EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are continuing to hone their offense.

Kyler Murray and Company stacked an explosive scramble and a touchdown to start the fourth quarter Sunday en route to Minnesota's sixth straight win, but Head Coach Kevin O'Connell recognizes the need to continue improving.

O'Connell spoke with Twin Cities media members via videoconference Monday and noted "one-off plays here and there that can change the trajectory" of a drive.

"I thought some of their guys did a nice job winning some 1-on-1s up front, causing us some issues earlier on in the game," he said. "And I did like the way we were still able to manage getting the ball, some explosive plays and efficient runs, Kyler using his legs and then obviously getting the ball in the end zone — but we'd like to score more points."

O'Connell commented on a few specific scenarios, such as Minnesota's first offensive series. Aaron Jones, Sr., rushed for 7 yards to set up second-and-3, and the team wound up rushing three more times, including on fourth-and-1, and was unable to convert. Those plays resulted from Minnesota using a can system of calling two plays and choosing one base on the look from the defense.

"Maybe on those plays there was some opportunity there depending on how the defense lined up," he said. "But we got some shell coverage on the first couple plays of the game, got some runs off. And then into those third-and-1 and fourth-and-1, we've got to find a way to get a yard. And that's on us as coaches and that's on the execution, the physicality of the guys on the field, and find a way to get that yard to get that new set of downs.

"And then on the next drive, we have Justin [Jefferson] pretty much there for an easy completion on a one-hitch throw, and they get a good rush and get some push on us that affected Kyler's throw," O'Connell added.

The Vikings run game this week welcomed Jordan Mason back to the fold, but Aaron Jones, Sr., left the game with a knee injury early in the fourth quarter and will be considered "day to day," according to O'Connell.

O'Connell was asked his overall thoughts about running back depth as Jones begins to work through the week.

"We'll see how he (Jones) does, but DeeJay Dallas is doing some really good things from a protection standpoint, kicking game standpoint," he said. "We still have Demond [Claiborne] growing every single day. He's getting better and better every day, every week, as part of his development plan.

"I feel good about the room, and we'll meet as a staff and get together with [General Manager] Nolan [Teasley] here and talk through that, what it looks like," O'Connell added. "But with where Aaron's at and where we feel coming out of the game, I don't necessarily see it as a depth issue at all. But obviously, things could change as we go day-to-day here."

Here are three other takeaways from O'Connell's media session:

1. More on Murray's performance

Murray had ups and downs along with the rest of the offense, sometimes hitting impressive throws downfield or stepping up in the pocket and extending plays with his legs — including the 35-yard scramble to set up a touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson.

On the missed throws or errs, O'Connell noted it's "not just one thing."

"It's not [just] timing, it's not all a protection thing — it's not any of those things as its own entity," he said. "It might be, he made a great throw to Justin on an outcut versus a zero pressure where he had some push right in his face, and he dotted one there. I mentioned that second third down in the game where we've got Justin on a play that's going to be an easy pitch-and-catch, and we end up having a little bit of a lapse up front there on the 1-on-1, knowing that we wanted to be very aware of where 99 (DeForest Buckner) was.

"We really went into the game with a plan to try to limit Buck's impact because he's such an impactful player," O'Connell continued. "And then some of their other guys took advantage of that and won their 1-on-1s, all of which leads back to the conversation … that we're able to make some of these plays; we've just got to rise up and meet the moment."

2. Rodriguez holding things down

Now in his third season, Levi Drake Rodriguez has assumed a significant role in the defense, having started all six games on Minnesota's defensive line.

O'Connell pointed out that while Rodriguez may sometimes be overshadowed by flashy plays or defensive takeaways, he "has been such a huge part of the totality of every call."

"There's moving parts to when you pressure as much as we do and when things are moving," O'Connell said. "I think he's shown some real instincts, and I think he's shown the ability to hold up at the point versus double teams and allow some of these other guys to go make plays.

"And then when he can activate his twitch and his athleticism, he's shown up," O'Connell added. "Super proud of Levi, and quite honestly, I'm glad you asked about him because I think sometimes those guys … maybe they don't register a bunch of stats or things like that at that position, but they're doing such an important job to allow others on our defense to go make plays."

3. Cashman 'seeing things before they happen'

It's fair to say Blake Cashman is en route to a career season. He's been tremendously impactful since joining the Vikings as a free agent in 2024; this season specifically, though, he's delivering monster performances week-in and week-out.

Cashman had another epic day against the Colts, logging 12 tackles, 2.0 sacks, three quarterback hits and four passes defensed. Asked about the 30-year-old's "later-season" thriving, O'Connell mentioned Cashman being back in his home state, for starters.

"Other than coming back home to a place where it all started for him, I would say it's next level," O'Connell said. "From a standpoint of just his understanding now, with this amount of time in the defense being the 'Green Dot,' he's now seeing things before they happen. He's always been a wildly explosive player. He's what would classify as a sideline-to-sideline type of [linebacker with] athleticism and speed.

"And now you're seeing that applied within a defense that a lot of things do get funneled to him," O'Connell continued. "But at the same time, it's the ability to be basically lateral or downhill, right where he needs to be, seeing plays before they happen. He's seeing blocking assignments from the offense and understanding when he can trigger, when he's got to play a certain style. It's just been really fun to watch."

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