The thing with Reid was his ego. When his gameplan wasn't working he hated to go away from it. Something Chiefs fans also knew.
But in the Playoffs he made in-game adjustments in multiple games including the Superbowl. He didn't luck into anything, he matured. Even with an MVP QB and elite receiving options he leaned on the running game just enough when that was what Defenses were willing to give.
So a bigger question is has Zimmer grown? The answer in my mind is maybe. With his beloved Corners sucking, his Double A Gap Blitz looks seemingly less effective than ever, and zero interior pass rush he did two interesting things. The first was a lot more Zone than even the year before. The second was game planning to shut down certain teams strengths.
Selling out to stop the run was not something I remember ever seeing Mike do. Even though it hung his Corners out to dry. But it beat the Cowboys in their stadium. Selling out to stop Russell Wilson from hitting bombs, which he was literally the best at this year despite getting killed on the ground. Didn't work but he went down sticking to that strategy.
The in-game adjustment to put Griff and Hunter at DT against the Saints was new. As was how and whom he used to defend Michael Thomas.
On the flipside he treated backup QBs like they were world beaters and did absolutely zero to get after Daniels or Moore and nearly humped the bunk against whoever the hell the Broncos QB was.
So it's a work in progress for Mike Zimmer as far as I'm concerned. How hard he pushes to keep non-performing vets and how willing he is to bend scheme to talent next year will tell me a lot about whether he lead the team all the way to the promised land.
You can say Reid evolved and maybe Zimmer will too but it took almost 20 years. And he and the Chiefs risked it big time trading up for Mahomes. Heck if Garapollo completes a couple throws or the niners d does a little more, Reid would still be empty handed.
And this organization under Wilf hasn't made a bold move in 10 years--if the next game changing QB is out there for a price they will never have the nuts or brains to pony up for him.
I really see the team as having found it's level of about 9-10 wins and an early playoff exit and moving pieces around this off-season isn't likely to change that.
Quote: @comet52 said:
You can say Reid evolved and maybe Zimmer will too but it took almost 20 years. And he and the Chiefs risked it big time trading up for Mahomes. Heck if Garapollo completes a couple throws or the niners d does a little more, Reid would still be empty handed.
And this organization under Wilf hasn't made a bold move in 10 years--if the next game changing QB is out there for a price they will never have the nuts or brains to pony up for him.
I really see the team as having found it's level of about 9-10 wins and an early playoff exit and moving pieces around this off-season isn't likely to change that.
I agree. To say Reid never lucked into anything seems odd. He lucked into Mahomes. Like Bud Grant used to say, Players make coaches. Any of Reids past QB's wouldn't likely come from behind to beat the 49ers.
And though the great defense of the 49ers lost in the Superbowl, they crushed the Vikings when they played them. The Vikings aren't on the same level as the 49ers, and I don't think having Kubiak is going to be enough to get them there.
I'm hopeful they can win by making the few moves they will be able to make. But given their history of taking only second tier free agents, trading back for multiple late round picks and hoping for a hidden gem, and inability to keep good players due to cap concerns, I have a hard time seeing more than 9 wins as their ceiling.
Will they still be good at home and bad on the road? Good against bad teams and bad against winning teams?
Can they beat the Packers or the Bears? Can they stop coming out flat when they get extra time to prepare?
We shall see.
Wait...
Acquiring KC wasn't a bold move?
Moving up for Bridgewater and Cook weren't bold moves?
Signing Jared Allen wasn't a bold move?
Signing Brett Favre wasn't a bold move?
Signing Sheldon Richardson at the time wasn't a bold move?
Signing Steve Hutchinson wasn't a bold move?
Now that Tua is medically cleared do I want em to make a bold move for him? I dont think so - unless FSU, MB and BN tell me emphatically he's the next Russel Wilson...
Next week will be the most filling since between FA and the draft they have the ability to fill/re-fill most of the holes on the roster. People have a negative taste in their mouths from our performance against the 49ers, which almost every team reminisces on the final game of the season. But the reality is that most of the subtractions will happen on a defense that was inconsistent at best.
The offense will be supplemented here or there but the performance last year should be expected this coming season. If you wanted to be more liberal you could call that the floor with an anticipated upgrade at LG. But like every other team you're hoping for some injury luck along the way.
Defensively people are worked up about the secondary, but the larger issue still the run defense. It was marginally better in 2019 but still allowed too many 3rd and short situations. It indirectly made the secondary look worse at times (outside of the Dallas game). From what I know, they want to get better up front. They have a lot of faith in Mike Hughes & Holton Hill and you can see why. Doesn't mean they won't add at CB, but an improvement along the D-line, which was the initial approach when Zimmer was named coach probably makes the most sense.
So in that long winded response, I don't think they will take a massive step back. But I also have a hard time seeing the step forward to be a true Super Bowl contender either.
@ purplefaithful it would be so cost prohibitive to move up for Tua, even if he somehow slid out of the top 10. Now, if someone leaves a big bag of coke in his car, an ex girlfriend shows up dead, and his uncle posts a video of him on a 4' bong...
