3rd Division Puns

I've been ready for Zimmer to go for quite some time, but now that the day that he coaches his last game is (likely) upon us, I can't help but feel sad about it.

Though he's a very flawed coach, he's a brilliant defensive mind and a good leader of men. He brought a high level of competence to this team that had been lacking for years. Every single season since 2014, the Vikings have either made the playoffs or been in the hunt well into December. 2015, 2017, and 2019 were extremely fun seasons, 2017 especially. Zimmer's defense took Case Keenum and a bad offensive line to the NFCCG, that's still unbelievably impressive. He did a ton for this team.

I have no doubt that if he decides to coach again (which, for his own sake, I hope he doesnt), he could turn another team into a perennial playoff contender with an elite defense, I really think he's that good. But he's just no longer a good fit for the team, and both sides need a fresh start.

I feel sad about losing him, but there's also a strong sense of trepidation regarding whiffing on this next head coach hire. Like him or not, Zimmer's scheme and style provides a solid floor for this team. We know what he brings to the table, and while his style may not be enough to win a superbowl, it's definitely conducive to competitive, winning football. There's a real chance that the Vikings hire a worse head coach, but that's a risk that we all need to accept.

I can't help but wonder how different things might be without the injuries to key defensive linemen over the last two years and better defensive drafting. Pretty easy to imagine Zim might still have a job (although that's neither here nor there).

I am extremely looking forward to a HC that can (hopefully) be willing to bring this offense into the fucking 21st century. It's an offensive league now, and we need a coach who understands that and designs a scheme that actually empowers our superstar offensive players instead chaining them to an out-dated approach to offensive football.

Zimmer had a good run with the team, for a time. Probably also worth noting that the team did all of this with Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford, Case Keenum, and Kirk Cousins (who has come a long way since the Vikings first acquired him) as the starting QBs over that time.

The last few years have been rough. I am not saying Zimmer didn't deserve to get fired. "Defensive mastermind" and they were 24th in total defense this year and 29th last year. And I think this year, 24th doesnt even do justice to how bad they were. The defense overall was just regular bad, but in clutch situations, they were historically bad. They allowed the most points under the 2-minute warning in the last 20 years and were ZERO FOR EIGHT on stopping game-tying or go-ahead scores in the 4th quarter this season. They were probably a pretty mediocre defense otherwise but consistently wilted every single time it mattered.

So no, this is not a Mike Zimmer defense post. Although, it's probably fair to also mention that the team's superstar edge rusher has missed most of the last two seasons, defensive starters particularly in the front 7 being constantly injured, and the Vikings not drafting a single defensive starter in SIX years.

With all that being taken into considering though, this team, especially on offense, has way too much talent to have missed the playoffs two years in a row. The Vikings tied the record for most single-score games in a season. The Vikings were competitive in nearly every game this season, and a good coach needs to be able to do enough on the margins to help secure wins in those close games, which Zimmer has not been able to do.

I have no doubt that if he wants to coach elsewhere, he could turn another team into a top-tier defense with perennial playoff aspirations. But he's just no longer a good fit for the Vikings. Zimmer was never willing to actually empower his offense, which is what has won the Vikings most of their games the last two seasons. The Vikings need a HC (and OC) that will actually be willing to take advantage of the absurd talent the Vikings have on offense. Zero reason that an offense with Cousins/Cook/Jefferson/Thielen with a bunch of other solid players like Mattison/Conklin/Osborn should have been only the 14th scoring offense this season.

But, there was definitely a time when Zimmer had this team in a great spot.

Captain Ryan Getzlaf also tallied his 1,000th career point on an assist on a Cam Fowler goal in the first period against the Washington Capitals.

This has to be addressed and if you believe the broncos will pursue Rodgers after the season he could be the 4th come next year

An AFC west QB arms race is coming and we can’t be left holding the bag