Vikings and Jaguars find success with old school methods

Learning from Bill

Mike Zimmer took a longer road into the head coaching ranks, but started in the NFL in 1995, under the tutelage of Dallas Cowboys’ impromptu leader, Barry Switzer.

Wait, did I just say Barry Switzer?

I did, and Zimmer, as defensive backs coach for Dallas in that year, won a Super Bowl trophy with Barry and the Cowboys. If he learned anything from the immortal Oklahoma Sooner coach, he does not mention it much.

What he does mention now is his decades-long relationship with Bill Parcells, with whom Zimmer lead Dallas to becoming the NFL’s top ranked defense in 2003 as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Zimmer remained with Parcells through the 2006 season after which the Hall of Fame head coach retired and Zimmer left to join the Cincinnati Bengals as their defensive coordinator.

Zimmer is often quick to recall how when Parcells had a poignant coaching thought in his head, would grab his attention and say, “Mike, write this down for when you’re a head coach.”

Parcells has also spoken highly of both Coughlin and Zimmer to those who sought his advice through the years. One of those people was Vikings general manager Rick Spielman when he was interviewing head coaching candidates to replace Leslie Frazier in 2014.

In regards to Zimmer, Parcells said directly, “I think (Zimmer) stands for the right things in terms of coaching, evaluation of players, makeup of players. I think he’s honest, tough and he’s not afraid of confrontation. I think those things are all good.”

Zimmer got the job with Minnesota and it didn’t hurt that the Wilf family, who own the Vikings, were from New Jersey and lifelong New York Giants fans.

It was indeed rumored that they wanted the Big Tuna himself, but settled for his highly recommended protégé.

Fast forward a few years.

Since 2014, Zimmer has had the luck of Wile E. Coyote as the Vikings’ head coach. He’s lost rookie and veteran running backs, franchise and free-agent quarterbacks, entire offensive lines and coaches in mid-season.

Minnesota Vikings

Still, he and the Vikings have won the NFC North twice and last year, the team was a game away from the Super Bowl.

In 2017, Tom Coughlin took over the Jacksonville Jaguars (again), hired head coach Doug Marrone, and took a 5-11 team with a locker room full of high draft picks to the AFC Championship where they were one drive away from beating the New England Patriots and going to the Super Bowl themselves.

But how did Minnesota and Jacksonville achieve their success in 2017?

Well, the two teams ran the ball effectively as they ranked first (Jaguars) and second (Vikings) in rushing attempts per game. And they both also dominated opponents with their defense. Last season, Minnesota finished first in the NFL in points allowed and the Jaguars were a close second.

Lastly, like Bill Parcells before them, who once took a 1-15 New York Jets team to 9-7 and then 12-4 in two seasons, Mike Zimmer and Tom Coughlin took the right coaches, the right players and the right attitudes out onto the football field and won football games.

This Saturday, we’ll see some of that. This season we’ll see a lot more.