2014 Current and Potential Coaches

[Mothman]

I dont know if Zimmer is/was the right choice for the job, you are correct. My support for him was based more on the fact that he is'nt Frazier. By that I mean he's a coach that is'nt concerned about being the players pal and actually shows some emotion on the field. Someone that is'nt afraid to get in someones face. I realize that alone should not be a basis for hiring anyone but the truth of the matter is I just want to get away from the status quo. As for Spielman.....I just dont trust the man. He screwed up Miami before they got rid of him and IMO he is on the same path here. I dont believe he is capable of evaluating the head coaches ability any better than he evaluates Q/B's.

Now that I can understand. I don't trust Spielman's judgment either and I'm concerned he's steering the Vikings down a bad path but the jury is still out on that. I think it's probably good that he's interviewing quite a few coaches and not rushing to a decision. Since he's never hired a head coach before, that's a way for him to get a real feel for how different coaches would approach the job. I'd rather see him make an informed decision than a rash one.

Ultimately, I suspect the personnel decisions he makes over the next few years will have a bigger impact on the Vikings success or failure than this decision will anyway. The Vikes need a good coach but if they don't significantly improve their QB situation and their defensive personnel, I doubt any coach will be able to field a consistent winner.

[SkyFire]

Bengals DC Mike Zimmer has emerged as the "favorite" for Vikings head coaching job. Per Adam Schefter on Twitter.

Thoughts??

[dead_poet]

Bengals DC Mike Zimmer has emerged as the "favorite" for Vikings head coaching job. Per Adam Schefter on Twitter.

Thoughts??

Read the thread

[dead_poet]

CRAP.

Hue Jackson - C - Bengals

Bengals hired RBs coach Hue Jackson as offensive coordinator.

It's the right move for the Bengals, who had perhaps the league's most eligible play-caller buried on their own staff behind former OC Jay Gruden. Jackson worked wonders with the Raiders' offense in 2010-11, turning a moribund unit into a top-10 outfit. Jackson calls an aggressive game, and isn't afraid to run the ball. He puts his players in position to succeed. Jackson's brash personality is the only reason he's been stuck as a position coach since getting canned from Oakland. His hiring is good news for all the Bengals' skill players, but especially Giovani Bernard. Darren McFadden had the best two years of his career under Jackson's tutelage.

[Pondering Her Percy]

As for Spielman.....after the Ponder debacle the last 3 years, the money spent of Freeman last year and the overall play of the team I think he realizes that this hire more than likely puts his job on the line and I just dont trust the man. He screwed up Miami before they got rid of him and IMO he is on the same path here. I dont believe he is capable of evaluating the head coaches ability any better than he evaluates Q/B's.

The only thing I can agree with here is that it could determine if he keeps his job or not. Outside of that, I have to say I disagree. Who cares about what he did in Miami....that was 10 years ago. Also, yes he missed on Ponder but as he has stated, QB is one of the hardest needs to fill. We all know this. Franchise QB's don't come by the groves. Many GM's have missed on QBs. If he misses on this years then yeah, he could lose his job.

Either way, he knew that the QB situation was hurting within the first 6 weeks and gave Freeman a shot. Why is that such a bad thing?? He was a free agent QB, young, has shown potential, etc. Why not take that chance?? If somehow Freeman went somewhere and played good everyone would be calling Spielman an idiot for not signing him. You can't blame him for taking a shot on a guy when it's a position of need to begin with. As for the money side of it, read this article http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-vikin ... 00540.html. This article explain how the Vikings are keeping their options open. Maybe if Cassel was to opt out, they would rather keep Freeman than Ponder. Also, chances are, there will be a new OC on this team sooner rather than later and if the Vikings decide to keep Freeman, he will have a full offseason to learn the offense. Who knows but bottom line is, they are keeping their options open.

And for what reason do you think he isn't capable of evaluating head coaches?? I don't understand how you can back something like that up until he get's his new guy and you see how it turns out.

[SkyFire]

Read the thread

I was wondering what people think about him being the favorite...

[King James]

By the time the Vikings decide who their next coach will be, all the good coordinators will be gone by then. We will be stuck with Bill "Mr. Predictable" Musgrave and Alan Williams until the 2015 season. That will also be the same year Rick Spielman gets fired.

[Husker Vike]

It just seems that Defensive coordinators fail more at being a head coach, Romeo Crennel, Jim Schwartz,Raheem Morris, Steve Spagnuolo, Frazier come to mind, yes I know offensive coaches have sucked also Chan Gailey Jim Zorn and the like. I just think that an offensive mindset coach is more valuable in the pro game.

[purpletinted66]

Just for comparison here's Josh MDaniels' rant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkzALAmawfY

There's interesting comparison to be made between Zimmer's rant and McDaniel. Zimmer has his guys respect. He's making specific points and emphasizing them in a way that will get their attention. McDaniel has lost his guys and there's a desperation to it.

