September 25, 2020 • 21 mins
On this edition of Xs and Os with Mike Zimmer the head coach and Voice of the Vikings Paul Allen preview the game against the Titans. Co-defensive coordinator Adam Zimmer joins the show to breakdown the game against the Colts and look forward to Week 3.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
It's time for X and OS with Vikings head coach
Mike Zimmer on the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network now from
the TCO Studios in Egan. Here is the voice of
the Viking, Paul Allen. X and OS is under way
with Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and the show
was presented by US Bank, The Vikings Hook, the Tennessee
(00:25):
Titans Sunday at noon kfa N, and the Vikings Radio Network. Mike,
sorry about the awful news with Anthony Barr, your very
first raft pick. You've said that, but twenty fourteen was
your first year, his first year he got that pack.
He's out for the season. Just just terrible news, ma'am. Yeah,
(00:46):
that's disappointing for him. You know, he loves a game
of football, he loves being in the locker room with
all the guys, and he's been a big part of
our defense for six years. So we'll miss him, but
we'll move on now. Have you during your coaching career
anywhere ever faced anything quite like you have faced the
(01:06):
last couple of months, let's say, I mean injuries and
just a lot of things have been going on. Man. Yeah,
well it's part of part of football. You know, typically
you don't you don't get it all at once. But
you know, these young guys are getting better. They got
better last week. We'll continue to get better as we
move forward, and I think it'll pay off in the
(01:27):
long run. How is Schamar Stephen handling the nose tackle roll?
You know he's doing outstandings. He's been doing his job
very well. H You know, he's a guy that again
doesn't get much recognition for the things that he does,
but he he helps Kendricks and Barr and m Wilson.
Now a lot of those guys helps him out a
(01:47):
lot to let them go make place. Did Shamar have
to reconstruct his body at all to play nose like
you were gonna have Michael Pierce then he opted out,
so you know when that happened. Did Shamar have to
like get big? No? Not really, Shamar Um. You know,
he's basically a good run player, and he would have
been really good at the three technique as well. But
(02:09):
you know what his job is is going there and
eat up some of the double teams with Um with
the defense and all the new players and lacking experience
in certain spots. Is any of this in any way,
like twenty eighteen, you went out on a Thursday night,
you played the Rams, you came back and you kind
of tweaked some things into the Philly game and things
(02:32):
got better. Is it in any way like that at
this stage? Well, maybe a little bit. You know, we
did talk about that that Rams game and how we
had to adjust and do some different things. Um. You know, Unfortunately,
without the preseason games, we weren't able to learn about
some of these players when they get into game game
like situations, and um so I think the more that
(02:52):
we're we see them in game like situations, the more
that they're playing, the more we'll have a better understanding
of all the things that they can do and the
things they can handle. This Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill,
he seems to be playing very competently right now. Is
that accurate? Yeah, he's playing really well. You know, I
think he's getting the ball out really quick and the
running game obviously helps him. But the play actions he
(03:15):
does a nice job there. He run a lot of
bootlegs and things like that, so that you know, I
think I think they're doing a good job of letting
him just play the game. Now last year. Obviously, in
the playoffs they bounced Brady, they went and won on
the road at Lamar Jackson, and in the AFC Title
game they were leading the Super Bowl champions ten zero.
(03:36):
Just overall, with the Titans, what makes them a complete team?
What impresses you? Well, the way they run the football offensively?
First of all, you know, they've Derreck Henry's a big,
strong back. They've got a good offensive line, the quarterback
takes good care of the football. And then defensively, they
gave you a lot of different looks. You know, they've
(03:57):
got some really good linebackers, stout guys up front, they've
managed Adavian Clowney now, so um yeah, I think a
couple of good safety so uh, you know, I think
the combination of all that helps helps him to understand
how they have to play. Hey, Mike, with that Indie game,
it seemed from afar like the quarterback just never was comfortable.
(04:17):
Is that accurate? And if so, why, Well, I don't know.
I think maybe he got fooled on some coverages a
little bit. Uh you know, Uh, he needs to scu
out and relax and go play the game, and I
think he'll be fine. Xs and os with Mike Zimmer
kPa and Vikings Radio Network and the Vikings dot Com.
(04:38):
What about their tight end John new Smith eight catches
three touchdowns. What has gotten into him? Yeah, he's had
some really good games. They they you know, they use
him in a lot of tight end screens, which we
got hurt on last week. But they'll also use him
on some of the some of the vertical routes where
they get down the field in the red. Zoni's a
(04:59):
big target for him. I got really good speed, good strength. Um,
you know, he's a good player. You see, I'm sure
you saw some coaches got fined for violating mask protocol?
