Fansided

5 signs the Minnesota Vikings are for real

By Nathaniel Reeves

Sep 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) reacts after making a sack in the fourth quarter. The Vikings defeated the Panthers 22-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) reacts after making a sack in the fourth quarter. The Vikings defeated the Panthers 22-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

2. They have one of the best coaching staffs in the game

If Zimmer hadn’t already proven his coaching ability by rebuilding the Vikings in his first two years, the 3-0 start in 2016 only confirms that he’s one of the top head coaches in the entire NFL.

A longtime assistant in both the college and professional ranks, Zimmer got his first chance at an NFL job with the Dallas Cowboys as a defensive backs coach in 1994 and went on to win a ring in Super Bowl XXX. Dallas hired Zimmer as defensive coordinator from 2000-2006, and he later held the same post in Atlanta and Cincinnati.

The stint with the Bengals is what really helped Zimmer break into the head coaching ranks, as he was named the 2009 Assistant Coach of the Year and led defenses that were consistently ranked in the top 10 across all categories. That defensive acumen has shown in Minnesota so far, as the Vikings have gone from the 32nd ranked scoring defense in 2013 to perhaps the best unit in the NFL during Zimmer’s tenure.

Besides creating one of the best defensive schemes in the NFL, Zimmer’s old-school motivation style appears to be working well in the Minnesota locker room. If it weren’t for Bill Belichick, Zimmer would be running away with the Coach of the Year voting in just his third season.

While the Vikings are winning because of their defense, offensive coordinator Norv Turner deserves plenty of credit. Turner may have a less than stellar record as a head coach, but he’s proven himself as one of the top coordinators in the game, and did a great job to get Bradford ready in such a short amount of time.

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