The Minnesota Vikings are not expected to be playoff contenders in 2023. 

Without a playoff win since 2019, the Vikings are entering what GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah called a "competitive rebuild." The team saw several veterans leave, especially on defense. Patrick Peterson, Za'Darius Smith, Eric Kendricks, and Dalvin Tomlinson are just some of the notable names who have moved on. 

It would be understandable to not have much faith in the 2023 Vikings' defense. However, CBS Sports recently pointed out one reason for optimism. 

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently picked his favorite acquisitions of the offseason. 

One Vikings' move made the cut, and it was the hiring of Brian Flores for the DC position. Flores spent the 2022 season as the linebackers coach in Pittsburgh. Previously, Flores was the head coach for the Miami Dolphins and spent 11 seasons as an assistant in New England. 

Per the hiring of Flores, Benjamin said the following:

His immediate impact may not be felt as much as, say, Vic Fangio with the Dolphins. That's because, unlike Miami, Minnesota didn't exactly operate this offseason as if it's planning to make a title run in 2023, preferring to part with pricey veterans rather than welcome them. Still, Flores represents a total philosophical shift for the Vikings "D," which sat back and allowed opposing offenses to dictate games in 2022. He figures to instill an attacking mindset that should at least keep opponents guessing.

As Benjamin pointed out, Flores prefers an aggressive approach on defense. As head coach, Flores used a 7-man or more box on over half of snaps. In comparison, the Vikings only had this many in the box on 35% of defensive snaps. 

The more passive approach deployed by the Vikings did not yield impressive results. Only the Tennessee Titans gave up more passing yards per game than the Vikings. The team also finished 22nd in sacks with just 38. 

While the talent level may not be as high on the 2023 Vikings' defense, the new scheme could be a better fit. Andrew Booth Jr., Akayleb Evans, and Lewis Cine are all 2022 draft picks who could benefit from a change in philosophy. 

In Flores' scheme, multiple defensive backs are utilized. Typically, Flores has liked to have five defensive backs on the field, therefore limiting opponents' passing games. 

Featured image via © Sam Navarro | 2022 Jan 9