Xs and Os with Mike Zimmer | Week 5

Quarterbacks coach Clint Kubiak coming up later, but first, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer just coached his one hundredth regular season game and the Vikings beat the Houston Texans. Welcome back to X's and O's coach and through the first four games of the season. At the quarter mark, you got the fact that you guys got through that last week with zero positives after the Titans thing. That for me, that's the story of the season so far. How about that? Yeah, I mean our guys have done

a good job. I think, you know, all the protocols that we've had in place, everybody's done a really nice job of protecting one another. I guess the best way to say it. Yeah, the players in the Texans game, in my opinion, took punches and punched back. I mean, I thought you guys mostly look good, and then Houston came punching at you were some good players. You punched back and won the game. How important is that? Yeah? It was good. I think we showed a lot of

a resiliency in our football team. You know, they scored in an offense, went right back down and scored a couple of times. They're late and you know, and then at the end of the ball game we're able to stop him on on the fourth down play. Did you sense after the victory, either in the locker room or at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center up to the Seattle game, like a bubble burst a little bit, and people are

looser and happier. Yeah, well, I think you know, there's a lot of weight off your shoulders when you we play good and you win. You know, we we had a chance to win a Tennessee game and didn't win that one. But I do see this team getting better each week. You know, hopefully we go out to Seattle and show it. Show it there. Mike, your rookie defensive end, DJ Wantam, is he improving and getting good in a hurry? Yeah, he's improving. Each and every week. Um, you know, the

more playing time he gets, the better he'll get. He's still got a long way to go, still learning, you know, but it's it's nice to have another young guy that you can kind of mold into what you want. Have you noticed with your guys or maybe around the league in weeks three on now we're coming up to week five that these rookies who didn't get preseason games and had that weird offseason, the rookies are starting to take

off a little bit. Yeah. I think most most of these guys are starting to get into the rhythm of you know, professional football and what it's like. And uh, you know they've had a little bit more time with the technique and understanding how to study, you know, the whole thing is different for him and not being in any preseason games or training camp or OTA's basically you know, they got to learn quick now. With Unique and Gockway, he's not a rookie, but he was new. He got

here the week of the first game. So now he's played four When it comes to in Gockway, who does that four sacks and two forced bumbles? With Andre Patterson defensive line coach co defensive coordinator and of course you when it comes to unique, giving you guys the complete game you need. Do you sense he's getting closer or is he there? Well? I think he's playing a lot more reckless now, you know, understanding what we're asking to do. I thought he played very well last week in Houston.

You know, he was you know, still learning, you know, how we do things and how we kind of change and we've adapted to some of the things that he can do well, and so you know that's all been a little bit of a work in progress, but it's shown up a lot more now now with rookie Jeff Gladdie. Are you noticing that his quick twitch is become more second nature? Things are just like when he knifed through and got David Johnson for that tackle for loss shoom,

lickety split. He got in there fast. Yeah. I think you know, he's feeling a lot more comfortable in everything as well. You know, he's got a lot on his plate, playing nickel, playing outside. You know, he's done some really nice, nice things and so the more that we keep repping him, the more that he keeps going, the better he'll get. Now with masks and protocol and legit lifestyle changes at least for a few more months with the players and

coaches and stuff. Specifically the players, what are you noticing from them compared to the way you've seen it for a super long time, Like mentally, it's just such a different time now, do you notice it? Well, not so much on the field. You know, when the guys are out on the field, it's pretty it's pretty normal. But you know, the traveling and the hotels and you know, not you know, all the different things you have to do.

That's that's different. Yeah, Mike zm Rex's and Oh's on the KFA and Minnesota Vikings Radio network courtesy of a US Bank. Now Russell Wilson, we talked about contain a little bit within gaqway, the importance of contain and keeping him in the pocket at least some of the time. Yeah, he's really tough to keep in there because he'll come

out in any different way. You'll come up through the middle, they'll come up through the big app ll come up outside, and they've got some protections in there where allows him to get to the perimeter and then hold the football. He's a great deep ball thrower. He's got lots of receivers with big time speed, and it'll be a good test for us. Now, you've you've had some epic battles against the Seahawks in your seven years that you've been

coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Just overall the Seahawks. What do your respect about their team and how they seem to stay good every year? Yeah, you know, I think Pete Carroll does a great job with you know, keeping his keeping us guys competitive, keeping him fresh. You know, we've had a lot of good battles. I know that. Uh, you know, when they won the Super Bowl, we talked about he said, man, you're running the ball good and playing good defense. And I said, yeah, I'm trying to

