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ESPN analyst warns Kyler Murray-Kevin O’Connell Vikings ceiling is ‘far higher’ than consensus
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- ESPN analyst warns Kyler Murray-Kevin O’Connell Vikings ceiling is ‘far higher’ than consensus
ESPN analyst warns Kyler Murray-Kevin O'Connell Vikings ceiling is 'far higher' than consensus appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Minnesota Vikings ' decision to pair Kyler Murray with head coach Kevin O'Connell has been met with plenty of skepticism, but not everyone believes the experiment is destined to fail.
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In fact, one ESPN analyst thinks the rest of the NFL may be selling the duo short. In a recent article, Ben Solak believes the new duo is one to watch .
"The ceiling in Minnesota with Murray is far, far higher than we're inclined to estimate. The most recent tastes in our mouths for O'Connell and Murray are bad ones: O'Connell couldn't develop McCarthy, and Murray couldn't grow in Arizona. But these are similar circumstances to those under which Daniel Jones and Shane Steichen joined forces in Indianapolis, and they produced truly historic offensive numbers (for a couple of months). Desperation can foster spectacular innovation in the NFL."
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It's a fair point.
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Right now, the conversation surrounding the Vikings is centered on everything that could go wrong. Murray is trying to revive his career after an inconsistent run with the Cardinals, while O'Connell has taken heat following Minnesota's failure to find long-term stability at quarterback. Put those two storylines together, and it's easy to understand why expectations have been tempered.
But the analyst argues that's exactly why Minnesota could surprise people. Solak compared the situation to Shane Steichen's work with Daniel Jones in Indianapolis, where a quarterback many had written off suddenly produced some of the best football of his career before injuries derailed the momentum.
There are legitimate questions surrounding Murray's consistency and whether O'Connell can maximize his unique skill set. But if the fit clicks, the Vikings may discover their ceiling isn't just a playoff berth—it could be much higher than the consensus believes.
Anything can happen in Minnesota. O'Connell has proven to be one of the best coaches in the league, and there is no reason not to trust that he will get the job done.
Related: 2 previous Kevin O'Connell partnerships could mean good news for Vikings QB Kyler Murray
Related: Mike Florio drops Justin Jefferson truth bomb on Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy battle
