vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Coaching moves: Williams, Daly on the way while Pagac, Singletary reshuffle roles
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Vikings, Leslie Frazier, Leslie Frazier Updated: January 19, 2012 - 10:18 AM
We know what you're thinking. After all that ...
Yep, it appears that after a 3-13 season, Karl Dunbar might wind up as the only coach fired from Leslie Frazier's staff.
According to an NFL source, the Vikings are now in position to finalize their coaching staff in time to lead the North squad at this year's Senior Bowl. (That's a week-long event that begins Sunday in Mobile, Ala.)
But for those who wanted or expected a major overhaul, it's not coming.
Here's the full Star Tribune story on how Frazier's staff has now been tweaked and changed. In a nutshell, here's what you need to know:
- The Vikings have great optimism that Alan Williams will soon agree to become the team's new defensive coordinator after spending the past 10 seasons as the defensive backs coach in Indianapolis.
- Fred Pagac has been removed from the defensive coordinator role but will remain with the team, returning to a position as linebackers coach, which he held from 2006-10.
- Current linebackers coach Mike Singletary will share some responsibilities with Pagac as it relates to working with the linebackers and will also retain his title as special assistant to the head coach.
- And to fill the vacancy created when Dunbar was fired, Frazier will bring Brendan Daly back to the organization as the new defensive line coach. Daly spent the last three seasons with the Rams but was with the Vikings from 2006-08 as an assistant defensive line coach.
Williams' hiring will likely allow the Vikings to retain the foundation of their 4-3, Cover-2 defense. After all, a switch to a 3-4 scheme had many notable drawbacks.
As for what else the Vikings might be able to do to shake things up and improve upon this past year's 13-loss headache? Well, don't be surprised if newly appointed general manager Rick Spielman begins to leave his mark on the roster with a concerted effort to get younger.
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