be just like you. Soh you know so um, you know it's it's but now they're a little bit different offensively. You know, they're throwing the ball on a lot more not as much ground and pound. Speaking of running the ball, Dalvin Cook second to none in the NFL. Right Now, do you notice with Dalvin is is he setting up his blocks better than ever? Specifically when he gets out to the perimeter. Yeah, Dalvin does a great job setting up blocks all the time. But you know, he's very

difficult to tackle in the open field. Not very many times does one guy get him. But he's he's got great balance, great toughness, and great determination. And I know you always have been very fond of Dalvin the guy. You know where he's come from and who he is now. In chatting with Gary Kubiak on My KFA and radio show earlier this week, he intimated that Dalvin is assuming a little more of a leadership role, kind of behind

the scenes, a little more vocal. Are you noticing that? Yeah, you know, Davil was fairly vocal with the offense a year ago, and uh, but it's it's more so now. You know, he's more of a he's more of a fiery leader kind of guy that you know has shown up. And that's a good thing. We need that your offensive tackles Riley Reef and Brian O'Neill, specifically the last two, with what you're asking almost in all facets of the game. My opinion is it seems they're going along pretty well.

Do you see that. Yeah, they're doing a nice job. You know, I think we've done a nice job mixing up protections. Uh, they're they're both physical, tough guys, and I'm glad you're on our team. So from from an offensive standpoint, with the way feeling Jefferson and Cook are going right now, I mean that that's legitimately difficult for defenses to stop on a weekly basis. What a luxury. Yeah, it's great being able to have the running game and the play actions and having these receivers that we do.

And you know, I'm sure that IRV Smith and Kyle will be a factor in there as well. Yeah, and with Herb one catch for fourteen yards, I mean, is that it's weird? Is it explainable? Well, yeah, there's a couple. You know, there's one of the first third dollar the game, he got held pretty good and didn't get called, but he had a chance to get the ball there. And then there was another one that they kind of messed up the coverage and kind of fell underneath him another

time later on the game. So I think he'll continue to get a lot of catches. Yeah, seeing with Herb also, I mean all the way back to Madison's first touchdown in twenty nineteen against the Raiders when he had a nice block up the middle. You know, Herb that thirty nine yard run by Dalvin Cook against Tennessee Herb Smith Junior got the key block at the end. So I mean he's giving you mostly a complete game, right, Yeah,

he's getting better and better all the time. It is blocking and even pass protection where he's in protection, so you know, he's running good routes, he's catching a ball. Well, you know, I think it'll start getting spread around. Little more time for two more with Gary Kubiak. How excited is he with Cook and Felin and Jefferson and just things really starting to open up. Yeah, I think he really enjoys number number one, this offensive group. You know,

they're they're a good bunch of guys, good veterans. I think he you know, he loves the offensive coaching staff and being able to work with Kirk and the rest of guys. I think that's big. What's it like watching Seattle offense and not seeing that beef eater George Fant come in as the unbalanced, extual guy. Yeah, well they're not doing much of that, but they got a lot

of beef up front. They're they're pretty big and physical and finally DK metcap I mean talented, got drafted high Adonis type body, but I mean, what's gotten into him this year? Twenty five yards per catch. Yeah, well, he's caught some bombs, you know. They they helped Max protect, and he'll end up just throwing him a deep one. He's had several of those, um, you know. So we're gonna have to be on our p's and q's with him. So coach, good luck, all right, Paul, thank you, Yes, sir,

Mike zimmer Head, coach of the Minnesota Vikings. By the way, in celebration of sixty seasons, Mike's Vikings are selecting fans for the sixty Greatest Fans Team, presented by Ufank. We are honoring the most passionate Vikings fans throughout history. You can nominate yourself for somebody else today at Vikings dot com Slash six zero Fans. Quarterbacks coach Clint Kubiak is around the corner. It's x's and o's courtesy of US Bank on the KFA n Minnesota Vikings radio network, driven

by Paul Larry. XS and OS continues on the KFA and Minnesota Vikings Radio network. And by the way, it's a Game Day any day. Play the new Vikings scratch game from the Minnesota Lottery top prize hundred thousand dollars. Are you game? Just say I'm in? Get details at him in the lottery dot com. Here is second year Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks coach. His name is Clint Kubiak, second stint with the team and a former safety at Colorado State. Clint,

congratulations on the victory against Houston. What just in totality, what do you like about the way the entire offense is going right now? Yeah? You know, I just like the way I like the way our team's playing together. You know, special teams gets a turnover, defense gets the stops, and then will you get a couple scores? You know,

more specifically offensively, I just think we have balance. I think we're getting the manageable third downs, and obviously you we're having some young guys step up, Jordan Jefferson being number one. Yeah, and with Jefferson man two one hundred yard games team record Moss in ninety eight he had four with Justin or Adam or Dalvin for those guys and helping Kirk like, let's let's stick on Justin, Like, how is what he's doing opening things for everybody? Yeah?

