It’s Black Monday. Zygi Wilf has summoned Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman to his office. The Minnesota Vikings have just wrapped up a disappointing season, and the fans are protesting outside of TCO Performance Center.
“Mike, Rick, we can’t have this continue,” Wilf says. “I think we need a change.”
Zimmer and Spielman look nervously at each other before Zimmer speaks up.
“But what if I read you a story?” Zimmer asks.
Wilf looks confused, but Zimmer continues as he opens up a book.
“Once upon a time, there was a coach named Bill Parcells,” Zimmer reads. “You like Bill Parcells, don’t you?”
Wilf begins to perk up, intrigued by what was coming next.
“Parcells coached the New York Giants, and he won a Super Bowl!” Zimmer says. “Say, how would you like to talk to Bill Parcells right now?
Wilf begins to nod his head feverishly, remembering the glory days of his childhood. He tosses aside the termination papers sitting on his desk and pulls out a three-year extension for Zimmer and Spielman. As Spielman wipes his brow, he tells Zimmer, “That was a close one!”
And they all lived happily ever after.
Okay, maybe that’s not how this is going to work. But after the past couple of weeks, most fans are intent on making a change. But there’s a case to be made for maintaining the status quo, and it doesn’t involve taking ownership to Imaginationland.
The current state of the Vikings is a mess. They are 6-7 and in the middle of a pillow fight for a playoff spot. Nothing seems to suggest they’re on the cusp of a magical run. After years of blown leads and bad personnel decisions, both Zimmer and Spielman seem on the verge of being fired.
But a decision to keep Zimmer and Spielman has nothing to do with the current product on the field. This is about the future of the NFC North.
If we fast forward two years from now, there’s a good chance the division belongs to the Vikings. Aaron Rodgers will likely be done in Green Bay after this season. The Chicago Bears might have their franchise quarterback, but they need to install a new regime for that to pay off. And there’s not a great chance that Dan Campbell will become the next Bill Belichick in Detroit.
In other words, this thing is wide open.
Take into consideration what the Vikings have going for them. Their offense has all the tools to be an elite unit. The offensive line needs work, but it could be a year or two away from taking a massive leap forward. The same goes for the defense, which could benefit from an impact free agent or a talent infusion from this year’s draft class.
As the schedule suggests, the Vikings are a move or two away from being a playoff contender. The question is, who do you trust to make these moves?
Spielman has gotten a lot of things right during his tenure in Minnesota. The Vikings’ 2015 draft class shows what he can do when he’s at his best, but a rebuild that became necessary in 2019 threw a wrench into the operation.
What if this is the offseason where Spielman goes back to the drawing board and accepts that Vikings need an overhaul? His makeover could include investing in the offensive line during free agency, using earlier picks to fill out the roster, and giving Zimmer a lineup that can seriously compete?
It’s not far-fetched to think a slight adjustment could lead to big things for the Vikings. But then the argument turns to the sideline.
Zimmer has had another rough season. His defense ranks 30th in the NFL in total yards, and his in-game decision-making has put the Vikings in situations they shouldn’t be in. But some signs suggest he’s figuring it out.
Go back to the Vikings’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10. After picking up a much-needed victory, Zimmer has repeatedly told the press that he wants Kirk Cousins to take more chances to get the ball to Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Even after a win over the Green Bay Packers the following week, Cousins seemed hesitant to do so, and it’s resulted in his worst three-game stretch of the season.
If Zimmer is serious about changing his offensive philosophy, it’s interesting to think what he could do with a different quarterback. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler predicted that several quarterbacks could be on the move this offseason, and it’s not hard to see the Vikings deciding to move on.
Fowler lists Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, and others as possibilities. The Vikings could decide to move Cousins and his $45 million salary for next season as a way to find a better quarterback.
Cousins puts up Hall of Fame statistics, but his play is too erratic to make a deep playoff run. Plus, Zimmer has had a contentious relationship with his highly paid quarterback. Moving on from Cousins would be the more difficult path than pairing Cousins with an offensive-minded head coach. But there isn’t a slam-dunk choice on the market.
Brian Daboll unleashed the potential of Josh Allen, and pairing him with a young quarterback in the draft makes sense. But he also comes from the Bill Belichick/Nick Saban tree, which has produced numerous disasters.
Hiring a young offensive coordinator follows the trend that produced Sean McVay, but Byron Leftwich and Kellen Moore could also have a steep learning curve trying to lead an entire team. The same goes for Nathaniel Hackett, who has produced everywhere he’s been but also could be a product of Aaron Rodgers (see Ben McAdoo, Joe Philbin).
Even an established option such as Doug Pederson seems like a risk due to his power struggle with the front office and Carson Wentz in Philadelphia.
All of these candidates bring something to the table. Unless something crazy happens, like the Pittsburgh Steelers part ways with Mike Tomlin, there isn’t a name on the market that guarantees the Vikings are going to the Super Bowl.
Any time there is a regime change, there will be some risk. With a team close to becoming a contender, the Vikings must determine whether it’s worth it. If they don’t see it that way, their best option may be to give Zimmer and Spielman one last shot for the Vikings to reach their potential.
