Here’s an interesting talker that’s sure to get the border battle started on this beautiful summer day.
ESPN’s Ben Goessling asked his fellow NFC North writers to rank the coaches in the division:
- Green Bay’s Mike McCarthy
- Minnesota’s Mike Zimmer
- Chicago’s John Fox
- Detroit’s Jim Caldwell
Two of the three ranked Zimmer third behind McCarthy and Fox while the Packers’ writer complimented Zimmer by saying “his football acumen appears to be among the tops — not only in the division, but across the league.”
Each writer does eventually get around to praising Zimmer for his football smarts, but they don’t think he’s proven the test of time the way McCarthy and Fox have.
Back in March, USA Today ranked Zimmer fourth among all head coaches in the NFL. That ranking said:
“Zimmer is the most creative defensive play-caller in the league. And more importantly, he knows how to develop young talent. Case in point: It took him only two years to turn Anthony Barr, who was seen as a raw prospect who would take some time to develop, into an All-pro caliber player. The Vikings defense is going to be very good for a very long time.”
What do you think?
