Zimmer sees new Vikings offensive line as a big boost

The Vikings' revamped offensive line was the most popular topic of conversation for coach Mike Zimmer on Wednesday as the NFL owners meetings wrapped up in Boca Raton, Fla.

Zimmer spoke during the NFC coaches breakfast but, for more than 53 minutes, all he chewed on were questions from reporters.

The Vikings added guard Alex Boone and tackle Andre Smith in the first two weeks of free agency. They also re-signed guard Mike Harris and hung on to tackles Matt Kalil and Phil Loadholt. They now have nine linemen with at least 16 career starts.

"I just wanted to get as many bodies in there as I could then let them fight it out," Zimmer said. "I just felt like we needed to improve that area."

Not that an explanation for the ongoing offseason overhaul was needed, but Zimmer acknowledged that quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was frequently under pressure last season and that running back Adrian Peterson too often was met in the backfield.

"Teddy was running for his life half the time," Zimmer said. "We had a whole bunch of 1-yard runs. I just felt like we needed to make some changes."

Zimmer said that one of the reasons the Vikings signed Smith, who started 73 games for the Cincinnati Bengals after they selected him sixth overall in the 2009 draft, was that "I like having first-round draft picks that leave other places because they have pedigrees."

"I feel like every other position group on our football team has a tough-minded personality," Zimmer said. "I don't know if our offensive line did [in 2015]."

Zimmer believes that an improved offensive line, more than a marquee wide receiver, will help Bridgewater take a bigger leap forward in his third NFL season.

"If we fix this one area, I think it's going to help him a lot more," Zimmer said.

Here are a few more highlights from Zimmer's media session in Florida:

•Zimmer expressed guarded optimism about Loadholt and center John Sullivan. He thinks Loadholt is progressing well in his recovery from a torn Achilles' tendon.

As for Sullivan, Zimmer said the Vikings are "hoping" that their starting center will be ready to contribute this season after twice undergoing back surgery last year.

"He's moving a lot better. He looks a lot better. His body mass is changing and he's getting a lot stronger," Zimmer said. "But who knows?"

• Zimmer didn't "want to get into that Bridgewater and Wallace deal," referring to Mike Wallace's recent comments about how he signed with the Baltimore Ravens because they have a "good quarterback." And he took the high road when explaining why the Vikings cut Wallace.

"We had a receiver here that was making a lot of money who didn't do what we needed him to do," he said. "It was more about money than anything else."

• Zimmer was asked about kicker Blair Walsh and what the Vikings plan to do to help him bounce back from his critical playoff miss.