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McNiff's Riffs: I love Mike Zimmer, but...

If the Vikings are going to beat the Patriots on Sunday and make a run for the Super Bowl, I feel it's Zim who has to channel Bill Belichick. Not necessarily in a "win at all costs" way, but rather where it comes to managing his emotions.
Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn, USA Today Sports Images
Mike Zimmer is a 'heart on his sleeve' kind of guy. Tim McNiff says he could benefit by channeling Bill Belichick, keeping emotions and strategy a bit more close to the vest. (USA Today Sports Images)

Here's a news flash... Bill Belichik isn’t going to win a lot of popularity contests outside of New England.

When NFL head coaches win multiple Super Bowls they attain a certain level of respect (if not icon status) within the football world. You could say that Belichick, the Patriots head coach with his five victories and eight Super bowl appearances, has achieved that status. I personally would vote yes, albeit grudgingly.

There is no doubt that Belichick is a master tactician and a defensive mastermind. Credit for the Patriots offensive success usually goes to quarterback Tom Brady. I mean, it’s one thing to draw it up on the board, and something completely different to go out on the field and execute it.

And then... there are the scandals.

Credit: Brad Penner
Tom Brady and the Patriots have won 5 Super Bowls, but have also been embroiled in a number of scandals... 'Deflate-gate' among them. (USA Today Sports Images)

“Deflategate” involved Brady (and by association, Belichick) when Brady was more or less caught having the Patriots support staff slightly deflate footballs beyond which the league allows, to make them more comfortable for the all-world Patriots QB. While definitely outside league rules this one doesn’t do much for me because almost every quarterback... from high school on up... does something to alter the football they use to his liking.

READ: More McNiff's Riffs

“Spygate” is on a whole other level. In a 2007 game against the New York Jets, the Patriots were caught videotaping the Jets play-call signals. A league investigation determined that not only had the Pats done this against the Jets, but that it was actually a common practice for New England from 2002-2007... which also happens to be the team’s greatest period of success.

There's more. The Patriots are accused of having videotaped the St. Louis Rams walk through before the 2002 Super Bowl but after a thorough investigation (led by current NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell) the Pats were cleared of that one. Did I mention that Goodell used to work in the Patriots organization?

But I digress.

Best described as stoic, Belichick, who is usually spare in his dealings with the media, went deep into the well in his praise for Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer.

LISTEN: McNiff's Huddle podcast

“Zimmer is one of the best coaches in the league, no question about it”, said Belichick earlier this week. “He’s done a great job with that program”. But Belichick wasn’t done. “We always watch what they do, always try to look at the things they’re doing, give us ideas. They do things fundamentally well.”

For Bill Belichick that is high praise, indeed, and I truly believe it’s both heartfelt and well-deserved.

In truth, however, if the Vikings are going to beat the Patriots and make a run for the Super Bowl, I feel it's actually Zim who has to channel Belichick. Not necessarily in a “win at all costs” way, but rather where it comes to managing his emotions.

Credit: Robert Deutsch
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been to 8 Super Bowls, capturing 5 of them. But the personality he displays on a daily basis is not exactly 'winning.' (USA Today Sports Images)

Don’t get me wrong. Part of Mike Zimmer’s appeal is that what you see is what you get. I just feel like on a couple of occasions this season, Zim has let fans (and his team) see a little bit too much.

You only have to go back as far as last Sunday night’s game against Green Bay. Leaving the field at halftime, Zimmer was approached by NBC sideline reporter Michelle Tafoya. Having seen his kicker miss two field goal attempts Zimmer told Tafoya he would not leave the game in “the hands of a kicker,” which signaled he would go for it on 4th down in the 2nd half rather than risk another missed kick.

Faced with that exact situation leading 24-14, and with a 4th and 2 at the Green Bay 7 Zimmer kept the Vikings offense on the field and went for it.

And the play failed.

I get it. Zimmer kept his word, but it was the wrong move and it was a move made by emotion rather than one made by playing the odds... OR by using analytics.

Credit: Brad Rempel
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is earning a reputation for breaking and discarding kickers. Is Dan Bailey next? (USA Today Sports Images)

The correct move would have been to go for what was essentially a chip-shot field goal, and force the Packers to score two touchdowns in the game’s final five minutes rather than leaving the Packers needing just a touchdown and a field goal to tie.

But it’s BIGGER than that.

Dan Bailey came to the Vikings as the second most accurate kicker in NFL history, but since putting on purple Bailey has struggled mightily. Zimmer claims to have confidence in his kicker but as the old saying goes, "actions speak louder than words," and in this case Zimmer’s players are watching and listening.

“So, I mean, everyone was frustrated because he missed two kicks”, said Zimmer. “But quite honestly, I have a lot of confidence in the kid. The second one, because we false started, it was a 56-yarder. But I have a lot of confidence in this kid. Every day in practice he hits them and he’s got a good demeanor about him. I don’t doubt that.”

During Zimmer’s tenure, which has included growth on both sides of the football, two division titles and an appearance in the NFC Championship game, the Vikings have become known as he team that can’t make field goals.

First it was Blair Walsh, then it was Daniel Carlson (briefly) and now it’s Dan Bailey. All three came to the Vikings highly regarded and with a strong track record of success. Two are long gone, and the third one is suddenly struggling.

What are the constants in the equation? Special teams coach Mike Prieffer and of course... Zim.

Zimmer kicked Carlson to the curb after the rookie missed three kicks against the Packers in week 2. I understand that this is a business and jobs are at-stake, but the Vikings burned a 5th-round draft choice on Carlson, who appears to have recovered nicely with the otherwise inept Oakland Raiders.

If the Vikings are going to make a push into the playoffs they are going to need Dan Bailey at some point, and when they do fans of the Purple had better hope they get the “Dallas era” Dan Bailey... not wome guy who’s still trying to figure out is he has a place on this team or not.

It’s not just fans who need to trust in Mike Zimmer, his PLAYERS do too, especially when it comes to make the big calls in pressure situations... moments where decisions have to be made using analytics and reason, not emotion.

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