Minnesota Vikings: What does the Pat Shurmur hiring mean?

The Minnesota Vikings have brought in former head coach Pat Shurmur to join the coaching staff, but what does this mean for the team’s offense going forward?

It was announced last night and confirmed on the Sports Illustrated website that the Minnesota Vikings have added Pat Shurmur to their coaching staff. So far, the role that he will play for the team is unknown. However, there are some really positive things that we can tell right off the bat when it comes to his presence with the team.

First of all, he brings another veteran coaching voice to the locker room. Shurmur has been coaching for 27 years, starting with a role as a graduate assistant at Michigan State University in 1988. He made the transition to the NFL in 1999 as an offensive line and tight ends coach for the Philadelphia eagles and worked his way through the NFL to a head coaching position with the Cleveland Browns in 2011. After being let go from Cleveland in 2012, Shurmur went back to Philadelphia, becoming their offensive coordinator and eventually their interim head coach following the fire of Chip Kelly.

Next, his experience with offensive linemen could be very valuable. There’s little doubt that the Minnesota Vikings need a lot of help when it comes to developing and maintaining high quality of play on the offensive line. With serious injuries putting a question mark on the center and right tackle positions heading into the 2016 NFL season, the team needs to figure out how to get a group of guys together that can both run block and protect the quarterback, while having enough depth to be able to manage injuries.

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There is also speculation as to how his role will work with offensive coordinator Norv Turner in Minnesota. Shurmur joining the team is odd in the sense that he was an offensive coordinator and interim head coach and he likely won’t be taking on either of those roles for the Vikings. However, with the team’s offense #29 in yards gained per game and the passing game struggling mightily (#31 in the NFL – 183 yards per game), Shurmur’s input might be valuable in helping Turner get the most out of the offense.

We’ll definitely learn more about what Shurmur brings to the table for the Minnesota Vikings, but having so much experience on the coaching staff can only be mean good things for the team moving forward.

Welcome to Minnesota, Mr. Shurmur. Now let’s get this Vikings team to the promised land!

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