Is that something you think of during the game while
you and or Gary Kubiak upstairs you're focusing on how
(05:19):
to beat the adversary, but there are a lot of
other things in this world. Well, you don't think about it,
but you understand that, uh, that that's part of what
you have to do. And you know it's just it's
again without preseason games and understanding of protocols and things
like that. Knowing when you can pull the mask down,
when you can put it up, you know, it just
(05:40):
makes more more things for the coaches, that's all. How
how did the shield work out in the Indianapolis game?
The old shield? Yeah it was okay. Um, you know
they seem to get scratched fairly easily. Mike zimmer Rex's
and os that that that one hundred k. I mean
that can happen because that's horse money, right, I mean,
(06:00):
you want to win the Kentucky Derby, you need to
have that one hundred k. You guys are four for
four on two point conversions. I mean I'm seventy five
percent messing around here. You should go for two every
single time. We're unbelievably good at it. Well, I'd like
it to be a little closer, so we just go
ahead and kick it. But is that something you think
about now that you're four for four, Like, hey, you know,
(06:22):
maybe we were going to do it here and there,
but now we're going to expand it a little bit. Well,
I think I think it gives us some more options.
You know, we've been pretty good at it thus far,
and uh, you know, there might be some times we
feel like we just need to add some more points
in there and take some more opportunities and chances. Eden
prairies Ryan Connolly used to play for the Giants, had
a couple of picks. He was running around for you
(06:43):
in that Indianapolis game. Once he gets up to speed.
What do you like about Ryan, Well, you know he's
he's a very smart guy. He's he's good, tough, physical
player and uh, you know he's still getting up to
speed with us, but it's coming quick. With Derrick, Henry
is like, how do we know he's big? We know
(07:04):
he's massive, but is he basked? Does he like hit
everything really basked? Um? You know, I think he's like
all backs, you know they have a chance. He has
a chance to get to the perimeter. He will if
he can go to the corner and make the corner.
Try to tackle him, he will because you know he's
got the size and the strength, but he will hit
the hole quickly and then accelerate out from there. Now
(07:27):
you're only two games into it, So do you have
to think about let's start with the players keys to
keeping morale where it needs to be. Well, I think
the biggest thing, Paul, is that we need to figure
out why we're not winning and go from there. And
then once once we figure out why we're not winning,
if we can fix those things, then we have a
(07:47):
chance to start winning. And you know we've we've had
too many The second quarter has been terrible for us.
And really it hasn't been the second quarter. It's been
the last five minutes in the second quarter, turning the
ball over, given up big plays in a two minute drill. Uh,
in the first ball game, Um, that poor poor field position.
(08:07):
You know. So I think I think before I worry
about morale and those things that I need to worry
about what we need to do to fix it right.
And and lastly, if you just were to rattle off
a couple of things that you think about about turning
things around and getting better and winning games, what would
they be? Well, you know, I think we've improved last week. Defensively,
(08:29):
I think we played a lot tougher and smarter. We've
plaid some good sudden changes. Uh. You know, we've got
to continue to do that. We can't give up big plays,
we can't have penalties on third downs, which we did
the week before. And then offensively, you know, we can't
give up safeties. We got to take take care of
that when we got the ball backed up there. We
have to understand where we're at on the field. Um.
(08:49):
You know, you can't throw interceptions right before the end
of the half, um, you know, or drop balls and penalties.
You know, we had a penalty coming off the goal
line that that uh really made us the reason why
we get the safety. So we have to be a
little bit more diligent about the things that we're doing.
(09:11):
Should be a fistfight this weekend. Best of luck. Okay,
all right, thank you, Paul, Thank you, Sir Mike Zimmer,
head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and in celebration of
sixty seasons, the Vikings are selecting fans for our sixty
Greatest Fans Team, presented by US Bank. We want to
honor the most passionate Vikings fans throughout our history. So
(09:33):
nominate yourself or someone else today at Vikings dot com
slash six zero fans. When xes and OS continues, we
go from one Zimmer to another, from the head coach
to the co defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Adam Zimmer.
That's next on the kfa N Minnesota Vikings Radio network
(09:57):
driven by Polaris three zero Vikings and Cults second and
eight Indianapolis from the Vikings eleven Philip Rivers. Three of
three scrimmages between the hash marks out of the shotgun.
