Zimmer dumps Jeff Davidson

[Lee Borgersen]

          Vikings coach Mike Zimmer wasn't happy with his offense this season, and there already has been one casualty.

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During his season-ending news conference Tuesday, Zimmer announced that offensive line coach Jeff Davidson had been fired. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner will stay.

Davidson had been with the Vikings for five seasons, the first three under former coach Leslie Frazier. His line allowed 45 sacks during the regular season, 44 against starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Bridgewater went down three more times in Sunday's 10-9 playoff loss to Seattle, a game in which the Vikings failed to score a touchdown and gained a meager 183 total yards.

When asked why he didn't renew Davidson's contract, Zimmer said only, "I didn't want to." He also didn't rule out other staff changes.

The Vikings reportedly have inquired about hiring Dan Campbell, who went 5-7 as Miami's interim head coach in 2015. Campbell's background is primarily with tight ends.

The Vikings ranked 13th in the NFL in total defense but were 29th in total offense. They were fifth in scoring defense and 16th in scoring offense.

"We've got to get better really in all three phases, but offensively we've got to get better; we didn't do enough there," Zimmer said. "There was a lot of areas that we didn't do very well offensively. We didn't get enough first downs, we weren't a very good passing offense. We were good in rushing offense, but we've got to get a lot better there, that's for sure."

The Vikings were hurt by injuries on the offensive line, with starting center John Sullivan, starting tackle Phil Loadholt and reserve tackle Carter Bykowski all suffering season-ending injuries during exhibition play. Overall, Zimmer said the play on the line was "sporadic,'' which cost Davidson his job.

"I'm disappointed,'' guard Mike Harris said of the move. "He made me a much better player. It's just sad to see him go. We had our ups and downs, but in the end our coach made us play tough and got us ready each week.''

Guard Brandon Fusco and tackle Matt Kalil had consistency issues working together on the left side. T.J. Clemmings was thrown in as a rookie to replace Loadholt at right tackle and often struggled.

"I think guys need to come in and compete, whether it's Sullivan or Loadholt or Kalil or whoever it is," Zimmer said. "They need to compete, but that's really what I want this football team to do, as well."

In fact, Zimmer said, the only players entrenched in their positions are Bridgewater and running back Adrian Peterson, who led the NFL in rushing with 1,485 yards.

The Vikings have great depth at receiver, but they lacked consistency. Mike Wallace caught just 39 passes for 473 yards and wasn't the deep threat he once was. Rookie Stefon Diggs caught 25 passes for 419 yards in the first four games he played and just 27 for 301 in his next nine. But Zimmer said Diggs could become the type of playmaker that could ignite the offense.

"Can he? Yes," Zimmer said. "Why he (fell off)? There's so many different numbers of factors that go on. ... Things happen throughout the course of a ballgame. I don't know, you run the ball as much we do, you're not throwing it 50 times a game."

During Zimmer's first two seasons, the Vikings emphasized building the defense through the draft and free agency. He insisted, though, it wasn't totally by design and sometimes came down to which players were available.

Regardless, Zimmer didn't have much negative to say about his defense.

"I like this group,'' he said. "I think we have some playmakers, some competitors."

Zimmer and his coaches will continue to evaluate players on the roster, including 17 bound for free agency in March.

Although players have dispersed until they return for offseason workouts in April, the Vikings will be keeping tabs on several having surgical procedures.

Tight end Rhett Ellison had knee surgery last week. Zimmer said nose tackle Linval Joseph, who missed four of the final five regular-season games, will have toe surgery. Wide receiver Adam Thielen will have shoulder surgery. Defensive end Everson Griffen might have shoulder surgery.

Zimmer, 59, will have knee surgery.

"Old age, stress," he explained.







Vikings offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, left, works his guys in the cage in afternoon workouts during training camp at Minnesota State University in Mankato on Tuesday, July 28, 2015. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

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