For years the listeners of our Football Machine Vikings podcast have sent in amazing Twitter questions, and far too often we’ve had to leave many of them on the cutting room floor because of time. No longer! Each week we’ll pull some questions that didn’t make the cut and address them in this space.
Do the Vikings see themselves with Rick and Mike after Kirk’s contract is done? And if not is the only reason they don’t start over now because it’s harder to get a coach with a lame duck QB? If Zimmer is let go, what’re the odds they’d do the right thing and promote Patterson?
— Austin (@Austin_H2O) December 16, 2020
The first part of the question is honestly so fluid. About two months ago there were reports about ownership being displeased, the front office trading its assets at the deadline, and the quarterback being replaced by a rookie in the draft. Fast forward to now and it would seem that Zimmer, Spielman and Kirk Cousins all have a longer leash that probably extends into 2021. Likewise, 2021 will determine how 2022 goes, and no team is better at bouncing back from a down year than the Minnesota Vikings.
But let’s play it forward to Part 2 of your question. Would Andre Patterson be a suitable replacement? Let me say first that Patterson was probably long overdue for a promotion to coordinator: He has a great temperament, he’s a great teacher, and he has the respect of players. I can’t see the Vikings, though, replacing Zimmer with one of his own confidantes who shares similar philosophies, only with less experience as a play-caller. It would be an odd dynamic. Zimmer and Patterson are so closely connected that I could see Patterson following Zimmer to his next stop, but if he has the desire to continue moving up the ladder, he absolutely deserves that chance. I just can’t see it being in Minnesota despite all the good things he’s done.
@SamEkstrom is there any reason Zimmer hasn’t gotten more blame for not scheming to help his players, ie Rhodes’s performance in 2019 vs 2020? Why not play cover two with more zone last year when he was struggling?
— Maeby (@JSherman6918) December 17, 2020
In the specific case of Xavier Rhodes, it’s a fair question, but I think it’s reasonable that Zimmer wasn’t going to change his bread-and-butter system for all 11 players to cater to a struggling one. Zimmer responded to Rhodes’ issues by asking him to stop playing press and to focus more on protecting against deep throws. He also rotated Rhodes out of games more quickly to keep him fresh. Rhodes was so rarely 100% healthy in 2018-19 that I’m not sure a schematic switch would’ve solved things.
More broadly, the Vikings have responded to coverage woes this year with more Cover 2. Considering they’re top five in both third-down defense and red zone defense, I’d say Zimmer has largely accomplished what he set out to do with a young defense.
Does the combination of Hunter, Odenigbo and Wonnum give you confidence in 2021 or do you think another DE is needed in Free Agency or early in the draft for a Starter or Primary backup role?
— Absurd-Hero Kyle #BlackLivesMatter (@TheBigHerman) December 16, 2020
If the depth chart has Danielle Hunter at the top, I’m automatically more optimistic. This year has certainly taught the Vikings that even the most disciplined, team-focused rush plan isn’t going to make up for supremely talented individuals. Given Wonnum’s upside, he could vie with Odenigbo for the starting reps opposite of Hunter and allow Odenigbo to play a hybrid inside/outside role where he thrived in 2019 (whether Odenigbo prefers that for himself in a contract year is another question).
Could the Vikings use more help? Sure. It’s hard to get excited about Jalyn Holmes, Jordan Brailford or Hercules Mata’afa becoming more meaningful contributors. But what’s realistic? Of course, the Vikings would love to splash for a game-changer, but they probably can’t afford it. I could see them signing a reclamation project (hey, maybe even Everson Griffen) to a one-year deal, but rarely do those type of signings work out. If you’ve tracked the Vikings roster construction over the years, Minnesota has been resistant to drafting pass rushers in the first two days of the draft, but maybe this is the year. Minnesota, for the first time in decades, needs a major injection of talent on the defensive line.
Biggest Vikings draft need
— sportsking (@sportsk86372210) December 16, 2020
Here are my top five with a brief justification for each. I’ll explain up front that I am not including quarterback. I think with Kirk Cousins‘ resurgence, he’s a lock to be rostered next year, and therefore his cap hit for 2022 kicks in. If he’s guaranteed two more years on the roster (barring trade), I’d rather get the successor with one year left on Cousins’ deal. All that said, here are my draft priorities as of Dec. 18:
- OL — Take the best one available regardless of position unless they are exclusively a center. If Riley Reiff departs, they should obviously steer toward a tackle, although Ezra Cleveland may be able to play that role as well.
- DT — It’s about time the Vikings had a formidable 3-technique.
- DE — As I mentioned above, it’s time to bring in some game-ready talent at edge rusher.
- S — Anthony Harris is a free agent. Harrison Smith is entering a contract year. As much as the Vikings hate devoting draft resources to this position, it’s time to find the next in line.
- CB — Keep them coming. Holton Hill is gone, and Mike Hughes‘ injury history is mounting. Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler won’t play all 16 games every year.
@SamEkstrom q for football machine: w/ Sharpe cut & Beebe/Bisi providing little floor or ceiling as WR3/4, do you think we see Hollins active for at least 1 of the 3 remaining games? Getting an evaluation of his potential seems important for offseason decision making.
— Maeby (@JSherman6918) December 15, 2020
I’ll take any chance I can get to promote my man Alexander Hollins. Unfortunately for Hollins, the receiving group above him has been one of the healthiest areas of the team this year aside from Adam Thielen‘s one-week COVID-19 absence, so there’s hardly been a chance to activate him.
Let’s be honest about his status, though. Are the Vikings going to lose sleep if they don’t get Hollins some game action? Probably not. They’ve gotten a season-long look at him in practice and, odds are, they’ll offer him a futures contract. If Week 17 means nothing, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if they let him play the Chad Beebe role and get 20-plus snaps — maybe even take some of Thielen’s reps just to give the veteran a break.
