Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Zimmer's defense, despite several injuries and reliance on undrafted players, ranks No. 10 in Football Outsiders' reliable DVOA metric. I'm not sure how many people thought this unit would ever reach top-10 status.
Yet a defensive line without any long-time starters is proving adequate. The cornerbacks are quickly improving. And the safeties and linebackers are areas Zimmer can rely on.
Against the Bears, he brought pressure on the biggest plays, and those blitzes often got to Nick Foles, part of why he finished 15-of-26 for 106 yards and an interception.
Zimmer has had some incredible coaching performances. But if this keeps up, it would go down as arguably his best job yet.
Zimmer is now 61-43-1 in his Vikings career.
Graff also wrote that the Vikings still have some issues to clean up, primarily on special teams.
He noted that with the Vikings offense looking strong and the defense rounding into form, the third phase of the game will need to get on track to help Minnesota continue to be in the playoff mix.
Graff wrote:
That unit is a large reason why the Vikings have both the worst average starting field position and opponent starting field position. They rank dead-last in net punt average (33.8 yards) and punt return average (1.7 yards). They've returned six punts for just 10 yards and fumbled one of those returns. They've downed just six punts inside the 20 (second-worst in the NFL) and are one of only two teams that's had two punts blocked.
Dan Bailey ranks 28th in kickoff return average, allowing 26.6 yards per return. He ranks 19th in touchback percentage.
Oh, and that's not the full extent of their problem. Suddenly, the long snapper who they used a draft pick on two years ago has gone back-to-back games with a snap so problematic that it kept the Vikings from a point after [touchdown].
Graff other takeaways from Monday night included how significant the win was for Kirk Cousins, the emergence of second-year cornerback Kris Boyd and the recent strong play of Hercules Mata'afa.
Graff's full list of takeaways can be found here.