For a REALLY good rant there's always Jerry Burns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn6-SvsRRuw

This came after a Win!

yeh imagine his victory speech if he won the stuper bowl - hope in any case that players are focused on doing the good and right job regardless what boss yokel says

[bsandhar]

John Fox, Pete Carroll, and Mike Tomlin have found success as defensive minded coaches. It doesn't matter what they specialize in, as long as they can coach a team. We're a young team, we need someone to teach them how to be disciplined. That being said, I think we need to get Zimmer to bring the most out of our players.

[King James]

It just seems that Defensive coordinators fail more at being a head coach, Romeo Crennel, Jim Schwartz,Raheem Morris, Steve Spagnuolo, Frazier come to mind, yes I know offensive coaches have sucked also Chan Gailey Jim Zorn and the like. I just think that an offensive mindset coach is more valuable in the pro game.

There were successful D-Coodinators who turn HC like Bill Parcels, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin, Tony Dungy, and Bill Belichick.

[King James]

That's some great input. Nothing better than negative speculation.

Thanks bro! I try.

[Pondering Her Percy]

via Twitter:

Vontaze Burfict admits that he was kind of scared of Mike Zimmer at first
Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict said that Mike Zimmer can still be a bit intimidating at times but now that he's actually pretty nice to him now. That wasn't the case though back in May when Burfict came here for rookie minicamp. Said Burfict on Thursday: "When I first came in here I was kind of scared of the guy, I was like, man, he looks so mean and I told my mom, I'm scared of our defensive coordinator. I'm scared to mess up at practice. She's like, it's going to get better. So, as days go by I just realize he's a great defensive coordinator he just wants you to do what he's coaching. You do what he's coaching he'll kind of lean up off you. Like, OK, that is doing what I'm coaching I don't have to yell at him as much now. But for me, I think players play better when they are scared of the defensive coordinator because they don't want to mess up as much. That kind of goes with me, I don't want to mess up my job. I read my keys and stuff because I know later on I will have to hear Zimmer's mouth."

....Another reason why I would love to have Zimmer

[radar55]

The only thing I can agree with here is that it could determine if he keeps his job or not. Outside of that, I have to say I disagree. Who cares about what he did in Miami....that was 10 years ago. Also, yes he missed on Ponder but as he has stated, QB is one of the hardest needs to fill. We all know this. Franchise QB's don't come by the groves. Many GM's have missed on QBs. If he misses on this years then yeah, he could lose his job.

Either way, he knew that the QB situation was hurting within the first 6 weeks and gave Freeman a shot. Why is that such a bad thing?? He was a free agent QB, young, has shown potential, etc. Why not take that chance?? If somehow Freeman went somewhere and played good everyone would be calling Spielman an idiot for not signing him. You can't blame him for taking a shot on a guy when it's a position of need to begin with. As for the money side of it, read this article http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-vikin ... 00540.html. This article explain how the Vikings are keeping their options open. Maybe if Cassel was to opt out, they would rather keep Freeman than Ponder. Also, chances are, there will be a new OC on this team sooner rather than later and if the Vikings decide to keep Freeman, he will have a full offseason to learn the offense. Who knows but bottom line is, they are keeping their options open.

And for what reason do you think he isn't capable of evaluating head coaches?? I don't understand how you can back something like that up until he get's his new guy and you see how it turns out.

Well lets see......A head coach is llike a Q/B. Both are supposed to be leaders of their team. Probably THE MOST IMPORTANT additions a GM can add to a team. Spielman himself has admitted that his track record in picking Q/B's has been terrible. His one and only involvement in selecting a head coach was Frazier in 2010 after they fired Childress and that choice was all most as bad as Ponder. But your right, he does not have a long track record but the record he does have sucks and when you compare that with what he did to Miami (I dont care how long ago it was) it does create a basis with which to draw an opinion and IMO Spielman could'nt pick a good leader if he jumped on his chest.

[nightowl]

Based on what? You're projecting a negative view of your choice onto the situation, with little if any solid information to back it up. Who says Zimmer is the best candidate for the job anyway? He's never been a head coach. He's interviewed for other NFL HC jobs and either hasn't been chosen for them or hasn't accepted them. You're basically ripping Spielman for not hiring the candidate of your choice on your timetable. You're suggesting Spielman is "afraid" because he isn;t rushing to judgment and hiring the candidate of your choice. It's ridiculous.

I think one thing that's worth pointing out is that for all of his time in NFL front offices between Chicago, Miami and Minnesota, Spielman's never really hired his own coach. In Chicago he wasn't really in a position to as a Player personnel man. However, as a GM in Miami and Minnesota he inherited someone when he got those jobs. In Miami it was Wannstedt, Rick got promoted to GM in 2004, then he got thrown aside after one year so the 'Phins could give Nick Saban complete control. When he got promoted in Minnesota it was the Chilly aftermath, and Rick got stuck with Frazier through circumstances beyond his control. Given that it's his first time doing it, and he has to do it at time when his position is a little tenuous I don't blame him for being cautious.