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.
Posts about Darrell Bevell
Bevell joins Seahawks as offensive coordinator
Posted by: Updated: January 20, 2011 - 4:44 PM
Darrell Bevell will be running an NFL offense next season, it just won't be in Minnesota.
The Vikings offensive coordinator since 2006, Bevell accepted the same position with the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. ESPN's John Clayton reported Bevell agreed to a two-year contract with an additional option year.
Bevell was left in coaching limbo shortly after the season ended when new Vikings coach Leslie Frazier informed him that while he was not being fired he also might be replaced. The Vikings then interviewed Josh McDaniels to become their offensive coordinator on Jan. 7.
When McDaniels took the Rams job this week, the Vikings brought in Atlanta quarterback coach Bill Musgrave and hired him on Wednesday. Bevell, meanwhile, went to Seattle to interview and will replace the recently fired Jeremy Bates on Pete Carroll's coaching staff.
Frazier likes Musgrave's 'global' thinking
Posted by: Updated: January 20, 2011 - 11:21 AMAdmitting his strengh lies on the defensive side of the ball, coach Leslie Frazier expressed confidence this morning that new coordinator Bill Musgrave will bring new ideas to the Vikings version of the West Coast offense.
"The fact Bill was in a variety of systems, to be able to combine things he learned in the West Coast system along with things he picked up with some other coaches that he has been around," will be a positive, Frazier said during a news conference at Winter Park. "The fact he wasn't just tied to one system but could see globally, that was important to me.
"We have a multitude of weapons on our offense and sometimes you get so tied up in a system that you don't see the forest for the trees. He was able to exemplify [his ideas] in our conversation and I've seen him do it in Atlanta. Once we sat down and talked about it, I was convinced he's the right man for the job."
Frazier made it clear that Musgrave's hiring means the Vikings won't have to overhaul their offense. That's important because if the expected NFL lockout goes through the offseason, there will be very little time to alter schemes. The hope also will be that Musgrave's success with the Falcons and young quarterback Matt Ryan, will mean he will be able to help develop a quarterback in Minnesota.
Frazier hasn't hired a running backs coach yet, but it's believed he is waiting to hear from Gene Huey. Huey was fired by the Colts and is trying to decide whether to retire or join the Vikings.
Frazier also confirmed that new coordinator Fred Pagac will continue to run a 4-3 defense with the Vikings.
Musgrave to be offensive coordinator
Posted by: Chip Scoggins Updated: January 19, 2011 - 5:11 PMWe have confirmed that Bill Musgrave has been hired as the Vikings offensive coordinator. ESPN first reported the news.
Musgrave is the Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach. He has experience as an offensive coordinator in the NFL and college level.
The Vikings also announced three other staff moves. As expected and previously reported, Fred Pagac takes over as defensive coordinator, Mike Singletary will coach linebackers and serve as special assistant to the head coach and Mike Priefer is the new special teams coordinator.
Musgrave interviewed for the offensive coordinator position with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday. He met with Vikings coach Leslie Frazier on Wednesday.
The Vikings have not announced officially what this means for Darrell Bevell, who remained on Frazier's staff but was told he was free to pursue other jobs. Bevell is in Seattle today interviewing for the Seahawks offensive coordinator job.
Musgrave has some history in the West Coast offense but he's also experienced in other systems. The former NFL quarterback also has worked with quarterbacks throughout his coaching tenure, most recently with Atlanta's Matt Ryan. That likely was appealing to Frazier, who wants to establish a long-term plan at quarterback this offseason.
Frazier has not publicly declared his preferred offensive system but he said he wants the offense to revolve around the running game and fit the personnel.
Report: Seahawks interviewing Bevell
Posted by: Chip Scoggins Updated: January 19, 2011 - 11:06 AMVikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell has been in professional limbo the past few weeks. He remains on the Vikings staff but Coach Leslie Frazier is interviewing other candidates for his job.
The St. Louis Rams asked permission to interview Bevell for their offensive coordinator position when negotiations with Josh McDaniels hit a snag on Tuesday. McDaniels agreed to terms with the Rams later in the day.
The NFL Network reports Wednesday that the Seattle Seahawks want to interview Bevell for their vacant offensive coordinator position, according to a league source. The network said the Seahawks originally wanted to interview Bevell for the quarterbacks coach job, but the coordinator positon opened on Tuesday when Pete Carroll fired Jeremy Bates.
Meanwhile, Frazier reportedly is expected to interview Atlanta Falcons quarterback coach Bill Musgrave today. Musgrave interviewed with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday.
Report: McDaniels hired by Rams
Posted by: Chip Scoggins Updated: January 18, 2011 - 5:35 PMThe waiting game for Josh McDaniels is over.
ESPN is reporting that McDaniels has agreed to become offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams after a crazy day of rumors. Vikings coach Leslie Frazier interviewed McDaniels for that same position on Jan. 7 and presumably has been waiting for McDaniels to make a decision.
The NFL Network reported Tuesday morning that McDaniels "likely" would choose the Rams today. By mid-afternoon, several outlets reported that negotiations between the Rams and McDaniels had hit a snag and that the team had requested interviews with other possible candidates.
A league source confirmed to the Star Tribune that the Rams asked the Vikings for permission to interview offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who remains on Frazier's staff.
ESPN reported that McDaniels was meeting with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday. But the network later reported that talks between the Rams and McDaniels camp had heated up again, which led to an agreement.
With McDaniels no longer a possibility, the Vikings reportedly are prepared to interview Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach Bill Musgrave on Wednesday. Musgrave reportedly interviewed with the Cleveland Browns for the offensive coordinator position on Tuesday.
Here is Musgrave's bio from the Atlanta Falcons website.
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