Quote: @"BarrNone55" said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@ purplefaithful said:
FWIW...
Mike Zimmer is entering his seventh season with the Vikings. He’s coming off a 2019 in which he led his team to a 10-6 regular season record and a playoff victory against the Saints.It’s safe to say that if the Vikings want to repeat that success, they will have to do so with a more unknown roster. There’s also the added uncertainty that Zimmer is currently in the final year of his contract.
When it comes to a new deal, Chad Graff of The Athletic reported that “there’s growing tension” between Zimmer and the Vikings.
Graff also said this ( H/T Bring Me The News):
“Zimmer has been irked by the fact that it’s now July and he remains without a new contract, according to multiple sources who requested anonymity to speak freely about a sensitive topic. He’s begun preparing for what seems like a growing possibility that he may coach this season in the final year of his contract.”
Not only is Zimmer in the final year of his contract, but Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is as well. It will be interesting to see what the team does with those two in the future — whether that’s keeping them around or trying something new.
Well, I've said it before but Rick Spielman deserves a damned medal. I'd sign him to a lifetime contract or something. He is truly the MVP of this organization and he's getting better, especially in the draft.
Zimmer? I can see both sides. You can look at his defensive stats and his record and say that his lack of an extension is an injustice, but....man, game prep...those games where his team comes out and looks like they had no clue what the other team was going to do....there were too many of those.
I think both will ultimately be extended though.
Mushroom cloud spotted over the Garden State.
As a lifelong Jersey resident, a part of me wishes I could watch a game with him and just rag on him without mercy.
Quote: @Wetlander said:
@ StickyBun said:
@ purplefaithful said:
I think Zimmer may be given a short extension....RS probably a longer one.
Agreed. I think the organization, as progressive as it is, views Zimmer as an old school guy that has some limitations. I think ideally they'd love to turn it over to a younger, more modern thinking wunderkind. I mean Spielman has done a damn good job finding talent the last 5-6 years. But replacing Z aint easy when he keeps winning games.
Did Spielman magically get better at drafting or has Zimmer helped him better evaluate the types of players that will be successful in his schemes? I don't think Spielman would have the same track record without Zimmer... Zim is also the guy responsible for developing that talent.
I think the two go hand in hand when you're looking at the success or failure of the team. Rick is in charge of making the picks (and should get credit for those picks when they boom or bust), but Zim certainly influences the board with his own take on the types of players he wants... and he has the job of developing those players into starters.
Put it this way, I don't know that Spielman would still be our GM if Zimmer hadn't been our Head Coach the past 6 years. If we let Zim go (which would be stupid IMO), I think you elevate Paton and get rid of Spielman. Clean house and start over.
Here is a little nugget too... Zim LOVED Aaron Donald in 2014, we ended up with Barr instead... just something to think about.
I just think the personnel team as a whole--Rick, Zim, Jamaal and assistants like Patterson--have gotten better at what they do through years of experience working together, learning from their mistakes and utilizing analytics.
So, yes, Rick because he runs it all and makes all final decisions, but also because I've gotten the impression he's not afraid to listen to his staff. It should be obvious to everyone that not every leader wants a debate. Good leaders encourage it.
I honestly don't think there is a team in the NFL who has drafted better than the Vikings over the last 6 drafts (taken as a whole).
Quote: @Wetlander said:
@ StickyBun said:
@ purplefaithful said:
I think Zimmer may be given a short extension....RS probably a longer one.
Agreed. I think the organization, as progressive as it is, views Zimmer as an old school guy that has some limitations. I think ideally they'd love to turn it over to a younger, more modern thinking wunderkind. I mean Spielman has done a damn good job finding talent the last 5-6 years. But replacing Z aint easy when he keeps winning games.
Did Spielman magically get better at drafting or has Zimmer helped him better evaluate the types of players that will be successful in his schemes? I don't think Spielman would have the same track record without Zimmer... Zim is also the guy responsible for developing that talent.
I think the two go hand in hand when you're looking at the success or failure of the team. Rick is in charge of making the picks (and should get credit for those picks when they boom or bust), but Zim certainly influences the board with his own take on the types of players he wants... and he has the job of developing those players into starters.
Put it this way, I don't know that Spielman would still be our GM if Zimmer hadn't been our Head Coach the past 6 years. If we let Zim go (which would be stupid IMO), I think you elevate Paton and get rid of Spielman. Clean house and start over.
Here is a little nugget too... Zim LOVED Aaron Donald in 2014, we ended up with Barr instead... just something to think about.
Good post. Comments like this are when I really wish fans could see what goes on inside the draft room...releasing video footage after the draft of course. I'd like to hear which coaches or front office people wanted certain players.
A friend of mine coaches for an NFL team and when I asked him about the draft room this past year he said it's a very small circle of people and only they know about the conversations that take place. Perhaps this is a teams way of protecting coaches or front office staff.
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