Two receivers left and right fires over the middle, intercepted
by the Minnesota Vikings on a deflection. It was Eric
(10:18):
Wilson with the interception inside the five and the Vikings
have turned over Philip Rivers, and we welcome you back
to XS and o's on the kfa N Minnesota Vikings
Radio Network. A very special guest John in a shortly
but first it's Game Day any day play the new
Vikings scratch game from the Minnesota Lottery with a top
(10:41):
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Here's Adam Zimmer seven years with the Minnesota Vikings. He
is the co defensive coordinator with Andre Patterson and also
linebackers coach. Brought this up with with Mike earlier in
(11:01):
the show at him same with you. Sorry about Anthony
bar Man. I mean you start with the team in
twenty fourteen. Likewise for your dad, Anthony comes to the
team in twenty fourteen, had that walk off winner at
Tampa which none of us, which we'll all remember forever,
the torn pack. He's out for the year. How you
dealing with it? Yeah, I just feel for Anthony. He
(11:24):
was in a really good place. He was playing some
good football and he was devastated when it happened. And
let's just first of all, feel for him, and we've
just got to do the best job we can trying
to fill some big shoes that he's going to leave behind.
What does Anthony do well at him that maybe, like
(11:45):
fans won't appreciate or recognize because it's not a sack
or it's not an interception. The list is really long.
I could keep you here for a long time. But
Number one, he is really good at getting everybody lined
up on the defense. He calls the huddle, um, he
gets everybody set um. He helps Kendricks immensely as far
(12:06):
as setting the front, setting the pressure, and and everything
we do defensively. So that's that's critical number one. And
number two, he's outstanding in coverage. You know, I know,
you know, some people might look at Pro Football Focus
grades and stuff, but they really don't know what we
ask him to do. And he is always one of
our high highest graded guys in terms of past defense.
(12:27):
And he does a great job with those things. And
and for the record, with all due respect, I'm not
one that looks at those grades, but I do appreciate
what you just shared about Anthony. And you know, you
talk about the calls and the huddle and stuff like that.
So assumedly would that go to Eric Kendricks And if so,
is that something with which he's comfortable. Well, we're going
(12:48):
to work that out. We'll let him and Eric Wilson
do most of the talking with the defense and see
what works the best, you know, because right now where
he's all used to letting Anthony do one thing and
letting Eric look at another, we just got to see
what the best combination is between the two erics and
(13:10):
do it's best for the defense. And jealous about Eric Wilson.
He was undrafted from Cincinnati. It was a terrific bind
for you. Guys started out wonderfully on special teams, but
he's helped you on defense. What do you like about him? Yeah,
he's one of those linebackers there's like a modern day
linebacker can he can really run. He's really athletic and
(13:30):
over the years he's really developed into an extremely smart
football players. He's seeing things before and anticipating plays before
they happen. He's really grown and just about every aspect
of his game since since he got here. He made
some flash plays in his first preseason, but he wasn't
always in the right spot. The ball just found him.
And now he's in the right spot and he's making
(13:51):
those plays. So he's come a long way in these
last five years. I guess is Adam Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
co defensive coordinator and Einenbacker's coach on x's and o's
courtesy of us Bank. Speaking of Eric Kendricks, how is
he getting along through two games? Eric's done great. He's
made a ton of plays. I thought he was outstanding
(14:12):
in coverage in the in the Green Bay game and
the first He's made a lot of good plays in
the first week. Last week he made some really good
plays as well. There's some things we need to clean
up with him as far as as run fits. But
he's really getting into a groove just like he was
last year. I like how he's coming along just like
you know he does every year. You know, and Eric
(14:34):
was All Pro last year, which of course made him
very proud. Likewise, for you, you're his positions, position coach,
and Eric seems to be somebody that always is striving
to get better. And you know, there's been a lot
of change specifically with the players in front of him,
so that I would imagine take some adapting for all
of you. Right. Yeah, it's a little different. It's especially
(14:56):
not playing behind guys like Linville Joseph like he has
in the past. But I think he's got a good
feel of how Jaliel and a Mom Watts and and
shamar Our plan blocks and where they're going to be um,
and he sees things so quickly that he's able to
react to things that usually most Mike linebackers wouldn't be
able to. He can he can make an adjustment on
(15:17):
the fly, um, because because he's so instinctive and so smart.
And Eric Kendricks is a very emotional player, and he's
a very emotional person. Have you have you noticed over
the years that Eric has taken kind of more of
a vocal role during games behind the scenes, just being like,
come on, guys, let's go. Yeah. He's always been really
(15:40):
vocal in terms of asking a lot of questions and
uh and just blurting out whatever he thinks in the
meeting room and now being around him on the sideline
on game day and listen to him and listen to
his attitude. It's really great to hear. He's he's always uplifting,
He's he's he's saying no matter what the situation is,
he's looking at the positive things and and looking how
(16:02):
we can get better. And I think he's really good
in that role for our defense, something that we really need.
