the Vikings have a backup plan if Brian Flores or Mike Pettine don’t work out?
A: Keep an eye on Dennard Wilson, the Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator.
He hasn’t been poached yet and is obviously still coaching this season because the Eagles play the Chiefs next weekend.
Otherwise, Kevin O’Connell can always talk to other young positions coaches or literally anybody from the collegiate world. We hesitate to believe Mike Pettine would be “the guy,” as the Vikings probably would’ve hired him by now.
Watch Wilson and young coordinators from the 49ers, Browns, and Rams (places Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell used to work).
Q: Is there any chance at all that Irv Smith doesn’t leave the Vikings?
A: A young promising tight end like Smith will command about $9 or $10 million on the open market. Minnesota must invest those dollars in T.J. Hockenson’s next contract.
Smith will not be back. We’d be thoroughly astonished. Thoroughly.
The Alabama alumnus even seemed to say goodbye on Instagram after the Vikings season ended. He gone.
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 Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.