Monthly archive: January, 2012

Alan Williams Hired As Defensive Coordinator As Personnel Changes End

January 21, 2012, by 5 comments

A few weeks into the offseason, the Vikings are done making personnel changes after hiring Alan Williams as defensive coordinator and Brendan Daly as the defensive line coach. Before I jump into more details about the two new Vikings coaches (although, one of them was previously a Vikings coach in 2006-08), below is a quick recap of the few changes that were made to personnel.

  1. Karl Dunbar is fired as defensive line coach.
  2. Vikings interview anyone and everyone for the defensive coordinator position (while Fred Pagac officially holds the position)
  3. Fred Pagac is officially demoted to linebackers coach
  4. Alan Williams and Brendan Daly rumors surface. Mike Singletary remains Vikings Assistant Head Coach.
  5. Alan Williams and Brendan Daly officially announced as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, respectively.

The Alan Williams and the Brendan Daly signings should be no surprise as the Vikings, for the longest time, are apparently only capable of hiring friends.

Alan Williams was previously the Colts defensive backs coach for 10 years. For two of those years, Leslie Frazier worked with Williams (including the Colts team that won the Super Bowl in 2006-07).

Williams will have his work cut out for him as the Vikings tote one of the NFL’s worst pass defenses. Hopefully, with the addition of a long-time defensive backs coach, the Vikings depleted secondary will receive some attention this offseason and can come back as a stronger unit in 2012. The hiring of Williams ensures that the Vikings will remain a 4-3, Tampa-2 style defense as that is what Williams ran with the Colts.

Brendan Daly, who was an assistant defensive line coach for the Vikings from 2006-08, was hired back to replace Dunbar as the defensive line coach. He comes from being the defensive line coach with St. Louis Rams from 2009-11. It should be noted that Daly was with the Vikings as an assistant defensive line coach during a stretch of time where they were the NFL’s best run defense.

For my own personal opinion on the additions to the Vikings personnel, continue reading by clicking the button below.

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OFFSEASON PREVIEW: The Runners

January 19, 2012, by No comments yet
Toby Gerhart

[Note From Adam:  This is part two of my position-by-position breakdown of this Vikings roster.  Part one, The Passers, can be found by clicking here.]

The Vikings running game was not unsuccessful in 2011, as they ranked fourth in the league, despite numerous challenges such as struggles along the offensive line and injuries to their running backs.  The position of running back, however, suddenly has a number of question marks that need to be discussed this offseason.

Let’s take a closer look.

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Vikes Bring In Two Street Free Agents

January 18, 2012, by No comments yet

Rick Spielman spent Wednesday discussing his plans to make the Vikings roster younger in age, and he also signed a couple of guys of the street that fit that description.

The Vikings signed offensive tackle Jose Valdez (6’ 5” – 315) who went undrafted in 2009.  He has spent some time since then on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad, so it would be seem likely that Offensive Coordinator Bill Musgrave had some input with this signing.

They also signed tight end Daniel Hardy (6’ 4” – 249) who was a seventh round selection for Tampa Bay last year, who broke his arm while playing for Idaho his senior season.  Hardy didn’t make it past the final cuts in Tampa, and spent some time on the New Orleans practice squad.

Both players were signed to futures contracts.

Vikings Defense Gains Two, Loses None

January 18, 2012, by 2 comments

A long drawn out process that featured a handful of candidates (and no, I’m not talking about the GOP race to the White House) has finally come to an end, with the Vikings hiring former Colts defensive backs coach Alan Williams as their new Defensive Coordinator.

After 10 years in Indianapolis, Williams is widely expected to officially join the Vikings shortly, in time to go to Mobile, Alabama and coach the North squad at the Senior Bowl.

Last year’s Defensive Coordinator, Fred Pagac, will return to be Minnesota’s linebackers coach.  He occupied this position for four years prior to 2011.

Mike Singletary, also interviewed as a candidate for the Coordinator position, will remain with the Vikings as an Assistant Head Coach.

Brendan Daly will replace Karl Dunbar as the defensive line coach.  Daly has held that position in St. Louis for the last three seasons, and previous to that was an assistant defensive line coach for the Vikings.

The Vikings defense is unlikely to experience much in the way of a scheme change, as Leslie Frazier has managed to maintain a staff that supports his preference of running a Cover-2 defense.

Updated Mock Draft

January 17, 2012, by 1 comment

Hey everybody!

Thought I’d let you all know that my mock draft has been updated and features significant changes. Click the button below to head on over and check out how I have things panning out this time around. Would love to get everyone’s feedback and hear their ideas on who will end up where come April.

Check out Brett's Vikings Mock Draft

OFFSEASON PREVIEW: The Passers

January 17, 2012, by 8 comments
ponderandwebb

[Note From Adam:  This is the first segment of a position-by-position breakdown of the Vikings roster, how they fared in 2011, and where they might be headed in 2012.  I will include the contract status for key players, possible Draft and free agency targets, and my predictions for how things will play out this offseason.]

Since the Vikings still have an unsettled coaching situation on the defensive side of the football, I thought it best to get started on these segments by first addressing the offense. 

For the first time in years, the Vikings lack a will-he-won’t-he situation and have a fairly set depth chart at the quarterback position.  That isn’t to say the position is an area of strength, but we all pretty much know who we will be seeing in 2012.

Let’s take a closer look.

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Bears Turn Down Vikings Request

January 17, 2012, by 5 comments

Perhaps the Chicago Bears are also tired of the Vikings long, drawn out search for a new Defensive Coordinator.

Jeremy Fowly of Vikings Now reports that the Bears denied a Vikings request to interview their defensive backs coach, Jon Hoke, for their currently vacant Defensive Coordinator position.

Hoke has a Tampa-2 background which is yet another indication that Leslie Frazier would like to continue to employ a 4-3 defense and that Mike Singletary is unlikely to get the gig.