You know, obviously the minute, the minute they have to cheat of safety over to his side. Now Adam's got one on one, or the minute they gotta cloud him. Now we got a you know, six man box to run the ball. So it helps everybody. And uh, you know he's a he had a great training camp too,

and he's just coming on. Spect more from him. But as far as you know, what I'm in control of is that quarterbacker room or just worried about, you know, being prepared to play and put our best foot forward Southern night in Seattle, and Clint, before we talk about that quarterback end or Seattle, I'm I'm you mentioned the words safety and I'm looking at a picture here with somebody with a forty two inch vertical back left of the end zone from like I mean, it might be

like twelve years ago. Can can you recall a story with me? Yeah, let's do it, okay, college days. There is a picture of this on the internet. I googled Kubiak interception Keenum and back left of the end zone forty two inch vertical picked off case Keenum with the Houston Cougars to walk off victoriously. Will you ever forget that moment? That was a good day. Good team win that day as well. But yeah, that was a lot

of fun. I've seemed like a long time ago that I got to play this great game and still get to be a part of it coaching, but great memories as a Colorado State ram safety and uh, you know, I always talked to Harry you know our safeties here. I just I have so much respect for those guys for what they put their bodies through. And yeah, that

was a good day. Yeah. Into before training camp, Agan, I took my daughter, who as a senior in high school to Colorado to look at Boulder and to look at Fort Collins, and I had never been to Four Collins. I mean that drive to four Collins. Man, Shoot, you might as well continue to larry me. It seems like it's right around the corner. Yeah, you don't want to go Laramie though, Paul's dad, Larimie Pork Collins is just fine. Yeah. No, Colorado State man and Colorado with a great rivalry. Clint

kubi at quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Kirk seemed comfortable in the Houston game. Seems like the comfortability is getting better every single game. Is that a fair assessment? Yeah, you know, I think he was playing comfortable those first three weeks. We just didn't get it done as a team. And it's a team game. He did his part last week, and we're just we're onto the next one and try to get our job done one play at a time. And he certainly is a big part of the solution.

And we's got to build on that, you know, with the with the way you're you're sharing now, and you know we started with Mike Zimmery kind of said the same thing. And I've done this a long time seriously as a coach and really a player. I mean, you seriously have to look at play by play, week by week. I don't want to say to keep sane, but to keep everybody in their lane, right because I mean, you know, people are like, Okay, we're one in three, maybe we

upset Seattle, what are we going to do again? It's Atlanta, gonna buye go to Lambeau. You guys can't do that, right. Yeah. It's just it's your reality as a player and as a coach, and there's only one way you can get better, and is that as the folks on the little details that make you and make you better. So in practice, it's an individual What's what little thing can I do to make make my team rep better? And if I'm better in that team rep, okay, here we go. In

the game, it's full speed. Now I'm getting better at that. So control what you can control. It's an old cliche, but you know what, those clich cliches are pretty damn true, Paul, and they work for quarterbacks. So one at a time, baby, that's all we care about. And with number eight Kirk Cousins sixty two touchdown passes since arriving in twenty eighteen, most in the history of the Vikings for somebody's first three years. Here, what what's it like working with Kirk?

You know, it's a blessing because he's such a professional and he wants to be challenged. And if you're not on top of your game, okay, he'll challenge you to be better as a coach. And that's what he does for me. And that's goes for Sean Mannon as well. And are they're two young quarterbacks. Really bright room. But I would just say he's so on the ball that he forces the best out of you as a coach,

which I really appreciate. Yeah, man and I'm so glad you brought up Sean Manum because it's the non obvious and like in the off season when you know Manuon's on a one year deal and you know there are players, rookies, free agents, whatever, more physically gifted than Sean, but Sean is the one you keep bringing back more so because of what he does with Kirk and with you behind the scenes. Right, Yeah, it's a you know, there's a lot more to being a backup, and he brings a

