*Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer *
Q: What are some of the challenges of a short week?
A: Part of it is preparation, obviously, you have a short window. Part of it is getting the guys the recovery phase of the game from Sunday, the rehab situations. Really, there's a lot, game planning, everything.
Q: Does it help that you've already played Detroit?
A: Yeah, we played them a couple weeks ago, three weeks ago. They're fortunate, they've had one game since they played us.
Q: What intrigued you about the Wildcat formation?
A: We had some experience with the coaches here that had done it. I just felt like when we started we wanted to be as innovative and do some things as best we could. I know sometimes it makes defenses uneasy because of all the different things because they don't see it very much.
Q: What is the strength of the Lions?
A: Every one of their games they've played has been seven points or less. So I think they've done a great job at the end of ball games. Including the one that we played. I believe that their offensive line, they've got two young guys in there that are playing well. I think they're being very well coached which is helping [Matthew] Stafford play really well. Defensively, they've been solid with the things they do. Their secondary has been pretty solid for the most part. I think the biggest thing is that once you start winning you develop confidence, that's what they've done at the end of ball games.
Q: Do you have to dial back the game plan on a short week?
A: I guess you'd say that comparatively to other weeks. There's been other weeks we've had shorter game plans. In games like this it's about executing, typically, who can execute the best.
Q: Do you try to rotate guys more because they have less recovery time?
A: No, not really. Try to stay on your same routines. We'll be alright.
Q: How do you evaluate Sam Bradford's play?
A: I think he's played very well. I think somebody told me that he's third in completion percentage behind [Drew] Brees and somebody else, I don't remember, there's a lot of stuff going on this week. I think he's played very well. He's been accurate, he's made some great throws. He has hung in there in the pocket. He's done a nice job with preparing, getting things ready.
Q: How was Cordarrelle Patterson progressed since you've been here?
A: He's a lot more dependable, number one, so that helps. I think he's worked a lot harder in order to get those opportunities. Usually, he's not making mental errors. He's not making mistakes, typically. I think in all those areas he's progressed.* *
Q: Was it a process to convince him to contribute more on special teams?
A: I think part of it is guys go down and other guys step up. He's become more of a team guy. Sometimes when you come in early and you're drafted high you kind of think things. I think guys figure out in this league it's not about your draft status, it's about the things you do on the field.
Q: Offensively, do you feel you've been blitzed more because of the offensive line injuries?
A: I'd say it's a little bit of week-to-week depending on the team, their philosophy. Maybe a little bit more, I don't know.
Q: Is there more of an effort to have Sam get the ball out quickly?
A: Well it depends, obviously if it's a blitz, we're trying to get it out unless we have it protected. I think changing the protections is important. Making sure that they don't know that we're always in the same protection all the time. So that's what makes it difficult defensively, some of those things and yards after catch. The other thing, speaking about Detroit, they're third in the league on third down conversions on third-and-seven-plus. I think they're number one in the league in yards after catch. So, that's the other reason they've been successful.
Q: Is Detroit's third down success a credit to Matthew Stafford and his relationship with his receivers?
A: I think that he's got some really good weapons and some of the things that they're doing it. Some of it has been changing up the protection. Some of it has been guys getting open, him making throws, sometimes it's him moving in the pocket and hitting guys either in zones or one-on-ones.
Q: Was the cutting of Ronnie Hillman due to the running game progressing more?
A: Actually, didn't have anything to do with any of that, no.
Q: Was another team trying to sign Stephen Weatherly off of the practice squad?
A: Possibly.
Q: How is the running game progressing?
A: Well, I thought we did better last week in a lot of different runs. Part of it was we broke some tackles last week, which is good. Some of it we had some nice runs in there that we got blocked good. To me, all that goes hand-in-hand. Sometimes runners have to break some tackles, have to beat the safety once in awhile. Then sometimes we have to clean it up. The most encouraging thing to me, because we talked really a lot last week about 3rd-and-1, the 3rd-and-1 that we hit, we got some movement. We got our pads down, we came off the ball, we were physical, the back didn't tip-toe in there, he hit it. To me, that shows a little bit of progress. We're not going to be Eric Dickerson yet. We're working on the little things.
Q: In terms of the Lions getting so many yards after the catch, how do you feel your guys tackled against the Cardinals, and is that an emphasis?
