Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) acknowledges the fans during the closing ceremony following the game against the Detroit Lions at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Lions 14-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings made a great head coaching hire when they brought former Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer aboard to replace Leslie Frazier, but by adding another defense-minded, first-year head coach, the Vikings ensured that they would still need to hire a very strong offensive coordinator. The Cleveland Browns willingly allowed their coordinators to depart for better jobs, and the Vikings were able to pluck Norv Turner, whom Zimmer went up against twice this past season and lost to Brian Hoyer in one of those games, as their OC.
Turner is definitely a strong hire at offensive coordinator, even if his time as the San Diego Chargers head coach was a tumultuous and disappointing one overall. There are questions regarding Turner’s ability to develop quarterbacks, and he’ll have to quiet those concerns in Minnesota. The keys to the offense are in his hands, and the Vikings front office will have to get the right franchise QB. In turn, Turner will have to develop that QB (my money is on Derek Carr right now).
Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson is easily the most recognizable name on the team, and thus his opinion carries an extremely high amount of weight. He sounds excited to have Turner at OC and has full confidence in him. He told the USA Today’s Tom Pelissero, “I’ll tell you, our pass offense has really struggled in the past couple years. I think (Turner) is going to be the perfect guy to come in and get us on the right path.”
“The perfect guy”, huh? Turner’s biggest job is to kick-start one of the league’s worst passing attacks, while Zimmer needs to get an equally pitiful pass defense up to par. Peterson has plenty of confidence that Turner can help make the Vikings offense significantly better, but the most important thing for the Vikes is to find the right QB to lead the offense.