Quote of the Week: Vikings Respond to Zimmer’s Tough Love
Austin Belisle
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Two weeks into the NFL season, it’s hard to make overarching judgements or statements on a particular player or team. For the Minnesota Vikings, an ugly Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers was just that — a small blemish in a 16-game slate. That’s why head coach Mike Zimmer, he of short tongue and temper, took a different approach to his team’s preparation before Sunday’s matchup with the Detroit Lions.
Rather than lay into his players on a short week, Zimmer encouraged the Vikings to focus their energy and attention on the Lions. “We’re going to let that game go,” he told the team last Wednesday, according to the Star Tribune’s Matt Vensel. And let it go they did, winning a convincing, dominating game yesterday against the division rival Lions.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who shouldered much of the blame last week, spoke to reporters after the game and shared how Zimmer’s criticism motivated him to step up his play on the field:
[quote_box_center]”Definitely, and I love it that Coach Zimmer is tough on me. He’s tough on all of the guys and it just shows that he cares about us. He wants us to give our all and play at our best every week. Last week we didn’t execute the way we were supposed to, but this week we did a great job of putting last week in the past and coming out and starting fast today.”[/quote_box_center]
On the Vikings’ first drive, Adrian Peterson rushed seven times for 55 yards as offensive coordinator Norv Turner kept the Lions’ aggressive defense off-balance with a mix of inside runs, quick passes, and a surprising quarterback draw near the goal line. The 11-play series chewed up 4:35 off the clock and lead to a quick seven points, giving the Vikings a lead they would hold for the rest of the game.
Behind a solid 134 yards on 29 carries from Adrian Peterson, the Vikings’ offense cruised, giving Mike Zimmer’s defense a chance to pressure Matthew Stafford and force the Lions into passing situations. Throughout the afternoon, Brian Robison, Sharrif Floyd, and the rest of the Vikings’s front seven pounded Stafford and kept the Lions’ passing attack grounded — Stafford did not attempt a pass longer than 20 yards (save for Harrison Smith’s nullified interception.)
All in all, it was a relatively successful day for the Vikings, and Mike Zimmer’s team appeared well-prepared in their 2015 home opener. From the volume of Adrian Peterson’s touches to the defense’s nickel adjustments, the team was in sync and one step ahead of the Lions all afternoon. As much as the blame falls on Mike Zimmer after a loss, as much praise should be given to the second-year head coach.
He understood that his team — the seventh-youngest in the league — needed a firm, if sympathetic hand to right the ship after the Vikings’ Monday night loss. Zimmer could have broken down every misstep, every error from the Week 1 debacle, but chose to put the onus on his players, and it worked:
[quote_center]”I had told them, I mean I didn’t sugarcoat anything. I was up front and honest with them but I’m smart enough to understand that was one game and we didn’t play like Vikings play. We did have a short week and I knew if it lingered on, that going 0-2 to start the season and losing a division game at home would not be a good thing.”[/quote_center]
Fortunately, the Vikings are now 1-1, alone in second place in the NFC North with a crucial divisional win against a team that was thought to be superior heading into the season. With their Sunday victory, the Vikings matched their NFC North win total from 2014 and prepare for the San Diego Chargers filled with confidence and optimism.
While mistakes — particularly Adrian Peterson’s fumbles and blitz recognition by the offensive line — linger, the Vikings fans saw on Sunday are the Vikings many, including Mike Zimmer, expected to see in 2015.