Mike Zimmer: Vikings offensive line needs new demeanor

Mike Zimmer spoke to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk about the need for the Vikings’ O-line to develop a new demeanor.

There’s little doubt the offensive line was a problem for the Vikings last year, the question now is how to fix whatever was wrong.

The Vikings have already taken steps this offseason to change things in the offensive line department, firing O-line coach Jeff Davidson and bringing in Tony Sparano.

How will the switch from Davidson to Sparano affect the offensive line? It might just be a matter of instilling a different “demeanor.”

That word “demeanor” was used by Mike Zimmer when discussing his hopes for improving the offensive line with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

"We have struggled. We’ve got to get a lot better there. Teddy [Bridgewater] got hit way too many times… We’ve got to do a better job there. We’ve got to develop a little bit better demeanor.We’re cerebral. We’re a cerebral offensive line and I’d like to see us be cerebral and a little bit more…some other things."

Zimmer wouldn’t say what “some other things” means but one can fill in the blanks. Tougher? More physical?

Clearly, Zimmer was not happy with the approach taken by Jeff Davidson and is hoping Tony Sparano can come in and instill a little bit different attitude.

Next: Loadholt staying, Kalil going?

Or demeanor. Or whatever word you want to use.

Whatever changes Sparano makes, the hope is that they will result in Teddy Bridgewater getting hit a lot less and Adrian Peterson finding a lot more holes to run through. And more points and less pressure on the Vikings’ soon-to-be-elite defense.

And switching O-line coaches might not be the end of the changes either. There could be some personnel moves as well. Rumor has it the Vikings are mulling letting Matt Kalil walk. That would represent a major shake-up.