Unprompted, Kevin O’Connell Tosses Praise Over to “Run-and-Hit” Defender

The discussion was focusing on Josh Metellus. The safety has a “football IQ [that] is off the charts,” per Kevin O’Connell. Being able to play so many different positions proves as much.

Not long after offering that praise, though, O’Connell shifts things over to Jamin Davis. The linebacker was recently added to fill-in for Ivan Pace Jr. (someone who should be back soon). Consider what the head coach had to say in his brief comment: “The impact that Jamin Davis has been able to have, as well, just physicality, run-and-hit player that’s been showing up, too.”

Kevin O’Connell Offering Praise to Jamin Davis

In a lot of ways, Davis fits the pattern for the kind of players that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah likes to add. We’re talking about a linebacker who got scooped up at No. 19 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The GM has demonstrated a proclivity for bringing in former highly-selected players either via trade or as free agency acquisitions. Just consider TE T.J. Hockenson, WR Jalen Reagor, DT Ross Blacklock, DE Jerry Tillery, QB Sam Darnold, QB Daniel Jones, and/or RB Cam Akers as some notable examples. The thinking is that Minnesota’s top-tier coaching staff and culture can help these players to thrive. At times, Minnesota has missed but there are some wonderful success stories, too.

Davis has been involved in a trio of games and has mostly been allowed to pin his ears back to get after the quarterback. Essentially, he’s functioning as a see-ball, get-ball player. The simplicity of the assignment makes sense given that he’s being worked into the mix almost immediately after arriving.

The defender stands at 6’3″ and weighs 234 pounds. Notably, he ran a 4.47 forty, so it makes sense that Brian Flores is allowing his super long, super fast linebacker to be a “run-and-hit” player.

In Minnesota, Davis has picked up 3 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 tackle for loss. Not otherwordly production, but pretty notable given some of the context we’ve discussed. Again, we’re talking about someone who just got added less than a month ago. The simple fact that he’s on the field and helping is impressive.

Something to monitor is whether Minnesota allows Jamin Davis to get outside of their roster orbit. When Pace returns, does Davis get cut or kept? Pace is going to reclaim his role as the LB2. Kamu Grugier-Hill seems unlikely to be cut given that he’s a trusted veteran who can do some good things in pass coverage.

Any chance Brian Asamoah — a central special teams player — gets let go? If so, then it would be just one more hit to the 2022 draft class. The No. 66 pick from 2022 is the last of the five defenders from that group. Safety Lewis Cine, corner Andrew Booth Jr., corner Akayleb Evans, and defensive end Esezi Otomewo have all been moved out already.

Davis just turned 26 on December 12th. In theory, he could be part of the mix at linebacker for several years to come, especially if Flores and O’Connell continue seeing the need for a gifted linebacker who can be on near constant attack mode.

Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this piece.

K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.