Kevin O'Connell Discusses 4 Key Stats the Vikings Need to Improve After the Bye Week
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has outlined four key statistical areas that the team needs to improve after their bye week, stressing the importance of addressing these issues if the Vikings are to make a strong push for the playoffs. O'Connell, who has been focusing on fine-tuning the team’s performance during the break, believes that these areas are crucial for the Vikings' success in the second half of the season.
“Every team has areas they need to improve, and for us, these four stats are where we need to make the biggest strides,” O'Connell said in a recent interview. “We’ve been competitive, but we know that if we can clean up these numbers, we’ll be a much more well-rounded team.”
The four key stats O'Connell highlighted are:
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Turnover Differential: The Vikings have struggled with turnovers, and O'Connell emphasized the importance of protecting the ball while creating more takeaways on defense. “We’ve had some costly turnovers, and that’s something we need to clean up,” O'Connell explained. “We have the ball control, and we need to stay disciplined in our execution.”
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Third-Down Efficiency: The Vikings have been inconsistent on third downs, both offensively and defensively. Improving their ability to convert on offense and stop opponents on defense is crucial for maintaining possession and creating momentum. “We need to stay on the field offensively and get off the field defensively,” O'Connell said. “Third down is where games are often decided, and we need to execute better in those situations.”
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Red Zone Performance: While the Vikings have been able to move the ball effectively, their ability to capitalize on red zone opportunities has been hit-or-miss. O'Connell stressed the importance of finishing drives with touchdowns instead of settling for field goals. “In the red zone, we have to be more efficient and make sure we come away with six points every time,” he said.
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Run Defense: The Vikings have allowed too many yards on the ground, and improving their run defense is a priority. O'Connell noted that limiting big plays in the run game will be key to controlling the tempo of the game. “We’ve got to be better against the run,” he stated. “When we’re strong upfront, we’re able to dictate what happens on defense.”
As the Vikings prepare for the rest of the season, O'Connell is confident that with focused effort and adjustments, these areas can improve, helping the team become more balanced and successful.
Curtis Douglas casts big shadow as he seeks to protect Lightning stars
If there was one area the Lightning didn’t address this offseason, it was getting a legitimate NHL enforcer to protect their lineup of stars.
That’s not to say Tampa Bay isn’t a tough group; its players will line up to defend each other. But since the days of Pat Maroon, the Lightning haven’t had a guy to make opponents think twice before going after one of their players.
The Lightning were reminded of this fact last week in their final two preseason games against the Panthers. It was no coincidence that, two days after Saturday’s fight-filled exhibition finale, they claimed physical forward Curtis Douglas off waivers from Utah.
Douglas, at 6-feet-9, 242 pounds, is not only an imposing presence on the ice, he’s a well-known enforcer at the AHL level.
Still, this is an experiment. As the Lightning enter Thursday’s regular-season opener against Ottawa at Benchmark International Arena, Douglas’ next NHL game will be his first. He practiced with the team for the first time Wednesday at TGH Ice Plex.
“I’m just over the moon to be here,” Douglas said afterward. “... I’m living the dream, and I’m not looking to let it pass me by, to be honest with you. I’m just so excited for this opportunity.”
Where Douglas fits into the Lightning lineup remains to be seen. Wednesday, he skated on an imposing fourth line with Conor Geekie (6-feet-4) on one wing and Douglas sharing line rushes with Jack Finley (6-6) on the other.
“I’ve seen him on tape, the things he does and the physical attributes he has and ways he can influence games,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. “But until he’s right here, we don’t really know quite sure everything he has. But from all reports and what we’ve watched so far, it’s somebody we wanted to bring in here.
“It’s tough when you come in and the first time you meet the group is the day before a game. So, I think his head’s spinning a little bit. But for us, that’s our job, to make him feel comfortable. Like I told him, nobody’s being judged on the first practice, or the first game.
“He’s gonna have time to fit in,” Cooper continued. “... We can judge what’s going on and then help him along. But I don’t read anything into the practice (Wednesday) or whether he plays (Thursday) or whatever it is. This is, hopefully, a long-term thing.”
Douglas was one of Utah’s final cuts, and in the preseason he showed some incredible reach and some heavy right hands during fights with Anaheim’s Noah Warren (6-4, 215) and Colorado’s Keaton Middleton (6-6, 240). Now, he’s suddenly having to make an impression on a new organization.
“I think the biggest part is just not taking shifts off and not letting anyone off the hook in games and things like that, and just making sure that I’m physical every time I’m out there,” Douglas said. “I’ll fight when I need to. And other than just giving 110% every day, I think the rest will take care of itself.
“Obviously, being a good teammate and making sure that the guys know that I’m there for them if anything goes down or if anything happens on the ice, that I’m there. ... I think that’s where I’ll start, hopefully, and just imposing my will from the first second I touch the ice.”
Douglas’ past few days were a whirlwind. He was driving from Utah to Tucson, where he planned to report to the Mammoth’s AHL team, when he received a call telling him he was headed to the Lightning. He drove to the Las Vegas airport, where he left his car, and flew to Tampa.
“I was packed for, like, three days,” Douglas said. “So I took that bag, and then I grabbed some shoes and obviously my hockey gear, and then left everything else. Hopefully it’ll be here at some point or another. ... I ran into my car, packed all that I could grab and then went to the mall (Tuesday) and grabbed the essentials, some underwear, some some socks, and here we are.”
When he arrived, Douglas saw a familiar face in Geekie. The two played together in the Arizona/Utah system. Douglas also played with Lightning forward Pontus Holmberg, who centered that imposing fourth line in Wednesday’s practice, with Toronto’s AHL team, the Marlies.
“He’s obviously giant,” Geekie said. “He makes me feel small. And I wouldn’t say I’m the smallest of the bunch, but I think people overlook what he does. He’s obviously super big, and it’s a pro and a con sometimes. Maybe you have a harder time doing certain things, but he just manages it so well.
“He’s got the skill, he can shoot, he can stick-handle. It’s not like he’s just a one-way type of player. So I think he’s a great addition. And, like I said, he’s obviously a giant. So, that’s a plus.”
While fighting is certainly a big part of Douglas’ game — he said he fought 8-10 times a year over the past four seasons in the AHL — he is eager to show he can do more than serve as an enforcer. He had 13 goals and 34 points in his first full pro season with the Marlies and last season had 10 goals and 23 points in 63 games with Tucson.
To stick in the NHL, he knows he’ll have to show he can do more than trade punches.
“Fighting isn’t the only aspect of my game, but it’s definitely a part of it,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. I’m not guaranteeing anything, but it’ll probably happen at some point, and hopefully the guys will get to see what I’m about there.”
