ESPN Insider Predicts Vikings DC Brian Flores will be Head Coach
Despite an active lawsuit against the NFL alleging discrimination based on race, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is taking interviews to be a head coach again.
Brian Flores taking head coaching interviews
Three teams reportedly have Flores on their radar, with interviews taking place now that the Vikings have been eliminated from the playoffs. Flores struggled to get pressure on Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford in the NFL Wild Card game. But he turned one of the NFL’s worst defenses into one of the best in just two seasons.
You could argue Brian Flores did the most with the least amongst coordinators in the league the past two seasons. He turned undrafted free agents into everyday starters for the Vikings.
| # | Team | Points Allowed Avg. | Playoff Avg. | Total TD Allowed | Playoff TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chargers | 17.7 | 32.0 | 31 | 3 |
| 2 | Eagles | 17.8 | 10.0 | 33 | 1 |
| 3 | Broncos | 18.3 | 31.0 | 32 | 3 |
| 4 | Chiefs | 19.2 | – | 37 | – |
| 5 | Vikings | 19.5 | 27.0 | 37 | 3 |
Minnesota Vikings defense ranks atop the NFL
The Vikings were the second-best rush defense in the NFL this season. They were the fifth-best scoring defense. They finished tied with Pittsburgh, Flores’ former team, in turnovers forced. But Pittsburgh spent more on defensive players than any other team, according to Spotrac.
Related: Emotional Harrison Smith Not Ready to Face Questions on His Future
The Vikings were also the fourth-best third-down defense and tied for fourth with 49 sacks. This is despite the Vikings allocating just 28.7 percent of their salary cap to the defensive side of the ball, ranking 19th in the league.
Flores to flip to familiar foe?
One ESPN insider, Dan Graziano, predicts the Vikings will lose their defensive coordinator to a division foe – the Chicago Bears.
Flores and Bears GM Ryan Poles both went to Boston College, so there’s a connection there.
–Dan Graziano, ESPN (subscription required)
What kind of impact will losing Brian Flores have on the much-improved defense of the Minnesota Vikings? It could be massive, as Flores’ scheme is the most creative in the league. It won’t be replicated by whoever replaces him, requiring the Vikings to spend more on the defensive side of the ball, particularly at cornerback.
The interior offensive line is something head coach Kevin O’Connell wants addressed this offseason. With top corner Byron Murphy becoming a free agent and safety Harrison Smith flirting with retirement, there are lots of holes to fill on defense, too.
It’s been rumored that O’Connell could be traded to fill some of those holes or acquire draft capital. So we discussed it on the latest Minnesota Foul Play-by-play podcast broadcasted live from the hot tub.
We concluded that trading Kevin O’Connell in order to keep Brian Flores would only be fruitful if the return was a top-notch guard or cornerback. Accumulating draft picks doesn’t suit a team with such a poor draft history under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Unfortunately, no NFL teams in need of a head coach have a top-notch guard or cornerback to trade unless you want to acquire 34-year-old Zack Martin from Dallas. So it seems Brian Flores will have to be replaced. And Kevin O’Connell will have to change his play-calling approach for J.J. McCarthy.
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