Following the chain of command?
Asked Monday why a team he thought would make the playoffs in 2021 will stay home for the postseason, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer cut to the chase.
“We fumbled the ball in overtime against Cincinnati,” he said. “We gave up a touchdown at the end of the game against Dallas. We missed a field goal (on the last play) against Arizona. We lost in overtime against Baltimore. We gave up a pass on the last play of the game against Detroit.”“You hit half of those,” Zimmer added, “and you are in the playoffs.”
True enough. Still, if this is Zimmer’s last season in Minnesota, as many suspect as the Vikings head into Sunday’s finale against Chicago with a 7-9 record, his biggest regret might be hiring a first-time offensive coordinator who doesn’t seem to be on the same page as his boss.
After the Vikings’ past two games, losses to the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers, Zimmer made it clear he was disappointed in the offense’s inability — or more to the point, unwillingness — to run the ball. Against the Packers on Sunday night, running back Dalvin Cook ran nine times for 13 yards in a 37-10 loss at frigid Lambeau Field.
That’s one fewer yard than Sean Mannion, making his third career start at quarterback since 2015, gained on two scrambles. Zimmer was careful when discussing it again on Monday, offering reasons that Klint Kubiak might have abandoned the run — down and distance, large deficit, etc. — but he didn’t change his tune.
“My frustration,” he said, “(is) our best player is either (receiver Justin) Jefferson or Cook, and we’re playing with a backup quarterback, and no offense to Sean but we’re throwing the ball 45 times.”
Despite missing four games, Cook has run for 1,080 yards this season, including a 205-yard game in a 36-28 victory over Pittsburgh on Dec. 9. Against the Packers on Sunday, he ran twice in the second half.
Zimmer will accept a win whatever it looks like, and he has an occasionally terrific quarterback in Kirk Cousins and two of the NFL’s best receivers in Jefferson and Adam Thielen. But his DNA tells him to establish the running game and keep his defense fresh. That has been especially true for the 2021 Vikings, who started the season with a talented-but-aging defense that quickly became less talented after end rushers Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffen were lost for the season. COVID also kept key players such as Harrison Smith, Patrick Peterson and Dalvin Tomlinson off the field for full games.
The Vikings are 7-2 this season when they outrush an opponent, and in their nine losses have passed an average of 14.7 more times than they rushed. In their six wins, that average was 4.0. In wins against Seattle and Chicago, the Vikings ran more than passed. Against the Packers on Sunday, Minnesota ran 11 times and was outrushed 174 yards to 29.
So, why the apparent disconnect between Zimmer and Kubiak?
“It’s not really a disconnect,” Zimmer said Monday. The Vikings’ lack of success on first downs hurt against the Packers, he said. So did falling behind 20-3 at the half. “When you run and you gain one yard and it’s second-and-9, then you start getting a little bit more antsy as far as trying to throw instead of sticking with it,” Zimmer said.
Kubiak isn’t the first offensive coordinator who hasn’t been dedicated to the run enough for Zimmer. He’s the Vikings’ sixth in Zimmer’s eight years, and Norv Turner and John DeFilippo left midseason. Kubiak, 34, is less experienced than his predecessors, but he also succeeded his Super Bowl-winning father, Gary. Early on, Cousins was having his best NFL season and the offense was among the league’s best. Lately, though, it hasn’t seemed like a great match, whether for reasons of experience or inclination.
In any case, it’s puzzling. While certainly complicated, it does appear a first-year coordinator isn’t following the chain of command.
The Packers on Sunday “played basically a shell defense the majority of the time, which is conducive to running the ball,” Zimmer pointed out Monday. Further, the head coach added, he told Kubiak at halftime “that we need to run the ball, because we had 37 yards or something at halftime.”
The Vikings ran three times in the second half.
https://www.twincities.com/2022/01/04/john-shipley-klint-kubiak-another-bad-match-for-vikings-mike-zimmer/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
ran the ball 3 times in the and half on the road vs Rogers and with one of the worst defense in the league...
smh
Listen, there are 'reasons' for sure....but in the NFL there are no 'excuses'. I feel a little for Z but ultimately, he's had 8 years. That's the bottom line. He's been a pretty good coach, but the team can hopefully do better. Better strategy on gameday and better strategy for the team in the near and long term.
Yet there were 3 drives consecutively i remember 3 and out where it was run run pass punt. GB stacked the box knowing they had a better shot at winning making Mannion beat them through the air. More excuses by Zimmer.
