EAGAN, Minn. -- Kirk Cousins heard about the Minnesota Vikings' new defensive coordinator in February via text from an NFL friend.
"You guys hired coach Flores."
Cousins texted right back.
"Training camp is going to get tough."
The quarterback's response has proved prophetic. He and the Vikings' offense are in Week 5 of what coach Kevin O'Connell calls the "Brian Flores Experience," a summer of navigating an unpredictable defense that is difficult to practice against. It has led to some "tense conversations" in offensive meetings, Cousins said, as the team watches film of practice reps that had little chance to succeed against the defense as called -- even amid the hope that it will generate a…
