Cory's Corner: Time To Stop The Brian Flores Train
The Vikings defensive coordinator has been the NFL's scariest weapon so far this season.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has become the toast of the NFL so far this season.
In his second season as Minnesota’s defensive guru, he has made Daniel Jones, Brock Purdy and C.J. Stroud melt as the Vikings cruised to a 3-0 start. Minnesota is second in the league in points allowed and 13th in yards given up so far in this young season.
“I try to give the players the autonomy and the freedom to make those calls when they happen or else there’s no way,” Flores told the Minnesota Star Tribune. “I don’t have a crystal ball. They have the freedom to check it, to not check it.”
That’s the secret sauce of why Flores’ system works so well. He allows his players to just play. He doesn’t overthink and bog his system down with unnecessary information.
Does that remind you of anyone? Packers coach Matt LaFleur is very open to new ideas and gives free rein to the players — especially now that quarterback Jordan Love is one of the highest-paid players in the league.
The Vikings lead the league with 16 sacks and 20 hurries. They are also second in the league with a 34 percent pressure percentage. They are also second in the league in blitz percentage with 39 percent.
“He does a good job of teaching everybody everybody else’s position,” Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel told Sports Illustrated. “People are lined up all over the place so if you get a grasp of that you can play faster. There’s challenges to it because every week it can be a little different. There’s a lot of tweaks and techniques that can change so you have to have an adapt mentality. Every day it’s changing and it can change on gameday on a drive or a series.”
Think about how often LaFleur uses different personnel, presnap motion and play-action and bootlegs. He is constantly giving defenses different looks and forcing them to second guess and think twice.
Love is expected to play for the first time since the season opener in Brazil. He’s bound to be a little timid at first. So what does that mean for Flores? It means that he’s probably going to bring the kitchen sink early on. He’s going to want to gauge if Love is able to recognize pressure and then quickly pass the ball to the right receiver.
This is a get right game for Love, but he’s jumping into the deep end of the pool. It doesn’t get any tougher than facing a defensive coordinator that has the trust of everyone on that side of the ball.
The Packers offense vs. the Vikings defense is going to be an amazing chess match. If Love can quickly revert back to last year’s end-of-season form, the Packers will win this one.
If not, the Packers are going to be behind the sticks a lot and Love will need a miracle to convert third down and seven or more yards. That’s exactly what Flores’ recipe has been. He disguises his defense so well that the quarterback can’t see what’s coming.
A Packers win on Sunday isn’t just a victory for Green Bay. It’s a win for Love, who some people still aren’t sold on. Stopping the Flores Train is exactly what Love needs to get his season on track.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (24)
Boneman
September 28, 2024 at 07:47 am
Don't be surprised if the Pack comes out and railroads the Vikings. The game last year at US Bank Stadium was indicative of how we handle their exotic pressures and odd looks. Aaron Jones rushed for 120 yards while Love threw for 3 TD's. The Pack will attack with their runners and pick spots on early downs for Love to get the ball to his playmakers on quick hitters. The Vikings defense is a lot of smoke and mirrors and the Packers have the experience against them to successfully deal with what they do. Packers coming out party for 2024 and Vikings reality check. They are who we think they are! Pack 34-17.
Oppy
September 28, 2024 at 08:11 am
One big difference in how the Packers must handle the vikings' exotic pressures is we won't have Aaron Jones in the backfield to help pick up the blitz.
Do not underestimate the impact of Jones' absence from the Packers backfield in terms of pass pro. This is one area where Jacobs is not remotely comparable.
LambeauPlain
September 28, 2024 at 09:09 am
Fair point...however with Jones in the game last October, the Ugly Purple still had 4 sacks in taking down the Packers.
(This was also Cousin's last game for MN as he ruptured his achilles late in that game.)
Oppy
September 28, 2024 at 01:03 pm
4 Sacks with Jones on the field- don't know if he was kept in to protect or not on those sacks, but that underscores the point I'm making.
Jones is an excellent pass pro back, his ability to see the biltz and pick it up may be unrivaled at the RB position. Without him playing for the Packers in the backfield, the Vikings chances of getting home are greater.
Coldworld
September 28, 2024 at 05:16 pm
Oops, this was meant to be in reply to your down vote query.
