One of the more exciting acquisitions for the Minnesota Vikings was hiring Brian Flores as the defensive coordinator. Minnesota’s defense finished in the league’s bottom half in points allowed, yards allowed and most efficiency metrics (DVOA, EPA, etc.). A change was necessary.
Pro Football Focus’s Trevor Sikkema ranked Brian Flores eighth among play callers on the defensive side of the football. Sikkema used his time at Miami to outline his abilities to call a defense.
Before his time with the Steelers, Flores was head coach of the Dolphins. In his first season, they ranked dead last in points per game allowed (30.9). In his second season, they jumped all the way to fourth (21.1). In his final season, Miami fell to 15th, but their average stayed true at 21.9 points allowed per game. The Dolphins placed sixth in the league in expected points allowed per play in those final two seasons with Flores at the helm.
There is another aspect of this hire that this article outlined. The hiring of Flores might not be a quick fix for the Vikings. Despite Flores’ eventual success as a play caller, he still had a first season in Miami that allowed 30.9 points per game. Flores calls plays with an aggressive mindset, which can let up big plays if not played correctly.
There will likely be some growing pains as Flores installs his philosophy and the Vikings evaluate some of the younger talents on this defense. With the younger contributors in this defense, especially in the secondary, we may have to give this defense some grace as they develop.