Eden Prairies. Ryan Connolly tell us about him. Yeah, it's
a guy we liked in the draft a couple of
years ago, and he came in here for our top
thirty visit and he's an athletic kid. He's fast, has
(16:22):
some good size to him, and when he became available,
they had me put on his tape from the Giants
last year and he played a lot of plays before
he got injured, and he really improved on some things
in college that he needed to get better at, and
he made a lot of plays and was playing pretty
well for the Giants when he unfortunately got injured. But
I like what he adds to the room and hopefully
(16:44):
he can end up helping us on defense. Yeah, I
think he got injured right before you guys went back
there and beat the Giants last year and he had
a couple of interceptions, So just off that with a
couple of interceptions because I haven't seen them. Is he
naturally good in pass coverage or like what led to
those picks? Yeah? I think one of them was a
tip ball, but the other one he had a pretty
(17:07):
good reaction to the play. And I think he's got
good instincts and coverage, so he's going to be in
the right place in the right time, and hopefully that
continues to get better with the more REPSI he sees
and more NFL plays that he sees. Now, Oregon rookie
Troy die As I recall, up to the draft, you
were quite high on him, right, I was, yes. And
(17:29):
what did you like about him playing defense in the
Pac twelve and how it could segue to the NFL. Yeah,
Pack twelve defense is like playing basketball on air. They're
throwing the ball around the yard every play, They're spread
out every play, and you get to really see his
athleticism and his speed and ability to get to the football,
(17:51):
and you know, I think all those things translating to
be becoming a good NFL linebacker, and you know, of course,
with Eric Kendricks and Troy Died both on the team,
you win the all hair team for those linebackers with
Die and with Kendricks, right, yeah, don't don't forget about
Eric Wilson with that with that hair too. He's growing
his out too. Yeah, that's right. They're ever changing. They're chameleons.
(18:14):
Adam Zimmer linebackers coach, code defensive coordinator. A couple of
quickies to close on x'es and o's. Do you I
know you're not wired as a coach to think this
way at him, but I mean from Michael Pierce and
the opt out just through everything personally or professionally with
Anthony Barr most recent, do you ever say is enough enough?
(18:36):
I mean, you guys have taken a lot of hits
the last few weeks. We've taken some lumps, but you
know what, no one cares. So they just care if
we get the job done and we get and we
get to win, and we're gonna go out there every week.
We're gonna work like crazy to put these players in
the best position to succeed and hopefully that is good
enough to go get a victory on Sunday and that's
(18:57):
all we can do. No one, No one cares that
bars hurt, you know, no one cares that we've had,
we've had, we've been without Daniel. It's just we have
to go out and we have to play defense, and
we have a standard of excellence around here on defense
that whoever plays, we're going to expect to do the
best and show that type of defense. Tennessee absolutely a
(19:18):
run first operation. They are. They've they've fed Derek Henry.
You know, he's got fifty six carries already through two games,
I think it is, and so that they lean on
him heavily. But they do have a nice play action game.
Tannehill is doing a good job getting the ball out quick.
He's done a good job on the on the bootlegs.
So you know, they they're they're not just a one
(19:38):
dimensional football team. They have some some skill players that
that we're gonna have to be be really good on
and um, you know it's going to be a challenge
on Sunday, but I look forward to to taking them on.
And they have that tight end John new Smith with
with three touchdowns, but another tight end with whom you're familiar,
Mike cal pro It what Mike cal Proa. What are
(19:58):
they doing with him these days? Yeah, he's been really
versatile for him for them. They've put him in the
backfield to block some They've they've moved him around, They're
releasing him on passes. He's done a good job at protection.
So he's kind of filling a lot of roles for
him and I'm happy for him that he's found a
found a role. He was a great kid when when
he was here, and we hope he has a good career.
(20:19):
Except for Sunday. This is your first season with the
Vikings on the sideline during games, right it is? Yes,
all right? Well, you follow the news closely. Man. One
hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money. Gotta be
careful with that mask ez. I've got it all the time,
trying different ones every day. Hey man, I appreciate you.
Best to luck this weekend. Okay, thanks a lot, Paul,
(20:40):
good talking to you. Got you, Bud. That's Adam Zimmer,
co defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Minnesota Vikings.
