Zimm on the verge of becoming the 3rd most tenured Viking HC
When Mike Zimmer starts the 2020 season, only Bud Grant and Dennis Green will have coached the Vikings longer than him.
The fact is that he was hired because the Wilf family and the Vikings front office believed he could turn the team into a dominant defensive club, and Zimmer has done just that.
Since Zimmer took over as coach in 2014, the Vikings rank No. 2 in the NFL in points against with 1,848, trailing only the New England Patriots.
But even Zimmer would admit that the Vikings defense struggled a bit during a 2019 season that saw them reach the postseason for the third time in his tenure, win a playoff game at New Orleans and ultimately fall at San Francisco to a 49ers team that should have won the Super Bowl.
If you want to know how a defense can rank fifth in the NFL in points against, like the Vikings did in 2019, and still need big changes, consider that they had five games in which they gave up 140 rushing yards or more, and they lost all five games.
That included giving up 184 rushing yards to the Packers in a Week 16 loss at home and 144 yards in a Week 2 loss at Green Bay.
The trend continued in the playoffs, when the 49ers ran for 186 yards and completely dominated the Vikings defense in a 27-10 victory.
Overall, the Vikings defense ranked 14th in the NFL in 2019, tied for the worst mark in Zimmer’s tenure
http://www.startribune.com/mike-zimmer-knows-vikings-defense-needs-big-improvement/567912392/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
“We have to do better than what we did. We had some good games and we had some games where we weren’t probably up to our standards,” Zimmer said. “I think the biggest thing is that we all get in here, roll up our sleeves, get back to work and see where we can improve. That’s part of the reason why I brought Dom in here and part of the reason why Adam and Andre are taking charge in the room and I can try to continue to get good coaches."
And the fact is, Zimmer said he doesn’t want to look back now that he has made the decisions and built this staff. “I have been very fortunate that I have a lot of good people around me,” he said. “I continue to try to add people around me like Gary Kubiak and Dom Capers and I have had great people in the front office with Rick and [Executive Vice President of Football Operations] Rob and George , and the ownership has been great with me and the fans have been great.
“We have been fortunate that we have played decent, but at the end of the day we’re looking forward and not trying to look back at the last seven years. We still have a lot of things we haven’t accomplished yet that we need to accomplish. That is kind of our focus now, it’s not so much looking back. It has gone fast, faster than I thought, but it has been fun.”
Courtney Cronin is reporting that they are working on an extension for Zimmer. Have to assume that means Rick gets one too. For all the yak about the alleged upcoming prove it year this isn't really a surprise. Teams almost never let coaches work a last year of their deal.
I think Zimmer's ceiling is a playoff loss. I guess we should all prepare for a few more years of Jason Garrett North.
If Vikes make the playoffs again this year, Zim is getting an extension.
@"comet52" said: Courtney Cronin is reporting that they are working on an extension for Zimmer. Have to assume that means Rick gets one too. For all the yak about the alleged upcoming prove it year this isn't really a surprise. Teams almost never let coaches work a last year of their deal.I think Zimmer's ceiling is a playoff loss. I guess we should all prepare for a few more years of Jason Garrett North.
Only place I hear about a "prove it year" is from fans on pages like this.
He could get an extension and still get fired next year if they collapse. Remember how Brett made Chilly alot of free money. Signed a extension then fired all in about a year. The Wilf's have history of this.
Not wanting to handcuff a coach with a lame duck tag is no guarantee of safety.
@"suncoastvike" said: He could get an extension and still get fired next year if they collapse. Remember how Brett made Chilly alot of free money. Signed a extension then fired all in about a year. The Wilf's have history of this. Not wanting to handcuff a coach with a lame duck tag is no guarantee of safety.Which is why I think the whole speculation on coaches and players not wanting to go to teams with head coaches on a final year is a bit overblown. Especially players since they are getting their guaranteed money one way or another.
@"comet52" said: Courtney Cronin is reporting that they are working on an extension for Zimmer. Have to assume that means Rick gets one too. For all the yak about the alleged upcoming prove it year this isn't really a surprise. Teams almost never let coaches work a last year of their deal.I think Zimmer's ceiling is a playoff loss. I guess we should all prepare for a few more years of Jason Garrett North.
I haven't seen this. Do you have a link or tweet?
@"BarrNone55" said:@"comet52" said: Courtney Cronin is reporting that they are working on an extension for Zimmer. Have to assume that means Rick gets one too. For all the yak about the alleged upcoming prove it year this isn't really a surprise. Teams almost never let coaches work a last year of their deal.I think Zimmer's ceiling is a playoff loss. I guess we should all prepare for a few more years of Jason Garrett North.
I haven't seen this. Do you have a link or tweet?
Skor North Purple Daily podcast 2/14
@"comet52" said:@"BarrNone55" said:@"comet52" said: Courtney Cronin is reporting that they are working on an extension for Zimmer. Have to assume that means Rick gets one too. For all the yak about the alleged upcoming prove it year this isn't really a surprise. Teams almost never let coaches work a last year of their deal.I think Zimmer's ceiling is a playoff loss. I guess we should all prepare for a few more years of Jason Garrett North.
I haven't seen this. Do you have a link or tweet?
Skor North Purple Daily podcast 2/14
Thank you. I think I'd rather take a sharp stick to the eye than watch a podcast.
@"BarrNone55" said:@"comet52" said:@"BarrNone55" said:@"comet52" said: Courtney Cronin is reporting that they are working on an extension for Zimmer. Have to assume that means Rick gets one too. For all the yak about the alleged upcoming prove it year this isn't really a surprise. Teams almost never let coaches work a last year of their deal.I think Zimmer's ceiling is a playoff loss. I guess we should all prepare for a few more years of Jason Garrett North.
I haven't seen this. Do you have a link or tweet?
Skor North Purple Daily podcast 2/14
Thank you. I think I'd rather take a sharp stick to the eye than watch a podcast.
Well it's audio only no visual...that I know of.
@"BarrNone55" said:@"comet52" said:@"BarrNone55" said:@"comet52" said: Courtney Cronin is reporting that they are working on an extension for Zimmer. Have to assume that means Rick gets one too. For all the yak about the alleged upcoming prove it year this isn't really a surprise. Teams almost never let coaches work a last year of their deal.I think Zimmer's ceiling is a playoff loss. I guess we should all prepare for a few more years of Jason Garrett North.
I haven't seen this. Do you have a link or tweet?
Skor North Purple Daily podcast 2/14
Thank you. I think I'd rather take a sharp stick to the eye than watch a podcast.
You must not have a commute.
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