Vikings Message Board.Com

Texas Vike wrote:Definitely, personnel was a key part of the swift transition. But IMO it was also having an overarching vision and scheme and knowing what kind of players would work with that vision.

I think the biggest improvement has been vs. the pass. We used to be so easy to pick apart through the air--we seemed to be in prevent D the whole game.

Now we play tough and physical in the secondary and even without perfect personnel we are doing pretty darn well in the secondary. I have to give huge credit to Zimmer on fixing what was a horrible defense.

@RandBall The last time the #Vikings had an outdoor home playoff game was also the last year they went to the Super Bowl. That was the 1976 season.

‏@DerekWetmore Mike Zimmer thinks so highly of Jerick McKinnon's versatility and infectious optimism that he "even makes me smile once in a while."

@mattvensel Mike Zimmer on yesterday's win: "It's just a step. I don't want this to be the defining moment of my career."

@AjKFAN ZIMMER on 4th down scenario before half: “I screwed up to be honest with you…I should have let the clock run out." #Vikings

Barr has 23 total pressures which is tied for four among 4-3 linebackers, one off being tied for 2nd, but the rate in which Barr has generated pressure has been the best among all players at the position. Bruce Irvin leads all players at his position with 37 total pressures, but he has pass-rushed on 302 snaps thanks to his role in sub-packaged moonlighting as a true edge rusher – a role Barr does not have. Barr has rushed less than a third as often as Irvin, but has 62.2 percent of the pressures.

He has graded well against the run, ranking 11th in that category and notching the 10th-most stops against the run at his position.

Perhaps the most impressive area of Barr’s game though is his work in coverage, which is the most unnatural area for a former pass-rusher to excel. He has a top-three coverage grade among 4-3 linebackers and the fourth-best coverage grade among all off-the-ball linebackers.

Barr has surrendered only one touchdown all season in coverage and has been instrumental in the Vikings getting off the field by making tackles short of the first-down markers.

Mike Zimmer has crafted an impressive defense in Minnesota, and while the improved play of the defensive backfield and defensive line are getting the headline billing, the best coaching job might have been the development of Anthony Barr into one of the league’s best linebackers and the Vikings’ most important players on defense.

The Seahawks have been rolling down the stretch, but they’re going to face a very different Minnesota Vikings defense in the playoffs — and no player makes more of that difference than Barr.

dead_poet wrote:

@qbwins Vikings defense finished 2nd in points per redzone trip, were 18th last season and 28th the year before.

@qbwins Went from 29 to 18 to 12 in points allowed per drive. Mike Zimmer can really coach the football.

dead_poet wrote:

Of the 7 clubs that allocated the highest % of their cap to the OL group, 5 of those 7 are playoff teams (ARZ, MIN, WAS, CIN, & DEN)

dead_poet wrote:

Pondering Her Percy wrote: Doesn't surprise me. Our line is banged up and getting old and Fusco has taken a step back. The only jobs that are safe IMO are Harris (hopefully we are smart enough to resign him) and Kalil. I don't see any way they let Kalil go with another year left on his contract and Harris was one of the better RGs in the league this year. We need to free up some cap space and invest it in some new guys