5 essential traits the new Vikings head coach needs to have

Accountability

Mike Zimmer did do a great job of changing the culture in Minnesota and enforcing discipline and consequences for players who got in trouble off the field. However, he failed miserably disciplining the players who failed on the field.

Zimmer didn’t hold players accountable when they continued to perform poorly week in and week out. We saw it with guys like Garrett Bradbury, Dakota Dozier, and Oli Udoh on offense. On defense, it was Bashaud Breeland and Mackensie Alexander who were put out there every single Sunday when everyone watching in the stands and at home knew the results weren’t going to be good.

Those players could rank dead last in the Pro Football Focus grades and they would still be rolled out onto the field during the following week.

The new Minnesota head coach needs to change this. If a player struggles one week, that’s one thing. But if he does it three weeks in a row, then a change needs to be made. Even if it is for one game, that player should be benched and someone should be given a shot to take that job.

This will create competition on the team at every position throughout the season, and ensure players are giving it their all every single game.

It could also help the team discover hidden gems on the roster if a guy steps up and immediately plays well. The Vikings failed to do that this season and they still don’t know what they have in players like Wyatt Davis, Chazz Surratt, and Kellen Mond.