Vikings Message Board.Com

psjordan wrote:Have you REALLY looked at who NE is putting on the field this year? I'm with Texas on this one, Bellichick and his staff are the poster boys for "coaching up" players that a LOT of teams discard or ignore as "not that talented".

I agree, they do a good job of that but I think it IS a talented roster.

For some reason I get the odd feeling that you believe "player talent" is a constant - when a player joins a team he is say a "7 of 10" and the coaches have no influence on that player turning into a 5 or a 9.

I can see why you might get that impression but I assure you, I don't view it that way at all. I absolutely think coaching can have a significant influence on a player's development.

I happen to believe coaches have a HUGE influence on what folks perceive of as "player talent". Examples abound. From Brady to Blount to Russell Wilson to Jordy Nelson to Tamba Hali to Keenan Allen.

Every player you listed above is very talented and they were talented, accomplished players before they got to the NFL. I think good coaching (and in some cases, very beneficial situations) has helped them to become even better and to excel in the pros but in terms of "raw talent", they provided those coaches with plenty to work with...

I'm not trying to undermine the importance of coaching. I just see a lot of magical thinking associated with the job. As I wrote above, I think coaches can have a real influence on a player's development but I also believe players have a lot to do with their own development. I don't view talent as a measurable constant but I don't view players as raw material to be molded into whatever a coach can make of them either. Some players are clearly more talented, better students, more instinctive, etc. than others. Some respond much better to coaching than others. All of them have limitations.

So there are absolutely coaches out there - and they are almost always successful - that develop the talent they are given. Fans are hoping for that type of coach for our team, obviously.

Obviously... but I never suggested anything to the contrary. There are clearly coaches who develop the talent they're given but that doesn't diminish the significance of that talent.

As for the stuff about Frazier...all I'll say is that you and I both know your idea of what Frazier and his staff would have done with an apparently substantial list of successful players on other teams is nothing more than a guess. You're perfectly entitled to your views on that subject but Frazier and his staff didn't coach those players so we don't know how they would have done.

I really thought that win against Indianapolis should have cemented Belliceck's place in the HOF if nothing else does. (not that it will be an issue.) They won a divisional playoff game by using a game plan that basically minimized their best player. 40+ Rushing attempts and they just dominated the line of scrimmage. Nothing short of awesome. The most impressive part of that for me was how well their OL executed that game plan.

There is no way of knowing if Frasier and Co could have gotten that out of those players. However, to me that isn't the biggest question. The big one is if they would have had the smarts to come up with that game plan, but also the sack to not just go with it, but commit to it. I have high doubts that would ever happen.

Cin wrote:Ummm.....

https://twitter.com/CommonManKFAN

If true, why the angry face?

dead_poet wrote: If true, why the angry face?

He/she is a Cincy fan and doesn't want to lose Zimmer.

Breaking news: Common' sources say Mike Zimmer will be named the 9th Head Coach of the Vikings....

Yessss....

Thrilled, I'm sure.

Oh well ... on to the next chapter in the endless Viking saga.

Does not Like Zimmer.

Why don't you like Zimmer?

mansquatch wrote:I really thought that win against Indianapolis should have cemented Belliceck's place in the HOF if nothing else does. (not that it will be an issue.) They won a divisional playoff game by using a game plan that basically minimized their best player. 40+ Rushing attempts and they just dominated the line of scrimmage. Nothing short of awesome. The most impressive part of that for me was how well their OL executed that game plan.

There is no way of knowing if Frasier and Co could have gotten that out of those players. However, to me that isn't the biggest question. The big one is if they would have had the smarts to come up with that game plan, but also the sack to not just go with it, but commit to it. I have high doubts that would ever happen.

I don't but I'm in a minority (perhaps of one!) that believes Frazier and his staff showed more adaptability and game-planning ability than they get credit for possessing. Heck, they basically used that game plan to get into the playoffs in 2012!

The Patriots have been utilizing and emphasizing a power running game for a couple of years now so while what they did against Indy was wildly successful, it wasn't a new development in their approach. They led the league in rushing TDs last year and have been at or near the top of the league in that category for years now. They were second behind the Vikings this year. They've also been in the top 10 in rushing attempts the past two years. Power running has become a big part of their attack.

It looks Cole (Common Man) either jumped the gun or he has serious inside information because so far, I can't find any confirmation online that Zimmer has been hired.

Was Cole fishing for a scoop?

I was watching ESPN like 30 minutes ago, it said that Zimmer is expected to go in for a second interview. I heard nothing about an official hiring. I DO believe that Zimmer will be most likely to get the job though. That would be sweet. A fiery coach that we haven't had in years.

Cin wrote:Ummm.....

https://twitter.com/CommonManKFAN

lol Common reeling you in?

For those who don't know...Common is basically a bit on KFAN and is the best part of that station. I wouldn't take anything he has to say too seriously

https://twitter.com/intent/user?origina ... 8212864&tw

Jason LaCanfora's tweet seems to state here that the Vikings hire of Zimmer is imminent.

Zimmer's 2nd interview is tomorrow, and word is that he "May Not Leave" after it...

http://www.dailynorseman.com/2014/1/13/ ... -not-leave

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Cincinnati Bengals' defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will fly to Minneapolis on Monday for his second interview with the team. That interview will take place on Tuesday, and if Fox Sports' Jay Glazer is to be believed, that may be the final step in the Vikings' coaching search.