Moderatoren » With three games left on Minnesota’s schedule to determine

EAGAN Jahlani Tavai Jersey , Minn. (AP) — whether or not the Vikings return to the playoffs, Kevin Stefanski has suddenly been tasked with trying to steer a struggling offense back on track in a supervisory role he’s never held before in 14 seasons of coaching.There’ll be plenty of scrutiny on the team’s interim offensive coordinator, not to mention an unofficial audition for the job next year and beyond.To judge Stefanski’s readiness by noting a lack of play-calling experience, though, would not tell the whole story.“I think every assistant coach, and probably every fan, is calling the plays with the play-caller Will Harris Jersey ,” Stefanski said.“Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don’t. But when we’re up there, you’re always thinking about what you may be calling in that situation. I’ve tried to do that since day one as a coach. I think that’s incumbent upon you to take yourself through what you may do here.”With the Vikings having produced fewer than 285 total yards in four of their past five games, coach Mike Zimmer fired John DeFilippo on Tuesday and promoted Stefanski from quarterbacks coach. Stefanski, one of four sons of long-time NBA executive Ed Stefanski, who’s now with the Detroit Pistons, is the NFL rarity who has risen to a prominent position at age 36 without ever having to uproot his family.A team captain as a defensive back at Penn, Stefanski spent one season in football operations for his Ivy League alma mater before Vikings head coach Brad Childress hired him in 2006 to serve as his personal assistant. Stefanski has survived two head coaching changes Austin Bryant Jersey , coached tight ends, running backs and quarterbacks and worked under a total of five offensive coordinators: Darrell Bevell, Bill Musgrave, Norv Turner, Pat Shurmur and DeFilippo.“I hope my experience with all of the guys I’ve worked with over the years has shaped me into the coach I am,” Stefanski said on Thursday.Zimmer said he believes quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has worked closely with Stefanski as his position coach since signing with the Vikings last spring Rashan Gary Jersey , will be more open to making his own suggestions in game-planning than with DeFilippo.“He knows me well,” Cousins said. “But at the same time, you don’t reinvent much this late in the year.”Cousins took personal responsibility for DeFilippo’s firing, but he naturally expressed optimism about the new working relationship.“He’s got an even-keel demeanor about him. He’s been with multiple systems now,” Cousins said, adding: “I think he’ll do a good job in this role.”If the Vikings can’t consistently protect Cousins or clear space for the running backs, or if Cousins doesn’t avoid the turnovers that have persisted Darnell Savage Jr. Jersey , the plays called by Stefanski down the stretch won’t ultimately matter.“I’m going to steal a line from Pat Shurmur: ‘It’s about the players,” Stefanski said, “and not the plays.'” The famous adage says that nobody likes change. That’s often untrue in professional sports competitions, particularly the NFL, where big-name players change clubs every offseason for different reasons. Salary-cap limitations result in franchises making difficult decisions regarding the 53 men who can make final rosters. In other instances, players with expiring rookie contracts get paid by organizations that didn’t draft them. Unlike in the NHL and MLB, an NFL club with a losing record can turn things around seemingly overnight with a handful of signings coupled with a solid draft class. That reality gives players who join different teams in March or later in an offseason hope that they will find success with their new employers. Numerous compelling storylines will dominate the 2019 offseason in the days and weeks following the Super Bowl. Pro Bowl talents on both sides of the football will become hot commodities even before would-be new teams can “officially” speak with them ahead of offering them contracts. Of course Elgton Jenkins Jersey , some rumored moves appear impossible for financial reasons. Situations change quickly in the NFL, but those speculating that either Odell Beckham Jr. or Antonio Brown will be traded ahead of Week 1 of the 2019 campaign should realize several roadblocks stand in the way of such transactions. As of the middle of January, it appears more likely they’ll have to find success with their current clubs later this year.