*Vikings Offensive Coordinator Pat Shurmur *
Q: When you look at the Bears, what jumps out at you since that first meeting?
A: Well, I think that when you look at the Bears and again remembering back to when we played them, they've got an outstanding front seven. They're big, they're physical, when it's time to throw the ball, they're excellent at pass rushing the quarterback. And then they play a good, solid scheme in the back end, so they play a lot of zone type coverages, but they do find a way to be tight on the corners as well. And then, when they do try and pressure you, they probably don't pressure as much as some teams, but they're very effective when they do it.
Q: Does Akiem Hicks still move around like he did in that first game?
A: Yeah, he's a force inside. They certainly have [Pernell] McPhee and [Willie] Young on the edges and then he's become a real force inside which makes their front very challenging. He's had an outstanding year and he moves around well, he's got a heck of a lot of tackles and he can pass rush as well.
Q: What have you seen from McPhee and Young the past few weeks?
A: Well we are assuming they are going to play. Everybody has got the nicks and bruises you deal with this time of year. It's not obvious to me that they've been nicked up when they're on tape. They're very good defensive linemen. They set the edge well, they pass rush well, and they're really tough to block in the run game.
Q: What do you think has made Adam Thielen so successful this year?
A: Adam is a guy that every day he comes out on the practice field, he works at getting better and that's really important as a route runner. I think as time has gone on, he and Sam [Bradford] have developed a relationship because Sam will see in the ball game what he sees in practice, so they can develop that timing and rhythm that you need to have to be effective throwing the football. I think that's what you get, guys kind of playing together and guys doing their jobs at a high level and it shows up on Sunday.
*Q: What kind of mentality do you see from Adam? He had said he can be annoying to you or Sam asking for the ball on game day. *
A: He doesn't really ask for the ball. I think because he's such a good route runner, the ball sort of goes his way and I think it goes back to trust. I think if the quarterback trusts what you are doing as a receiver and he's seen it over and over and over and he knows where you are going to be and what time and what depth, you tend to catch more balls.
Q: What makes the relationship between you and Bradford so successful?
A: Our relationship started obviously when he was a rookie. We were sort of growing together. I was growing as a coordinator, he was a first-round pick rookie, Heisman trophy winner and a guy that had a lot of success. So, we just kind of communicated and I think that the key to our relationship. We are constantly communicating about things that are good, about things we like, things he sees that might make us better so there's a constant communication and I think that's the foundation of all relationships. I think it's really good for us and for him when he plays well and he's had a good year to this point. There are certainty things we need to get much better at and we just got to keep working at it.
Q: What do you want to see him improve the most?
A: I think he's been here, it was a kind of a quick transition him getting here and getting up to speed and we've all seen what his talent level is and I think hopefully just another year in this system, with these players, his teammates and whoever new we add and you just try to be one year better.
Q: With the playoffs not being a possibility, what's your message to the offense? What do you want to see out of them?
A: Well, it's like every week. We set a shor-time horizon, and I think I've said that before in here, but that Sunday against the Chicago Bears and playing football is what we do, coaching football is what we do and we get one more opportunity to do it this year and next year is not guaranteed for anyone. So, I think what we try to do is put them in the moment, focus on the preparation that it takes to go out and play winning football and then go out on Sunday and try to do what we can to put a winning performance together.
Q: Do you view this as another audition for yourself to potentially be the offensive coordinator for next year?
A: No I don't, I don't. I view this as another opportunity to try and do what I can to help put the players, the coaches and I are trying to put the players in the best possible position they can be in so that we can go out and score points and win a football game and that's really what our focus is.
Q: Are you anticipating or expecting the interim tag to be removed after this year?
A: There hasn't been any conversation about anything. Again, most of what we are talking about is the Chicago Bears. We go through this process on a weekly basis. We play the game, you quickly asses what happens and you move on. After the final game, you then asses what happened during the season and you move on. That will all happen down the road, but right now our focus is the Bears.
