“I’m watching tape [of last season],” Zimmer said. “And we run a complementary play off another play, but we don’t run that other play. So [the defense] is saying, any time they do this, they’re going to run that. So this is about trying to get the players in the right position to do more.”

There are plenty of ways to view Zimmer’s new approach. You could be wary of a lifetime defensive coach suddenly deciding to jump into an environment he has relatively little expertise in. You could be worried that Zimmer, who calls the Vikings’ defensive plays and is their de facto defensive coordinator, could spread himself thin. (“That’s a dilemma too,” he said. “What I don’t want to do is take away from part of the strength of our football team and make it a weakness.”)

Or you could recognize that the Vikings’ record goes next to his name, not his coordinators’, and that his approach the past three seasons has led to disappointing results. With his team and career at a crossroads, Zimmer recognized a change was necessary. He has made it, and the results will soon be on display for all to see. Stay tuned.