I’m not one, but I think you maybe are being a bit too strong there. Jones is very good in protection, but Jacobs and, perhaps unexpectedly, Wilson have been pretty good so far. I’m not particularly concerned on that score.
Oppy
September 29, 2024 at 04:12 am
Jacobs completely blew at least two blitz pick ups last week.
Oppy
September 28, 2024 at 01:05 pm
Any down-voters care to express why?
Do you believe Jones wasn't a top-tier pass blocking back?
Do you think Jacobs / Wilson etc are just as good as Jones?
Do you just disapprove of anyone talking logically about the game as opposed to being a huge homer and pretending like the blitz pickup from the RB position is just as good as it ever was?
13TimeChamps
September 28, 2024 at 02:15 pm
My guess is they're coming from the silly "he's dead to me" crowd now that he's with the "enemy", so saying anything positive about him would be bordering on traitorous in their eyes.
Aaron Jones was/is one of the most complete running backs in the NFL, in no small part due to his pass pro abilities. Nothing wrong with acknowledging that, regardless of what uniform he's wearing.
jannesbjornson
September 28, 2024 at 09:16 am
More than half of Flores defensive players are new to the team and they are veterans. They understand how to read and react. I would get Watson and Reed matched on Gilmore and Murphy. Walker has to perform on the left side and keep Love clean.
mnbadger
September 28, 2024 at 09:47 am
I love your confidence Boneman, though I'm a little less confident.
Pack 30 - queens 24.
GPG!
LambeauPlain
September 28, 2024 at 07:49 am
This coaching matchup is most intriguing! In addition to HC LaFleur vs DC Flores, an even more interesting strategic and tactical contest may be HC McConnell vs DC Hafley.
The two are very good friends and have spent a lot of time discussing football strategy...since Hafley was the DB coach and McConnell was the QB coach for the Browns in 2015.
They were neighbors in Cleveland and their wives and kids were also good friends. Both left Cleveland after Mike Pettine was fired as HC and took similar roles for the 49ers. They have remained close friends and in contact since. Haf said he calls McConnell frequently (but not this week).
Like LaFluer, McConnell focuses on Offense and delegates the Defense to Flores.
Also interesting, is Flores was available, looking for work after being unceremoniously fired as HC of the always dysfunctional Dolphins after the 2021 season. Flores coached for the Steeler in 2022. Matt could have hired him in both '22 and '23 but decided to retain Barry for some reason.
How the chess game plays out will be fascinating on both sides. I do believe Hafley and McConnell know each other better than LaFleur vs Flores even though Matt has coached two games against Flores last year.
Two teams have to win every week in the NFL...The Pack and whoever is playing the Ugly Purple. Tomorrow is one of two weeks when it is the same team!
Go Pack Go!
dobber
September 28, 2024 at 08:05 am
"Also interesting, is Flores was available, looking for work after being unceremoniously fired as HC "
Remember, too, that at that point Flores had a lawsuit against the league and the Dolphins re: his dismissal and racial discrimination--which is a divisive issue among fans and owners. While I don't remember whether that's actually been resolved, suing owners and the league makes you a tough pill to swallow. The Vikings were willing to bite, and they're reaping good results. It's only a matter of time before someone gives Flores another shot as a HC.
LambeauPlain
September 28, 2024 at 08:48 am
Tiny pill to swallow as the Dolphins were disciplined for tampering violations of "unprecedented scope and severity," by the NFL.
Dolphins ownership was attempting to "incentivize" HC Flores to purposely lose games for higher draft choices. Flores refused and was fired. I believe the discrimination case continues after a judge refused to dismiss it.
The Steelers hired Flores after the Fins Fiasco and he had a successful year as their LB coach...then MN hired him as DC.
I would be very disappointed if the Packers, specifically LaFleur, shunned Flores as a DC candidate because of the Dolphins mess. I doubt that happened. LaFleur selects his assistants and his friendship with Barry overruled looking at ANY replacements in 2023.
I do like Barry's replacement so far this season!
Coldworld
September 28, 2024 at 10:39 am
LaFleur was too interested in keeping Barry and continuity at the time to be in the market. That proved a mistake but it is an explanation in my opinion.
mnbadger
September 28, 2024 at 09:56 am
thank you for sharing the relationship information about Hafley and mcdougal.
