So if our offensive coorinator leaves for a head coaching job after this season...Norv Turner: Mike Zimmer and I had “different ideas”
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 27, 2016, 11:36 AM EST
Former Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who abruptly quit as the team began to struggle this season, says he and head coach Mike Zimmer had opposing points of view that couldn’t be bridged.
“Mike and I just had different ideas about what we needed to do and how we needed to do it,” Turner told Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. “It wasn’t going to work, so I removed myself from it.”
Although Turner did not say exactly what those different ideas were, the combination of those comments with Zimmer’s past statement that he needed to get back to doing things “my way” suggests that both men saw the differences between them as significant.
Once among the most respected offensive coaches in the NFL, Turner indicated that he is not retired and isn’t done coaching. He’s just done coaching for Zimmer.
“I got fired with three games to go in Washington [at the end of the 2000 season], and that was weird,” he said. “But this is totally different. I’ve talked to some of my friends who have retired, and they say, ‘Retirement’s not that bad. You should make sure you give it a real good look.’ But no.”
So don’t be surprised if Turner is back in the NFL next year, on some other staff, where he and the head coach agree on the right way to do things.
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I guess Zimmer wanted an even suckier offense with Shurmur's take what the D gives you fag attack?
Wilcox should play but if for some reason he doesn't, Church for Wilcox is an upgrade.
My first thought also.So if our offensive coorinator leaves for a head coaching job after this season...
I mean Jerry has already tried to collect the early 90s Cowboys as much as possible. Wouldn't surprise me if he tried to add another piece from those days. Linehan has been great this year and I really don't want him to leave but the guy is running one of the best offenses in football with 2 rookies being his best players. Hard to imagine an NFL team won't come calling for him. This is his second unstoppable offense in a 3 year span.My first thought also.
Agreed, I think that'd pretty much be a lock.So if our offensive coorinator leaves for a head coaching job after this season...
They allow 100 yrds a game rushing, so expect a lot of Zeke. Which would make me happy as hell.Scouting the Vikings: Dak Prescott better prepare for toughest pass defense he's ever seen
By Rick Gosselin , Staff Columnist
The Cowboys have invested their draft picks and salary-cap dollars in the offensive line and it's paying huge dividends with three Pro Bowlers and the best rushing attack in the NFC.
The Minnesota Vikings invested their picks and money in the defensive backfield and it's also paying dividends. Defense has been the backbone of Minnesota's surprising playoff contention this season without their starting quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater) and running back (Adrian Peterson).
And it's what the Vikings accomplish on passing downs that has them in the chase for a NFC North title with a 6-5 record. Mike Zimmer, who coordinated a No. 1-ranked defense with the Cowboys under Bill Parcells and is now head coach of the Vikings, decided the way to win in a passing league is to shut down the pass.
And he is succeeding.
The Cowboys will put their 10-game winning streak on the line Thursday night against the best pass defense rookie quarterback Dak Prescott has faced this season.
The Vikings rank third in the NFL against the pass (206.8 yards per game) and fourth in overall defense (307 yards per game). Offenses are completing only 57.9 percent of their passes against the Vikings, third best in the NFL, and quarterbacks are operating at a 74.3 efficiency rate, second best in the league. The Vikings have allowed the fifth fewest passing touchdowns (13) and have the third-most interceptions (12).
But the Vikings should be this efficient. They have four former first-round draft picks in their secondary. Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith was a first-round pick in 2012, cornerback Xavier Rhodes a first-rounder in 2013 and cornerback Trae Waynes a first-rounder in 2015.
The Vikings signed Terence Newman, a former first-round draft pick of the Cowboys in 2003, in free agency. He followed Zimmer from Cincinnati to Minnesota in 2015. Minnesota also signed Captain Munnerlyn, one of the league's best slot corners, away from the Carolina Panthers in 2014.
Rhodes has the size (6-1, 218) to match up against Dez Bryant, Munnerlyn the shiftiness to challenge Cole Beasley and Waynes the 4.31 speed to track Brice Butler and Terrance Williams. Newman chips in the veteran savvy to win mind games with quarterbacks. At 38, the two-time Pro Bowler is the oldest defensive player in the league.
That coverage unit is supported by a pass rush that ranks seventh in the NFL with 28 sacks. The Vikings collected eight sacks against Cam Newton and the Panthers, five against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and four apiece against the Texans and Bears. Edge rushers Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter and Brian Robison have combined for 18 ½ sacks.
Minnesota has not allowed a 100-yard receiver this season. In fact, the Vikings are the only NFL team that has not allowed a 100-yard receiver. The last player to collect 100 yards in a game against the Vikings was Green Bay's James Jones, who caught four passes for 102 yards in the 2015 season finale. No receiver has managed 100 yards against Minnesota in the 11 games since then.
The Vikings have allowed only eight touchdowns receptions by wide receivers. Running backs have three and tight ends two. Minnesota also is one of only four NFL defenses that has not allowed a 300-yard passing game this season. The Vikings held Eli Manning and Cam Newton without a touchdown pass in consecutive games this season.
The best game by a wide receiver against Minnesota this season was an 11-catch, 79-yard performance by Detroit's Golden Tate. The Vikings held Odell Beckham Jr. to three catches for 23 yards, Larry Fitzgerald six catches for 63 yards, Alshon Jeffery four catches for 63 yards and DeAndre Hopkins five catches for 56 yards.
Prescott has brought his A game all season to the Dallas offense. He's completing 67.9 percent of his passes and ranks fourth in passing efficiency at 108.6. He throws touchdowns (18) and not interceptions (2). But he hasn't seen a pass defense quite like this one yet in his young career.
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"Biggest challenge yet". We keep hearing that every week.
I wouldn't hate it. I'd prefer to keep Linehan obviously, but Norv would keep the offense pretty consistent.So if our offensive coorinator leaves for a head coaching job after this season...
Seems like Tyron's back is better?
He has been limited for weeks. He was limited again today.Seems like Tyron's back is better?