Vike players defied coach

[Lee Borgersen]

  Vikings players defied head coach's game plan and got burned.


  .....
The Minnesota Vikings’ defensive backs defied head coach Mike Zimmer on Saturday, and their decision backfired.

  ........
Zimmer, a defensive-oriented coach, wanted cornerback Xavier Rhodes to shadow Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson for the whole game. Instead, the Vikings’ defensive backs got together and decided that they could handle Nelson without making a special plan for Rhodes.


HIGHLIGHTS:  Packers stay hot

Nelson instead burned the Vikings for 9 catches, 154 yards and two touchdowns. He had 7 catches, 145 yards and both scores in the first half, which was without Rhodes shadowing him.

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It wasn’t until the second half that the defense finally went with Zimmer’s plan and had Rhodes shadow Nelson, who posted just two catches in the second half.


According to the Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer, this whole issue came to attention when Zimmer was asked after the 38-25 loss about moving Rhodes onto Nelson for the second half.

When asked after the game what happened, Rhodes initially was hesitant but then opened up.

“To be honest, I really don’t want to answer that,” Rhodes said at first via Krammer. But Rhodes later opened up.

“A matter of fact, forget it. We felt as a team, as players, we came together and we felt like we’d never done that when we played against the Packers. Us as DBs felt like we could handle him. That’s how we felt as DBs that we could stay on our side and cover him. In the beginning, we’d always played against them and played our sides, so that’s what we as DBs went with," Rhodes said according to the Star Tribune.

In the first half, Rhodes stayed on his side and did not shadow Nelson, but that proved to be costly.

Maybe next time Minnesota’s players should trust Zimmer. After all, the team hasn’t consistently been a top-10 defense under his leadership for nothing.

[LPS]

Interesting.  I bet that pissed Zim off.  Rhodes missed an opportunity to cream Rodgers also on the TD run too. 

[hawg]

Must be a lot more going on than we know. I can't imagine that kind of behavior going on. Coach was right this time but defiance like that has can only be the tip of the iceberg.

[LPS]

I wonder what is going on too Hawg.  Even way back to Norv going there is something going on.

[Reinhard]

Zimmer said it was poor communications by him, no mutiny.  Well that is what is said.  But there was a big change in the second half.  Rhodes did cover Nelson in the second half the whole time and Nelson only had 2 catches for few yards.  I think after the season we may see some coaching staff changes along with some players that may not be with the team next year, example Peterson.  Personally I think starting him in the Colts game pissed off some players.  Especially after he said he does't plan on playing the Bear game but will play Green Bay.  Well he didn't play the Green Bay game and don't think he will be in a Viking uniform again.  good luck.

[The General]

I'd also like to see them trade Bridgewater.  Then linemen, linemen, linemen.

[hawg]

I'm not sure if I have everything correct but it seems that Shurmer was the wedge between Zimmer and Turner. Now they are saying Shurmer might be fired too.?. Is Shurmer Zimmer's enforcer and dividing the team? The reason I think many college coaches fail in the NFL is because they are disciplinarians and spoiled millionaires don't take to that style of coaching. Maybe that's in play here.

[Reinhard]

General, Bridgewater may not play any football anymore with the type of injury he had.  Peterson has to go.  He will see that he will not get anywhere close to what he is making today.  4 million and that may be high for next year with maybe a incentive clause, but that's it in my opinion.  We need a big speedy RB and like everyone knows, lot's of help on the O line.  good luck.