Meet Vikings Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner

Meet Norv Turner, the Offensive Coordinator for the Vikings, and the man that will hopefully spearhead an improved passing and scoring attack. Turner has many years of coaching experience, so we’re confident he’ll be able to get the job done.

Like with most coaches, he started out in the college ranks. In Turner’s case, he had a near decade long stop with USC. From there, he made his coaching debut in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 1985, acting as a Wide Receivers Coach. For the rest of his career in the NFL he would have stints as an Offensive Coordinator, as well as the occasional Head Coaching gig.

Turner had Head Coaching stops with the football team in Washington, the Oakland Raiders and the San Diego Chargers. He achieved the most success with Chargers, going 56-40 in his six seasons at the helm.

Today, Turner is in charge of creating the offensive game plan for the Vikes. And given his track record, expect to see big things from the Vikings offense this year.

Meet Vikings Defensive Coordinator George Edwards

Meet George Edwards, the new Vikings Defensive Coordinator. Brought in with Mike Zimmer’s new regime, the veteran football coach with over 20 years of coaching experience is looking to improve a Vikings defense that struggled mightily last year (Need evidence? The Vikings D gave up the second most yards per game in the league, at a staggering rate of 397.6).

Edwards got his start in 1991, working as an Assistant at the University of Florida. From there, he would work his way up in the College ranks until he found himself in the NFL, working for the Dallas Cowboys in 1998 as their Linebackers Coach. It was here for the first time that he was able to work with Mike Zimmer, who during Edwards’ time spent with Cowboys acted as, at first a Defensive Backs Coach, and then Defensive Coordinator. Edwards would work alongside Zimmer for three years before leaving for the team’s rival in Washington.

From there, Edwards would bounce around the NFL and even make on one last stop at the University of Florida – never staying in one place for more than three years (except with the Miami Dolphins acting as a Linebackers Coach).

Today, Edwards is looking to hang tight with Vikings and help improve a defense that needs improving. Skol Vikings!  

NFL Pre-Season: Vikings vs. Cardinals

In their second preseason game at TCF Bank Stadium, the Vikings take on the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday August 16th.

As I have said before, while the competition isn’t always great at pre-season football games, prices sure are! So come on out and watch the Vikings do battle against the Arizona Cardinals at TCF Bank Stadium.

Meet Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer

Mike Zimmer, while known for his colorful language on Hard Knocks when he was the Defensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, has a coaching career that spans 20 seasons in the NFL.

Getting his break with the Cowboys in the early 90’s as a Defensive Back Coach, by the start of the 2000’s he had worked his way up in the Cowboys coaching system and was promoted to Defensive Coordinator.  During the 2003 season with the Cowboys, the defense gave up the fewest yards in the NFL thanks to the schemes and strategies Zimmer implemented.

Following a one year stint with the Atlanta Falcons as their Defensive Coordinator in 2007, Zimmer was named the Defensive Coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals. This, of course, is where people met the outspoken coach on Hard Knocks.

In 2009, Zimmer earned NFL Assistant Coach of the Year honors from Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers and from CBSSports.com, after guiding the Bengals to the 4th ranked defense in the league. In 2011, the Bengals finished with the 7th ranked defense in total yards and 9th ranked defense in points allowed. In 2012, the Bengals finished with the 6th ranked defense in total yards and 8th ranked defense in points allowed. And in 2013, his last season with the Bengals finished with the 3rd ranked defense in total yards.

Now currently the 10th head coach in Vikings history, here’s to hoping that just like everywhere else he has gone, Zimmer improves the Vikings D and the team as a whole. Skol Vikings!

NFL Pre-Season: Vikings vs Raiders

The first Vikings home game at TCF Bank Stadium is on August 8th against the Oakland Raiders. And boy oh boy, like all Vikings game -- but especially the first home game of the year -- is it going to be a fun one.

Yes, we know it is a pre-season game, and not the first home game of the regular season, but still, it is technically the first Vikings home game at TCF Bank Stadium (SO GET EXCITED PEOPLE!).

And remember, while the competition isn’t always great at pre-season football games, prices sure are! So come on out and watch the Vikings do battle against the Oakland Raiders at TCF Bank Stadium.

Looking for tickets to the game? I know of this great place where you can purchase them here.