The Vikings announced in a statement from head coach Kevin O’Connell today that the team “will be going in a different direction at defensive coordinator in 2023,” effecting the termination of this past season’s defensive play-caller, Ed Donatell. 
O’Connell’s first year at the helm in Minnesota was widely successful, resulting in both the team’s first 13-win season and first division championship since the 2017 NFL season. Despite the team success, the Vikings were limited throughout the year by a struggling defense, led by Donatell. The Vikings defensive unit tied for third worst in the league in points allowed and allowed the second most yards on defense in the NFL, trailing Detroit by only 62 yards. The group was perhaps saved at times by tying for eighth in the league in turnovers forced.
Donatell chose to join O’Connell’s staff over a lesser role with the Seahawks last offseason. Minnesota looked at a couple of would be first-time defensive coordinators before eventually settling on Donatell, counting on his vast experience on the defensive side of the ball to go along with O’Connell’s offensive expertise.
Donatell had 11 seasons under his belt as a defensive coordinator, the most recent three before this season taking place in Denver. During that period, the Broncos defense often posted stellar numbers, although much of this was credited to the head coach at the time, Vic Fangio, who called plays for the defense. Donatell’s play-calling duties this season were called into question amidst the unit’s struggles, but O’Connell put those calls to rest.
In his statement today, O’Connell asserted that the team “will immediately begin (their) search to fill” Donatell’s now empty role. The answer could simply be in-house as assistant head coach Mike Pettine has several years of experience as a coordinator. Pettine’s presence on staff during this year’s struggles might be hard to overlook, though.
O’Connell and company may stray away from their initial preference towards experience and contact Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver or Packers offensive consultant Aubrey Pleasant, both of whom were considered for the role last year. The team also looked last year into Seahawks defensive assistant Sean Desai, who has one season as a defensive coordinator under his belt.
Take a team of guys that have played 4-3 and switch them to a 3-4, what could go wrong?
Guy was allergic to adjustments and blitzing. I’m still not happy about the loss last weekend but at least it got them to move on from Donatell.
Take a team of old, slow and overpaid guys and make them competitive. And on your last day call a good plan and the young mobile QB scrambles 17 times.
I’d rather be a greeter at the thrift store than work for the Vikings. There’s a reason they’ve been a disappointment since 1976 or for all time.
Viking history of frozen tundra greatness is a myth. Packers and Bears played in the cold and have championships to show for it.
Vikings, like most everything Minnesota except a “women’s” basketball team, have thrown up good enough which isn’t worth a crap.
For Vikings fans Ed Donatell is in 2023 what Bob Schnelker was in 1990; a scapegoat. Put all the blame on one person and hope that by replacing him all the team’s other problems will go away with him. The trouble is they probably won’t. That defense is aging and it caught up with them this year.
I’m not saying the DC deserves none of the blame, just that the team’s issues that arose last Sunday and at times during the regular season, run deeper than one person.
Aging defensive players have nothing to do with repeated soft zone coverage and lack of blitzing
generally speaking it would as you need soft zone because your aging players can’t do man like they used to and thus can’t blitz as much. there may be a few players who you have to scheme to hide but can’t replace because they are better than practice squad.
Or having to do with always checking down and throwing short passes on 3rd/4th and long. OR going away from the best receiver in the 3rd/4th quarter.
It does when those aging players are no longer capable of the athleticism required to call effective blitzes or capable of adequate man coverage. This shouldn’t be so hard for MN fans to comprehend, but your derangement or ignorance are clouding your judgement, I can’t tell which it is.
What exactly is a “women’s” basketball team?
You sound 1000 years old.
I’m 1,001. “Women’s” would identify WNBA which is made up of rainbow followers and don’t fit the profile of traditional women.
Get off my lawn and conform, old man.
I hope the Vikings hire Jim Leonhard for DC
He bring with him a super cool fountain of youth that will make aging, incapable players young and athletic again?
I was wondering what took so long to do this. I was wondering if we weren’t going to hold onto to him because we weren’t the 32nd-worst defense in the league.
Josh Boyer could be a decent fit in Minnesota. He’s coached in New England and Miami.