I hated how the D was exposed early, but it was promising how Zimmer adjusted late in the year. It felt like he figured out what was being exploited and changed it.
Zimmer explained that he studies other defenses and then evaluates how
the Vikings can implement certain aspects on the practice field.
You can bet he looked at how Chicago slowed down the Rams offense.
NE too. Zim's D was torched by the Rams.
NE didn't have to contend with Gurley. And watching that Chicago beatdown of the Rams, stopping Gurley was paramount to slowing them down. McVay had some extra special sauce cooked up after Zim's D embarrassed them the year before. McVay is good at exploiting mismatches and he did a number on our LBs that day.
That said, Zim recognized it and adjusted. And I expect he has put plenty of thought into it this offseason.