Before addressing reporters during a media session at the NFL combine on Wednesday, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman made it a point to single out coach Mike Zimmer for "the job he did last year."
The Vikings finished 7-9 but lost starting running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Matt Cassell for most of the season, and starters Phil Loadholt, Brandon Fusco and Kyle Rudolph for large chunks.
Zimmer is glad to have Spielman's support, but he said Thursday he's had enough of the praise being heaped on him.
"I'm tired of it, to be honest of you," he said from NFL's scouting combine. "I can't wait to get in front of our team and tell them all the reasons why we were 7-9. I don't want to listen to this stuff about how great we're going to be ... (The players) are going to be in for a shocker, I think."
Zimmer shrugs off the compliments.
"There's so many things I have to do better," he said. "I have to be more demanding. I have to be able to point out more of what I want to get done. ... (with) players, mostly -- tougher, more physical. ...
"I don't think I did near a good enough job because I was so worried about getting the scheme right, getting this or that right.
losperros wrote:Yeah, I like Zimmer, too. He seems to have his head on straight and is honest about what he needs to do as the head coach.
I also like what he said about worrying so much "about getting the scheme right, getting this or that right."
It can't be easy to be a head coach in the NFL.
I'm surprised they don't all have their hair go gray within 2-3 years. It looks like a really stressful, demanding job.
I think what I love so much about that Zimmer quote I highlighted is that it's exactly how I've been feeling this winter. I'm thrilled by his attitude because I think it's the approach the team needs if their future is actually going to be bright.
Purple bruise wrote:Zimmer speaking to the team and explaining "why we were 7-9". "Gentlemen, we are 7-9 because we won only 7 games and lost 9".
I was thinking... the Vikings went 1-5 against the division... which means they were 6-4 against the rest of the NFL, one of those losses being against the Super Bowl Champions. If they can clean up the messes when they play the NFC North, it will help them in many ways.
The Devil whispered in the Viking's ear, "There's a storm coming." The Viking replied, "I am the storm." #SKOL2018
PurpleMustReign wrote:
I was thinking... the Vikings went 1-5 against the division... which means they were 6-4 against the rest of the NFL, one of those losses being against the Super Bowl Champions. If they can clean up the messes when they play the NFC North, it will help them in many ways.
There's definitely reason for optimism. But keep in mind, we did win 3 games vs the awful NFC South.
There's a couple reasons why we were only 7-9.
1. We can't protect the quarterback
2. We had a rookie Qb going through growing pains, but played very well down the stretch
3. Can't stop the run.
4. Can't get pressure with a 4-man rush
5. No AP
Superfreak84 wrote:There's a couple reasons why we were only 7-9.
1. We can't protect the quarterback
2. We had a rookie Qb going through growing pains, but played very well down the stretch
3. Can't stop the run.
4. Can't get pressure with a 4-man rush
5. No AP
6. 60% of the o-line was injured
7. Our top receiver was on a practice squad last year
8. Tackling was poor at times
9. Rudolph had trouble staying on the field, again.
10. Walsh lacked his crazy long range accuracy he had as a rookie and Locke seriously underperformed
I think it's a huge relief knowing we have a front office and coaching staff that we don't need to be universally skeptical about. The foundation is here.
yezzir wrote:I think it's a huge relief knowing we have a front office and coaching staff that we don't need to be universally skeptical about. The foundation is here.
I like Zimmer. I'm decidedly "meh" with George Edwards (not really sure what his role is other than to carry out Zimmer's commands) and Norv Turner was a bit of a disappointment in my eyes last season (granted there were several things working against him). But in the big picture I agree with you. Hopefully it all comes together early and often during the season.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly