The head coach of the Minnesota Vikings is a specialist when it comes to the defensive side of the ball. That was somehow hard to grasp if you watched Mike Zimmer’s club this past season.
Following a 10-6 showing and wild card playoff berth in 2019, the club dropped their first three games, opened 1-5, and finished 7-9. Led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Dalvin Cook and sensational rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the team had few problems scoring points (430).
Now the bad news. After surrendering only 303 points and 31 offensive touchdowns in ’19, the Vikings were gouged for 475 points – the fourth-highest total in the league – while Zimmer’s squad gave up 49 offensive TDs, including 30 through the air. Prior to the season, the club released defensive tackle Linval Joseph and cornerback Xavier Rhodes. Cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes signed with the Bengals, although the former returned to the team this offseason.
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And there were plenty of new faces wearing the purple as general manager Rick Spielman wheeled and dealt and wound up selecting 15 players in the draft. It was the most by any team since the league went to a seven-round format in 1994. Nine of those selections were on the defensive side of the ball.
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In case some thought that high number was a bit of a fluke, think again. In 2021, the Vikings, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys all wound up with 11 players. That tied for the most selections this year. Do the math and Spielman has added a combined 26 draft choices to the roster in a two-year span. This time around, it was a little more balanced in terms of both sides of the ball. Minnesota opted for Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw with the 23rd overall pick after a trade down with the New York Jets. And six of the team’s 11 picks went to the offensive side of the ball.
Keep in mind that under Zimmer, who arrived in Minnesota in 2014, the Vikings have yet to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons. But they have also not missed the postseason in back-to-back years under their current head coach. The roster has a slew of young players thanks to some artful work by Spielman. Can this club get back in the playoff mix this fall?