NFL Minnesota Vikings

5 Things We Learned From the Minnesota Vikings’ 2014 Season

Fresh Videos

By

5 Things We Learned From the Minnesota Vikings' 2014 Season

Minnesota Vikings
Getty Images

The Minnesota Vikings put up an impressive season under first-year head coach Mike Zimmer after losing All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson just one game into the season. The future looks bright for a young Vikings squad.

5. Matt Kalil Struggled Most Of Season

Matt Kalil, Minnesota Vikings
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

5. Matt Kalil Struggled Most Of Season

Matt Kalil, Minnesota Vikings
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The year started rough for the former No. 4 overall selection out of USC, allowing 11 sacks over the first 10 games of the season. There was improvement over the final six games, however, only allowing one sack and four perfect games without allowing a sack or QB hit. He'll have a long offseason to overcome the knee pain he struggled with this season and plans to be back to his Pro Bowl form come OTAs.

4. Cordarrelle Patterson Can Only Blame Himself For His Struggles

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings
David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

4. Cordarrelle Patterson Can Only Blame Himself For His Struggles

Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings
David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

When Patterson was coming into the league after a successful career at the University of Tennessee, scouts knew how much of an athletic freak he was. However, scouts also knew that Patterson couldn't run the whole route tree and it showed in his second season. Hopes were high coming into the 2014 season, but it didn't take long for Charles Johnson, formerly of the Cleveland Browns' practice squad, to take his job.

3. Mike Zimmer Was The Right Man For Minnesota

Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

3. Mike Zimmer Was The Right Man For Minnesota

Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Zimmer proved that he was ready to take the reigns and lead an NFL team after many successful years as the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals. While he didn't make a huge splash with a 7-9 record, he proved himself by overcoming adversity with the Peterson scandal and rallying the team until the final game of the season. He must work to get his play-makers more involved to take the next step in 2015.

2. Everson Griffen Is A Guy Zimmer Can Build His Defense Around

Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

2. Everson Griffen Is A Guy Zimmer Can Build His Defense Around

Everson Griffen, Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Zimmer had to come in right away and decide if he believed Everson Griffen was a guy he could use to be a cornerstone in his 4-3 defense. With Jared Allen unlikely to come back, Zimmer chose Griffen by giving him a five-year, $ 42.5 million contract. Griffen answered with 12 sacks on the season, the most by any Vikings player this year. That production will only increase if the Vikings pursue a guy like Jason Pierre-Paul in free agency.

1. Teddy Bridgewater Proved Doubters Wrong This Season

Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

1. Teddy Bridgewater Proved Doubters Wrong This Season

Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

There weren't many people high on Teddy Bridgewater's potential after a dismal showing at his pro day. That caused him to tumble down the first round, and Minnesota didn't hesitate to trade back up to pick No. 32 to select him. He came in as a starter in Week 3, struggled like many rookies do, but he quickly turned it around and proved he can be a consistent leader in the NFL.

Tyler Olson is an NFL and Miami Dolphins writer for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @to2471 and connect with him on Google.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on