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Mike Zimmer, 'down in the dumps' about the Vikings' defense, says he's rejuvenated by new players

One of the worst defensive showings in 60 seasons of Vikings football apparently has convinced an old dog it's time for some new tricks.

"The offenses have changed so much the last four or five years," Mike Zimmer, the Vikings' 64-year-old defensive-minded head coach, said Wednesday. "It's time that we need to do some things differently and change and adapt [defensively]. … Some of it is big change, some of it is minor tweaks."

Zimmer's 475 points allowed last year were nine short of the worst mark in team history. Only six other times have the Vikings allowed 400 points.