Q: For Cordarrelle, what do you think needs to happen for him to be more effective down the field as a receiver?
A: I think he just needs to continue to play wide receiver and when he gets his opportunities he needs to make good on them. He did have one the other night against Green Bay. He is having his opportunities and he's done some really nice things for us this year and he's still even though he's been a few years in the league, he just needs to keep developing as a route runner, keep competing and keep trying to get that trust built with the quarterback and it'll come along.
*Vikings Defensive Coordinator George Edwards *
Chicago this week, last time we went these guys beat us in Chicago so we've definitely got our work cut out for us. We've got to stop the run and do a good job of leveraging in the passing game. So we'll have our work cut out for us this week.
Q: What were the issues last game against Jordan Howard?
A: You'd like to take away that long run but you can't. Outside of that, we were pretty decent. This guy, through the course of the year, has really ran the ball well. He's tough im between the tackles, he's got the speed to get to the corner. So we've got to do an excellent job of tackling and wrapping up and tackling in Chicago this week.
Q: What is your take on Matt Barkley taking so many shots down the field?
A: He's only been sacked five times, and I think the big thing that he has done last week, I think he got behind on the board and I think he took some chances down the field. Usually you don't see him throw that many passes down the field, especially in the cover-two coverages that they had. I think it's a combination of we have to get pressure on him, he's not a big scrambler in the pocket but he does have a good release and gets the ball out. Which is why he hadn't been sacked that many times. Hopefully with some of our coverages we can disguise the looks and those types of deals to not give it away what we're doing coverage wise.
Q: Do you view this week's game as an opportunity to get takeaways?
A: I think that was one of those mishaps by him. I think, again, he did feel pressure and felt the time going off in his clock and that he's getting ready to get hit and try to get rid of the football. Those are the things that when we talk about coverage and pass rush going hand-in-hand, those are things that we want to get accomplished with him when they throw the football this weekend.
Q: Where has Eric Kendricks grown the most?
A: I think overall awareness, scheme, I think his instincts, his athleticism, have allowed him to play a lot more confidently now when he's not having to think about assignments and alignments, responsibility and those types of deals. I think you really see his instincts taking over and him being able to make a lot of plays for us.
Q: Do you have more trust in him to send him on blitzes?
A: We've always trusted him but the way our packages are set up is kind of how we go each week and just try to utilize the blitzers that we do have. There's a lot of things that go into who ends up being the blitzer and those types of deals that I won't go into now. But it's not by design that we don't blitz him. It just depends on the best matchups from week-to-week.* *
Q: How did you view last week's miscommunication?
A: I think it all was just a misunderstanding at the end of the day. I think it's been cleaned up, we've moved on and haven't thought a second about it. I think we understand what it is we have to get done this week as far as preparation for this game and what we need to do to go execute.
Q: What can be done to avoid that this week?
A: Again, I just think there was a misunderstanding and from our standpoint I think everybody is clear on what we're doing this week and what we need to do to have an opportunity to win this football game.
Q: How do Kendricks and Anthony Barr differ in blitzing styles?
A: Well I think, number one, size is a factor. Barr is a bigger blitzer and Eric is a smaller guy. I think they both have good blitz ability. I think they both are very maneuverable if they get one-on-one with a back. I think certain things that certain teams try to do protection wise, I think we can take advantage of with the skill sets that both of them have. We like both of them blitzing but we just can't go zero-blitz all the time and blitz the backers all the time. From that aspect of it, it just depends on what we think is the best thing from week-to-week and what they're doing to try and combat what it is we're trying to get accomplished.
Q: Did you spend a lot of time evaluating Danielle Hunter before the draft?
A: Yes, as a matter of fact, I was at his work out.
Q: What did you see in him?
A: I think what you saw was an athlete, a young athlete, that had a lot of skills, a lot of skill sets but just didn't have a lot of production. I think that's what you saw. You kind of had a vision for him and I think Rick and his staff did a great job of putting a vision on him and what we thought he could grow into. Hats off to Danielle, he's come in here and worked his butt off, picked up the tools and been able to go out and play and be successful. I think it's a big credit to him, I think it's credit to Andre Patterson, our D-line coach and those guys working through the rigors of him just growing and the growing pains. Just improving his tool box as far as his pass rush.
