Mike Zimmer feels like his starters should play on Thursday

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The Vikings defense gave up 14 points to the 49ers on their first two possessions to open last Sunday’s game and the offense didn’t put up any points in the first half to continue a touchdown-less run this preseason.

As you’d probably imagine, those things have not put a smile on coach Mike Zimmer’s face with the regular season drawing closer by the minute. The team has their final exhibition game on Thursday and that has been a time for backups and practice squad candidates to shine in past seasons under Zimmer, but the coach hinted things may be different as a result of the bad taste the last game left in his mouth.

“I’ve made up my mind, but I haven’t told the team or anything like that,” Zimmer said, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I haven’t told the coaches either. After the other night, I feel like they should play. So we’ll see.”

If Zimmer does play his starters, it likely won’t be for an extended period. Even a few minutes of action should be enough for his point to hit home, however.

34 responses to “Mike Zimmer feels like his starters should play on Thursday

  1. If you have seen this team play in the pre-season you know they need the work but he is walking a fine line here. If he plays the starters and someone gets injured he will officially lose his team. Heck, they already weren’t following his game plan last year at times.

  2. @filthymcnasty3 says:

    Good idea to tell the press before telling his staff or his players. What a coach.
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    He they SHOULD play. He did not say they WOULD play. Shoulda, coulda, woulda…

  3. I don’t remember Zim like this when he was the dc in Dallas, maybe the power of being the head coach has gone to his head. I don’t think that he realizes that nfl players are professionals and grown men, treat them as such and expect them to behave accordingly, nothing elementary about it. I would play the young guys and see if any of them can take the veterans’ jobs, better way to send the message.

  4. The first two years of Zimmer looked promising. The last season plus has looked like he’s forgotten how to motivate or control his team. I liked it a lot more during his first couple of seasons where he rarely spoke to media or when he did he didn’t give a straight answer. The last couple seasons he has turned into a rambler and constantly opens himself up to bad situations in front of the mike.

    Lets start walking the walk and stopping talking the talk.

  5. Um, ya coach, that wouldn’t be a good idea. What I want to know is, what happened to the defense that Zimmer said was ready to start the regular season, like, 10 days into training camp? How could they have regressed so far, so quickly?

    I think there is no way he plays any of the core starters. Maybe a couple of guys that are fighting for starting positions, but even then, that’s very risky for a meaningless game.

  6. filthymcnasty3 says:
    August 30, 2017 at 9:44 am
    So.

    Who will be the next Viking head coach?

    ////////////////

    After another fail in the playoffs, McCarthy will be available

  7. well, packer fans should know something about never being able to score.

    put Keenum in with the first team offense to start the game. there’s no reason to play anybody from the first team defense. its obvious they’re just trying not to get hurt before the regular season. Drew Brees will get this defense and Mike Zimmers full attention.

  8. I would play Bradford till they score a touchdown. Considering they will be facing the 2nd string defense to start the game and then the 3rd string defense taking over in the second quarter, what is the over/under on Bradford’s TD? I’ll take the 3rd Qtr assuming one of those 3 stringers falls down on the play.

  9. Zimmer is just trying to send a message. No way he plays first stringers in this game. He says what’s on his mind and he doesn’t care what anybody else thinks of it, for better or worse.

  10. whatjusthapped says:
    August 30, 2017 at 10:19 am
    I would play Bradford till they score a touchdown. Considering they will be facing the 2nd string defense to start the game and then the 3rd string defense taking over in the second quarter, what is the over/under on Bradford’s TD? I’ll take the 3rd Qtr assuming one of those 3 stringers falls down on the play.
    ———–
    This made me laugh. I’ll take the 4th quarter with 2 of those third stringers falling down.

  11. flviking says:
    August 30, 2017 at 10:01 am
    After another fail in the playoffs, McCarthy will be available
    //////////////////////////////////

    If Zimmer “failed” one-half as often as McCarthy, they’d erect a bronze statue of him.

  12. Wow. Six out of the first six posts from Packer trolls and three from the same Packer troll, all nonsensical drivel.
    Obsess much?
    And if I meant it I would sound like the biggest dippey do for railing on one side where both sides do it.

  13. Boone and Berger can’t be starters this year or that offensive line is going to be poor. I have seen enough of them. I wouldn’t mind seeing Berger cut and they pick up a young project.

  14. aypeeswhippingstick says:
    August 31, 2017 at 10:43 am
    Packers will cut down their roster this weekend. Spielman and Zimmy can dumpster dive to find some starters from our scraps.
    ———————-
    To this day in never stops amazing me how Packer fans continually trash Packer players as soon as they are ex-Packers.

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