Vikings Coach Called a “Psycho” as Heavyweight Battle Awaits

Normally, the nickname that gets assigned is that he’s “The Mad Scientist.” What about being a “psycho?”

Vikings coach Brian Flores took some time to hop onto the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast. Simms, a former NFL passer who is now a prominent NFL commentator, sent along the quip, doing so in praise of Minnesota’s DC being an unusually aggressive guy. That’s an observation that prefigures a Week 2 game against Ben Johnson, a flamethrower of a playcaller with seemingly boundless creativity.

Vikings Coach Brian Flores is a “Psycho”

Lately, the descriptors have been flying.

Rookie fullback Max Bredeson has been generating praise in the Twin Cities. Some of that praise got sent over by head coach Kevin O’Connell, who offered the quip that Bredeson is somebody who is intelligent but who has some “screws loose.” Note (as Will Ragatz does) that the description comes after Bredeson got described by OC Wes Phillips a “meathead” and a “dirt bag” during the summer.

Likewise, WR3 Jauan Jennings got described as a “dirt bag” by Kyler Murray. Doing so came as a compliment due to the physicality and grit behind the way Mr. Jennings blocks. One can only assume that Minnesota’s WR3 felt honored by the description.

Does that clarify how Simms is talking about Flores in the moment?

“You’re a psycho in a good way,” Simms notes, “like I say about most good coaches.” Flores took the comment in a positive way, as his chuckle demonstrated. By this point, Brian Flores has heard it all since his aggression isn’t a new feature of his play calling.

The Simms comment arrived after Flores confirmed that he enjoys going toe-to-toe with football’s foremost architects on offense, such as Ben Johnson, Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, and others. From the outside looking in, the Vikings coach appears to get satisfaction from outwitting these brilliant football minds. Why wouldn’t he?

In Week 1, Coach Flores empowered his guys to fly forward. He has always allowed his guys to do so but the Packers game became a bloodbath toward the end. Dallas Turner and Blake Cashman were particularly effective, but those two weren’t alone. Levi Drake Rodriguez, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jalen Redmond, and several others all had good moments.

Green Bay crumpled under the pressure, a reality that should be understood in both a literal and metaphorical manner.

What’s now of interest is how things will go in Week 2.

To be blunt, Chicago is a clear step ahead of Green Bay and the chasm appears to be widening. Caleb Williams is quickly proving to be the best passer in the division. He’s operating behind a better offensive line and throwing to a better collection of skill. Most important, Ben Johnson is remarkable at what he does (as Chicago’s 59 points in Week 1 demonstrate). Tricking Johnson isn’t easy, so Flores has his hands full.

Stealing a win from inside Soldier Field isn’t going to happen unless the Vikings coaching staff puts together an elite game plan. Both of Kevin O’Connell and Matt Daniels have a major role to play, but Brian Flores may be leading the most important phase as the Vikings try to insulate QB2 Carson Wentz.

Look for the “psycho” to try to make Williams skittish from the beginning of the 1st quarter to the end of the 4th quarter. Doing so means concocting a strategy that proves too much for Johnson to solve.

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