Daniel Jones spent part of the 2024 season in the Minnesota Vikings’ building, and Brian Flores is planning for that. Asked on Tuesday how much of his defense the Indianapolis Colts quarterback saw while he was in Minnesota, the Vikings’ defensive coordinator said the experience was “nothing but positive,” and then explained what it means for this week’s plan.
“He’s got a little bit more insight than some other guys as far as some of the things we do,” Flores said. “So we kind of take that into account as we start the game plan. Well, he’s seen this, this, this and this. And so we may have to add a few wrinkles or change a few calls that he may be privy to that some other guys aren’t.”
The 5-0 Vikings come out of their bye to host the 2-4 Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, October 25, at 1:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. Cairo). Indianapolis fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday, a day after a 26-20 home loss to Tennessee in which Jones was sacked six times.
Flores praised Jones as a player and a person. “When he was here he was fantastic,” he said. “Accuracy, mobility, acumen. I think he’s displayed all those things over the course of his career. He’s done that this year, he did it a year ago.” He said Jones’ ability “to just battle back from the injury a year ago and be out there playing still at a high level” speaks to “the type of competitor he is.” He added: “Lots of respect for him. He’s great. I’m sure he’ll be ready to go on Sunday.”
“He’s in that class”
The bigger problem on the ground is Jonathan Taylor. “Just his explosive speed, that’s really what stands out,” Flores said. “I think he’s in that upper echelon of backs, with your Bijan Robinsons and your Saquons and Jahmyr Gibbs. He’s in that class, and he’s a tough one. He can essentially take over a game in the run.”
He said the Colts will try to run the ball every week “simply because he’s one of their best players, as they should,” and that the answer has to come from all 11 players. “This is one of those games, the first coaching point is everybody’s at the point of attack,” he said. “So we need everybody to tackle, and tackle well, corner, safeties, D-line. Got to do a great job getting off blocks, got to do a great job with our communication.” Asked about Colts guard Quenton Nelson, he called him “a phenomenal player.”
Bye-week self-scout
Flores opened by congratulating defensive tackle Byron Murphy Jr. on his player of the week award and said the bye was a chance to look inward. “I think the bye week’s a good time for reflection and self-scout, and we’ve certainly done that, and while we’ve done a lot of good things, I think there’s certainly some things we can improve on,” he said.
He said linebackers Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson are “in that hub of communication in the middle of the defense,” and that both have versatility as pass rushers and in coverage. He wants to get younger players such as Ivan Pace Jr. and rookie Jake Golday more snaps, but the defense has not been on the field long enough. “The snap counts have been low the last couple weeks, which is good, no complaints from here,” he said. “We’ll try to get those guys in a little bit more.”
No comment on the lawsuit
Flores was also asked for his reaction to language in documents from his lawsuit that became public last week. He did not answer it. “This forum is about our players, not any personal situation for me, so I’ll just kind of leave it there,” he said. “I understand the question, respect it, but I use this time to talk about our players, our coaches, our team.”
He spoke at length about special teams coordinator Matt Daniels, saying the kicking game is “where young players learn the speed of the game.” Flores, who started his own career in the kicking game, said a young player who makes plays there gets the coaches asking, “How do we get him to make plays in our phase?”
Phillips: Mason in “really good shape”
Offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was asked about running back Jordan Mason returning to practice from injured reserve. Mason broke his thumb in Week 1. “We were really excited about Jordan throughout the offseason, training camp,” Phillips said. “He came in really good shape, running the ball as explosively as I’d seen him run. The sooner he’s ready to go and ready to get back to it, the better.”
Aaron Jones has carried the load in Mason’s absence, and Phillips said that will not change if Mason is not ready. “Aaron Jones will be ready to roll until the wheels fall off, so to speak,” he said. He also described Jones as a leader away from the field. “He reaches out to guys,” Phillips said. “He understands if people are having a hard time, just maybe it’s just in their personal life, and he reaches out to guys and spends time with them or gives them advice or lets them know he’s there for them.”
Asked how Kyler Murray has handled the under-center and play-action parts of the offense, Phillips said there was no resistance. “It was more like, hey, I want to do what your offense is,” he said. “He was very open right from the start.” He said the staff has also adjusted to Murray, and that the communication between the quarterback and play caller Kevin O’Connell “has just grown and grown as we’ve gone.”
Phillips also looked back on his own early days in Minnesota. “Going in new to a team, looking back, probably put too much early,” he said of the first install. “I know it was a lot on Kirk Cousins’ plate.” He said the staff has cut back a little since then, but still likes teaching a lot of concepts in the spring and training camp so that by game-plan week, “it’s not the first time they’ve heard this concept or this route or this scheme.”
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