Tag: Mike Zimmer

ESPN says Vikings’ best signing since 2015 has been CB Terence Newman

Newman was solid on the field, but his work was more valuable off the field for this team.

The Vikings haven’t been super active over the years in free agency, except for the signing of Kirk Cousins.

The jury is still out on that signing.

ESPN’s Courtney Cronin lists Minnesota’s best signing since 2015 to be veteran cornerback Terence Newman.

Here’s what Cronin wrote about the signing:

Few players know the ins and outs of Mike Zimmer’s defense better than Newman, who followed the Vikings’ head coach from Dallas to Cincinnati before signing with Minnesota as a free agent in March 2015. Newman spent his first two seasons as an outside corner before moving inside, where he gave the Vikings stability at the nickel position. Newman’s impact on the defense cannot be overstated. In addition to performing at a high level as he neared 40 years old, the cornerback took younger players such as Mackensie Alexander and Holton Hill under his wing and helped groom them.

Newman was solid on the field, but he was probably more valuable off the field for this team. He played with the team from 2015-2017. After his playing career, Newman served as an assistant coach on Zimmer’s staff.

Everson Griffen coming back could save Vikings a draft pick

Griffen finished with eight sacks last season opposite Danielle Hunter.

Last week, Vikings Pro Bowl defensive end Everson Griffen opted out of his contract with the team.

Even still, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer expects Griffen, 32, to be back with Minnesota in 2020.

We discussed what that could be long-term for Griffen and the Vikings here.

What could this mean short-term for the Vikings?

It means the Vikings have their starter at defensive end opposite Danielle Hunter — and a pretty good one. Griffen had eight sacks last season and had a Pro Football Focus grade of 76, a mark that ranked 26th among all edge rushers last season.

While the Vikings might sign or draft a defensive end for depth reasons, it won’t have to be a priority if they can indeed get a deal done for Griffen.

Of course, a deal is not done yet as free agency hasn’t even started. Talk in late February about free agency is exactly that: Talk.

Mike Zimmer on Kevin Stefanski: ‘very organized, very detailed’ and will do well as Browns coach

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer on Kevin Stefanski: ‘very organized, very detailed’ and will do well as Browns coach

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was the last of the NFL coaches and GMs to take to the interview podiums here in Indianapolis at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. Normally the Browns wouldn’t care much about the Vikings press conference, but Zimmer happens to be the former longtime boss of the new Browns head man, Kevin Stefanski.

“I think Kevin is very organized,” Zimmer said. “I think he’s very detailed. I think all of those things will help.”

He then hit on a point that hit home with me after watching previous Browns head coaches Freddie Kitchens and Hue Jackson flop. Zimmer talked about his young protege’s humility and collaborative nature.

“He’s not afraid to ask for help if he needs it. He’s not going to go in there and be a dictator. He’s going to go in and tell his philosophy and how he wants to do it, and he’ll ask for the opinions of other people.”

That is not how things have been done in Berea recently. And it should be a welcome change to the Browns organization. It harkens back to the stress upon collaboration that both Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry have consistently stressed in their talks to the media.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer gives his takes on candy at 2020 NFL Combine

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has a preference for Twizzlers, Reese’s.

The NFL Combine is a time for coaches, scouts and other team employees to evaluate some of the top talent going to the pros next season.

It’s also a time where there are a lot of media members asking questions, and not all of those questions have to do with the current draft class.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer got his share of unrelated questions at the NFL Combine.

Asked about his choice between Twizzlers and Red Vines, Zimmer answered Twizzlers to a group of reporters.

Next, he was asked about his preference between Reese’s and Twix, Zimmer said Reese’s.

Do these answers actually say something about Zimmer’s decision making as coach of the Vikings? Absolutely not. It is all in good fun, though.

Red Vines have been in the news recently. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers enjoyed some of the candy while sitting on the bench in what ended up a 118-109 win over the Pelicans, per Business Insider.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer likes current draft class of tackles

At the NFL Combine, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer talked about the current crop of offensive linemen in the draft.

The Vikings could be in the market for a tackle in the offseason.

Whether that’s cutting Riley Reiff and having an opening there, or just adding depth at tackle and free agency, there are many different ways the Vikings can go about it.

If Minnesota chooses to find talent in the draft, head coach Mike Zimmer is a fan of the tackles in the 2020 draft class.

“I think the tackles are pretty good. I think the guards maybe dropped off a little bit from last year,” Zimmer told reporters at the NFL Combine. “We’re just starting to process. We’re going to try and figure out what’s the best for us.”

