Former Vikings OC Had Impressive Playcalling Debut Sunday

The Minnesota Vikings put up 28 points on Sunday and emerged victorious against the New York Giants . Kevin O’Connell was dialing up plays for new quarterback Sam Darnold . It wasn’t long ago that Klint Kubiak had those responsibilities for the Vikings, but he fared well with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Klint Kubiak shines in New Orleans Saints rout

The New Orleans Saints are hard to project this season. They were mediocre in 2023 and went 9-8 with Pete Carmichael operating as the offensive coordinator. Dennis Allen is back but hired former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to take over that role. New Orleans throttled Carolina 47-10 on Sunday and Mike Sando noted Kubiak as a highlight.

“ The Saints scored on their first nine possessions twice in 258 total games with Sean Payton as head coach from 2006-21. They did it Sunday in their first game with Kubiak as coordinator. Kubiak’s father, Gary, was head coach or offensive coordinator for top-10 scoring offenses 15 times in 23 seasons. His son exceeded expectations for any coach making his debut as a caller, regardless of pedigree.

The Saints’ 47-10 victory against the Panthers said plenty about Carolina. The Saints’ defense (+19.1 EPA) and special teams (+5.4 EPA) played outsized roles, helping New Orleans start four of its drives in Carolina territory. Still, the Payton-era Saints played weak opponents as well. This game Sunday marked only the third time since 2000 that the Saints scored on nine possessions in one game. They never scored on more possessions in one game over that 407-game span. “

Mike Sando on Klint Kubiak’s Saints debut (The Athletic)

Kubiak’s offensive EPA (expected points added) was the second-highest among first-time signal callers on Sunday. The Saints jumped out to an early 17-0 lead in the first quarter, and found themselves up 30-3 at the half. Derek Carr racked up 200 yards through the air while recording just four incompletions. He added three touchdowns as well.

Related: JJ McCarthy is Sam Darnold’s No. 1 Fan

Eight different players caught a pass with nine being targeted. Chris Olave is the Saints star wideout, but he had just 11 yards on the day. Kubiak showed an ability to keep the ball moving down the field, even if the opponent was lackluster in their own right.

Road gets tough for former Minnesota Vikings OC Klint Kubiak

Kubiak had to appreciate that his first game calling plays for the Saints had him matched up against the Carolina Panthers. Bryce Young has struggled out of the gate during his NFL career, and the offense has often allowed the opposition plenty of opportunity to put them in the dust. The former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator won’t be that fortunate the next two weeks.

On the road against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, New Orleans opens as 6.5 point underdogs . The Cowboys are coming off a big road victory against the Cleveland Browns, and quarterback Dak Prescott just signed a shiny new contract . The Saints then welcome divisional for Philadelphia to New Orleans for a Week 3 matchup.

Related: What We Learned About the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1 Throttling of Giants

Klint Kubiak earned some serious trust from head coach Dennis Allen on Sunday. He will need to continue performing against more difficult opponents in the coming weeks if he wants that to grow.

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