Q: Were you there primarily to see him?
A: Well LSU had a bunch of guys coming out that year but he was one of the guys that we definitely wanted to go down and spend some time with.
Q: What did you think of him compared to other guys you saw?
A: Well, that's a long process. You go through, you watch a player on tape, you get a chance to see his toughness, you get a chance to see his skill set and what they've asked him to do. Then when you go and you visit, it isn't just looking at him work out, cause they all work out like you said, pretty good in the shorts and things. But you get a chance to talk to his head coach, you get a chance to talk to the people in the building that work with him every day to kind of see his make up. He was an impressive kid, a very impressive kid from what they had to say about him and the skill set that he displays.
*Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer *
So, the theme of the week for our guys on special teams is finishing strong. We need to finish strong. We need to play to our capabilities, we need to kick to our capabilities, we need to punt to our capabilities, etc. That's the challenge going forward to a team that we've already played that knows us pretty well. We've got to have a good plan, continue to work the plan, work on the techniques and fundamentals, finish strong and put some good tape out there. So, we feel good about ourselves going into the offseason.
Q: It is difficult to keep guys engaged?
A: I think for the true professional, the true pros, some of these young guys have to figure out how to become a true pro. I think a lot of them have as the season has worn on. But, for those guys I don't think so because they know the importance of playing well. They know that next week we're going to have evaluations on all the guys. We write reports on all the guys. I think the ones that are smart enough to understand, which most of them are, they realize that this is their job and they have a job to do on Sunday. And finishing strong is, if not all, a part of that job, so that's been part of my message this week as well.
Q: Has that been conveyed that you're going to be evaluating them?
A: I tell them a lot. I tell them in the spring, I tell them at training camp and towards the end of the year, this past week. Everybody evaluates them. All 32 teams including the Minnesota Vikings are evaluating everybody on our roster. Whether you're a rookie, second, third, fourth (year player), free agent, older veteran it doesn't matter. I think you're being evaluated by everybody. You've got the name on the back of your jersey, that you have to play for pride and the name on the front of the jersey, you play for your teammates. I think when that message is conveyed and guys truly believe that, and I think most if not all do, then we have a chance to go out there and play well on Sunday.
Q: Has Kai Forbath been consistent enough to be the long term kicker?
A: Yeah, I think Kai has done some really good things. Kickoffs overall, he's done a pretty good job. He's had a couple, two or three that we'd like to have back. Obviously, the two missed PATs are inexcusable. It's been unbelievable this year. One of them was blocked and one of the guys to this day I think was off sides. That being said, I think being 14-of-14 and doing a good enough job on kickoffs I think he's got to be somebody we consider. But, that's part of the evaluation process that we'll sit down next week with the head coach, the general manager, our personnel people, our scouts and figure out what the next step is at all of our positions to be quite honest.
Q: How about Jeff Locke?
A: Yeah, he's done some really good things. He's had some phenomenal games and some phenomenal punts. But, as you seen and as we've seen he's got to be more consistent. That's kind of been his theme since we've got him. We knew the talent has always been there and he's worked extremely hard at his trade. The things that he was lacking in terms of the drop and the consistency with his drop a lot of it was fixed. Then the last two, three or four weeks he has not punted up to those capabilities, so he's got to finish strong as well to help his cause and to help us win on Sunday.
Q: Has it been the drop?
A: Yeah, it has been mainly his drop. And it wasn't even windy on Saturday in Green Bay, and he was still struggling a little bit with that. But, he has got a great leg swing. He has got a lot of power, and when he figures it out on a consistent basis, he'll be a very good punter in this league. We're hoping – and again, he's still young, fourth year – hopefully, he can keep working and keep getting better.
Q: Has Adam Thielen been working on special teams just as much as he had been?
