The Minnesota Vikings kept most of last year’s defensive contributors in the building, while adding impact players like Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. However, they will elevate Theo Jackson this season because they lost Camryn Bynum in free agency.
“It wasn’t easy to let go of Beezy,” Brian Flores said after practice on Tuesday. “He was obviously a critical piece. But we also felt confident that Theo could step into that role and play at a good clip, and he’s shown that so far.”
The Vikings lost an impact safety and their chief dance coordinator.
Vikings safety Cam Bynum sits down to talk about his viral dances – from the Parent Trap to Usher to White Chicks…. There’s a lot that goes into it!
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Minnesota’s defensive players connected off the field by building dance routines after practices. They built chemistry while anticipating how they’d celebrate turnovers. As a result, they learned how to communicate effectively and play off one another in Flores’ fluid defense.
“Last year, they came up with dances to build that rapport,” said Flores. “Who knows what that will be this year, but that energy, that vibe, is something we talk about.
“I tell them, it’s not gonna come from me. That’s not me. I’m gonna always be thinking about the next play. But my joy comes from watching them have excitement, have fun on the field.”
That’s fitting for Flores, the stoic coordinator who runs a bespoke defense designed around the players. He wants them to take ownership of Minnesota’s defense to maximize their strengths.
Flores is the ghost in the machine, designing the defense and operating it from the sidelines. Still, he wants the players’ input because they see everything from the field level. He encourages them to offer tweaks during meetings and studies tape late into the night to find ways to get the most out of each player.
The results speak for themselves. Justin Jefferson, Kevin O’Connell, and the rest of the offense command the most attention. However, the defense drove winning for the Vikings last year. Minnesota’s defense finished second in defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), while the offense ranked 18th.
Flores’ unique defense, which he developed while working under Bill Belichick, brings out the best in undervalued players.
The Miami Dolphins drafted Andrew Van Ginkel in the fifth round when Flores was coaching in South Florida. Flores vouched for Van Ginkel in free agency last year, and the soft-spoken Iowan became a Pro-Bowler for the first time in his sixth NFL season. He recently signed a one-year, $23 million extension.
ANDREW VAN GINKEL PICK-6!
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Byron Murphy Jr. grew up in Phoenix, and the Arizona Cardinals took him in the second round of the 2019 draft. However, they didn’t extend him after his rookie contract because of injury concerns. Still, the Vikings signed him two years ago, and he made his first Pro Bowl last season. He signed a two-year, $66 million extension in the offseason.
Minnesota’s previous regime drafted Josh Metellus in the sixth round of the 2020 draft, and Flores turned him into a versatile defensive star. The only issue? It’s difficult to agree on a value for a positionless player because there’s almost no precedent to use as a template.
Metellus is at minicamp but isn’t participating to avoid risking injury. Still, he’s getting to know his new teammates while they build off Minnesota’s defensive foundation together.
“The best communicators have relationships that are built through conversation,” said Flores. “It’s not just on the field or in the meeting room or on a walkthrough. It’s in the locker room, it’s over dinner, it’s bowling. It’s those types of fellowship events where those relationships are built, and they show up on Sundays.”
Flores wants a defense where the players celebrate each other’s playmaking as much as their own. He and the staff highlight this in team meetings. He wants to build a defense where they celebrate while he thinks of the next play, and it starts with the bonds they are building this summer.