Zimmer: Genius Move

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@pumpf said:
Makes me wonder why Zimmer isn't this creative all the time.

IMO, this is sometimes limited or seemingly inconsistent because of the offensive line. The Vikings probably have the worst line of the remaining teams in the playoffs.....

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How we guarding Kittle this weekend? Kearse?

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I think we approach Kittle the same way we did with Thomas...multiple different coverages heavy on S and LB...

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@greediron said:

@pumpf said:
Makes me wonder why Zimmer isn't this creative all the time.

Makes me wonder how times he has to be creative before people stop doubting him.
One could wish he would have done this earlier in the year, and then not have it work in the playoffs.  Show all your cards for a regular season game?  Or hold some for the playoffs?
And one could consider the fact that he is creative.  He is one of the best defensive minds in football, but when guys don't make the plays, or get off assignments, it wreaks havoc on they defensive plan.  Consider how well he does against the great QBs, Rodgers, Brees, Rivers.  And then when we face a scrub, they make plays.  Is that Zimmer's plan, or they guys on the field relaxing and thinking they can freelance a little? 

And then again, sometimes he has a plan and it doesn't work.  The other team has a plan as well, and both get paid to destroy the other teams plan.  Zimmer has admitted on occasion that he could have "put them in better position" or something to the effect that his plan was flawed.  That is the downside of creativity.  It is always effective.

He doesn't have Opponent-specific gameplans unless he's facing an Elite QB or a really good rushing attack. Doesn't even break out the fake blitz looks. Plays straight up and counts on having the better talent to execute his scheme to stop the Offense.

I'm not saying he needs to have a gameplan for every single opponent. But it would be nice to see him mix it up just a little more when he's not facing the Elite QBs.

He's done Big Nickle before, just not with Sendejo. He's done NASCAR before, though not with both DEs inside. Those were wrinkles on concepts the League has seen before. It wasn't like he unveiled something nobody has ever seen before. 

So I reject the notion that Zimmer has been saving it up for the Playoffs. I also reject the notion that just because it's a backup QB or an average Starter that playing straight vanilla the whole damn game is fine. He can use some fake blitz looks. Maybe actually blitz here and there. 

For the amount of draft picks and contracts on that side of the ball Minnesota is essentially a Bend but Don't Break Defense. With a Secondary that went through a protracted period of playing poorly.

Two years ago and even for a lot of last year they could get 3 & Outs galore. Not anymore. It will be interesting to see if Mike starts to get more aggressive with the playcalling as his Defense continues to decline.

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Maybe previous experience is teaching him to keep thinking outside the box. Kudos on the gameplan. Keep it up.

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He'll have to go without Mac again.

MACKENSIE ALEXANDERDB, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports Vikings CB Mackensie Alexander (knee) won't play in their Divisional Round matchup against the 49ers.

SOURCE: Tom Pelissero on Twitter

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Surgery scheduled for Thor's day...Dr James Andrews...fairly minor

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@"BarrNone55" said:
Surgery scheduled for Thor's day...Dr James Andrews...fairly minor

isnt that what we heard when Sheriff went under the knife?

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@pumpf said:
Makes me wonder why Zimmer isn't this creative all the time.

Because necessity is the mother of all innovation