Brian Flores' Impact Being Felt at OTAs as Vikings Establish Defensive Identity

If OTAs are any indication, this is going to be an unpredictable, aggressive defense in 2023.

It's only May, but the impact of new Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is already being felt in the team's first practices.

Although it's still early in the install process, it was clear on Tuesday at OTA No. 2 that this defense is going to look much different, systematically, from last year's Ed Donatell-led unit. Linebackers and defensive backs were moving all over the place, showing a variety of different looks to the offense — many of them involving pressure — during a brief 11-on-11 period.

Right away, the complexity and intensity of the defensive approach this week caught the eye of several offensive starters.

"It's crazy," left tackle Christian Darrisaw said. "We're only on Day 2 of OTAs and Flo's already bringing looks that you'd think we'd be getting on Day 15."

"It's intense," running back Alexander Mattison said. "Mentally, from the backfield, looking at the defensive front, those (linebackers) and the way they're moving around, the way they're lining up, out the gate it's very intense."

"Exotic," wide receiver K.J. Osborn said. "They're exotic. Lots of coverages, a lot of movement from the fronts. Disguising defenses, different leverages, man, zone, all different types of things."

Last season, the Vikings finished 31st in total defense and tied for 28th in scoring defense as they mostly sat back in soft zone looks. Flores, one of the most respected defensive minds in the league, was hired to change the mentality and bring an attacking philosophy to that side of the ball. A former longtime Patriots assistant under Bill Belichick, Flores spent three years as the Dolphins' head coach and turned them into one of the NFL's most productive, blitz-heavy defenses.

"We're installing an aggressive style of defense," Flores said. "Identity is a big part of it as well. Building an identity is a big part of playing defense in this league. Every time we step on the practice field, what is our identity? What do we want it to look like?"

There's an added benefit to that, too. Not only will Flores' scheme help get more out of the Vikings' young defense this season, the offense will benefit from seeing those looks in practice every day and figuring out ways to beat them.

"It's only going to help us get better," Darrisaw said. "Those looks, we weren't seeing those last year and we'd kind of get to games and teams would run that certain defense, and we'd be negatively affected. Now we're getting to practice against it every day. It's just not one certain 4-3, 3-4, he brings it all."

"I love to see it," Mattison said. "For other teams, it's going to be a problem. For us, it's going to make us a lot better on offense."

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