Are the Minnesota Vikings getting everything they can out of Kevin O’Connell’s quarterback work, or is there a gap when it comes to the kind of film study that’s been getting attention in Chicago?
That’s the question Dave Stefano and Darren Campbell dig into on this week’s episode of Two Old Bloggers, the Minnesota Vikings podcast from Vikings 1st & SKOL. The discussion starts with the buzz around Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, then quickly turns into a bigger conversation about how much time elite coaches spend in the film room with their quarterbacks.
Williams recently said on the Pardon My Take podcast that he and Johnson spent one-and-a-half to two hours together every day during the season. That detail got Dave wondering whether the same kind of grind is happening in Minnesota.
“Is somebody in the organization sitting down there and spending that extra time with the quarterback?” he asks.
The comparison naturally brings O’Connell into focus, especially with J.J. McCarthy and now Kyler Murray in the picture.
Darren points out that “O’Connell’s big on empowerment and trust - and that trust paid off with Darnold in 2024.” The question hanging over the discussion is whether that approach is enough, or whether the Vikings should be doing even more.
From there, the episode widens out to the old standard-bearers for quarterback-coach partnerships. Belichick and Brady.
Payton and Brees. Both were known for marathon film sessions, and both ended up with Super Bowl rings.
The show also spends time on the rumor that’s making the rounds about Jordan Addison. NFL insider Jason La Canfora floated the idea of a trade to the Baltimore Ravens, and Darren says it’s speculation, but not a wild one. He weighs Addison’s drops, his off-field arrests, and his contract status against the fact that “his poor stats were largely driven by poor quarterback play.”
Addison’s 2025 season is part of that debate too: 44 catches, 610 yards, seven drops, and a 14.3% drop rate. Darren also notes that Addison was arrested in Tampa in March 2026, the charges were later dropped, but “it still counts.”
The episode closes with three more Vikings items under the “This Week in Vikingsland” banner. Nolan Teasley’s front office rebuild is now complete, with Ryan Pace in as advisor, Trent Kirschner and Andrew Healy as co-AGMs, and Tyler Hamblin as Director of Football Strategy.
Ryan Grigson has left the Vikings and joined Cleveland. Mac Jones remains a name to watch for 2027 if the quarterback situation is still unsettled.
And Darren makes a bold call on T.J. Hockenson, forecasting a bounce-back with more touchdowns, more explosive plays, and a better yards-per-catch average thanks to improved quarterback play and Kyler Murray’s history of targeting his tight end.
In Other News...
Vikings QB1 Battle Just Took A Turn Fans Will Notice
The Vikings quarterback competition is shaping up to be one of the clearest camp battles on the roster, with Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy set to spend the summer fighting for the top job. Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer says Minnesota is not expected to let contract math or past investment tip the scales, which is a notable shift in how these things can sometimes play out around the league.
J.J. McCarthy brings the weight of being a major draft pick, while Murray arrives with the kind of established pedigree that can make a depth chart conversation more complicated than it looks on paper. The message out of Minnesota, though, is straightforward: the Vikings want the best quarterback to win, and they appear willing to make that decision without worrying about what it cost to get either one. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin OConnell Faces The Vikings Decision That Could Ruin 2026
The Vikings are heading toward another defining call at quarterback, and it comes with a roster good enough to make the choice matter even more. Kevin OConnell has Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at his disposal, which means the passing game should have plenty of firepower, but the rest of the offense still looks fragile with questions at running back and along an offensive line that cannot afford many more health setbacks.
Brian Flores remains one of the more respected defensive coordinators in the league, yet the front in front of him is still a work in progress. Minnesota is asking a lot of a line that has to prove itself and a rookie like Caleb Banks to stay on the field, and the way OConnell handles the quarterback situation could end up shaping whether the Vikings are built for a real run in 2026 or headed for another reset. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Suddenly Have A Rare Chance To Fix Their Running Game
Minnesotas ground game was good enough to keep defenses honest last season, but it never quite became the kind of reliable week-to-week weapon that changes how an offense is defended. The Vikings finished 23rd in rushing yards per game, then showed some efficiency by landing 11th in yards per carry, which is exactly why the conversation around the backfield has kept hanging around even with Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones in place.
One reason the discussion has sharpened is that the team may have a real window to upgrade if it wants to push for more on offense. The article lays out a scenario in which Minnesota could pursue a star-caliber back if the roster situation breaks the right way, while also leaving room for an internal answer to emerge if the front office decides to stay put and let the depth chart sort itself out. [Read more 🡒]