Mike Zimmer made it his number one priority after taking over for Leslie Frazier to rebuild the Minnesota Vikings defense, which sat dead last in the league in multiple categories.
After just one season, Zimmer catapulted his unit from 32nd to middle of the pack in yards given up and points allowed, showing the league just how much of a defensive mastermind he truly was, despite not having developed young players specific to his system.
Fast forward to 2017, Zimmer, now in his fourth year, is setting new records with his defense that ranks number one in a plethora of categories. However, none have proven to be as dominant, or game changing, than the team’s third down efficiency that ended the season at 25.2 percent, the new NFL record (originally set by the New Orleans Saints in 1991).
When I watch the tape it’s clear this defense isn’t led by just one guy, or one scheme design, but instead by one motto.
Hustle.
Zimmer gets every ounce out of his defenders on every single play, and it shows. When a player misses a tackle or loses his individual one-on-one battle, more times than not you’ll see a stampede of purple jerseys attack the ball carrier like a swarm of bees to its hive.
Death, taxes and full effort on every play. That’s the catalyst of a Mike Zimmer defense, and is a huge reason why a defense that once sat at the bottom of the ocean floor, is now sitting atop the throne, like a king in his castle.
Watch my video breakdown of the Vikings’ hustling defense on third down below.