Zimmer not being high on the class of guards this year might be bad news for a team that gave up pressure in the interior of the offensive line, especially in Week 16 against Green Bay. However, tackle is still a position Minnesota will need to fill. And the class might not be good, but the Vikings could still find a guard to fill out a platoon role.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says he met with Everson Griffen’s agent, expects him to be back

Mike Zimmer on Everson Griffen: “I think our situation is the right one for him and we expect him to be back.”

Everson Griffen made the decision to void his contract and enter free agency, but that doesn’t mean he can’t re-sign with the team.

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer seems optimistic that will happen.

“We met with his agent yesterday, I think it was. Everson (Griffen) is a terrific person for us,” Zimmer told reporters at the NFL Combine. “I think our situation is the right one for him and we expect him to be back.”

Griffen’s contract void should not come as much of a surprise, regardless of whether he comes back or not. Due to the Vikings cap situation, Griffen’s contract took up too much space.

“I think he wants to back and those kinds of things usually work its way out,” Zimmer told reporters.

If Zimmer’s quote is any indication, it seems like the Vikings will re-sign him for a lesser deal, in order to have more space to sign other players. If Griffen re-signs, that would obviously change the first-round draft outlook of this team. Minnesota could shore up depth at other positions like offensive line or cornerback if Griffen is able to come back.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says they’re ‘not as concerned’ about corner as everyone else

Mike Zimmer on the cornerback situation: “We’re not as concerned, I guess, as everybody else”

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer went on KFAN, and the cornerback position inevitably came up.

Asked about the cornerback position for next season and changes that might occur, Zimmer seemed to downplay the potentially high turnover rate.

“Every year there is going to be change at some places,” Zimmer told the radio station. “We’re not as concerned, I guess, as everybody else.”

“I’ve had all different kinds of corners play for me throughout my career, and a lot of times you’ll change schemes to help protect guys and use more double coverage than you would single coverage.”

With free agency and the combine not over, it’s probably hard to determine just how much depth cornerback will have next year. Zimmer said there’s still a lot of time.

“We’ll figure it out.”

Vikings name Adam Zimmer and Andre Patterson co-defensive coordinators

The Vikings have found their next defensive coordinators.

The Vikings have found their next defensive coordinators.

Yes, that was plural.

The team announced Monday that Adam Zimmer and Andre Patterson will be co-defensive coordinators for the Vikings in 2020.

Patterson is entering his ninth season with the Vikings and primarily served as the defensive line coach. Over the last six years, the Vikings rank third in the league in sacks, rushing yards allowed and opponent yards per game.

Zimmer is the son of head coach Mike Zimmer. This next season will be No. 7 for him. His main focus will still be on the linebacker unit led by Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr.

It feels like coach Mike Zimmer will still in charge of playcalling for the second unit, but we’ll likely hear more in the coming months.

Zimmer and Patterson replace George Edwards, who will be the linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020. Edwards’ contract wasn’t extended after the 2019 season.

The team also named Andrew Janocko the wide receivers coach, Daronte Jones the defensive backs coach and Phil Rausher the assistant offensive line caoch.

Vikings DB coach Jerry Gray will not return to team in 2020

ESPN’s Courtney Cronin said he’s someone who could join Stefanski’s staff in Cleveland.

The changes on Minnesota’s coaching staff continue.

We already know that offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski will be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns, and that defensive coordinator George Edwards will not return in 2020.

Along with that, defensive backs coach Jerry Gray will not be back with the team in 2020. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin said he’s someone who could join Stefanski’s staff in Cleveland.

Gray has been with the Vikings since 2014, the first season that coach Mike Zimmer took over.

Zimmer on Stefon Diggs’ status vs. 49ers: ‘He’ll be fine’

Diggs has missed the last two days of practice with an illness.

Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs missed his second-straight day of practice on Wednesday with an illness as the team prepares to take on the 49ers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Saturday.

Coach Mike Zimmer addressed the situation and said that Diggs will be just fine for Saturday’s game via Hobie Aritgue of Fox 9.

Diggs was Minnesota’s leading receiver this season, catching 63 passes for a career-high 1,130 yards to go with six touchdowns.

He only finished with two catches for 19 yards in Sunday’s win over the Saints,  but he’s instrumental in forcing teams to pick Diggs or Adam Thielen to focus on. While Thielen had the big day against New Orleans, Diggs was a big part of that.

We’ll get the team’s official injury report on Thursday and we’ll see what Diggs is listed as.