With Kevin Stefanski leaving to be the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, the Vikings found themselves (again) needing a new offensive coordinator entering the 2020 season.
They didn’t look far, promoting offensive advisor Gary Kubiak to the job.
It wasn’t at all a surprise, especially when you consider the team’s 2019 offense had Kubiak’s zone-blocking scheme all over it.
NFL Network’s analytics expert Cynthia Frelund doesn’t think the Vikings will be impacted much at all by the move.
Here’s a blurb of what Frelund wrote about the Vikings and Kubiak:
Last season, Kubiak served as the Vikings’ assistant head coach and offensive advisor, which, especially in the unique preseason environment teams are going through right now, should provide a level of continuity that Minnesota will benefit from. Kubiak comes from the Mike Shanahan tree (think: zone-rushing focused), and the versatility of every-down back Dalvin Cook, along with the continuity provided by their top two tight ends, will help (Kirk) Cousins and the passing offense adapt to life without (Stefon) Diggs.
Teams are already behind this offseason doing the majority of meetings virtually. Having a familiar face in charge of the offense, even if it’s one different than the previous, is a welcomed move for the Vikings.
With Kubiak’s commitment to the run and the play-action pass game, the Vikings’ offense should look pretty similar in 2020.