A: Well, it's an emphasis. Really, the thing is, this team does make you miss a lot. We missed a lot of tackles in the first ball game, but they have a good athletes. They're quick start-and-stop guys, and they have made a lot of guys miss. But yes, it has been an emphasis the last couple weeks. I think. – it's hard to remember the Arizona game – but I think we tackled OK.* *
Q: Is it tough to rely on big splash plays from your defense and special teams to fuel your point production?
A: Well, it's important for us that we make the solid plays. That's the most important thing. We need to be fundamentally sound and do the things. Typically, if you do those things and continue to work, you get opportunities to make some plays. There is a lot of doom and gloom about how terrible we are on defense but we are plus-13 or something in turnovers. We're pretty high in every statistical category. Nothing is good as it seems and nothing is as bad as it seems. Somewhere in the middle is where reality falls.
Q: What memories do you have of the Vikings-Cowboys matchups in 1998 and 2000 when facing Randy Moss?
A: Why'd you have to bring that up? Those are bad memories. Obviously, he was a terrific player. That one Thanksgiving Day game he tore us up pretty good. They were a good football team, the Vikings were, they took it to us pretty good.
Q: What changes have you seen from Stafford since Jim Bob Cooter took over as offensive coordinator?
A: There's a lot of the same scheme things but he seems to be playing at a much more comfortable level. Honestly, I think Ron Prince [Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach] has done a great job with the offensive line. They're much better in pass protection. I think he feels comfortable in the pocket. He's always had a big arm and can throw it. The other thing that he's really doing a great job of, he's not turning the ball over. He's only had like four interceptions or something, I think. It's hard for me to say it's because of one guy or another. What I know on tape is he's very accurate. He's getting the ball out early a lot of times which helps the offensive line some. To me, they're doing a good job. They do a good job in their one-on-one matchups. They do a good job in picking up games. They do a good job in protections. I feel like that's as big a factor as anything.
Vikings Quarterback Sam Bradford
Q: Do you study other quarterbacks? Have you watched much of what Matthew Stafford has done this year?
A: I think that's something you do in the offseason. It's pretty hard to do that during the year. Obviously, when you're scouting a defense, you obviously see other quarterbacks who have played against that defense. So, you watch other quarterbacks, and you see things that teams have done successfully. As far as picking out a player and really studying what they've done, it's kind of hard to do that this time of year.
Q: Do you think you guys took some steps forward as a group after the Arizona game offensively?
A: Yeah. Obviously, I think we did some things really well, especially in the first half. We scored on two of three or two of four possessions. I still think there's a lot of room for improvement. We've got to be better in the second half, but there were some positives, and obviously, just to get a win. I think that just does a lot for this team and does a lot for this group. Hopefully that's something we can build on going forward.
Q: A lot of the success you had early in the season is when the defense and special teams is scoring touchdowns. Is that a formula you can rely on moving forward? Does the offense need to score more?
A: Yeah. That's the goal. Obviously, it's to go out there and put points up. Any time we get help from our defense or special teams, obviously, it's a huge help. And it's great to have that, but as an offense – and I've said it before this year – we can't rely on that. We've got to go out there expecting for us to go out and play well and put up enough points to win.
Q: On your scoring throws to Kyle Rudolph and Adam Thielen, were they both first reads, or did you have to go through your progressions?
A: Those were both first reads. It was kind of dependent on coverage a little bit. The one to Thielen, we got man. That was a matchup that we liked going into the game. So, we wanted to take advantage of that, and then the one to Rudy was really kind of dependent on how the safety played. And he ran into the flat with our back, and it opened it up behind him.
Q: Is this the quickest you've had to get the ball out of your hands?
A: Obviously, last year we did some things that were fairly similar to this where the ball was coming out pretty quick. Even going back to my rookie year, some of the concepts that me and Pat [Shurmur] have run together, the ball comes out pretty quick, but I would say it's probably up there.
Q: Do you feel like this offense kind of has to manufacture things that aren't as traditional as in other offenses just to keep the chains moving and put points on the board?
A: Maybe so. I think every offense has to do a little bit of that, but I would say right now with where we are, yeah. There are some things that we do have to be creative, and we have to find ways to just move the ball down the field.* *
Q: Is this as many gadget plays – Wildcat, reverses and end arounds – as you've been involved in?
A: No, probably not. I know when I was with [Josh] McDaniels [in St. Louis], my second year, we had quite a few of those plays in each week as well. So, I wouldn't say it's more than normal or more than I've been around.
Q: How much does that keep a defense guessing?