A: In meetings, absolutely. Because he's so much involved in the offense, we've taken him off of most, if not all. He was still, I believe, on punt return last week. We sprinkle him in here and there. He knows. He's in every meeting, so he knows the spots, and if we get into a bind on Sunday – if we get into a bind on Sunday for substitutions – then he'll be able to jump in there and do what we need him to do, because he'll know the game plan. He knows our techniques, and he's still a very good football player. We just can't put him out there as much because he is so valuable to our offense.
Q: Is he a guy you can tell that to, or is does he request something like that?
A: He wants to be involved. I tease him all the time. I tease guys like him that he's a former core special teams player. So, I mess with him a little bit about that, but I'm really proud of how well he has played on offense and how he has contributed to our football team both on special teams and offensively. Some guys on defense are the same way. I like to joke around with those guys, but I've got a good relationship with most, if not all, these guys. And that's kind of my sick or warped humor that I like to throw in there, but it's fun, because I like to see the success that they have, both on special team, obviously, and offensively and defensively – whatever they can do to help our team.
Q: You work with so many of these guys with special teams. What have you noticed with the guys' moods throughout the season?
A: I think the whole organization has kind of had that same type of mood, where we had the five victories early. I think we struggled after the bye and lost the next four, and you can tell, guys were pressing a little bit. And I think the one good thing that Coach Zimmer has done, and the coaching staff has done, the leaders in the locker room have done, have tried to keep an upbeat attitude as best as possible. We've had some tough things happen. We've had some injuries. Teams have injures. We've had some tough, close loses, but a lot of teams have those. We've just got to persevere and keep fighting, and that's the only thing we all know how to do, wake up in the morning, and let's keep getting better and keep fighting and try to get the last game as a win and go into the offseason with a good taste in your mouth.
Q: Are tensions anything that you have seen between players, players and coaches?
A: No, I don't know so. I think sometimes when you go through adversity, you actually become closer. Sometimes the tensions occur when you win five or six in a row and you lose or two and you start pointing fingers. I haven't seen any of that. I think it has been … You win as a team, you lose as a team. Some days, we've played great on special teams and win. Other games we've played not as good, and we win, and vice versa. We play great and lose, or play poorly and lose. So, I think at the end of the day, if everybody is just concerns themselves with their job and playing at a high level, and I think our guys have done a great job at that. They've fought through a lot of adversity this year, and I'm real proud of our locker room and our coaching staff. And I know Coach Zim preaches the same thing about persevering and being a tough guy and fighting through the adversity.
Q: Cordarrelle Patterson has been your kick returner for four years. Has he gotten better or stayed the same?
A: I think Cordarrelle has gotten better. I think the one thing that he has gotten better at, his vision is better. He's seeing the holes a little better, the seams a little better. Every now and then, he'll cut it back before I'd like him to, but he's always trying to make a play. And I think his first year, he was phenomenal, and he just didn't know any better. His second year, I think he was pressing and thinking too much, and then I think he turned the corner last year. He continues to improve. There's no doubt in my mind he's better than he was when he got here.
Q: How unusual is it for a guy to be your returner for four years in a row?
A: Well, I think it is unusual to do it at such a high level. I think he's – if we finish strong here – he'll lead the league three out of the four years he has been here [in kick return average], and I think that's pretty hard to do. I don't know if it has been done before, but I'm really proud of his progress. I'm really proud of the guys that are around him, and the thing that Cordarrelle gives to the guys blocking for him – and I've said this before – is that they give him a firm belief that have a chance to score every time he touches the ball. And then Cordarrelle – because our guys believe that, and they block so well for him – he thinks he can score every time he touches the ball. And that's kind of our mentality. That's why we bring them out from five, six yards deep. Sometimes we get tackled at the 15-[yard line], and other times, he breaks a big one. So, I think he has gotten better, because he's very coachable. He's a smart football player. He understands the returns better. He studies a little bit more now than he did when he was a young guy. So, I think he has improved.
