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10-18-2020, 08:11 PM

Quote: @JR44 said:

@Jor-El said:

@JR44 said:

@comet52 said:
Saw another stat today, Zimmer vs winning teams 16-27-1 .367.
When your starting QB is 7-35 against winning teams that is certainly not going to help that stat. Without Kirk he is closer to .500.
Throw out 2017 and Zimmer is way back below .500 again. 2017 was the anomaly in many regards for Zimmer's time with the Vikings.
Well that is what can happen when the QB has some kind of clue on how to beat a rush. Look at 2017 with Case and 2015 with Teddy. We could have Vince Lombardi and Knute Rockne coaching this team and as long as Cousins is the QB we will not beat good teams.

True, and one thing that surprised me is that Matt Ryan, allegedly a near-statue, was more mobile and able to throw effectively after getting flushed from the pocket - more than Cousins anyway. That's a reminder that it isn't only about great athleticism, but intelligence and not panicking.

10-18-2020, 08:33 PM

Quote: @1VikesFan said:
If the Vikes only win 3 or 4 games this year is Zimmer back? I will bet he is, with the defense rebuild, covid etc. he'll be given at least one more year.

I do think the retaining Zimmer is likely. At least for the defense, you can point to them being in cap Hell and needing to get rid aging and underperforming veterans. They added a bunch of young talent, but Covid really impacted how they could develop young players. Then they also lost Hunter, Barr, & Pierce to injuries/Covid. That's a really difficult hole to dig yourself out of & I could see the D bouncing back strong late in the season and next year.

However, if anything were to cost Zimmer his job, it's the offense. They were supposed to carry the team this season. The skill players are there, the OL has had problems like usual, but the biggest factor is Cousins. He's under contract for two more years and unless there's an escape clause, then they need to get him back on track or draft a rookie to replace him. Fixing him could include bringing in an offensive minded HC, having Kubiak alter the offense to Cousins' strengths, bringing in a new OC, upgrading the OL, or just hoping that he snaps out of it.

So yeah, I don't think Zimmer would be fired for his defense. There's enough reasons to explain the drop off even if it's more dramatic than any of us would have expected, but he could very well be fired for the offense.