In-depth interview with Zimmer

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Couple breaks last year, we get 10 wins despite the MASH unit OL...

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@"BarrNone55" said:
Couple breaks last year, we get 10 wins despite the MASH unit OL...

Yep, after their collapse, so many dismissed the Vikings as a bad team. I still believe that last year was the first year of our "window." It just got derailed by injuries. Vikings get back on track this year and we'll see how much we can improve upon that 11-5 2015 team. 

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MB, gotta upload your photo!

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@StickyBun said:
I have a feeling that Zimmer isn't as beloved by the players as he is by fans. Like I always said about him from the day he was hired: his act will work if they win. If not, it will get old in a heartbeat. 

Really?  What makes you say that?

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@StickyBun said:
I have a feeling that Zimmer isn't as beloved by the players as he is by fans. Like I always said about him from the day he was hired: his act will work if they win. If not, it will get old in a heartbeat. 

couldnt that be said about any coaching style though?   no real competitor likes to lose nor will they tolerate it for very long regardless of their feelings toward the coach or coaching style.

as far as hard ass coaches go,  if they are fair they are the best coaches because they usually dont really play favorites or mix words,  most adults will appreciate that approach.

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I'll tell you what, that was an excellent interview by Murphy.  Very pointed questions that revealed a lot of Zimmer's thought-process.  

Many like to bash the media at every opportunity but this interview was excellent and revealing.

Strange, but I came away feeling sorry for Zimmer.  He builds this beautiful 8,000 sq/ft mansion/ranch that he can't spent much time at but his neighbor's take care of for him.  His wife passed away 8 years ago and his youngest daughter just got married.  The ending question when he answered I "hope" my kids (not grand kids) come and hang-out at the ranch and this might not be where he retires.

Then you add his personal health issues, the personal issue with Turner, the two Lions game coaching losses, and to me (just my opinion) but he seems kinda down.

Being an NFL coach is a job most of us could never do.  The lifestyle is brutal with all the moves and the pay along the way is not good.  If you have a family it must be brutal for the spouse and children because you are rarely home.  I know everyone is going to say but he made a ton of money....but that is recent, not when the kids and family are young and really need you there.  

Zimmer seems very lonely to me! I say we make up a profile on match.com or ranchersonly.com.  Have to include the patch, chicks dig that  He reached his dream job late in his career and is now entering his 4 year as HC.  I think and hope that last year just knocked-the-wind-out of him and that he is ready to rebound.

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@Wetlander said:

@StickyBun said:
I have a feeling that Zimmer isn't as beloved by the players as he is by fans. Like I always said about him from the day he was hired: his act will work if they win. If not, it will get old in a heartbeat. 

Really?  What makes you say that?

Yeah - what makes you say that? I feel the exact opposite - that the players really do love there coach. I don't think he has an "act". That implies he's being phony. I think he is the exact opposite of phony - and as real as it gets with players. That does not mean there won't be disagreements between him and a player, thats going to happen between adults. But I think the team is extremely loyal to Zimmer.

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@NorthernCalVike said:

@Wetlander said:

@StickyBun said:
I have a feeling that Zimmer isn't as beloved by the players as he is by fans. Like I always said about him from the day he was hired: his act will work if they win. If not, it will get old in a heartbeat. 

Really?  What makes you say that?

Yeah - what makes you say that? I feel the exact opposite - that the players really do love there coach. I don't think he has an "act". That implies he's being phony. I think he is the exact opposite of phony - and as real as it gets with players. That does not mean there won't be disagreements between him and a player, thats going to happen between adults. But I think the team is extremely loyal to Zimmer.

Agree - Zimmer is not phony or an act I do not think he lost any player.  I think his expertise as a Defensive mind and the situation with Turner on Offense, then the Lions coaching losses, took a toll on the young team when they realized that Zimmer makes mistakes as well.  Everyone will learn from this and the good news it is a very young team coming through tough situations together = makes them stronger.  

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@StickyBun said:
I have a feeling that Zimmer isn't as beloved by the players as he is by fans. Like I always said about him from the day he was hired: his act will work if they win. If not, it will get old in a heartbeat. 

I would say the opposite.  It isn't an act and that is why the players love him.

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@"BarrNone55" said:
I’m going to try to be a little more reckless defensively this year, a little more aggressive.

When I read this post, I assumed he was going to dial up more Double A Gap blitzes which he went away from the latter half of the year..reading the article, sounds more like there will be more games up front with the lineman... He's got the horses to do that...looking forward to seeing what Jones can do from the 3T...D can hit another level with better play from this slot...

Not sure about the Double A, but he touched on something else in this excellent interview.   (yes Minny, it was a very well done piece and probably has something to do with Murphy being allowed to visit Zimmer at his home.)

Zimmer mentioned that teams know where they will be at defensively because they are so disciplined.  I think Zimmer's D gets lots of attention from offensive coaches, especially in the division.  So he needs to keep evolving.  He has lots of movement and stunting, but everyone else is going to stay home and do their job.  Read an excellent piece on Harrison Smith last year and how he is used, but it seemed a bit predictable.  He was always lined up opposite Barr, I think on the short side of the field mostly.  So Zimmer recognizes some of the "flaws" in his scheme and self scouts quite well.  Love that about him, he doesn't rest on success. 

Like last year, everyone is expecting lots of Double A since it worked so well the year before, but it seemed he didn't do it nearly as much, even early on. 

I think Zimmer is going  to surprise us again, with more fluidity to the D, more people playing in multiple positions.  Hope our nickle is solid, we may miss Cap more than most realize.