lot of intangibles to the mix. But I also do truly believe he's a hell of a player. And you know, he hasn't had a lot of opportunities. I thought he'd played really well in that Chicago game last year. There's some things outside of his control. But you want to talk about a great teammate, a competitive guy, a smart guy, just the guy that has all the right makeup that you want in a Viking and a great teammate. So couldn't be more happier to have Sean And where he's

always trying to get better too. We gotta make him better so when his opportunity comes, he's ready to fill in and exceed expectations. Hey, Clint, when you're working with Kirk before the game, or maybe when you guys are at a hotel of the night before, can you tell when Kirk's gonna have one of those lights out games?

Absolutely not, because he's always the same. You know, He's the same, whether they're they're on him in the papers or in the media, or whether he just was an NFC Player of the Month like he was last year. So that's I think that's why he's been so successful. He's the same every day and you know what to expect and his teammates know what to expect from him.

That's a great quality to have in a quarterback. So you go back to Houston and I mean, you know, I know, you spend a fair amount of your life there and your your father grew up five minutes from NRG Stadium Astrodome. The whole thing. Couldn't really do like the family reunion barbecue, could you. Yeah? And that wasn't a bad thing. You know, we got to folks on

the game. I understand that, but isn't it. I Mean there's so many weird things, man, and so many different things, and you have to accept as we move forward, push through this whole thing together. But I mean when you go back to a place like Houston, you know, and you walk into that stadium and you got family and friends there, and you know, to keep things so like the Titans get bit and then you guys come up with zero positives over x amount of days, which is

the story of the season. For me, it was phenomenal how great you guys are handling that. It still is a little bit of a reality check, right when you go to a place like that and it's like, oh, okay, so all right, no barbecue of this side. Yeah, you know, Coach Zimmer does such a good job of keeping us on task. You know that we are just we're dialed into our responsibility in our job that day. So honestly, to us, it's just another day at the office, another game,

and it all feels the same. That's a testament to the way he prepares us. Tell me about the Seattle defense. It feels like Bobby Wagner has been around so long. He played with the eighty five Bears, Quandre Diggs, you remember him from the Lions and last year and then they got this beefeater in the middle poona four. Nobody ever talks about ninety seven. He's unbelievably good. Yeah, we

have a lot of respect for this defense. Obviously, they gave us everything we could handle last year, so it was, you know, we're gonna have to be on top of our game to have a successful Sunday. And that's what we're in the works doing right now, Paul. We're putting in the time watching the film so that tomorrow when these players get here, we can just feed him great information and get them ready to play and get them playing fast and not thinking but reacting. That's the main

thing to do. Get him ready as a coach, last one. But being Gary Kubiak's son, growing up son of a coach, just what did you really really absorb that you remember back to the day, just watching the way he does it and now you're getting the opportunity to do it. Yeah, you know, the first thing that comes to mind is isn't that he was always a dad And so when I just don't remember him being a coach, I remember him having a job that kept him away from home

many many nights. But I just that's what I respect most now that I get to be a dad. I got three kids, and uh, they shouldn't know that I'm a coach and someone tells him, you know. So he was always a hell of a dad and still is. What a blessing he is to work with him every every day. It's it's great, what an awesome response. Thank you for that. So where'd you get the forty two inch vertical mom or Dad? Yeah, I think you're embellishing a little bit on that. I think there's a good

camera angle there. But uh yeah, back in the day, you know, I had some hopsit that was. That was many years ago, and now I could barely call like it over a stair. You picked off case Keenum, who was unbelievable in college and was on one side of the Minneapolis miracle. I mean, for one second, you can smell the roses, you know, Yes, one and done. That was it. Good luck at see alla, Bud. Great work this year. Great work man. I'll look forward to seeing you. Okay,

see you. Thank you you too. Clint Kooby at quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Hey Vikings fans, purchase any twenty ounce Pepsi branded product from Quick Trip with your rewards card and enter the Vikings Opening Drives Sweepstakes. No purchase necessary c store for details. We thank everybody at KFA and Radio and the Vikings Entertainment Network for assisting us with XS and OS featuring Mike Zimmer and provided

by US Bank, Vikings and Seattle this weekend. Shortly after seven o'clock, five o'clock for the pregame on KFA and six o'clock for the Vikings Radio Network affiliates. I'm Paul Allen. Thank you for listening to XS and OS. I'm the KFA and Minnesota Vikings Or Radio Network driven by