And by the way, Vikings fans purchase any twenty ounce
Pepsi branded product from Quick Trip with your rewards card
and enter the Vikings Opening Drive Sweepstakes. No purchase necessary
see store for detail. Else on behalf of all of
(21:01):
us here at the Vikings Entertainment Network and the Great
Ryan Donaldson with KFA and Radio. I'm Paul Allen. That
is XS and o's courtesy of US Bank on the
KFA N Minnesota Vikings Radio Network, driven by Alaris
It's time for X and OS with Vikings head coach
Mike Zimmer on the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network now from
the TCO Studios in Egan. Here is the voice of
the Viking, Paul Allen. X and OS is under way
with Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and the show
was presented by US Bank, The Vikings Hook, the Tennessee
(00:25):
Titans Sunday at noon kfa N, and the Vikings Radio Network. Mike,
sorry about the awful news with Anthony Barr, your very
first raft pick. You've said that, but twenty fourteen was
your first year, his first year he got that pack.
He's out for the season. Just just terrible news, ma'am. Yeah,
(00:46):
that's disappointing for him. You know, he loves a game
of football, he loves being in the locker room with
all the guys, and he's been a big part of
our defense for six years. So we'll miss him, but
we'll move on now. Have you during your coaching career
anywhere ever faced anything quite like you have faced the
(01:06):
last couple of months, let's say, I mean injuries and
just a lot of things have been going on. Man. Yeah,
well it's part of part of football. You know, typically
you don't you don't get it all at once. But
you know, these young guys are getting better. They got
better last week. We'll continue to get better as we
move forward, and I think it'll pay off in the
(01:27):
long run. How is Schamar Stephen handling the nose tackle roll?
You know he's doing outstandings. He's been doing his job
very well. H You know, he's a guy that again
doesn't get much recognition for the things that he does,
but he he helps Kendricks and Barr and m Wilson.
Now a lot of those guys helps him out a
(01:47):
lot to let them go make place. Did Shamar have
to reconstruct his body at all to play nose like
you were gonna have Michael Pierce then he opted out,
so you know when that happened. Did Shamar have to
like get big? No? Not really, Shamar Um. You know,
he's basically a good run player, and he would have
been really good at the three technique as well. But
(02:09):
you know what his job is is going there and
eat up some of the double teams with Um with
the defense and all the new players and lacking experience
in certain spots. Is any of this in any way,
like twenty eighteen, you went out on a Thursday night,
you played the Rams, you came back and you kind
of tweaked some things into the Philly game and things
(02:32):
got better. Is it in any way like that at
this stage? Well, maybe a little bit. You know, we
did talk about that that Rams game and how we
had to adjust and do some different things. Um. You know, Unfortunately,
without the preseason games, we weren't able to learn about
some of these players when they get into game game
like situations, and um so I think the more that
(02:52):
we're we see them in game like situations, the more
that they're playing, the more we'll have a better understanding
of all the things that they can do and the
things they can handle. This Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill,
he seems to be playing very competently right now. Is
that accurate? Yeah, he's playing really well. You know, I
think he's getting the ball out really quick and the
running game obviously helps him. But the play actions he
(03:15):
does a nice job there. He run a lot of
bootlegs and things like that, so that you know, I
think I think they're doing a good job of letting
him just play the game. Now last year. Obviously, in
the playoffs they bounced Brady, they went and won on
the road at Lamar Jackson, and in the AFC Title
game they were leading the Super Bowl champions ten zero.
(03:36):
Just overall, with the Titans, what makes them a complete team?
What impresses you? Well, the way they run the football offensively?
First of all, you know, they've Derreck Henry's a big,
strong back. They've got a good offensive line, the quarterback
takes good care of the football. And then defensively, they
gave you a lot of different looks. You know, they've
(03:57):
got some really good linebackers, stout guys up front, they've
managed Adavian Clowney now, so um yeah, I think a
couple of good safety so uh, you know, I think
the combination of all that helps helps him to understand
how they have to play. Hey, Mike, with that Indie game,
it seemed from afar like the quarterback just never was comfortable.
(04:17):
Is that accurate? And if so, why, Well, I don't know.
I think maybe he got fooled on some coverages a
little bit. Uh you know, Uh, he needs to scu
out and relax and go play the game, and I
think he'll be fine. Xs and os with Mike Zimmer
kPa and Vikings Radio Network and the Vikings dot Com.
(04:38):
What about their tight end John new Smith eight catches
three touchdowns. What has gotten into him? Yeah, he's had
some really good games. They they you know, they use
him in a lot of tight end screens, which we
got hurt on last week. But they'll also use him
on some of the some of the vertical routes where
they get down the field in the red. Zoni's a
(04:59):
big target for him. I got really good speed, good strength. Um,
you know, he's a good player. You see, I'm sure
you saw some coaches got fined for violating mask protocol?
