FanPost

Zimmer, Turner & Turning Tides for the Vikings

What a fun offseason so far for the Minnesota Vikings. Changes are springing up everywhere. A change it coaching staff, bringing in a take charge mentality. Zimmer seems to have put a spark under the players. Just look at how many players came out to voluntary workouts. That's has be an encouraging thing for fans to see. Probably the most exciting thing that happened this offseason, at least in my mind, is the hiring of Norv Turner as Offensive Coordinator. This guy is a proven offensive leader as a coach, has coached many great rushing attacks and passing attacks.

Zimmer (Star Tribune)
Norv Turner (Star Tribune)


I'm really intrigued to see what he comes up with for this roster. There is no doubt that he has weapons to work with. Adrian Peterson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Kyle Rudolph, and Greg Jennings make up the short list, but even further up the depth chart we see, the field stretcher Jerome Simpson, and slot guy Jarius Wright who have the talent to be positive impacters.

Simspon & C flash P (Star Tribune)
Greg Jennings (Star Tribune)

Everson Griffen (Star Tribune)
Linval Joseph

The biggest change seems to have come on the defensive side of the ball. Locking up Everson Griffen and all his athletic potential was a great move and putting him as the premier pass rusher on the defensive line opposite Brian Robison. Signing Linval Joseph certainly beefs up the middle of the defensive line that struggled last season. Yet still the signing of Captain Munnerlyn seems to over shadow all. At least in theory he brings to the Vikings secondary, a cover guy, a slot guy, and a tackler. From everything I've seen, he is a complete player and the Vikings are lucky to have him in a secondary that should improve with the return of Harrison Smith and the continued growth of Xavier Rhodes and Josh Robinson.
It will be an interesting season, playing at TCF Bank Stadium, outside and in the frigid Minnesota winter. But isn't that more characteristic of a Viking. We need to be true to Minnesota's Scandinavian heritage and true to the spirit of a Viking. I'd say Zimmer is showing this mentality. He looks like the kind of guy that will be on the sideline gritting out the bitter cold clad in a Belichikian hoodie, leading his players into battle with energy and passion.
Seriously, things are looking up for the Vikings. Chances are, the Vikings draft a quarter back in the second round, if not the first. But a lot still hinges on the effectiveness Matt Cassel. He showed sparks last year of being able and willing to put the ball down field. He also looked a bit lost out there. Hopefully, Turner and Zimmer can organize and offense that capitalizes on the skill players mentioned above, while being completely within the comfort zone of Matt Cassel. Until, and if, the new quarterback develops into a franchise guy, Matt Cassel has to be the stop gap.
Look out NFC North, the Norsemen are coming, the tides have turned and it's coming to shore in and a new Viking ship has landed. Viking's fans, get pumped up! It's only five short months away from training camp.

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.