FLOWERY BRANCH — Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has his team off to a 7-3 start.
The Vikings, who are trying to rebound from a tough 30-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, face the Falcons (6-4) at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
Here’s what Zimmer, who was the defensive coordinator for the Falcons in 2007, had to say on a conference call with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Q: How’s (nose tackle) Linval Joseph been playing for you?
A: He's been playing very well. He's had a really good year. It's his second year (with the Vikings). We signed him as a free agent a year ago and he's taken a big step in his second year. He's a great kid. He's big, strong and powerful.
Q: How it having Adrian Peterson back this season for your team?
A: He's good. He's running the ball with violence. He has great vision. Anytime you get a guy with his ability can add to the things you can do offensively. It's really been a great thing for us, our football team and our organization.
Q: How has been coming out of the tough period of not having him last season?
A: Like everything in the NFL, you try to move on get going. We've had our things this year as well. It's just part of the NFL football season. But yeah, it's nice to have him back. The players love him. I love him. So, it's good to have him.
Q: How’s Teddy Bridgewater developing for the Vikings?
A: It's been good. The most important thing to me is getting wins and he's had, I don't know what his record is now, but he's been pretty good as the starting quarterback. I think he continues to grow each week. He continues to learn. He's a tremendous person. I love him as not only a person, but as a football player. I'm glad that he's ours.
Q: How’s the receiver group performing for you and wide receivers coach George Stewart?
A: Coach Stewart is doing great. He's the same guy all the time. He's good with the receivers. We like our crew here. (Stefon) Diggs has come in and has done. Charles Johnson was a starter last year and he's not playing as much, but he's still a tough guy. Jarius (Wright) is another good kid who does whatever we ask him to do. Mike (Wallace) is obviously a big threat when we can get him the football.
Q: What do see from the Falcons offense on film?
A: To me, they are extremely explosive. Freeman is a terrific back. Catching the ball good. Runs with power. Great vision. Matt Ryan is the guy who you always concern yourself with because of his ability to change things at the line of scrimmage. He has a fantastic arm. Julio Jones is maybe the best receiver in the league. He's outstanding, physical and fast. He catches the ball good. A great competitor. Those guys really are doing a good job. I think the offensive line has been doing a good job. They are tough. (Tight end Jacob) Tamme has been a good edition for those guys. (Levine) Toilolo, I think he's kind of an unsung hero a little bit.
Q: What do you see from the Falcons defense?
A: They do a nice job in the running game. Paul Soliai has helped a lot. He's a big physical guy. Hagemen is a big physical guy. Beasley and Jackson. Beasley is very, very active. He's all over the place. I think they've got some very good linebackers like Schofield. Durant continues to play good. Honestly, I think there secondary is pretty good. (Robert) Alford and (Desmond) Trufant are good young corners who are doing a nice job. William Moore has always been a big physical safety that you have to pay attention to. I think they are doing a great job for the transition and everything that is going on there. It should be a good ball game.
Q: What’s your challenge getting your team back together after the disappointing 30-13 loss to the Packers?
A: We don't have the luxury of pouting or sitting back and worrying about things. I just told them the other day, we can't do anything about what happened five weeks ago when we played San Diego or last week when we played Green Bay. All we can do is focus on us and how we can get better, study hard for Atlanta, focus on us getting better as a football team. Really, try to get going with this last push. I'm sure that Atlanta is probably doing the same thing.
Q: How’s linebacker Anthony Barr doing for the Vikings?
A: He's good. He's a great kid. Very, very talented. He's been nicked up a little bit. But I think he's starting to feel a little better now. So, he's a guy that you can use a lot of different ways. I expect him to be a big time player before his career is over.
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