Richard Sherman and Sauce Gardner agree Kevin O’Connell is ‘one of the best’

When the Minnesota Vikings played the New York Jets in London on October 6, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell made Jets star quarterback Sauce Gardner doubt himself.

O’Connell’s scheme is filled with disguises. Receivers run different routes from similar formations, making it difficult for defenders like Gardner to read the play.

“Bro, he’s probably one of the best OK guys I’ve ever played against,” Gardner said in an interview. Richard Sherman Podcast on Thursday. “…He’s cute. This was probably one of the few games this year where I thought, “Do I really want to play against him?”

Richard Sherman, a former star NFL defensive back, agreed with Gardner’s assessment, saying O’Connell is “one of the best right now, and he’s picking them up.”

O’Connell’s offense has been effective this season, ranking in the top half of the league in both points and yards. The Vikings rank eighth in the NFL in points per game (26.1) and 14th in the league in yards per game (336.3). This has been an effective unit all season behind journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold, running back Aaron Jones and, of course, superstar receiver Justin Jefferson.