Not sure how it affects the game, but it's a reminder that coaches are people too.
6 degrees of separation for most of us, but more like one or two degrees for professional coaches riding that carousel.
Pack 30 - queens 24.
GPG!
pantz_bURp
September 28, 2024 at 08:29 am
It will be what it will be.
I like the Packs chances...I stayed up last night and painted a most beautiful "G" on my Pet Rock.
I also modified the bumper sticker on my 70 Chevy. It now reads:
"The Pack Will(is) Be Back" [if #2 starts]
Since I was a boy scout who technically never really earned a single merit badge (too busy hanging out with the gal scouts)...I covered all the bases. CrAnKiNg: Muscrat LOVE by Captain and Tennille as my big-boned fingers type. [if #10 starts]
Somewhere in my head, I presume I did my part. I believe I woke up with our dear Lord saying, "That'll do pig...that will do."
God, how lucky are we to be Packer Fans!?!
Pantz, and don't you know it! 👍😁👌
PackEyedOptimist
September 28, 2024 at 09:38 am
You crack me up, PB!
😃
NFLfan
September 28, 2024 at 09:20 am
I also agree that Love can test the Vikes's secondary.
barutanseijin
September 28, 2024 at 09:59 am
I watched the Purple vs Houston matchup. My takeaway was that unlike say the Steel Curtain or even more recent tough defenses in Seattle or in E Rutherford NJ, the Purple defense is more plays than players. As such, it can be cracked, as it has been in the past.
Coldworld
September 28, 2024 at 10:25 am
If you can’t establish the run against the Vikings, then Flores will Blitz and get you expecting one even when he in fact doesn’t. This far they haven’t faced a team that could and have mostly been well ahead due in significant part to errors by opponents. McCaffrey and Mixon didn’t suit up against them. While the Giant’s Singletary isn’t bad, his team is.
Some of that may be down to Flores’ system/calls, but not all. Sometimes things just work out for you. While we didn’t capitalize against the Eagles, the Vikings have. Their red zone conversion rate is really their most impressive yet under discussed achievement to date.
LambeauPlain
September 28, 2024 at 11:31 am
To start the his season as DC last year, blitzing was not just a steady diet for the Ugly Purple, it was a smorgasbord.
Flores decided he had holes on the D that could be exploited so he went blitz crazy. Pressure the QB! (sound familiar?)
His players bought in, loved it, and were successful from midseason on. But without Cousins the last half of the season, his D was on the field a lot...and the blitz began to be neutralized and exploited. Matt did it on last December.
His blitzing is more sophisticated now as they disguise it well. He will now show 6 on a pass play but send only 3 or 4 if the D sees max pass protection in pre snap. Hopefully Matt will counter with the IOC motion and screens.
4thand10
September 29, 2024 at 12:46 am
Oh, this makes sense now. Had McCafrey played…it would have been a big L as SF banks on good running and play action for setting up just about everything. And Mixon… So the Vikings haven’t faced a real running game yet.
Darnold will throw an INT for us, and maybe Jones will have one of his big game in opportune fumbles .Im not so sure Darnold will be able to escape the rush. He has never been a get-rid -of-the-ball quickly type QBs.
It’ll be interesting
CanPackFan
September 28, 2024 at 10:49 am
My concern is ring rust for Love. I'm not so sure we can expect him at his peak efficiency from last year? He barely played in the pre-season and has missed the last 2 games and a lot of practice. I'd like to think that running the ball early will set up the pass and give Love some early confidence? Lots of motion will make the Vikes wary of blitzing every other down? GPG
stockholder
September 28, 2024 at 12:41 pm
It's too early to start Love. Why-
The Vikings lead the league with 16 sacks and 20 hurries.
They are also second in the league with a 34 percent pressure percentage.
They are also second in the league in blitz percentage with 39 percent.
If Love can quickly revert back to last year’s end-of-season form.
(So your thinking is he didn't he Brazil? )
My thinking is Gute paid him too much to rush him back.
The problem isn't being Sold on Love.
The problem is not getting what you paid for.