Again our coach shows he is a dipshit.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"mblack" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: Given the factors--down, distance, score, Bailey's history at that distance, and the two missed kicks earlier in the game, I kick that field goal probably 10 times outta 10. 

I have my problems with Zimmer but that wasn't one of them. In fact, my biggest problem with him (game prep) wasn't an issue in this game. We seemed to have come out well prepared. 

This is exactly what I have said time without number. Thanks for explaining it very well. I don't have any problem with that decision.

the problem is historically doesnt mean much for the now.   How many times historically has Bailey been as bad as he had been that last 2 weeks?  He missed 3 kicks last week and had missed his first 2 this game,  its not like he was hitting uprights or had bad footing,  he is flat out sucking ass right now with his place kicks and there was nobody on the planet that has watched him kick the last 2 weeks that thought he was honestly going to make that 54 yard kick.  hell you could see it in his eyes after the first miss that he was lost mentally.

Well, to that I would only say that his other misses were yips--easy chip shots that were 100% in his head. Sometimes it takes a long field goal to get back on track. I don't know, I just know that's what I was thinking when they sent him out...that he was probably more likely to make this one than another chip shot. Might've been what Zim was thinking as well. 

@"purplefaithful" said: @ BN - Reid (imo) is more progressive than Zimmer. 

We've entered subjective territory now...I'm just not convinced Zimmer is the right guy to win the way the league is going.

I think its time to cut-bait after this season, in spite of the sound points you make. 

@"BarrNone55" said: 7th best record since 2014

@"Mike Olson" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: 7th best record since 2014

Dead last the last two weeks.

Mike Zimmer is the best coach this team has had since Grant and its not even close.  He has routinely had this team in playoff contention year after year. To bash him and call for his ouster in a Covid effected season where you are trying to work in young players without the benefit of a preseason is just crazy.  Our big free agent signing and nose tackle Michael Pierce opted out, Hunter's been out all year, Barr (Pro Bowler) missed most of the season, we have no defensive lineman playing significant minutes drafted before the 4th round, and on top of all that we are trying to break in a completely new secondary comprised of rookies and undrafted free agents. The fact that we are even still in playoff contention at this point is an accomplishment and Zimmer should be commended. As far as I'm concerned this season is a mulligan. 

It's not an either/or situation. Obviously Bailey is to blame for missing the kicks. Zimmer has his share of blame as well. The kicker issue rears its ugly head again. Hopefully the revolving door of offensive coordinators is done. He has done some good things. We saw a great defense under him but now not so much. Well see what happens with Hunter and Pierce next year. Hoping for more for the offense. 

@"supafreak84" said: Mike Zimmer is the best coach this team has had since Grant and its not even close.  He has routinely had this team in playoff contention year after year. To bash him and call for his ouster in a Covid effected season where you are trying to work in young players without the benefit of a preseason is just crazy.  Our big free agent signing and nose tackle Michael Pierce opted out, Hunter's been out all year, Barr (Pro Bowler) missed most of the season, we have no defensive lineman playing significant minutes drafted before the 4th round, and on top of all that we are trying to break in a completely new secondary comprised of rookies and undrafted free agents. The fact that we are even still in playoff contention at this point is an accomplishment and Zimmer should be commended. As far as I'm concerned this season is a mulligan. 

It's possible to agree with all of this and also still question whether or not Zimmer can win the Vikings a Super Bowl ring in the future.
It's the NFL. If the Vikings think they can get a better coach, they should do it. They don't need to wait til he goes 3-13 some year in order to move on.

@"supafreak84" said: Mike Zimmer is the best coach this team has had since Grant and its not even close.  He has routinely had this team in playoff contention year after year. To bash him and call for his ouster in a Covid effected season where you are trying to work in young players without the benefit of a preseason is just crazy.  Our big free agent signing and nose tackle Michael Pierce opted out, Hunter's been out all year, Barr (Pro Bowler) missed most of the season, we have no defensive lineman playing significant minutes drafted before the 4th round, and on top of all that we are trying to break in a completely new secondary comprised of rookies and undrafted free agents. The fact that we are even still in playoff contention at this point is an accomplishment and Zimmer should be commended. As far as I'm concerned this season is a mulligan. 

Whether people (and coaches) appreciate kickers or not they are responsible for the most points on most teams. Having a coach that routinely destroys kickers and disrespects them seems like a dumb choice to me. But then again our coach thinks his decades old defensive philosophy is something great.

I have been off the Zimmer bandwagon for 2 years now but I try not to beat it to death.  Main reason is I don't have a coach alternative that jumps off the chart to me.  If you type in top coaching candidates you will find a list that a guy like Eric Bienamy (??) is listed at the top.  I don't know about him for several reasons.  Of course there is his time with us when he sent in our (FB) late in the Favre championship game vs Saints and bounty gate which bugs me.  Plus he doesn't really call plays with the Chiefs, Andy Reid still does.  Then he gets credit for having Mahomes as the QB when I'm don't think Bienamy should get credit for picking or developing Mahomes.

