Klint Kubiak is reportedly expected to become the new offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings.
It’s not much of a surprise and the choice isn’t as exciting as some might have hoped, but it sounds like the Minnesota Vikings have decided who their new offensive coordinator is going to be.
On Monday, NFL Media’s Tom Peliserro reported that Klint Kubiak will become the Vikings’ latest offensive coordinator. Kubiak getting the role is something that most expected and it’s a decision that should allow Minnesota’s offense to pick up right where they left off last season when they ranked eighth in the NFL in offensive DVOA.
Kubiak with be the sixth-different offensive coordinator the Vikings have had since the 2016 season.
Why the Minnesota Vikings should be successful with Klint Kubiak leading the offense
Of Minnesota’s last four offensive coordinators, three of them were able to help the team finish with a top-11 scoring offense. Coincidentally, all three of the guys who accomplished this became the team’s offensive coordinator thanks to the Vikings promoting from within.
The one time Minnesota’s offense ranked outside of the top-15 in scoring since 2017 was when they brought in an outsider, John DeFilippo, to run the unit.
Knowing this, it’s even less of a surprise that the Vikings are promoting from within once again to fill their offensive coordinator vacancy with Kubiak. This method has worked well in the recent past, so Minnesota decided to continue using it to find the next guy to lead their offense.
Given the success the Vikings have had in the past by promoting from within, the offense should at least continue to be productive in 2021 with Kubiak calling the plays.
Since Kubiak is also 33-years-old, he might be able to offer a more modern take on the offensive scheme that his father had such an important part in creating.
Mike Zimmer is still going to want Minnesota’s offense to emphasize the rushing attack each week. But Kubiak might be able to add some wrinkles to decrease the predictability of the scheme just as Stefanski was able to do in 2019.
As the Vikings quarterbacks coach in 2019 and 2020, Kubiak also has the benefit of knowing exactly what Kirk Cousins does well out on the field. Cousins’ last two seasons have been two of the most impressive of his career and his position coach likely had a bunch to do with this success.
So when Kubiak is calling plays next season, expect him to adjust the scheme to fit Cousins’ strengths. It wouldn’t be surprising if Minnesota’s offense in 2021 was a mixture of all the things they did well in 2019 and 2020.
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Now, if Zimmer can get the defense back on track, then the Vikings should be able to get themselves back into the playoffs next season.