Minnesota Vikings: 5 Reasons For Hope Following 2014 Season

2. We have the coach that we’ve been looking for since… Bud Grant

Oct 26, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Minnesota Vikings defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-13. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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Just as Bud Grant brought hard-nosed football and diligence for 18 years as a Head Coach, Mike Zimmer has done that and will continue to do the same. Upon the Vikings hiring Mike Zimmer, I was initially excited about the idea of having a hard-nosed coach who wasn’t afraid to get in the face of players. To this point, that excitement has not left me. Zimmer has already shown that he can make drastic improvements on a team, especially on the defensive side, which is his specialty. In 2014, the Vikings ranked 13th in the league in points given up as opposed to 32nd in the league in 2013. Total yards given up per game went from 31st in the league in 2013 to 7th in the league in 2014. Lastly, big plays were diminished, as they were 5th in the league in plays of 20+ yards given up as opposed to 23rd in the league in 2013. I believe that this shows that Zimmer has a defense that is great at containing offenses, and that it can also be ferocious and unpredictable. I think it’s safe to say that Zimmer’s aggressive, hard-nosed defense is a fresh breath of air after years of having a conservative defense.

Next: Zimmer's got the defense ready.