“There’s Just No Impactful Player On The Side Of The Ball Mike Zimmer’s Supposed To Make His Hay”
December 9th, 2020
Sunday features the loaded Tampa Bay offense versus the non-loaded Vikings defense.
The Vikings used to have a stud pass rusher, Yannick Ngakoue, a Pro Bowler they acquired by trade in August. But Minnesota moved him to the Ravens two months later after Ngakoue recorded five sacks in five games.
Sadly for the Vikings, those five Ngakoue sacks are on track to lead them for the season.
“He’s their leading sacker and he’s not even on the team,” former star running back Tiki Barber noted on CBS Sports Radio yesterday. “There’s just no impactful player on the side of the ball Mike Zimmer’s supposed to make his hay.”
Barber was involved in a deep discussion about how the Vikings have been a disappointment this season and Zimmer likely has run his course as the team’s head coach in his seventh year.
Per Barber, longtime Vikings Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith isn’t what he used to be and Pro Bowl inside linebacker Eric Kendricks isn’t playing at a Pro Bowl level. (Joe would disagree on the latter, based on the three Vikings games Joe has watched this year).
Joe’s a fan of Zimmer, but Barber’s analysis is sound overall. The Vikings are a meh team in need of defensive talent.
If the Vikings find a way to upset the Bucs on Sunday, it would be the first time this year the Bucs coughed up a game to a team with a sad pass rush. That would be very, very, very troubling.
December 9th, 2020 at 10:47 am
I have watched the Vikings a few games this year. Kendricks is playing very well and any perceived drop off is from the poor DL play.
Although I wonder if he is healthy or will play the Bucs? I thought he was a late scratch due to calf injury this past weekend.
December 9th, 2020 at 10:49 am
This should be a 100+ yard game for Rojo, 300+ yard game for TB12, ME needs 100+ and we should see the return of Scooter -I am expecting 35+ points from the Bucs and no more than 14 from the Vikings (How many did the Glennon led offense put up)
December 9th, 2020 at 10:52 am
Don’t worry Minnesota…… Durable Donovan is gonna make sure your DE has a great game.
It’s what he does.
December 9th, 2020 at 11:37 am
Instead of an identity, we are a team filled with as many excuses as egos. Sunday may very well seal the fate of this season. I can’t remember the last time this team rose to such an occasion.
December 9th, 2020 at 11:48 am
No worries this team finds a way to struggle against mediocre defenses lately.
December 9th, 2020 at 11:54 am
Even more reason why I would work on play action and my run game.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Great weekend for Buc fans – we can’t lose. The Bucs should win. Clear advantage of talent. Bye week to rest and prep. Vikings escaped a bad loss to Jacksonville.
If they don’t win, it was a another horrendous coaching game and some folks can start packing their offices, which is probably long term more important than a 6 or 7 seed in a weird playoff year.
December 9th, 2020 at 12:07 pm
thissure smells of a trap game. too cocky!
December 9th, 2020 at 12:09 pm
Losing to the Vikings would mean one obvious thing IMO. The Bucs are not good enough to win in the playoffs. NO EXCUSES! The Bucs should win and they had BETTER win this Sunday.
December 9th, 2020 at 1:12 pm
The loss by the Jags gave Minnesota playoff hopes, and guess who is in the way of their playoff hopes ? US!
A win by them would be huge for them, in more ways than one.
This is a MUST win for us, but I still think our excess talent will prevail.
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 9th, 2020 at 3:59 pm
Something feels familiar about this game…..
and it’s a bad feeling!
Shake the feeling for us BUCS!
December 9th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
That’s the feeling you get when you’re a Buc fan. Like getting kicked in the nuts over, and over again.
December 9th, 2020 at 7:52 pm
The worst part is none of can predict what is going to happen with this team – they are the epitome of inconsistency
December 9th, 2020 at 8:01 pm
COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER! U R TEAM MATES!
December 9th, 2020 at 8:42 pm
When the Bucs lose to the Vikings this Sunday, it will be another illustration of how ill prepared this coaching staff is.
December 9th, 2020 at 8:43 pm
F. The offense. Let’s hope the D can stop the short 6 yard throws and the swing routes. The D has been a major problem the last few weeks. Tackling been really bad game plan has been bad. By the time it’s adjusted we’re down 3 scores. Can’t have that. Hit cousins over n over.
December 9th, 2020 at 10:05 pm
Wow. You supposed bucs fans have lost so much for so long you don’t know anything else. Fire the coach, get rid of the owners, fire bl , get rid of Bowles. You are having your first winning season in years and all you do is bitch. That’s a loser mentality. Did u think Brady was going to walk in and snap his fingers and go undefeated. You can’t fix years of losing overnight. Be grateful that steps are being taken to remedy the situation. You guys can’t even enjoy the wins.
December 10th, 2020 at 8:23 am
Have to agree with Jedleman, I understand the “worry”, but all your b!itching takes it to another level.
Joe, here is an interesting thought. If we loose Bowles this offseason, man I would take Zimmer in a heartbeat as a replacement for DC. I think he is an excellent coach