For me, the medical history is just too much...players that get hurt in college tend to get hurt in the pros...Hurts in the third is a better option...Hurts draft profile is similar to Dak...if I can get that in the third, I'm a happy guy...
No worries... 
![[Image: ld9z83dib4n9.jpeg]](https://vikefans.com/vfforums/uploads/editor/ag/ld9z83dib4n9.jpeg)
All is well... B)
Quote: @purplefaithful said:
Wait...
Acquiring KC wasn't a bold move?
- marginally, maybe. As Eric Eager of PFF put it, they paid for certainty. You can be certain Cousins will put up numbers. However you can also be certain he'll display the numerous flaws we all are sick of watching. Maybe the front office forgot about that part.
Moving up for Bridgewater and Cook weren't bold moves? Shuffling early-mid draft picks is smart if you make it pay off but bold? No. KC traded a big haul--two firsts and a third--to get from 27 to 10 and take Mahomes. That is what I would call BOLD. The Vikings haven't done anything like that in ages if ever. Ok Herschel Walker. I guess when they did it they did it big, and disastrously in the end.
Signing Jared Allen wasn't a bold move? 12 years ago. It was bold imo but I stated in my post 'in 10 years'
Signing Brett Favre wasn't a bold move? yes but 11 years ago ; again, they haven't done anything in 10 years that I can think of. Unless you want to count bringing him back against his better judgement for year #2 and believing the magic would somehow happen again, lol. That was more like just a butt-stupid move from an organization with no idea where to find a qb, which is kinda where they still are in some ways.
Signing Sheldon Richardson at the time wasn't a bold move? Your definition of bold is pretty thin at this point. Every f.a. signing is bold by this standard. Riley Reiff... bold!
Signing Steve Hutchinson wasn't a bold move? Holy cow 14 years! Even longer ago. The modus operandi especially since RS was given control in 2012 has been ultraconservative, "incremental progress." Unfortunately I think they've adopted an approach that is the football equivalent of Zeno's paradox. They keep taking a step forward that is half as long as the last step, thinking they will get to the goal someday lol.
Now that Tua is medically cleared do I want em to make a bold move for him? I dont think so - unless FSU, MB and BN tell me emphatically he's the next Russel Wilson... The trick was KC identifying Mahomes while others didn't, or worse made a move like trading up to take Mitch Trubisky a number of picks ahead of Mahomes and Watson. Elementary my dear fellow, lol.
Sadly, not only do the Vikings play it safe but I don't see any evidence the organization could identify a talent like Mahomes, who would clearly be #1 in any 2018 redraft, let alone wheel and deal for him. Tua pre-injury was probably a lock to go #1, not exactly someone you have to outsmart other teams to find and win the prize with and way too costly to trade for in that situation.
I don't think they take a step back. Why? I am going with the continued evolution and progress of the offense. I also think that the forced change on defense is going to be helpful. There are some tough choices that have to be made but they are important. Rhodes has to go. He is just taking up a roster spot at this point. I enjoyed his growth and development but his decline has sucked. Griffen might get one last payday somewhere else but not here.
They cannot afford to do it. If he stays, there has to be some sort of reasonable deal. Anthony Harris I don't want to lose but I can see him getting some great offers. Zimmer needs to look at the defense and look at developing young guys and maybe simplifying the defense in the initial stages or finding better ways to integrate the young guys. He also needs to lean more on Patterson and his son in regard to the defense. I don't see Zimmer as a guy promoting his son based on nepotism and I don't think his son is just a puppet. I think this could be a good way for him to loosen the reigns. Also Patterson is going to be more involved. He is very smart and players respect him.
I also think that the different experiences and ages of the co-coordinators is beneficial. There is going to be different perspectives brought to the table. There was some willingness to adapt but we need to see more. Adapt or die. That's just the way it is. The continuity and stability of the defense has been nice but it has run it's course in some areas. Onward and upwards.
Quote: @"Geoff Nichols" said:
Next week will be the most filling since between FA and the draft they have the ability to fill/re-fill most of the holes on the roster. People have a negative taste in their mouths from our performance against the 49ers, which almost every team reminisces on the final game of the season. But the reality is that most of the subtractions will happen on a defense that was inconsistent at best.
The offense will be supplemented here or there but the performance last year should be expected this coming season. If you wanted to be more liberal you could call that the floor with an anticipated upgrade at LG. But like every other team you're hoping for some injury luck along the way.
Defensively people are worked up about the secondary, but the larger issue still the run defense. It was marginally better in 2019 but still allowed too many 3rd and short situations. It indirectly made the secondary look worse at times (outside of the Dallas game). From what I know, they want to get better up front. They have a lot of faith in Mike Hughes & Holton Hill and you can see why. Doesn't mean they won't add at CB, but an improvement along the D-line, which was the initial approach when Zimmer was named coach probably makes the most sense.
So in that long winded response, I don't think they will take a massive step back. But I also have a hard time seeing the step forward to be a true Super Bowl contender either.
Do you think they will target players like Michael Pierce, Jordan Phillips, Danny Shelton, Andrew Billings, or the bigger ticket players like DJ Reader, Javon Hargrave, or Michael Brockers?
I think the first 3 could come in between 5 and 7 mil.
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