@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said: Yet there were 3 drives consecutively i remember 3 and out where it was run run pass punt. GB stacked the box knowing they had a better shot at winning making Mannion beat them through the air. More excuses by Zimmer.
Zimmer cannot be that stupid and not see this coming...
@"ArizonaViking" said:@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said: Yet there were 3 drives consecutively i remember 3 and out where it was run run pass punt. GB stacked the box knowing they had a better shot at winning making Mannion beat them through the air. More excuses by Zimmer.Zimmer cannot be that stupid and not see this coming...
I am not so sure about that. If he did he would have known one day to prepare Mannion for GB was not enough. So why not play Mond, the odds on winning would be about the same.
@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said:@"ArizonaViking" said:@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said: Yet there were 3 drives consecutively i remember 3 and out where it was run run pass punt. GB stacked the box knowing they had a better shot at winning making Mannion beat them through the air. More excuses by Zimmer.Zimmer cannot be that stupid and not see this coming...
I am not so sure about that. If he did he would have known one day to prepare Mannion for GB was not enough. So why not play Mond, the odds on winning would be about the same.Honestly, I think Mond would have done a better job of avoiding the rush and generated some type of offense.
He's always got a list of excuses and stories about who let him down.
@"ArizonaViking" said:@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said:@"ArizonaViking" said:@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said: Yet there were 3 drives consecutively i remember 3 and out where it was run run pass punt. GB stacked the box knowing they had a better shot at winning making Mannion beat them through the air. More excuses by Zimmer.Zimmer cannot be that stupid and not see this coming...
I am not so sure about that. If he did he would have known one day to prepare Mannion for GB was not enough. So why not play Mond, the odds on winning would be about the same.Honestly, I think Mond would have done a better job of avoiding the rush and generated some type of offense.
I agree, if we were going to lose anyway why not see what your rookie can do.
“It’s not really a disconnect,” Zimmer said Monday. The Vikings’ lack of success on first downs hurt against the Packers, he said. So did falling behind 20-3 at the half. “When you run and you gain one yard and it’s second-and-9, then you start getting a little bit more antsy as far as trying to throw instead of sticking with it,” Zimmer said.
Mike, this is why you throw more on 1st down. Because you should almost always run on 2nd down, regardless of distance. If you want to achieve ANY kind of balance, it must break down roughly as follows.
Since everyone has to throw on 3rd down, your other two downs have to equalize the balance: Run/Pass on 1st down: 50/50. 2nd down: 80/20. 3rd down: 20/80.
You're welcome. You can just send payment via Venmo.
@"comet52" said: He's always got a list of excuses and stories about who let him down.Title and pay: Head Coach
In charge of all coaches, play calling, player development etc...
I wonder if Zimmer knows our OC's first name?
@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said:@"ArizonaViking" said:@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said: Yet there were 3 drives consecutively i remember 3 and out where it was run run pass punt. GB stacked the box knowing they had a better shot at winning making Mannion beat them through the air. More excuses by Zimmer.Zimmer cannot be that stupid and not see this coming...
I am not so sure about that. If he did he would have known one day to prepare Mannion for GB was not enough. So why not play Mond, the odds on winning would be about the same.
If he doesn't know Mannion was not going to be enough, he should start packing.
@"Vikergirl" said:@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said:@"ArizonaViking" said:@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said: Yet there were 3 drives consecutively i remember 3 and out where it was run run pass punt. GB stacked the box knowing they had a better shot at winning making Mannion beat them through the air. More excuses by Zimmer.Zimmer cannot be that stupid and not see this coming...
I am not so sure about that. If he did he would have known one day to prepare Mannion for GB was not enough. So why not play Mond, the odds on winning would be about the same.
If he doesn't know Mannion was not going to be enough, he should start packing.
Nah... he should be packed already, the fucking u-haul should be rolling up any minute now.
@"JimmyinSD" said:@"Vikergirl" said:@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said:@"ArizonaViking" said:@"SDCAVIKESFAN" said: Yet there were 3 drives consecutively i remember 3 and out where it was run run pass punt. GB stacked the box knowing they had a better shot at winning making Mannion beat them through the air. More excuses by Zimmer.Zimmer cannot be that stupid and not see this coming...
I am not so sure about that. If he did he would have known one day to prepare Mannion for GB was not enough. So why not play Mond, the odds on winning would be about the same.
If he doesn't know Mannion was not going to be enough, he should start packing.
Nah... he should be packed already, the fucking u-haul should be rolling up any minute now.
Oh absolutely, he just keeps adding to the reasons why he should be packed already.
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