EAGAN, Minn. — Kevin O'Connell's emphasis on a three-letter word was heard loud and clear.

"How I just said it is how I see it," the Vikings head coach said last week. "It's Aaron and Jordan."

O'Connell was referencing Minnesota's backfield tandem of returning starter Aaron Jones, Sr., and veteran newcomer Jordan Mason. He considers them a "combination that will cause a lot of problems."

The former, O'Connell said, can run between the tackles, catch the ball, block in protection and line up anywhere in the formation. O'Connell called both "complete backs," and praised the latter's rapid picking up of pass-pro rules, and cited he has the body (5-foot-11, 223 pounds) to be a physical presence.

In 2024, Jones trotted for 1,138 yards on 255 attempts. Both are career bests. Additionally, he snagged 51 passes for 408 yards. Overall, in his age 30 season, he averaged 5.1 yards per touch with seven scores. According to Next Gen Stats, Jones totaled the third-most rushing yards in under-center formations; his 959 yards in that alignment last year was topped only by Derrick Henry (1,006) and Jahmyr Gibbs (969).

As Jones modified limiting perceptions for the 30-and-up club, Mason exploded onto the scene, racking 789 yards via 153 carries. In 12 games and six starts for San Francisco, the now-26-year-old posted the highest missed tackle forced rate (37.3 percent), per NGS, among players with a minimum of 150 rushes.

So what's the plan for the season? O'Connell wants to keep the duo fresh and in attack mode. He pictures them "playing off of each other" and mentioned them being on the field during the same play.

"Maybe we activate some two-back groupings where we've got Jordan and Aaron in the game at the same time," O'Connell speculated as training camp got underway. "There's a lot of things schematically that we're going to try, and then as we get toward the season [it's] what gives us advantages, what allows us to play the most multiple way that all circles back to the number one question of, 'What makes the quarterback's job easier, and more likely to be quarterback friendly to apply to our whole system?' "

For what it's worth, SumerSports tallied Minnesota with operating in 21 personnel (indicative of two running backs and one tight end on the field) on 12.24 percent of its plays last season. That allotment ranked 6th in the NFL and reflected sizable increases relative to 2023 (6.72; 11th) and 2022 (8.46; 11th).

Furthermore, O'Connell used 22 personnel on 19, or 1.8 percent, of plays in 2024, a minuscule increase from the 18 he dialed in 2023. His usage of two backs and two tight ends in 2022 amounted to 51 plays.

A larger share of snaps in those personnels could be a logical projection based on the retooled roster.

Mason's arrival coincides with upgrades along the Vikings offensive line. Four-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly and his former teammate on the Colts, guard Will Fries, were massive free-agent signings (in the literal and figurative senses). Likewise, in drafting Donovan Jackson with the 24th pick, the team tactfully beefed up its interior. The determination for specific personnel suggests at least a small schematic shift.

A continuation of a second trend is perhaps more accurate.

When O'Connell took control as head coach and play-caller in 2022, Minnesota's offense attempted to pass the ball on 64.0 percent of its plays. That number was steady, though slightly down, at 63.3 percent in 2023, and then dropped in 2024 to 56.6 percent. It was an important tweak, primarily because of the effect that running the rock against defenses imposes, as well as a set of new faces in the backfield.

Jones, a key spring signing one year and several months ago, improved the Vikings odds of ripping off explosive rushes and gave them a reliable off-tackle runner with enough burst to get around the corner.

The addition of Jones, plus switching from Kirk Cousins, someone comfortable in O'Connell's framework, to Sam Darnold naturally increased the need for a ground game that could lessen the quarterback's load.

A similar train of thought was employed knowing J.J. McCarthy's rookie experience was capped to a single exhibition. Now the 22-year-old is charged with starting for a club that won 14 games last season.

But there seems to be far less fear in his NFL naivety than there is confidence in the designs around him. One person that's going to be at the core of Minnesota's push for more is 10 years older than McCarthy.

Kelly, 32, is in as close proximity to the young passer as anyone, and his expertise can't be overstated.

