Post by Purple Pain on Sept 5, 2020 23:37:05 GMT -6
We hear it all of the time, don't we? "Zimmer plays way too conservatively with the lead!" Well, okay, but is that such a bad thing? Let's find out...
Vikings Territory: Why do the Vikings always play so conservatively with a lead?
Cause no matter how you measure it, it works
...
vikingsterritory.com/2020/general-news/why-do-the-vikings-always-play-so-conservatively-with-a-lead
Vikings Territory: Why do the Vikings always play so conservatively with a lead?
Cause no matter how you measure it, it works
In 2014, the Minnesota Vikings replaced outgoing head coach Leslie Frazier with current boss Mike Zimmer. Under Frazier, 2011-2013, the Vikings were caretakers of the NFL’s 8th-worst record via win percentage at 18-29-1 (.385). Minnesota did wangle its way into the postseason in 2012 on the shoulders of tailback Adrian Peterson – only to fall to the Green Bay Packers in the wildcard round of the playoffs.
After the 2013 campaign, the Vikings front office had seen enough and opted to replace Frazier with Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer. The transaction would turn out to be a savvy one as the Vikings are owners of the league’s 7th-best record since Zimmer came to power. Zimmer’s win-loss record of 57-38-1 (.599) is notably better than the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans during the same time frame.
Zimmer’s predilection for defense has birthed a winning culture in Minnesota. The Vikings are the second-best defensive organization in the business behind the New England Patriots (since 2014). With Frazier in charge, Minnesota ranked 30th in this points-allowed metric. A third-worst to second-best turnaround in a short period is commendable, to say the least.
Defense-first psychology, the frequency with a lead, and generally an offense that is not a high-octane bunch lead the Vikings to a somewhat conservative style of offense during stretches of games. And in particular, these stretches tend to appear while Minnesota holds a lead.
Why is that?
Foremost, Mike Zimmer doesn’t care what you think.
Don’t take it personally. He just doesn’t care if you get mad on your sofa while the Vikings are up 17-3 and he’s calling vanilla plays.
His primary job is to get you to attend Vikings football games in a non-pandemic world because you want them to win – not run up the score. For what it’s worth, he does a fairly laudable job with this task, as Minnesota has won 60 percent of games with Zimmer calling the shots.
Zimmer has an elongated history with defensive football. In the way Kansas City Chiefs skipper Andy Reid is an “offensive coach,” Zimmer blatantly favors a defensive brand.
You would expect an offensive coach to step on the Adam’s Apple of opponents with incessant scoring given the opportunity. Zimmer’s approach to Adam’s apple-hunting is to suffocate the opponent with a pass-rush and a stingy secondary.
This is simply a stylistic difference between brands of coaching. Fantasy football matchups do not matter to Zimmer or any other NFL coach. If a Vikings game gets “boring” when the team is the beholder of a lead, it’s exactly what Zimmer had in mind when devising his game plan.
After the 2013 campaign, the Vikings front office had seen enough and opted to replace Frazier with Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator, Mike Zimmer. The transaction would turn out to be a savvy one as the Vikings are owners of the league’s 7th-best record since Zimmer came to power. Zimmer’s win-loss record of 57-38-1 (.599) is notably better than the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans during the same time frame.
Zimmer’s predilection for defense has birthed a winning culture in Minnesota. The Vikings are the second-best defensive organization in the business behind the New England Patriots (since 2014). With Frazier in charge, Minnesota ranked 30th in this points-allowed metric. A third-worst to second-best turnaround in a short period is commendable, to say the least.
Defense-first psychology, the frequency with a lead, and generally an offense that is not a high-octane bunch lead the Vikings to a somewhat conservative style of offense during stretches of games. And in particular, these stretches tend to appear while Minnesota holds a lead.
Why is that?
Foremost, Mike Zimmer doesn’t care what you think.
Don’t take it personally. He just doesn’t care if you get mad on your sofa while the Vikings are up 17-3 and he’s calling vanilla plays.
His primary job is to get you to attend Vikings football games in a non-pandemic world because you want them to win – not run up the score. For what it’s worth, he does a fairly laudable job with this task, as Minnesota has won 60 percent of games with Zimmer calling the shots.
