Minnesota Vikings Season Preview

Minnesota Vikings look towards the 2019 season having missed out on the playoffs in 2019. With a record of 8-7-1 last season, Mike Zimmer and his team could only manage a second place finish in the NFC North – and didn’t quite do enough to gain a wildcard position.

The biggest question mark going into 2019 is whether or not Mike Zimmer can find a way to return the Vikes defence to the incredible form it showed back in 2017 as Minnesota went to the NFC Championship game. With Mike Hughes out injured and Holton Hill suspended, the cornerback position is one where they perhaps lack depth. Elsewhere, Zimmer will be relying on Harrison Smith to lead from the back alongside Anthony Harris.

Although you can never really get the measure of a team from pre-season, Minnesota did pretty well winning three of their four games ahead of the new season. The Vikes will start their campaign in the comfort of their own stadium as they welcome Atlanta Falcons to the US Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings Coaching Moves

Gary Kubiak – Assistant Head Coach

The first and most notable coaching move in Minnesota this off-season sees former Broncos HC Gary Kubiak make the trip North. This is Kubiak’s first coaching role since he left Denver back in 2016 after winning his third Super Bowl as a part of the Broncos organisation.

Kubiak will join the team as an assistant to Mike Zimmer, but will also play a role on the offence, taking up a advisory position to Kevin Stefanski who will be running Kubiak’s offence.

Klint Kubiak – Quarterbacks

Following his Father to the cold North is Klint Kubiak, who will be taking up his position as quarterbacks coach – a role which he has previously held in Denver, alongside his duties as assistant offensive coach.

It’s also worth noting that this isn’t the first time Kubiak Jr has been on the coaching staff within the Vikings organisation. Back in 2013, he held a position as the assistant wide receivers and quality control coach.

Kevin Stefanski – Offensive Coordinator

As much as he held this title last year, the difference is that this season, he will have the interim tag removed. Stefanski has been a part of the Vikings organisation having held many different positions including tight end coach, running back coach and quarterbacks coach.

Off-season acquisitions

Anthony Barr, Linebacker

Having been with the Vikings since 2014, it was widely reported that Anthony Barr would be signing a lucrative deal to head East and join the New York Jets. However, at the last minute, Barr changed his mind and decided to re-sign with the Vikings on a five-year deal worth an estmated $67.5million.

Shamar Stephen, DT

Shamar Stephen returns to the Vikings having left after the 2017 season as the Vikings attempt to recreate the success they achieved that year. Stephen spent last season out in Seattle, where he played 15 games, picking up a combined 28 tackles and 2.0 sacks.

• Anthony Barr, LB
• Shamar Stephen, DT
• Sean Mannion, QB
• Greer Martini, LB
• Karter Schult, DE
• Duke Thomas, CB
• Dakota Dozier, G
• Josh Kline, G

*Information from https://www.vikings.com/

Minnesota Vikings NFL Draft

Minnesota Vikings Undrafted Free Agents

For more like this, you can visit our NFL section here. Also, follow us on Facebook for coverage of the NFL and much more.