Why Shanahan thinks O’Connell’s Vikings offense is problematic originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Kyle Shanahan is well aware that a Kevin O’Connell-directed Vikings the offense may cause the 49ers a headache for a second consecutive season on Sunday.
On the latest episode of NBC Sports Bay Area’s “49ers Game Plan,” which premiered Friday night, Shanahan explained to Greg Papa how similar O’Connell’s plan is to his own and The Los Angeles Rams“Sean McVay and why he poses a threat.
“Yeah, I think it’s similar, especially the Rams way,” Shanahan told Papa. “I think the Rams have been a little different this year in a game, a little different running style and all that.”
With a 22-17, a resounding upset last season Boosting their hopes, the Vikings look to continue their seven-game home winning streak against the 49ers. San Francisco hasn’t won in Minneapolis since 1992.
And O’Connell, who served as McVay’s offensive coordinator with the Rams in 2020 and 2021, bolstered his offense this offseason, adding a quarterback. Sam Darnold and back Aaron Jones in order to complement the superstar receiver Justin Jefferson.
Knowing O’Connell’s system well, Shanahan has a good idea of how the third-year NFL head coach might exploit his offensive weapons.
“But they base their game mostly on one back,” Shanahan added. “They do a lot of tempo stuff. A lot of dropbacks and stuff are very similar.”
In the Week 1 win over the New York Jets, San Francisco’s secondary defense was limited star receiver Garrett Wilson to a below-average 60-yard reception and zero touchdowns, while keeping Aaron Rodgers 167 yards on 13 completions.
The task could be very different at U.S. Bank Stadium, with Jefferson eager to exploit any individual coverage he gets.
Shanahan respects that, and everything else that makes O’Connell’s attack electrifying.
“Kevin has always done a very good job,” Shanahan added. “I have a lot of respect for him.
“When you have Kevin, their system, a really good running back, a really good quarterback, a really good receiver, they can be a problem. We have our work cut out for us.”
