Kevin O'Connell on Vikings' Personnel Versatility, Mattison-led RB Competition

The Vikings' running back competition behind Alexander Mattison is an interesting one.

The Vikings' offense is going to look a bit different in year two of the Kevin O'Connell era. Gone are No. 1 running back Dalvin Cook and No. 2 wide receiver Adam Thielen. In are a few pieces — most notably tight end Josh Oliver — that will allow O'Connell to be more versatile with his personnel groupings.

Last season, the Vikings were primarily an 11 personnel team with Justin Jefferson, Thielen, and K.J. Osborn all on the field at the same time. That figures to remain their primary grouping in 2023 (with rookie Jordan Addison replacing Thielen), but the Oliver addition early in free agency was a very notable one.

Expect more 12 personnel from this year's Vikings, with both T.J. Hockenson and Oliver on the field. That will, in theory, help out the running game because of Oliver's prowess as a blocker. Hockenson will be the primary receiving TE in that grouping, but Oliver can catch passes too. And if teams defenses bring in an extra linebacker to combat the run, that gives Jefferson and company an advantage in the passing game.

The Vikings also brought back fullback C.J. Ham in free agency, which only adds to their versatility. Between their receivers, tight ends, and backs, they have a variety of options for how they can attempt to create mismatches and attack defenses.

"I think anytime you have personnel versatility, it’s a way you can apply pressure," O'Connell said last week. "And what I mean by that is, how many different guys in different roles, in the run and pass game, can we apply pressure to the defense in different types of ways that you’ve gotta defend us? Meaning, there’s no rule that you can’t put three tight ends out there, there’s no rule that C.J. Ham can’t be aligned in the backfield one play and extended out in the formation on the next. There’s no rule when you’re really moving around a featured player like Justin or like T.J., K.J., Josh Oliver. 

"When you start throwing out these names, you really start saying to yourself, ‘OK, how are we being defended?’ Or more than likely, ‘What are the multiple ways we’re being defended?’ And then, what ultimately can we control as coaches, and me as a play caller, to consistently give our guys advantages within all 22 guys out on the field and how they’re deploying defenses, and how we’re deploying our guys. And then how does it all fit in with giving Kirk (Cousins) as many answers to the test as we possibly can, based upon how we want to activate the whole picture. A lot goes into it. It’s something that I spend a lot of time on."

The key for O'Connell and his fellow offensive coaches will be figuring out when to deploy which groups in order to stay ahead of the opposing defense each week. How well they do that will go a long way towards determining the success of the entire offense.

Competition at RB in post-Cook world

After releasing Cook, the Vikings' backfield is starting to take shape. Alexander Mattison will enter the season as the team's top RB for the first time since being drafted back in 2019, but don't expect him to be a true three-down workhorse. At least one other back will likely be featured prominently. Still, this is mainly Mattison's backfield for now.

"I feel really good about our running back room, and Alex Mattison is a huge reason why," O'Connell said. "I think he’s proven that he can (play), whether over the past few years when he’s stepped in there and handling a really good workload and producing, and also just in our short time together, his ability to handle the roles and responsibilities of that position in our offense. I feel great about where Alex is at. The next step in his career is obviously just a little bit more consistent opportunities, which obviously we hope to provide for him."

The top candidates for the No. 2 role are Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu. Chandler, a 2021 fifth-round pick, is someone to keep an eye on after he impressed in his rookie preseason. Then there's Nwangwu, the electrifying kick returner who took a fair number of reps with the first-team offense during mandatory minicamp.

Lurking in the shadows is rookie seventh-rounder DeWayne McBride, an intriguing prospect who missed a chunk of this offseason recovering from a hamstring injury.

"With Kene and Ty and obviously the rookie, we want to allow a real competition to take place," O'Connell said. "We feel that there’s talented guys behind Alex that can provide roles within our offense where maybe, depending on down and distance, depending on situation of the game, we can get some different guys in there — but all knowing that it’s about that complete group being able to do everything we ask of them every single snap, both in the run and the pass game."

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