A: I think it helps. Obviously, when you show them different formations, when you show them Wildcat, when you show them things like that, it's time during the week that they've got to spend preparing for those formations, those packages, whatever it is, which means they have less time to prepare for your base stuff, which I think is one of the reasons that we try to throw so many things at a defense.
Q: How much do you think this offense has progressed in the three weeks since you played Detroit the first time under Pat?
A: I think we're still the same team, to be honest with you. I don't think it has been that drastic. I don't think Detroit's going to look at the film and say, 'Man, that's a completely different group.' I think if anything, guys are probably just a little more familiar with some of the things Pat has put in over the past couple weeks, things that we've ran quite a bit. And so I think that would probably be the biggest difference.
Q: How tough are these short weeks just to get everything in that you need to do before Thursday?
A: It's pretty tough. When you really only have three days to prepare for a game, it's tough on, obviously, both teams, and I think that's just when you've kind of got to rely on things that you've done well, things that you're comfortable with, things that everyone in the offensive room feels like give us a chance to succeed. Mentally, physically, it's a little bit of a challenge, though. You've just got to do the best that you can to make to make sure that you're watching all the tape, that you're prepared as much as a normal week as you can make it, and then trying to get yourself physically back to a level where you feel comfortable to go out there and play another game.
Q: Is Thanksgiving a big deal for you guys? It has kind of become like Monday Night Football. Everyone watches that game.
A: I don't really have very many [Thanksgiving memories] to be honest. It seems like we were always doing Thanksgiving, and then as soon as we were done eating, it was like I wanted to go do something outside. So, we didn't really sit around and watch many games on Thanksgiving when I was younger.
Q: When Pat Shurmur puts as many different looks into a game plan as he did last week, is that for that matchup specifically, or is he trying to put things on film for future defensive coordinators to look at?
A: I think a lot of it is you put stuff in for that matchup. If we feel like the things that we put in are advantageous and gave us an opportunity to move the football – and that's why you put them in the game plan – but I think when other teams look at you, they obviously have to prepare for that, knowing that they could see the same thing.
Q: Given all the injuries on the offensive line, are you expecting blitzes more often?
A: Not really. No.
Q: Do you notice a difference in the way defenses are scheming you the past five games?
A: Not really.
Q: They aren't putting more guys in the box or anything like that?
A: No. I think the past couple games we've played, the defenses that we've played, what they've shown on tape is what they've come out and played against us. It hasn't been anything different. I think each week, obviously, a defense will probably have a few wrinkles for you and things that they feel like they can play to stop us, but for the most part, I think who we've played, they've kind of been who we thought they were going to be.
Q: How difficult was it missing last year's Thanksgiving game?
A: Obviously, anytime you miss a game you're disappointed, especially after missing as many as I've had with my knee injuries. Just having to sit out, it's tough.
Q: Did you travel with the team?
A: Yeah.
Q: Is it kind of cool to be back one year later?
A: Yeah, I guess so. If it were up to me, we'd be playing on Sunday. But, I think any time you get an opportunity to go out there and play on Thanksgiving and play on a nationally televised game I think you get excited about it. I think we're excited about the opportunity especially after the way the game ended a couple of week ago against Detroit. I think we're all anxious to get back out there.
Q: What's your assessment of the season you've had given the injuries up front, Adrian Peterson's injury and new teammates?
A: Honestly, I haven't put too much thought into it. It's kind of hard to think about that stuff right now during the season. I'm just focused on what I have to do each week to get better and try to help this team win, to try to be the best quarterback to give this offense the opportunity to go out there move the ball and score points right now.
Q: Have there been any advantages to playing with so many teams? Has that prepared you for this season?
A: Yeah, I think obviously being with this many different offensive coordinators, this many different teams. I think it opens you up to many different types of offenses I've seen different systems, I've seen different concepts. I think when you've seen this many you can kind of grab what you like from each of them and say "Hey, I like this concept. I see it well and I think it's good for us." Instead of being in the same one, which would be nice. But, you know if you're in the same one, then you only know that offense. So, I think there's positives to everything.
Q: Can you just talk about working with Joe Berger as your center now that you've been with him half a season?
A: Yeah, Berger's been great. Obviously, it's nice, knock on wood, we've had consistency with him at center. But, he's a really smart guy. He's really helped me with protections. I think that's one of the first things when you learn a new offense is as a quarterback you want to know, "How am I being protected? What are the calls?" And he's been awesome. Just some of the meetings that we've have going over the third down packages. I really can't say enough about him and what he's been able to do as far as just helping me understand what we're doing protection-wise.