"He's just such a vet in that he's seen everything they can give you up front over the years and been in a few different systems, even being in one place," Offensive Coordinator Wes Phillips said of Kelly, who started 121 games over nine seasons for Indianapolis. "He's had to change some things that he's done, had some different line coaches, but I think it's been a good challenge for him to learn something different, learn some new terminology, but you wouldn't really know it when he goes out there and communicates with the guys. And then on top of the communication, his physical ability to be able to really sit down and anchor, he's just a big strong guy, presence in the middle, that anchor that you want."

Kelly, having blocked for future Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Frank Gore toward the end of his career and one of the game's sharpest active runners in Jonathan Taylor, is exceptionally qualified to comment on the state of the Vikings backfield. Kelly is encouraged – and has discerned some parallels.

"They both have a lot of crossover," Kelly shared before assessing each back individually. "Aaron, watching him pass block, the way he attacks that, he might be smaller, but he plays very physical. And Jordan is a big guy, so obviously you have the intangibles of being able to run hard or run downhill, but his swift ability to put a foot in the ground and cutback is also incredible. So while their size comparison might tell you one story, I think if you watch the film, they both can do a lot of different things."

The breadth of schemes, Kelly said, also is a bonus for the backfield. Their skills navigating, and sometimes teasing lanes on outside zone, inside zone, tosses and gap runs has impressed Kelly so far.

"You might think that this is where the ball is supposed to go in the beginning, but you see some of the jump cuts they make, and, really, I think if you see a veteran running back, you know he's really skilled when he starts letting the blocks get developed," Kelly continued. "You can feel a pressure from the right side, wait for it to clear and then cut back, right? I think it's more so not just seeing the hole right away and really punching it. I mean, both of these guys have the ability to do that, but it's the patience to let blocks develop and then find the hole [that pops]. I think that is really, really incredible for those guys."

With Kelly very likely to be flanked by Fries, who is nearly recovered from a broken leg suffered last season, and Jackson, who is adapting to stronger and faster defenders and stacking reps by the practice, and bookended by stud tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O'Neill, McCarthy should feel safe.

There's good depth, too, particularly with Blake Brandel, an every-game starter at left guard last season, and Justin Skule, who was picked up after making 17 starts in five years for San Francisco and Tampa Bay.

"We've got a better front, overall, we feel like," Phillips added about pouring great resources into the trenches. "There is kind of just a noticeable size difference when you look at the line, and then you've still got Blake being able to really swing possibly three different positions; he's a huge human being."

More-than-competent running options, including versatile fourth-year Viking Ty Chandler and landmark fullback C.J. Ham, coupled with a formidable starting five ought to serve McCarthy and the offense well.

O'Connell recognized Chandler as occasionally being one of the unit's most explosive players, plus a standout on special teams, since he was selected in the fifth round in 2022. He remains in O'Connell's good graces, because he "works his absolute tail off" and has positively spelled teammates in the past, but after receiving only half as many opportunities in 2024 as 2023, the coach wants Chandler to be more prepared in other phases, such as alertness in protection, so he's able to rely on him if necessary.

"I want to feel like that third [running back] can bring something, and we've always felt that way about Ty. I still do," O'Connell assured. "It's just a consistency factor as the play-caller, for me, personally, where I say, 'I can call any play on this sheet no matter who's in the game.' And I think I'll feel like that about Ty before it's all said and done, and I know I have before. I just want to see it as consistent as possible."

Basically, Chandler can benefit from another season following Ham's lead.

Described as a "hallmark of consistency," O'Connell referred to Ham as "one of the smarter players I've been around. He's physical, he's got the ability, as you guys have seen when I've gone tempo sometimes off those third downs, when he's been in there, he's put his head down and got us 8, 9, 10 yards going fast on a run play. We'll throw him screens, (too). We'll throw him the ball out of the backfield."

The group is conscientious of what success in 2025 entails – and what it means for the team.

"Being able to run the ball is a central key. Most of those playoff teams – we were one of them – but they were all able to run the ball and they've had success at that," said Jones, detailing how the run game ideally prevents defenses from pinning their ears back and loosens the second level. "Holes are open (in practice). These guys are huge up front, and I'm smaller, so it's kind of a little harder to find me when I'm behind them, especially running with great pad level. I'm excited, it's going to be a great year."

"I'm not jinxing nothing," Mason said regarding the 1-2 punch. "It's gonna roll how it's gonna roll."

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