National Football League

Inconsistent Vikings trying to avoid looking like 'Bad News Bears'

Published Oct. 10, 2014 1:30 p.m. ET

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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- In the heat of the moment, Mike Zimmer couldn't appreciate some of the positives of last week's game at Green Bay.

The Packers' 42-10 shellacking of Zimmer's Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night rankled the new head coach. The raw feelings sat with Zimmer, who said he wasn't the "most joyous person this week."

Blessed with a few extra days, Zimmer and his staff went through an all-phases evaluation. Zimmer was reminded Minnesota's defense had held Green Bay to five three-and-out series in the first half of last week's game.

A week later, Zimmer could see the positives, but they only demonstrated the team's issues.

"At times we're like the Bad News Bears," Zimmer said Thursday. "We play so good and then it's like, 'What in the world is going on?' So that part of trying to correct those things are really what eats at me. When we do it right, we're pretty darn good. And when we start losing our minds, it goes south."

Inconsistency has defined Minnesota's early-season record. The Vikings haven't lost any ground in the NFC North. They are tied at 2-3 with the Chicago Bears, just a game behind the Green Bay and this week's opponent, Detroit, at 3-2.

But the wild swings have shown a young team still trying to learn under its new coach.

"It's being the same guy every single day," Zimmer said. "One time you line up here, one time you line up there, one time you play with great technique and one time you don't. I don't know if it's guessing or it's just the consistency of doing things over and over and over. That's what makes you good, is doing the same thing consistently over."

Minnesota's season started with a convincing road win, a 34-6 win at St. Louis. The ebbs and flows were just beginning. The next week the Vikings returned home. They lost 30-7 to the New England Patriots. In Minnesota's five games this season, the margin of victory is 21.4 points a game.

The Vikings have won games by 28 and 13 points. They've lost by 23, 11 and 32.

Zimmer hopes it just takes time to resolve the inconsistency as players learn the way the coaches want them to play. It's a matter of consistency in the communication from coaches, and in the performance from players. Zimmer said the coaches have to wary of telling players one thing one week, and changing the message at another time.

"That's really what we're trying to do here is keep staying on the same path, keep telling them the same things over and over and hope that finally it clicks and we move forward," Zimmer said. "When you do things right, you have some validation to show them when you're doing it right what it's supposed be like."

Zimmer is trying to drive home his philosophy and schemes. The veterans are new to his defense and there are plenty of young players learning on the fly.

Minnesota's defense features eight new starters from the beginning of last season. There are young starters in Sharrif Floyd, Anthony Barr, Gerald Hodges and Xavier Rhodes, all under 25 years old. Linval Joseph, Harrison Smith and Robert Blanton are 25. Everson Griffen is a full-time starter for the first time as a 26-year-old. Third cornerback Josh Robinson is 23.

"A lot of these younger guys for me, I'm trying to teach them about playing football and understanding what offenses are trying to do and understanding where we're supposed to be and understanding alignments and formations and motion and split and sometimes maybe I give them too much information," Zimmer said. "But I have to do it because otherwise we won't grow as players. I have to continue to do that, and it's probably no different than anywhere else I've been."

Zimmer doesn't want to simplify the schemes as Minnesota adjusts. He will adapt when he needs to, but feels it's important to give his players all of the information at his disposal.

"Well, sometimes I simplify it," Zimmer said. "I try to give them tips every week. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't give them some things that I feel like I'm knowledgeable about it. I don't think I'd be doing my job.

"When is the right time? Oh well, two years from now I can start telling them about what they need to know. I'm going to force-feed these suckers until we get it."

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