Some believe in the genius that Kevin O’Connell supposedly brings to the 6-2 Minnesota Vikings offense as their play-caller. Those who pay any attention see what he brings to the locker room and to the organization as the team’s head coach.

But unlike the tree he comes from, not everyone sees the genius he brings to the attack as a game designer and play caller. That is more nuanced. How he gets receivers open, how he connects the top of a QBs drop to the route of a wide receiver or a tight end. These are the things that are harder for the human eye to see.

So… who would those more casual Vikings viewers – the fans who don’t binge “all-22” movies every week – turn to if they want to know if the hype surrounding KOC is real or not? Not as head coach and captain of the men, but as an attacking mind and player?

Sauce Gardner confirms: Kevin O’Connell is nice…

Well, what about those who dealt with him? But not just anyone… how about perhaps the best cornerback in the NFL? His name is Sauce Gardner and he plays for the New York Jets. In case you’ve had your head buried in the football quicksand the past two years, Gardner is a 24-year-old 2x All-Pro and 2022 unanimous Rookie of the Year.

Related: Latest Minnesota Vikings injury report: Many linebackers listed as questionable vs. Jaguars

The 2022 No. 3 overall pick appeared on Hall of Fame CB Richard Sherman’s podcast this week, where he was asked about the biggest challenge yet in his young career, now in its third season. That’s when Gardner dived head first into “that OC in Minnesota.”

“Their OC is nice. He’s probably one of the best OCs I’ve played against. As always”

High praise for that #Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell out #Jets Star CB Sauce Gardner.@RSherman_25 agrees: “He’s one of the best around.”

🎥 @RShermanPodcast pic.twitter.com/4L5GB3KDrg

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) November 9, 2024

“I try not to play that ‘what if’ game. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t do that sometimes. For example, I remember we were playing Minnesota and I was still a little hesitant because the OC is fun. Bro, he’s probably one of the best OCs I’ve ever played against, as always.

I’m watching film and I’m like, ‘bro, they have the exact same trunks and the exact same everything, and they’re also running the opposite route from it.’ They literally have a void starting at 2 and they make you think it’s a dig, and a dig ensues. Like a void of 2 and then actually doing a dig. Then ensure there is a void from 2 and walk an exit route. So I’m like brother… he’s nice.

That’s probably one of the few games this year where I’m like, ‘bro, do I really want to bet against him?’ The OC is the head coach, right? So I look on the sideline and all I see is his face and he has that face, he played quarterback, so I’m like ‘he looks too lax, what’s going on?’ What’s going to happen here?’ You know what I mean? But yes, I have to give the man his flowers.’

Jets CB Sauce Gardner – The Richard Sherman Podcast

This isn’t just any cornerback raving about the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings

Again, Sauce Gardner isn’t just any NFL cornerback. Even if he were, this conversation would still be remarkable. But he isn’t. At this rate, the Cincinnati alum is on his way to becoming one of the best cornerbacks of all time.

Take a look at the history books. Not many players win all four major Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, but Sauce Gardner does. Most players also don’t make All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams in each of their first two seasons, but Gardner did.

But here he is talking about how much Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell had him all in his feelings during the Jets loss in London to the Vikings just a few weeks ago.

Related: Latest Minnesota Vikings injury report: Many linebackers listed as questionable vs. Jaguars

And Richard Sherman didn’t have to dig very deep to get this answer out of the third-year NFL star. One question led to an answer that has clearly been on Sauce’s mind since they flew back to the United States in October. What was the Vikings head coach or “OC” doing overseas that made him so nervous? Clearly he hasn’t figured that out yet.

Mentioned in this article: Kevin O’Connell New York Jets Sauce Gardner

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