Is that something you think of during the game while
you and or Gary Kubiak upstairs you're focusing on how
(05:19):
to beat the adversary, but there are a lot of
other things in this world. Well, you don't think about it,
but you understand that, uh, that that's part of what
you have to do. And you know it's just it's
again without preseason games and understanding of protocols and things
like that. Knowing when you can pull the mask down,
when you can put it up, you know, it just
(05:40):
makes more more things for the coaches, that's all. How
how did the shield work out in the Indianapolis game?
The old shield? Yeah it was okay. Um, you know
they seem to get scratched fairly easily. Mike zimmer Rex's
and os that that that one hundred k. I mean
that can happen because that's horse money, right, I mean,
(06:00):
you want to win the Kentucky Derby, you need to
have that one hundred k. You guys are four for
four on two point conversions. I mean I'm seventy five
percent messing around here. You should go for two every
single time. We're unbelievably good at it. Well, I'd like
it to be a little closer, so we just go
ahead and kick it. But is that something you think
about now that you're four for four, Like, hey, you know,
(06:22):
maybe we were going to do it here and there,
but now we're going to expand it a little bit. Well,
I think I think it gives us some more options.
You know, we've been pretty good at it thus far,
and uh, you know, there might be some times we
feel like we just need to add some more points
in there and take some more opportunities and chances. Eden
prairies Ryan Connolly used to play for the Giants, had
a couple of picks. He was running around for you
(06:43):
in that Indianapolis game. Once he gets up to speed.
What do you like about Ryan, Well, you know he's
he's a very smart guy. He's he's good, tough, physical
player and uh, you know he's still getting up to
speed with us, but it's coming quick. With Derrick, Henry
is like, how do we know he's big? We know
(07:04):
he's massive, but is he basked? Does he like hit
everything really basked? Um? You know, I think he's like
all backs, you know they have a chance. He has
a chance to get to the perimeter. He will if
he can go to the corner and make the corner.
Try to tackle him, he will because you know he's
got the size and the strength, but he will hit
the hole quickly and then accelerate out from there. Now
(07:27):
you're only two games into it, So do you have
to think about let's start with the players keys to
keeping morale where it needs to be. Well, I think
the biggest thing, Paul, is that we need to figure
out why we're not winning and go from there. And
then once once we figure out why we're not winning,
if we can fix those things, then we have a
(07:47):
chance to start winning. And you know we've we've had
too many The second quarter has been terrible for us.
And really it hasn't been the second quarter. It's been
the last five minutes in the second quarter, turning the
ball over, given up big plays in a two minute drill. Uh,
in the first ball game, Um, that poor poor field position.
(08:07):
You know. So I think I think before I worry
about morale and those things that I need to worry
about what we need to do to fix it right.
And and lastly, if you just were to rattle off
a couple of things that you think about about turning
things around and getting better and winning games, what would
they be? Well, you know, I think we've improved last week. Defensively,
(08:29):
I think we played a lot tougher and smarter. We've
plaid some good sudden changes. Uh. You know, we've got
to continue to do that. We can't give up big plays,
we can't have penalties on third downs, which we did
the week before. And then offensively, you know, we can't
give up safeties. We got to take take care of
that when we got the ball backed up there. We
have to understand where we're at on the field. Um.
(08:49):
You know, you can't throw interceptions right before the end
of the half, um, you know, or drop balls and penalties.
You know, we had a penalty coming off the goal
line that that uh really made us the reason why
we get the safety. So we have to be a
little bit more diligent about the things that we're doing.
(09:11):
Should be a fistfight this weekend. Best of luck. Okay,
all right, thank you, Paul, Thank you, Sir Mike Zimmer,
head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and in celebration of
sixty seasons, the Vikings are selecting fans for our sixty
Greatest Fans Team, presented by US Bank. We want to
honor the most passionate Vikings fans throughout our history. So
(09:33):
nominate yourself or someone else today at Vikings dot com
slash six zero fans. When xes and OS continues, we
go from one Zimmer to another, from the head coach
to the co defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Adam Zimmer.
That's next on the kfa N Minnesota Vikings Radio network
(09:57):
driven by Polaris three zero Vikings and Cults second and
eight Indianapolis from the Vikings eleven Philip Rivers. Three of
three scrimmages between the hash marks out of the shotgun.
