Viking Coaching Candidates

Just as I had predicted, the Vikings fired Leslie Frazier.  I know it's old news by now but I wanted to give my thoughts on the firing and some of the names that I've been hearing rumored as getting interviewed.

First, as to the firing, I do think that it was warranted, I was just not seeing enough progress over Frazier's time with the Vikings to justify giving him more time.  There were plenty of negatives to point towards too.  He brought in 2 coordinators who seemed over-matched nearly every game, his inability to develop a QB was frustrating, he clock management abilities were questionable at best, his clinging to a defensive system that has seen it's better days was maddening and this past year at least there appeared to be a lack of discipline off and off the field.  Don't get wrong here, Leslie Frazier is a good, decent man, I wish him nothing but the best, but it just wasn't working out with the Vikings and I thought he needed to go.

I really don't know what direction that I want the Vikings to go with Frazier's replacement, you could make a strong case for an offensive minded guy or a defensive minded guy.  I'd prefer they completely blow things up and bring in a fresh approach (maybe a 3-4 defense), they really need to cut ties with the Brad Childress way of doing things (lest we forget, Leslie Frazier came from the Childress coaching tree).  I'm not big on the retread coaches or college coaches either, I think they can find someone from the ranks of current assistant coaches currently in the league.  Hopefully, it's someone who can command the locker room, someone with a track record of success, someone who who is well respected around the league. 

As to the names that I've been seeing thrown around, here's my thoughts on a few:


Adam Gase.  Gase is the offensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos.  The Broncos led the NFL in yards per game, passing yards per game, points per game and total points this past season.  That looks pretty good on the resume doesn't it?  Bright, innovative, young, there's lots to like about him.  I have my concerns though.  First, he's only been the offensive coordinator for 1 year, the previous offensive coordinator was Mike McCoy who is now the head coach of the San Diego Chargers.  Shouldn't Mike McCoy be credited for being the innovator behind the Broncos offense, not Adam Gase?   Isn't it his system they are still running for the most part?  Secondly, they have Peyton Manning playing QB!  Peyton Manning just may be the best QB to ever play the game, he is audibling pretty much every play, how can you in all good conscience give Gase credit for that offensive production when Manning is essentially calling all the plays?  Outside of his current position he has also never been a head coach or even a coordinator at any level.  I'd like to see a longer track record.  While he may be a hot name, if I were the Vikings, I'd steer clear of him.

Dan Quinn.  Quinn is the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks.  The Seahawks led the NFL in fewest points per game allowed, fewest points allowed for the season, fewest yards per game allowed and fewest yards per play.  Again, much like Gase, that looks impressive on the resume.  Like Gase, he's bright, he's young and he's innovative, there is a lot to like about him.  Once again though, I do have my concerns and many of them are the same as with Gase, just from the other side of the ball.  First of all, Quinn has only been an NFL coordinator for 1 year.  The previous defensive coordinator for the Seahawks was Gus Bradley who is now the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The Seahawks defense was very good under Bradley (thus his hiring by the Jaguars), the Seahawks are running essentially the same defense that they were running under Bradley with many of the same players (including 3 Pro-Bowlers).  I'm having a hard time, after just one year on the job, giving Quinn all the credit for the success that the Seahawks had this year, there's just no track record with him.  Again, another hot name, but he another one that I hope the Vikings steer clear of.

Darrell Bevell.  Bevell is the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks.  He was formerly the offensive coordinator for the Vikings.  He's done a nice job with the Seahawks offense and with their young QB Russell Wilson and given that's it highly suspected that the Vikings may target another QB in the upcoming NFL Draft those are qualities that may come in useful in a head coach.  He's also got the support of some former Vikings.  I'm not sold though, I really haven't seen too much innovation out of him with the Vikings or the Seahawks and quite frankly I would prefer a complete break from that Brad Childress coaching tree.  I guess I could live with this hire but he wouldn't be my top choice.

Todd Bowles.  Bowles is the defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals.  He was previously the defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles and he has previously been the Assistant Head Coach/Interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins.  Bowles took over a good Cardinals defense this past year and made it even better.  The Cardinals had the 6th ranked defense in the NFL this past season, including the best defense against the run (they were 28th the previous year).  He really did a great job, his defense was very well prepared every week.  The Cardinals ran an  aggressive 3-4 defense, I'd love see that in Minnesota.  My concerns?  That Cardinals defense has a lot of talent, that helps, a lot, as you're only as good as your players, he also hasn't been a coordinator long so the track record is pretty thin in that respect too.  He's also got a demeanor that is very similar to Leslie Frazier, I'm not sure if they don't want someone with a bit more fire.

Greg Roman.  Roman is the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.  His offense emphasizes the run first, that would be a great fit with Adrian Peterson and the Vikings.  Roman has also done a nice job at developing Colin Kaepernick, which would come in useful if/when the Vikings select a QB in the upcoming NFL Draft.  He's got the Brian Billick stamp of approval if that matters to anyone.  If I have a concern, it's  that he was taking a lot of heat earlier this season when the 49ers offense was struggling and his track record as an offensive coordinator is a bit thin (and he's never been a head coach at any level).  He just doesn't really excite me much, they could do worse though.

Ray Horton.  Horton was the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns last year, the previous year he was the defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals.  He did a very good job at both places, both teams improved dramatically under his tutelage.  He likes to play an aggressive 3-4 defense that blitzes a lot.  It's a fun defense to watch and Horton seemed to do a great job of getting the most out of his talent.  He was a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals head coaching job last year before that job went to Bruce Arians.  When he was a finalist for the Cardinals head coaching spot it was highly suspected that he would have brought Norv Turner along with him as offensive coordinator and I highly suspect that this would be the case if he were to get the Vikings job too.  I like Horton a lot and wouldn't mind at all if he were to get the job. 

Ken Whisenhunt.  Whisenhunt is the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, he is currently the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, he has also spent time as offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I'm reading a lot of reports about how Whisenhunt resurrected Kurt Warner's career in Arizona and now is doing wonders for Philip Rivers in San Diego.  Personally, I think that's being a bit generous, I think he lucked into Warner when nobody else wanted him.  Whisenhunt's record in Arizona without Warner, was pretty abysmal as was his handling of QB's not named Kurt Warner (remember Matt Leinart, Kevin Kolb, John Skelton, Max Hall, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Lindley and Rich Bartel?).  His inept juggling of QB's in his final season with the Cardinals is rivaled only by that of the Vikings this past season.  As for his time with the Chargers, don't you think that some of the credit for Rivers  improvement could go to Mike McCoy?  Personally, I think Whisenhunt is a guy who would be much better off going someplace where there is already an established QB (Stafford and the Lions???).  I for one, wouldn't be a fan of a Whisenhunt hire in Minnesota. 

Mike Zimmer.  Zimmer is the current defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.  He has been coaching in the NFL for the past 20 years (including the past 13 years as a defensive coordinator).  He has a very strong track record of success coaching multiple team using multiple schemes (4-3 & 3-4).  He's very well respected around the league, has a strong presence in the locker room and he has a lot of connections (which can only help when filling out the coaching staff).  I like to think of Zimmer as this years version of Bruce Arians, another long time NFL assistant who was only lacking a chance and when given one by the Arizona Cardinals, had a very successful first year as head coach.  If I'm the Vikings, Mike Zimmer is my first choice, I'd do everything possible to get his name of the dotted line.