I do lean towards an offensive minded HC who would pick and groom a high draft pick QB as soon as this draft.  I am not sure when we will be within striking distance of a top QB prospect moving forward and I am not sure we will be this year either.  But when you look at the balls (GM Dorsey and Andy Reid) has for moving from the 27th pick to 10th for Mahomes that is the kind of conviction I am looking for to change the history of this franchise.  Of course huge risk vs reward.  Not looking up now but the Chiefs gave up something like their 1st (27th), 2ns rounder, 1st the next year and more...I think??  The Chiefs did that coming off a couple Division Championships in a row (12-4 and 10-6) and Alex Smith Pro Bowl.  They knew Smith wasn't going to get them over the hump and had the balls and have been rewarded for years to come. 

Now their might not be a QB that we even fall in love with or have that conviction for??  I am really liking Wilson (BYU) but I am no guru.  It is very very early but most drafts have him going in the 5-10 range.  If we have the 15-20 pick we would be in striking distance to get him and that might not happen for years to come.  Wilson has the "it" factor IMO.  The way the ball just explodes from his wrist/arm is something I have not seen very often.  He throws 35-40 yards passes on a dime with no effort.  Not that this is all you need to be a great QB of course because his arm is in that Jeff George area from what I can see and we all know how that knuckle head worked out :)  But Wilson just has such velocity on his throws with accuracy.  Mahomes had one of the highest velocity throws at the combine with 2 other no name guys in the same area over the years so it is not a marker of success but again Wilson seems to have very good accuracy with the arm, doesn't throw Int's, can move well in and out of the pocket etc....to me he looks like the total package who might be in reach???

But as others have pointed out, with Zimmer, our Cousins contract and Spelly thinking our window is still open I very highly doubt the brass is looking at this upcoming draft through that lens. 

My thoughts are the following to make that all a possibility not a probability.  I would move on from Zimmer (replacement thoughts to follow).  If I'm the Wilf's I would want to keep Spelly but tell him it is time to move on from Zimmer and look to the future beyond Cousins.  In other words, ignore Cousins contract that is "sunk" cost and should not influence the future QB position and the "opportunity" cost of drafting  a guy like Wilson.  Cousins is a good QB to sit and learn from like Mahomes did with Alex Smith.  A rookie comes cheap so our total QB positional spending would not be too outrageous over the next few years.   

I don't think Kubiak ever want to be a HC again but I would want to retain him and help continue to build the offense and develop the rookie QB.  Kubiak has a history with the DC of the 49'ers Robert Saleh who is a very hot commodity according to most articles.  He is from Michigan and I'm sure the Lions will go hard after him.  I know I said I preferred a OC as our next HC but I think the combination of Kubiak and a young defensive mind like Saleh might be a very good future combination.  

So a lot of (hate having to use this word) matriculation to make my latest whims happen but this is how beautiful minds work :)

I've been on the Zimmer wagon for a long time but I concede that the Vikings have not been the Vikings since the second half of the Eagles NFCC game.  I don't know what was said or done to piss players off, but its been a different team since.  For that reason, I think its time to move on. 

@"Mike Olson" said:

@"supafreak84" said: Mike Zimmer is the best coach this team has had since Grant and its not even close.  He has routinely had this team in playoff contention year after year. To bash him and call for his ouster in a Covid effected season where you are trying to work in young players without the benefit of a preseason is just crazy.  Our big free agent signing and nose tackle Michael Pierce opted out, Hunter's been out all year, Barr (Pro Bowler) missed most of the season, we have no defensive lineman playing significant minutes drafted before the 4th round, and on top of all that we are trying to break in a completely new secondary comprised of rookies and undrafted free agents. The fact that we are even still in playoff contention at this point is an accomplishment and Zimmer should be commended. As far as I'm concerned this season is a mulligan. 

 Green was lightyears beyond him.

@"Mike Olson" said:

@"supafreak84" said: Mike Zimmer is the best coach this team has had since Grant and its not even close.  He has routinely had this team in playoff contention year after year. To bash him and call for his ouster in a Covid effected season where you are trying to work in young players without the benefit of a preseason is just crazy.  Our big free agent signing and nose tackle Michael Pierce opted out, Hunter's been out all year, Barr (Pro Bowler) missed most of the season, we have no defensive lineman playing significant minutes drafted before the 4th round, and on top of all that we are trying to break in a completely new secondary comprised of rookies and undrafted free agents. The fact that we are even still in playoff contention at this point is an accomplishment and Zimmer should be commended. As far as I'm concerned this season is a mulligan. 

 Green was lightyears beyond him.

@"wiviking" said:

@"Mike Olson" said:

@"supafreak84" said: Mike Zimmer is the best coach this team has had since Grant and its not even close.  He has routinely had this team in playoff contention year after year. To bash him and call for his ouster in a Covid effected season where you are trying to work in young players without the benefit of a preseason is just crazy.  Our big free agent signing and nose tackle Michael Pierce opted out, Hunter's been out all year, Barr (Pro Bowler) missed most of the season, we have no defensive lineman playing significant minutes drafted before the 4th round, and on top of all that we are trying to break in a completely new secondary comprised of rookies and undrafted free agents. The fact that we are even still in playoff contention at this point is an accomplishment and Zimmer should be commended. As far as I'm concerned this season is a mulligan. 

 Green was lightyears beyond him.

If I remember correctly, our 98 team should have cruised to a Superbowl win, and the 41-0 loss to the giants doesn't really scream SuperCoach.