Zimmer has an elongated history with defensive football. In the way Kansas City Chiefs skipper Andy Reid is an “offensive coach,” Zimmer blatantly favors a defensive brand.
You would expect an offensive coach to step on the Adam’s Apple of opponents with incessant scoring given the opportunity. Zimmer’s approach to Adam’s apple-hunting is to suffocate the opponent with a pass-rush and a stingy secondary.
This is simply a stylistic difference between brands of coaching. Fantasy football matchups do not matter to Zimmer or any other NFL coach. If a Vikings game gets “boring” when the team is the beholder of a lead, it’s exactly what Zimmer had in mind when devising his game plan.
If you have not noticed, the Minnesota Vikings do not turn the ball over that often. Since 2014, the Vikings have turned over the ball to opponents 107 times – in 96 games. This total nominates Minnesota for the 5th-fewest turnovers in the NFL during the last six years. It also affirms Zimmer’s Vikings as placeholder of the NFL’s fifth-best giveaway-takeaway ratio with a +31.
Leads are relinquished when teams cough up the football. Such turnovers are slivers of light that enable the opposition to wiggle back into games.
When the Vikings keep the play calling conservative, they are minimizing risk. Zimmer believes his defense is perfectly capable of stifling comebacks and turnovers on offense only make that undertaking burdensome.
There is a reason the Vikings have the second-fewest interceptions thrown in the NFL since 2014 during the second half of games. It’s largely tactical.
Deal with it – the strategy works, indisputably
The Minnesota Vikings have not blown a lead over seven points in over four years. Period. They nearly lost such a lead in the 2017 NFC Divisional playoff game, but Stefon Diggs and Case Keenum miraculously disallowed the Saints from leaving U.S. Bank Stadium victorious.
The last time the Vikings did bungle a lead was of the nine-point variety in the 2015 NFC Wildcard Game to Seattle Seahawks. Of course, that was utterly terrible timing, but in all reality, that game should have been a win for Minnesota.
This should be all you need to know about the efficacy of Zimmer’s conservative strategy when a lead is obtained.
If it’s not, there is more.
In the last five seasons, Minnesota is 45-0 when leading at the end of the third quarter in regular-season games. The Vikings are the only undefeated team under this parameter. On the whole, most teams are successful when entering the fourth quarter with a lead, but Minnesota is the only undefeated squad, which is rather meritorious.
For context, the Chicago Bears have lost eight games when leading at the end of the third quarter since 2015. The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost nine games when entering the fourth quarter with ahead on the scoreboard.
The Minnesota Vikings have lost zero. The strategy works.
Leads are relinquished when teams cough up the football. Such turnovers are slivers of light that enable the opposition to wiggle back into games.
When the Vikings keep the play calling conservative, they are minimizing risk. Zimmer believes his defense is perfectly capable of stifling comebacks and turnovers on offense only make that undertaking burdensome.
There is a reason the Vikings have the second-fewest interceptions thrown in the NFL since 2014 during the second half of games. It’s largely tactical.
Deal with it – the strategy works, indisputably
The Minnesota Vikings have not blown a lead over seven points in over four years. Period. They nearly lost such a lead in the 2017 NFC Divisional playoff game, but Stefon Diggs and Case Keenum miraculously disallowed the Saints from leaving U.S. Bank Stadium victorious.
The last time the Vikings did bungle a lead was of the nine-point variety in the 2015 NFC Wildcard Game to Seattle Seahawks. Of course, that was utterly terrible timing, but in all reality, that game should have been a win for Minnesota.
This should be all you need to know about the efficacy of Zimmer’s conservative strategy when a lead is obtained.
If it’s not, there is more.
In the last five seasons, Minnesota is 45-0 when leading at the end of the third quarter in regular-season games. The Vikings are the only undefeated team under this parameter. On the whole, most teams are successful when entering the fourth quarter with a lead, but Minnesota is the only undefeated squad, which is rather meritorious.
For context, the Chicago Bears have lost eight games when leading at the end of the third quarter since 2015. The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost nine games when entering the fourth quarter with ahead on the scoreboard.
The Minnesota Vikings have lost zero. The strategy works.
vikingsterritory.com/2020/general-news/why-do-the-vikings-always-play-so-conservatively-with-a-lead
... and neither is this Chris guy.