What do you think the defense will look like under zimmer?

[mondry]

I think it's a bit too easy to reminisce about the success that PWill and KWill had together. A nose tackle is not a necessity in a 4-3 defensive line. Especially in today's NFL, where pass rushing is king.

Pass rushing is king but you have to feel confident in pinning your ears back to really go nuts after the QB. That means stopping the run without a safety in the box. Once the run is neutralized the QB is free game. One of our biggest problems since Pwill retired is we suddenly became vulnerable to the run when before we made teams one dimensional which is much easier to defend.

[Slick Rick]

I think it's a bit too easy to reminisce about the success that PWill and KWill had together. A nose tackle is not a necessity in a 4-3 defensive line. Especially in today's NFL, where pass rushing is king.

A few things I would like to note:

1. Nose tackles are pass rushers. If you're on the defensive line, you're a pass rusher whether or not you get tons of sacks.

2. Every defense has a guy who is more of a nose tackle, unless they're fielding 4 guys who are more like DEs. Even then, I'm guessing they have guys who are bigger and a little better at stopping the run on the right side.

3. Stopping the run is the best way to stop the pass. It doesn't matter how good their passing game is, if you know they're going to pass because they can't run effectively, then you're already a step ahead of them. The offense is constantly trying to assert itself in the running game so that they can balance their attack and randomize their plays instead of just going all pass.

[Mothman]

Pass rushing is king but you have to feel confident in pinning your ears back to really go nuts after the QB. That means stopping the run without a safety in the box. Once the run is neutralized the QB is free game. One of our biggest problems since Pwill retired is we suddenly became vulnerable to the run when before we made teams one dimensional which is much easier to defend.

Well said.

As more defenses have gone to smaller, quicker players over the years to compensate for the increased emphasis on passing, we've seen some teams return to power running.
In fact, I have to wonder how many times teams with potent running games going to need to advance to conference championships or win the Super Bowl before the idea that the pass and pass rushing are "king" disappears? The last two Super Bowl winners didn't sport elite passing games but were teams that leaned heavily on their running games. The 49ers do likewise and they've played in the last 3 NFC championships and advanced to the Super Bowl just two seasons ago. A defense that's weak up the middle is a defense that's probably not very effective. That's why getting good DT, MLB and safety play is important, especially the DT play. If the interior of the defensive line is getting moved off the ball and the other team is running effectively, the defense is usually in big trouble.

[Eli]

Well said.

As more defenses have gone to smaller, quicker players over the years to compensate for the increased emphasis on passing, we've seen some teams return to power running.
In fact, I have to wonder how many times teams with potent running games going to need to advance to conference championships or win the Super Bowl before the idea that the pass and pass rushing are "king" disappears? The last two Super Bowl winners didn't sport elite passing games but were teams that leaned heavily on their running games. The 49ers do likewise and they've played in the last 3 NFC championships and advanced to the Super Bowl just two seasons ago. A defense that's weak up the middle is a defense that's probably not very effective. That's why getting good DT, MLB and safety play is important, especially the DT play. If the interior of the defensive line is getting moved off the ball and the other team is running effectively, the defense is usually in big trouble.

Still, that doesn't necessitate a nose tackle. The middle of the Vikings line last year was getting blown out because they had an aging KWill and several other DTs of limited talent playing along side of him.

[Mothman]

Still, that doesn't necessitate a nose tackle. The middle of the Vikings line last year was getting blown out because they had an aging KWill and several other DTs of limited talent playing along side of him.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your use of "nose tackle". To me, that's just a position designation and my understanding is that some coaches don't even use it when talking about a 4-3 defense, referring instead to a 3 technique tackle and a 1 technique tackle. Either way, in a 4-3 defense the nose or "1 technique" tackle's job is usually to occupy blockers, help free up the other linemen and get enough push to collapse the pocket on passing downs.

Call it whatever you want but someone has to anchor the interior of the line, free up the 3 technique and defend the run.

[Mothman]

Good stuff:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 36671.html

After getting a brief glimpse at Zimmer during previous offseason workouts, we finally got a good look -- and listen -- on Thursday at how he interacts with his players, especially his defenders. I had my eyes on Zimmer for much of the morning, watching him go from defensive back to defensive back, sometimes dispensing words of praise and other times getting on their cases.

I particularly enjoyed this exchange with veteran cornerback Derek Cox, who was a step behind his man in coverage on one play but wasn’t targeted as the quarterback threw elsewhere.
“Is that your guy?” Zimmer asked Cox as he walked back to the line of scrimmage.

“Yeah,” Cox replied, though Zimmer knew the answer already.

“So cover him!” Zimmer said before turning and walking away.

Zimmer had a few exchanges with players that were less family friendly. He got after free-agent signing Captain Munnerlyn after he lost track of Cordarrelle Patterson in one 1-on-1 drill. He had some unbloggable words for rookie safety Antone Exum after he was tentative on another play.

[PurpleMustReign]

Good stuff:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 36671.html

I like how h=e isn't afraid to go after anyone, including the veterans.

[King James]

This just makes me wonder how Frazier was during practices, especially with the vets. If someone got beat did he just stand and observe or actually try to correct them? Either way I like the approach Zimmer is taking. I would prefer a coach like him. He seems to know when to drill a player but not too much where it hurts his morale. Some coaches just yell, yell, and yell, like Nick Saban. It may work in college but it definitely won't work in the NFL. Especially if you don't have that high level of respect around the league. Zimmer being in the NFL so long, and having been on some successful franchises, you can't help but to respect him.