Kellen Mond on Zimmer: "We never spoke. Not once."

[Vikesrock]

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but Zimmer was right. He was right about Cousins and he was right about Mond. Neither should of ever been a Viking. Zimmer wanted to use very little capital on a QB to run his style of offense to complement his defense.

After so many QB failures, Spielman was giving up. Cousins was his white flag. Don't get me wrong, Zimmer acted like a petulant child in the end, but I believe, to this day, that the Cousins signing more so then anything else, eroded Zimmmers defense, removed the identity of the team that he had built and eventually brought about their own demise. Zimmer was right on all of that. My guess is, if Zimmer had his way, maybe Teddy B or Sam Bradford was back, or some other QB is selected and a lot more capital would have been poured in to the defense. Zimmer had just been to the NFC Championship with freaking Case Keenum. Why was Spielman not listening to him and giving him everything he wanted?

I think the Vikings go back to the NFC Championship game in 2019 if Zimmer had his way and maybe a Super Bowl. Alas...it's all supposition now. Just my opinion.

[Canthony]

I am not sure it would be overly uncommon for the HC to not have much communication with the 3rd string QB, especially when the HC functions as the DC as well and leave the offense to his OC.  As far as Zimmer's assessment of Mond, it turned out he was right.

Never heard the story about Belichick calling out KOC when he was a rookie in a team meeting? "Look at O'Connell, he won't be much of a QB in this league, but he will be one hell of a coach"

Belichick was also a defensive coach, as I am sure everyone knows, or should sure as hell know. 

I will bet that Zimmer was PISSED off that they used that pick on a QB, after they already chose Kirk against his wishes, and didn't get a defensive guy that he really wanted.

[Mattyman]

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but Zimmer was right.  He was right about Cousins and he was right about Mond.  Neither should of ever been a Viking.  Zimmer wanted to use very little capital on a QB to run his style of offense to complement his defense. 

After so many QB failures, Spielman was giving up.  Cousins was his white flag.  Don't get me wrong, Zimmer acted like a petulant child in the end, but I believe, to this day, that the Cousins signing more so then anything else, eroded Zimmmers defense, removed the identity of the team that he had built and eventually brought about their own demise.  Zimmer was right on all of that.  My guess is, if Zimmer had his way, maybe Teddy B or Sam Bradford was back, or some other QB is selected and a lot more capital would have been poured in to the defense.  Zimmer had just been to the NFC Championship with freaking Case Keenum.  Why was Spielman not listening to him and giving him everything he wanted?

I think the Vikings go back to the NFC Championship game in 2019 if Zimmer had his way and maybe a Super Bowl.  Alas...it's all supposition now.  Just my 

The other thing that neutered zimmers defense was the rule changes that started in 2018.

Vikings cornerbacks would mug opposing wide receivers at the  LOS. and then send the double A gap blitz ,QBs couldn't deal with it, and everyone copied it so NFL changed the rules.

Cousins guaranteed contact didn't help.

Zimmer was right, how he handled it was wrong. IMO I suspect it's why he was passed over for head coaching opportunities.

[StickierBuns]

Here's a hilarious little sidenote to this non-story: Kyle Sloter decided to pop back from obscurity on X and say, 'See? I told you!' lmao. He's quite the headcase that can't let it go. He only had like 5 or 6 opportunities with other teams and never made it also.

[comet52]

I don't give a shit about the gossip.  But Zimmer, when shit went sideways in 2016 it became clear to me that he was in over his head.  Our slow witted owners only needed another 5 years to figure it out.

He was a good DC but not suited to be a HC.  He worked best as second banana; put him in charge and eventually it all unravels which it did.

[purplefaithful]

I don't give a shit about the gossip.  But Zimmer, when shit went sideways in 2016 it became clear to me that he was in over his head.  Our slow witted owners only needed another 5 years to figure it out.

He was a good DC but not suited to be a HC.  He worked best as second banana; put him in charge and eventually it all unravels which it did.

^^^

Agreed, didnt have the DNA/Make-up to lead an entire org at the HC level. Not convinced Flores does either tbh. He might just flourish brightest as a DC/Asst HC

[MaroonBells]

Mike Zimmer was a good coach—an even better DC. I always liked how he adjusted his game plan as the reality of the game took shape. As Aaron Rodgers put it when asked what happened to his offense after the 1st quarter, “Mike Zimmer happened.”

But yes, he was also an “angry little bitch,” as Dade puts it. A guy who seemed to hold grudges like a Texas middle-school cheerleader if he didn’t get his way.

Both things can be true.

[Zanary]

72-56-1 record. 2-3 in the playoffs with an NFC Championship Game appearance. Was a Blair Walsh total meltdown on a chipshot field goal away from being 3-2. Took this franchise from an absolute dumpster fire under Les "I'll need to check the tape" Frazier, and turned it into one of the better teams and rosters in the league. The ending was unfortunate, but he was one of the better coaches we've had in our history. Like it or not.

He was a douche-canoe that tried to avoid his own offense, never liked ANY of our QBs besides Teddy, and the offense in 2017 was as much about Shurmur as anyone. He was credited as the "CB whisperer", but Rhodes was the only shut-door corner we had...and he'd already been on the team. Waynes? Hughes? Beuller?

He was apparently a shot in the arm for the team after Frazier, but he came across as a miserable SOB to be around.

[supafreak84]

He was a douche-canoe that tried to avoid his own offense, never liked ANY of our QBs besides Teddy, and the offense in 2017 was as much about Shurmur as anyone. He was credited as the "CB whisperer", but Rhodes was the only shut-door corner we had...and he'd already been on the team. Waynes? Hughes? Beuller?

He was apparently a shot in the arm for the team after Frazier, but he came across as a miserable SOB to be around.

There's been a lot of highly successful head coaches who have been complete douche-canoe's (including the guy considered to be the GOAT). Was Zimm perfect, no, but if I had to choose between prime Zimm and prime KOC...I'd take Zimm every day of the week. At least you knew what you were getting from year to year on his side of the ball and he didn't need "specialists" to make it work. In-game adjustments and playoff wins are also desirable.