5 Minnesota Vikings who belong on Santa’s naughty list

Marwan Maalouf – Special Teams Coach

If any Vikings coach deserves to be on Santa’s naughty list, it has got to be their special teams coach, Marwan Maalouf. This unit has been historically bad and easily the shakiest part of a Minnesota team that has issues in every area.

While Maalouf isn’t the one on the field missing kicks, blocks, or tackles, he is the one in charge of the unit. So he will assuredly take the fall for his players and likely be without a job in early January.

Maalouf’s unit has been very bad this season and it has multiple issues. They have allowed two blocked punts in one game, they have basically no return game, they miss open-field tackles on punt and kick returns, they have given up a kickoff return touchdown to a guy who they knew was dangerous (Cordarrelle Patterson), and they have a kicker who recently can’t hit an extra point if his life depended on it.

It is really a surprise that Maalouf hasn’t been fired already. We’ve seen Mike Zimmer screaming at him on the sidelines during games and God only knows what he says to him behind closed doors.

What is worse than Maalouf’s unit’s play, is its inability to improve. He hasn’t made the adjustments necessary to spring the return game and he hasn’t been able to figure out Bailey’s kicking woes.

Some of this may be due to a lack of quality personnel, but a good coach can make his players better. Maalouf apparently isn’t that and he should not expect to see many presents from “Mr. C” under the tree this season because of it.