EAGAN, Minn. — Brian Flores opened Minnesota Vikings training camp with a defense undergoing significant change, beginning with the arrival of veteran Jamal Adams, an expanded role for Dallas Turner and the considerable challenge of replacing Harrison Smith’s presence on and off the field.
Flores, entering another season as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, said Wednesday that Adams’ versatility should fit a system built around interchangeable players, disguised coverages and pressure from multiple positions. The Vikings signed the three-time Pro Bowl selection shortly before camp, giving Flores another experienced defender capable of lining up at linebacker, safety or near the line of scrimmage.
“This is a football guy,” Flores said.
Flores said Adams displayed a strong understanding of defensive concepts during his first walkthrough despite having little time to study Minnesota’s terminology. Much of Adams’ immediate work will involve translating concepts he has used throughout his career into the language of the Vikings’ playbook.
Minnesota has not established a fixed role for Adams. Flores said training camp will determine where he fits and how extensively he can be used. Adams will compete at linebacker and safety, with his eventual workload dependent upon how quickly he absorbs the system and how productive he can be in multiple assignments.
Adams’ experience gives Flores another movable piece in a defense that has relied heavily upon pre-snap disguise and positional flexibility. The Vikings have used Josh Metellus in a similar capacity, moving him throughout the formation based on personnel, opponent and game situation.
While Adams learns the defense, Turner enters his third season expected to assume greater responsibility. Flores acknowledged Turner will have an expanded role following the departure of “JG,” but resisted attaching statistical expectations to the former first-round selection.
Turner’s progress, Flores said, will be measured through daily improvement rather than a predetermined sack total or individual benchmark. He has a stronger understanding of the defense than he did during his first two seasons and should benefit from greater familiarity with its techniques, terminology and responsibilities.
Flores also made clear that Minnesota will not ask Turner to carry the defense by himself.
“We play team defense,” Flores said.
That philosophy will shape one of Minnesota’s most closely watched training-camp developments. Turner possesses the physical ability to become a more prominent pass rusher, but Flores wants his growth to occur within a coordinated front rather than through pressure to take over games individually.
The Vikings also must replace Smith, whose impact extended well beyond his production at safety. Flores credited Smith with helping develop Metellus, Theo Jackson, Jay Ward and linebacker Blake Cashman, particularly in communication, preparation and command of the defense.
“I still haven’t gotten over it,” Flores said.
Smith often functioned as an extension of Flores on the field, recognizing formations, anticipating adjustments and communicating changes before the snap. Flores said no single player will be expected to replace everything Smith provided. Instead, several veterans must collectively assume greater ownership of the defense.
That transition will be central to a camp featuring competition throughout the defensive roster. Flores said Minnesota has assembled a productive mix of rookies, developing players and established veterans, creating legitimate battles at several positions.
Rookie defensive lineman Caleb Banks is among the players Flores is eager to evaluate. Banks worked extensively during the offseason but had not participated fully on the field before camp. Flores also praised rookies Jake Golday, Jakobe Thomas and Domonique Orange for their conditioning and preparation.
Flores said the young players will be evaluated on technique, fundamentals, communication and their ability to correct mistakes. He emphasized that errors are inevitable in camp, particularly for rookies learning an NFL defense, and said the coaching staff must help them respond and improve.
The defense will also play an important role in Minnesota’s quarterback competition between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray. Flores said both quarterbacks made plays against the defense during offseason practices and expects the competition to intensify during camp.
Minnesota’s defense will attempt to present the quarterbacks with the formations, coverages and pressure packages they can expect during the regular season. The work will extend throughout the roster, with receivers facing defensive backs, offensive linemen confronting Minnesota’s defensive front and running backs working against linebackers.
Flores praised veteran tackle Brian O’Neill for helping players on both sides of the ball. O’Neill regularly discusses front structures, safety alignments, pass-rush games and run-defense techniques with Minnesota’s defensive linemen and edge rushers.
O’Neill’s value, Flores said, also includes teaching younger players how to prepare and conduct themselves professionally. Daily work against O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw should provide Minnesota’s pass rushers with a demanding measuring stick before the regular season.
Schematically, the Vikings will retain the foundation of Flores’ defense while adding several offseason adjustments. Minnesota studied the NFL’s strongest defenses in third-down situations, the red zone, pressure packages and conventional four-man rushes. Flores referenced concepts used by Steve Spagnuolo, Vance Joseph and Vic Fangio as part of that study.
The new wrinkles, however, will remain secondary to Minnesota’s core principles: technique, leverage, communication, physical play and disciplined coverage.
For Flores, the larger objective is straightforward. Adams must learn quickly, Turner must continue developing and Minnesota’s veterans must replace the communication and leadership Smith provided. How effectively those pieces come together will help determine whether the Vikings defense can withstand its personnel changes without losing its identity.
