Written by Chris Schad
At the end of the 2013 season, the Minnesota Vikings were one of the biggest messes in the National Football League. While writing a script that saw the Vikings stage a quarterback competition midseason, they also had one of the worst defenses in franchise history.
The sum of all fears came to fruition for the Vikings, and Leslie Frazier became the scapegoat. Many called for an offensive-minded coach to keep up with the rest of the NFC North, but instead of fighting fire with fire, general manager Rick Spielman tabbed Mike Zimmer in an effort to stop the rest of the division.
After taking over one of the worst defensive units in football in 2008, Zimmer’s touch made the Cincinnati Bengals a top-10 defense in each of the past three seasons. This is while developing non-descript players, such as Geno Atkins, into All-Pro selections and turning troubled players, like Vontaze Burfict and Adam Jones, into key contributors.
He’s a coach that loves players with chips on their shoulders, which is probably because he has the biggest chip of all.
Zimmer has been all over the league since joining the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive backs coach in 1994. As his track record as a successful coach grew, he was eventually promoted to defensive coordinator where he led successful units in Dallas and Cincinnati.
Despite this, teams weren’t keen on hiring him as a head coach. Some guessed it was Zimmer’s edgy demeanor that rubbed owners and general managers the wrong way. Others guessed he was in the mould of Tom Moore, who never got a head coaching gig despite 10 seasons orchestrating the highly explosive offense of the Indianapolis Colts.
Whatever it was, it started getting to Zimmer as he was turned down for the Cleveland Browns opening in 2013 and, presumably, the Tennessee Titans this past winter.
“I almost didn’t go (on the second interview with Minnesota), yeah. I was so disappointed,” Zimmer told Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. “It was like, ‘Why even do this?’ It was to that point. I figured I was getting too old. It thought, ‘Forget this.’
Zimmer did go to that interview after a quick pep talk from some colleagues and, at age 57, he’ll get his first opportunity to be a head coach in the NFL.
Considering the Vikings have a quarterback that tumbled from potential first overall pick to the end of the first round, it seems that Zimmer would be a perfect leader to help the franchise rebound from a 5-10-1 season. After all, it’s the same recipe for success that led their biggest nemesis, the Green Bay Packers, to return the Lombardi Trophy to “Titletown.”
The defense could also use the same infusion of attitude. After sitting back under the guidance of Frazier, Zimmer brings a more aggressive scheme and style of coaching that can get the best out of his players.
With Everson Griffen and Anthony Barr having the potential to be playmakers the defense has lacked, a defensive unit that hemorrhaged 37 passing touchdowns a season ago could take a major step forward under Zimmer.
The first signs of that will happen in Mankato as the Vikings open their first training camp in the Zimmer Era. Everything won’t be on the table on Day 1, but he has the potential to turn the franchise around in a short period of time.
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Chris Schad contributes to 105 The Ticket and has had his work featured on the Bleacher Report and Yahoo Contributor Network. He serves as the Vikings Lead Writerfor Pro Football Spot. Find him on Twitter @crishad. |