Two receivers left and right fires over the middle, intercepted
by the Minnesota Vikings on a deflection. It was Eric
(10:18):
Wilson with the interception inside the five and the Vikings
have turned over Philip Rivers, and we welcome you back
to XS and o's on the kfa N Minnesota Vikings
Radio Network. A very special guest John in a shortly
but first it's Game Day any day play the new
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Here's Adam Zimmer seven years with the Minnesota Vikings. He
is the co defensive coordinator with Andre Patterson and also
linebackers coach. Brought this up with with Mike earlier in
(11:01):
the show at him same with you. Sorry about Anthony
bar Man. I mean you start with the team in
twenty fourteen. Likewise for your dad, Anthony comes to the
team in twenty fourteen, had that walk off winner at
Tampa which none of us, which we'll all remember forever,
the torn pack. He's out for the year. How you
dealing with it? Yeah, I just feel for Anthony. He
(11:24):
was in a really good place. He was playing some
good football and he was devastated when it happened. And
let's just first of all, feel for him, and we've
just got to do the best job we can trying
to fill some big shoes that he's going to leave behind.
What does Anthony do well at him that maybe, like
(11:45):
fans won't appreciate or recognize because it's not a sack
or it's not an interception. The list is really long.
I could keep you here for a long time. But
Number one, he is really good at getting everybody lined
up on the defense. He calls the huddle, um, he
gets everybody set um. He helps Kendricks immensely as far
(12:06):
as setting the front, setting the pressure, and and everything
we do defensively. So that's that's critical number one. And
number two, he's outstanding in coverage. You know, I know,
you know, some people might look at Pro Football Focus
grades and stuff, but they really don't know what we
ask him to do. And he is always one of
our high highest graded guys in terms of past defense.
(12:27):
And he does a great job with those things. And
and for the record, with all due respect, I'm not
one that looks at those grades, but I do appreciate
what you just shared about Anthony. And you know, you
talk about the calls and the huddle and stuff like that.
So assumedly would that go to Eric Kendricks And if so,
is that something with which he's comfortable. Well, we're going
(12:48):
to work that out. We'll let him and Eric Wilson
do most of the talking with the defense and see
what works the best, you know, because right now where
he's all used to letting Anthony do one thing and
letting Eric look at another, we just got to see
what the best combination is between the two erics and
(13:10):
do it's best for the defense. And jealous about Eric Wilson.
He was undrafted from Cincinnati. It was a terrific bind
for you. Guys started out wonderfully on special teams, but
he's helped you on defense. What do you like about him? Yeah,
he's one of those linebackers there's like a modern day
linebacker can he can really run. He's really athletic and
(13:30):
over the years he's really developed into an extremely smart
football players. He's seeing things before and anticipating plays before
they happen. He's really grown and just about every aspect
of his game since since he got here. He made
some flash plays in his first preseason, but he wasn't
always in the right spot. The ball just found him.
And now he's in the right spot and he's making
(13:51):
those plays. So he's come a long way in these
last five years. I guess is Adam Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
co defensive coordinator and Einenbacker's coach on x's and o's
courtesy of us Bank. Speaking of Eric Kendricks, how is
he getting along through two games? Eric's done great. He's
made a ton of plays. I thought he was outstanding
(14:12):
in coverage in the in the Green Bay game and
the first He's made a lot of good plays in
the first week. Last week he made some really good
plays as well. There's some things we need to clean
up with him as far as as run fits. But
he's really getting into a groove just like he was
last year. I like how he's coming along just like
you know he does every year. You know, and Eric
(14:34):
was All Pro last year, which of course made him
very proud. Likewise, for you, you're his positions, position coach,
and Eric seems to be somebody that always is striving
to get better. And you know, there's been a lot
of change specifically with the players in front of him,
so that I would imagine take some adapting for all
of you. Right. Yeah, it's a little different. It's especially
(14:56):
not playing behind guys like Linville Joseph like he has
in the past. But I think he's got a good
feel of how Jaliel and a Mom Watts and and
shamar Our plan blocks and where they're going to be um,
and he sees things so quickly that he's able to
react to things that usually most Mike linebackers wouldn't be
able to. He can he can make an adjustment on
(15:17):
the fly, um, because because he's so instinctive and so smart.
And Eric Kendricks is a very emotional player, and he's
a very emotional person. Have you have you noticed over
the years that Eric has taken kind of more of
a vocal role during games behind the scenes, just being like,
come on, guys, let's go. Yeah. He's always been really
(15:40):
vocal in terms of asking a lot of questions and
uh and just blurting out whatever he thinks in the
meeting room and now being around him on the sideline
on game day and listen to him and listen to
his attitude. It's really great to hear. He's he's always uplifting,
He's he's he's saying no matter what the situation is,
he's looking at the positive things and and looking how
(16:02):
we can get better. And I think he's really good
in that role for our defense, something that we really need.
