EAGAN, Minn. — There's a shortlist of traits that are must-haves to play for Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores.
Intelligent. Aggressive. Versatile.
Veteran defensive back Bobby McCain, who signed with the Vikings for his 10th season Monday, hangs his hat on all of them, along with open-field tackling skills, good energy and a penchant for blitzing.
Those are the requirements McCain listed off when asked what it takes to have success in a Flores-led defense – and he would know.
The 5-foot-9, 196-pound defensive back answered questions after reuniting with Flores — his former head coach for two seasons in Miami — for Monday's practice, which was the first padded session of training camp.
It was a quick turnaround for McCain, who got news of Minnesota's interest on Friday and worked out for the team Sunday. His new teammates joked about his lack of a ramp-up.
But it's exactly what McCain wanted. Straight to full pads. Cramping in his feet by the end of practice.
"Football" is his best position, he said. That was the giveaway that McCain is Flores' type of player.
McCain, a fifth-round draft choice in 2015 out of Memphis, launched his pro career as a defensive back for the Dolphins. He started 32 of 62 games across his first four seasons, logging the bulk of his snaps covering the slot. When Flores was hired as Miami's head coach in 2019, he converted McCain to safety.
Their overlap lasted two campaigns (2019-20) and saw McCain make 23 starts with three interceptions. He caught on with the Washington Football Team (now Commanders) in 2021, where he set career bests of four interceptions that season and 76 tackles the following year.
McCain appeared mainly on special teams, taking 119 snaps for the Giants in 2023.
Now, McCain looks to reestablish himself in Flores' secondary. His versatility will be paramount.
"100%. 100%," McCain said about his readiness to contribute in a bigger way on defense in 2024. "I think I might've had two tackles last year, so, 100%." (McCain had a tackle and pass breakup for the Giants.)
Flores explained earlier in training camp that "if you can only do one thing, you better be able to do it extremely well in this league," adding, "most guys can do one, two, three [or] four things."
The architect of the Vikings defense explained that position flexibility hinges on overall intelligence as well as the ability to understand conceptually what the group is aiming to do. In other words, football IQ.
Flores said before practice Monday that he loves McCain's versatility, nodding at his smarts, physicality and communication skills. McCain's familiarity in his schemes and NFL experience also should help.
"There's just a conceptual understanding of things that any defense does," said Flores, suggesting McCain could play in nickel packages or handle specific matchups. "He's already got a pretty good feel."
McCain said he would be confident in playing "all five spots on the back end" if the Vikings need that.
It's a testament to his studious nature, and a realization he had playing under Flores for the Dolphins.
"When the offense lines up, you shouldn't have to think twice," McCain said. "You shouldn't have to think about what I'm doing and what they're doing – just focus on them. … If you get in that book and you study and you understand, you shouldn't have to second guess yourself or doubt yourself."
Sounds like McCain could mesh well with the Vikings defense, a unit that's influenced by its safeties.
"We lean on that group," said Flores, praising the versatility and performance of its members. "Those are the leaders of the team. That's our hub of communication. We strive to be a defense that can be multiple and can change coverage [and] front structures, and that starts with that group."
"There's a toughness, there's a tenacity out of that group – and a play style – that I love," Flores added. "Those guys have done a nice job so far [in training camp], but they're also hungry to do more."
