TJ Hockenson On Why Minnesota Struggled Last Season

dude take us talk about the temperature of last year because you guys started off what how did you guys start did you start 0 and four yeah something like that which was I know had to be insanely frustrating because when we would do S&P and everything else it's like yo this is the best four lost team in the NFL like you guys only lost games because whether it be a bad turnover somebody dropping a ball at a crucial time like how frustrating was it because I know I would almost assume that KO the post game conversations and everything else is like you're trying to keep everybody up you guys start to make a run a very small run until Kirk blows out his Achilles take us back to early last year in the temperature of everythings came took over and crushed went out right and then dobs comes in which is that's an awesome story um it was a it was a wild year um in terms of a lot of things you know we were we obviously were a good team like we knew it going into the season like we were really excited about the season especially coming off a 13- win year the Year for and so um you know we lose the first game you know and it's like all right there's turnovers like that's on us like we need to win you know and then we lose second game L third game and it's like we really got to pick our [ __ ] up yeah it's like like everybody had like a you know your butthole gets pretty tight and like you're just like let's go like what are we doing like we're we are so good and we're not showing it on Sundays which was frustrating for everybody including the coaching staff and um so I mean it was turnovers like turnovers are the biggest thing you guys know it's all about the ball like you get those presentations every week and um you know we just couldn't hold on to it and that was like the biggest issue and then we lose JJ and you know and yeah well we lose JJ first we kind of go on a oh oh yeah my fault my fault I'm just thinking McCarthy it's been a long day yeah yeah2 on your yeah we lose Jets we lose Jets first and with a you know a hamstring and um then we start going on a run and it's like okay like we're we're good like let's get back and you know when Jets comes we'll go off and we'll start playing in the in the in the playoffs and and we'll have a successful year and so you know we start on a run and then you know obviously Green Bay happens and we're playing really well and we're up by quite a bit and you know we come out of half and we have a full swing full two touchdown swing and that was um huge for us and then Kirk goes down in the last you know couple drives and it's like what the heck just happened you know like cuz nobody knows you know you don't know and he's over there like I just rolled my ankle I just rolled my ankle and youres is gone yeah and then he gets carded off and you're like oh man hell an an yeah like what's going on you know and you get into the locker room and we won the game but it's kind of like a somber feeling cuz you you lost Kirk who again like I've talked about Kirk he's one of the best dudes and so you don't want to see that from him um but yeah and then the next week dobs comes in and then the next week yeah we're in um we're in Atlanta and and dos comes in and you know we're we're going through the whole quarterback thing um you know we have you know you you start one guy and then he gets injured with a with a concussion and then you know dos is up basically and you're like okay like let's let's let's see what it is you know that crazy he he got in what Tuesday Wednesday yeah and he doesn't know the offense so he's like just repeating what he's hearing but he doesn't know and he's like hey what's my first read and you're like to the left I was to say how's the game plan changing in real time to like corral around him and help him out that's kind of what it was you know we were all in the Huddle and we're kind of like just communicating to him as well as he him communicating to us like hey like cuz he was like hey what's a like what's this mean like what's this uh out call like or what's my concept you know we have fun you know flag under and so it's like um you know that's what that means you know like this is your first read this is your second read and um so he he he was balling that week and he used his legs a lot and we were able to do like a scramble drill kind of and you know that's I I hadn't really had that from any of my quarterbacks and so um to have him out there and he was you know that was that was kind of fun cuz you you guys just playing like some backyard ball yeah like backyard it's exactly what what it was Zero expectation too like everyone expecting you guys not we got nothing to lose and he he does a game-winning drive on the last last drive just nuts which was huge you know and then we come out the next week and I actually broke my rib in the Atlanta game um fractured my two ribs in my on my right side I still got a that nice little bump and then the next week is the Saints and you play yeah yeah went off I like I see you Beast uh the 135 in the first half with with DOs playing and that was that was sick you know we had a lot of fun we came out hot and then does as as I'm sorry to cut you off when dos comes in and you know he's obviously going to take over uh the next week does the game plan is it all about like simplifying make it easy for him to pick up on and for sure for sure yeah I mean like just our you know C you know you have your first day first five day camp in Stall plays like that's kind of what we were running um which were was easy for us and he was in the he was he was like I was when I first got traded you know he was like not eating eating with the guys he was in the in the he would go grab his food and then go to the film room and and like kind of learn everything and then a lot of communication a lot of like talking to the guys and and figuring it out but um yeah I mean he was he was incredible um I mean I love playing with Josh he's a great dude and he's special I mean with his legs and everything he's he's a special talent for sure so I mean yeah for anybody coming in week up especially at the quarterback position slinging a little bit game-winning Drive I just imagine all the guys in the Huddle and then Do's getting the call and he's just repeating it and all the guys are like this is what I have this is what I have like across the board this is the protection that's exactly [ __ ] it I got half that we're going to figure out what goes on now it's basically hey we're just running a boot here boot to the right yeah boot to the right look for us and then Garrett our Center you know he would he was like at the point where you know cuz a lot of the time the quarterback will change or like tell you to to it and and stuff like that for the tackle and uh Garrett's out there like hey TI too you know like calling all that stuff verus taking it off his plate yeah having a smart Center is the biggest one of the biggest assets you can possibly have our whole line is Ben was like a quarterback out there Ben some yeah a lot of guy a lot of times tan Hill wouldn't even wor well tan Hill would be great but anybody else who was ever in there Ben would be like I'll just I'll do the protection yeah and then that's one thing the cback doesn't have to listen to it all yeah he just kind of wait for Ben help point one way like I guess we're going this way yeah but Ben would also manipulate [ __ ] too we'd be like we were playing Houston one time and it was like 4214 and JJ is at the nose and Men goes [ __ ] it R puts me oneon-one and then everybody else is in a full SL down B right r r sorry Taylor yeah like Jesus Christ yeah but it's a bit of a deal dude I got a couple fun the job done right couple fun questions before we get into our segments number one prediction for Minnesota in 2024 oh like a record prediction yeah let's hear it oh man man um I don't know how many 17 um 17 or0 that's the only right answer that is the only right answer