Eden Prairies. Ryan Connolly tell us about him. Yeah, it's
a guy we liked in the draft a couple of
years ago, and he came in here for our top
thirty visit and he's an athletic kid. He's fast, has
(16:22):
some good size to him, and when he became available,
they had me put on his tape from the Giants
last year and he played a lot of plays before
he got injured, and he really improved on some things
in college that he needed to get better at, and
he made a lot of plays and was playing pretty
well for the Giants when he unfortunately got injured. But
I like what he adds to the room and hopefully
(16:44):
he can end up helping us on defense. Yeah, I
think he got injured right before you guys went back
there and beat the Giants last year and he had
a couple of interceptions, So just off that with a
couple of interceptions because I haven't seen them. Is he
naturally good in pass coverage or like what led to
those picks? Yeah? I think one of them was a
tip ball, but the other one he had a pretty
(17:07):
good reaction to the play. And I think he's got
good instincts and coverage, so he's going to be in
the right place in the right time, and hopefully that
continues to get better with the more REPSI he sees
and more NFL plays that he sees. Now, Oregon rookie
Troy die As I recall, up to the draft, you
were quite high on him, right, I was, yes. And
(17:29):
what did you like about him playing defense in the
Pac twelve and how it could segue to the NFL. Yeah,
Pack twelve defense is like playing basketball on air. They're
throwing the ball around the yard every play, They're spread
out every play, and you get to really see his
athleticism and his speed and ability to get to the football,
(17:51):
and you know, I think all those things translating to
be becoming a good NFL linebacker, and you know, of course,
with Eric Kendricks and Troy Died both on the team,
you win the all hair team for those linebackers with
Die and with Kendricks, right, yeah, don't don't forget about
Eric Wilson with that with that hair too. He's growing
his out too. Yeah, that's right. They're ever changing. They're chameleons.
(18:14):
Adam Zimmer linebackers coach, code defensive coordinator. A couple of
quickies to close on x'es and o's. Do you I
know you're not wired as a coach to think this
way at him, but I mean from Michael Pierce and
the opt out just through everything personally or professionally with
Anthony Barr most recent, do you ever say is enough enough?
(18:36):
I mean, you guys have taken a lot of hits
the last few weeks. We've taken some lumps, but you
know what, no one cares. So they just care if
we get the job done and we get and we
get to win, and we're gonna go out there every week.
We're gonna work like crazy to put these players in
the best position to succeed and hopefully that is good
enough to go get a victory on Sunday and that's
(18:57):
all we can do. No one, No one cares that
bars hurt, you know, no one cares that we've had,
we've had, we've been without Daniel. It's just we have
to go out and we have to play defense, and
we have a standard of excellence around here on defense
that whoever plays, we're going to expect to do the
best and show that type of defense. Tennessee absolutely a
(19:18):
run first operation. They are. They've they've fed Derek Henry.
You know, he's got fifty six carries already through two games,
I think it is, and so that they lean on
him heavily. But they do have a nice play action game.
Tannehill is doing a good job getting the ball out quick.
He's done a good job on the on the bootlegs.
So you know, they they're they're not just a one
(19:38):
dimensional football team. They have some some skill players that
that we're gonna have to be be really good on
and um, you know it's going to be a challenge
on Sunday, but I look forward to to taking them on.
And they have that tight end John new Smith with
with three touchdowns, but another tight end with whom you're familiar,
Mike cal pro It what Mike cal Proa. What are
(19:58):
they doing with him these days? Yeah, he's been really
versatile for him for them. They've put him in the
backfield to block some They've they've moved him around, They're
releasing him on passes. He's done a good job at protection.
So he's kind of filling a lot of roles for
him and I'm happy for him that he's found a
found a role. He was a great kid when when
he was here, and we hope he has a good career.
(20:19):
Except for Sunday. This is your first season with the
Vikings on the sideline during games, right it is? Yes,
all right? Well, you follow the news closely. Man. One
hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money. Gotta be
careful with that mask ez. I've got it all the time,
trying different ones every day. Hey man, I appreciate you.
Best to luck this weekend. Okay, thanks a lot, Paul,
(20:40):
good talking to you. Got you, Bud. That's Adam Zimmer,
co defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Minnesota Vikings.
And by the way, Vikings fans purchase any twenty ounce
Pepsi branded product from Quick Trip with your rewards card
and enter the Vikings Opening Drive Sweepstakes. No purchase necessary
see store for detail. Else on behalf of all of
(21:01):
us here at the Vikings Entertainment Network and the Great
Ryan Donaldson with KFA and Radio. I'm Paul Allen. That
is XS and o's courtesy of US Bank on the
KFA N Minnesota Vikings Radio Network, driven by Alaris
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