Minnesota Vikings: Looking Ahead to 2011, 10 Reasons Leslie Frazier Is Coach

With the Minnesota Vikings' record currently at 5-9, it is officially time to start looking ahead to next season.

The future holds plenty of uncertainties surrounding the team, as well as the entire NFL that will need to be answered.

How quickly can a new collective bargaining agreement be put in place?

Will there be a work stoppage?

Who will be the Vikings' quarterback?

Can the Vikings rebound from their miserable 2010 season?

There is also the question as to when, and where, will Leslie Frazier get to remove "interim" from his title?

So far there are no reports that Vikings' Owner Zygi Wilf and Frazier have talked about his future with the team. There has been just too many other things that needed their attention.

For Frazier, there's been the task of focusing on each week's game in an attempt to salvage the season and get the Vikings into the playoffs. 

Then came the collapse of the Metrodome's roof and Wilf was consumed with finding a field for the two remaining home games. 

After consecutive "home" losses to the Giants at Detroit's Ford Field, and to the Bears at TCF Bank Stadium, both men should have plenty of time to address Frazier's situation.

Here are 10 potential reasons that Frazier will be the head coach for the Vikings in 2011.

No Need To Interview.

Since 2008 Leslie Frazier has interviewed for eight head coaching jobs, and all eight interviews have ended in rejection.

Frazier's name kept popping up as a potential head coach, but it appears he may have been used to fulfill the Rooney Rule that requires teams to interview minority candidates for all head coaching and senior football operations opportunities.

There would be no need to conduct any interviews in this case, Wilf knows exactly what he type of coach he's getting with Frazier.

Wilf Will Need To Act Fast

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LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 11: Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf looks on before a game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins before the first Monday Night Football game of the season at FedEx Field September 11, 2006 in Landover, Maryl

Including the Broncos and Cowboys, who also have interim coaches, there could be as many as eight teams looking to hire a new head coach for the 2011 season.

With that many possible interviews for Leslie Frazier to consider, Zygi Wilf will have to act quickly if he wants to retain his interim head coach.

There have already been some rumors that Frazier is on the list of potential candidates for the Denver Broncos' job.

The longer Wilf waits, the more it could end costing him to keep Frazier.

A Stable Situation Favors a New Stadium

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 13: A torn section of the roof sags inside the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 13, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Metrodome's roof collapsed under the weight of snow after a powerful blizzard hit the area on Decemb

The Minnesota Vikings' lease with the Metropolitan Sports Facility expires after the 2011 season.

Owner Zygi Wilf desparately wants a new stadium, and he wants the public to fund it. 

The roof collapse of the 29-year Metrodome could not have come at a more opportune time for Wilf.

He has the ammunition that supports the argument the Vikings need a new stadium.

Not only does the Dome lack the revenue streams needed to support a team in today's NFL, it lacks the structural integrity to support its own roof. 

If one of the best seasons in franchise history in 2009 was not enough to gain enough public support for a new stadium, the task has gotten a whole lot tougher with the collapse of 2010 season.

The public will need some reassurance that the team is pointed in the right direction, and having a coach that fans can relate to will help.

Unlike former head coach Brad Childress, Leslie Frazier appears to be more approachable. His demeanor is that of someone a regular fan can relate to. He does not have the aloofness that Childress had, where every answer seemed to grate on people and he acted like he knew more than all of us.

It could be a good move for the franchise and its desire for a new stadium to hire Frazier. 

Hiring Frazier Is a Great Deal.

Some other potential candidates being mentioned as coach of the Minnesota Vikings include Jon Gruden, Bill Cowher, and Bill Parcells.

In order to sign any of these big names it will take big bucks—and with them comes big egos.

Right now, because Leslie Frazier remains an unknown commodity as a head coach, he and his agent are in no position to demand the same type of contracts that these Super Bowl winning coaches can.

For Wilf, his money may be better spent on upgrading the talent on the field, than on a big name coach.

So far Frazier has demonstrated his ability to get the current group of players to rally around him—with the exception of the two recent "home" games that are the product of a situation that seems to have put the entire organization off its game.

Leslie Frazier Is a Players' Coach

Many of the players have been quoted that they respect Leslie Frazier.

It's unlikely that Frazier will have the same kind of disagreement Childress had with wide receiver Percy Harvin during practice leading up to the Arizona game during Week 9 of the season. 

Childress allegedly questioned Harvin's ability to play through pain, and the two had to be separated when the exchange became heated.

Because he is a former player in the NFL he holds a lot more credence with the players than Brad Childress ever did.

The players recognize that Frazier has "been there, and done that." They don't have to look any further than the Super Bowl ring he earned as a member of the 1985 Chicago Bears.

Leslie Frazier Can Get a Jump on 2011

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Joe Webb #14 of the Minnesota Vikings replaces Brett Favre against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium on December 20, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

This will be Leslie Frazier's fourth year with the Minnesota Vikings organization.

He is familiar with the personnel and with the ownership.

He knows the talent level on the team and will have a good idea what changes need to be made.

For any other coach stepping in, the clock is turned back a couple of months, if not years.

They will have to assess the talent, using their own criteria, from means other than being a part of the team.

This does not always work out the best. A perfect example could be he situation in Washington and the issues head coach Mike Shanahan has had with two notable Redskins—Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb.

Leslie Frazier Knows What He's Getting Into

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 05: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings on the sideline during the game against the Buffalo Bills at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 5, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Ni

Sure the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but with the Minnesota Vikings there will be fewer surprises than any other job he takes. 

Just like Vikings' Owner Zygi Wilf knows what he's getting with Frazier, Frazier knows what he is getting into as the Vikings' coach.

This would be the best chance for Frazier to make an impact.

Of course there's always the phrase—ignorance is bliss!

For Leslie Frazier—Success Comes Easier in The NFC North

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Percy Harvin #12 of the Minnesota Vikings plays against the Detroit Lions during the game at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on September 26, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Coaching a team in the NFC North could have its advantages.

Over the last 24 years the Vikings have made the playoffs 14 times.

Since 2002 the NFC North Division has a combined .463 winning percentage, only the NFC West is lower at .417.

Over the past eight seasons in the NFC, the divisional winners seem to turnover pretty regularly. Only two teams have not won their division in that span—the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions. 

Unlike the AFC that has been dominated by perennial divisional winners like New England, Indianapolis, San Diego and Pittsburgh.

Who Wouldn't Want to Coach Superstars Like Peterson and Harvin?

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 14: Percey Harvin #12 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a touchdown catch against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 14, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Vikings 27-13. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Imag

The Minnesota Vikings have two of the most talented and explosive players in the NFL in Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin.

If the Vikings can re-sign Sidney Rice then they have a pretty good complement on the offensive side of the ball—just add the right quarterback and watch the offense click.

The advantage of having Leslie Frazier coach the Vikings is that his expertise and experience is on the defensive side of the ball. Unlike Brad Childress. Frazier will allow his offensive coordinator to call the plays. This will lead to less confusion and hopefully to more consistency for the offensive.

Of course Frazier will have to find an offensive coordinator with more experience calling plays than Darrell Bevell.

The Success Of Former Vikings' Defensive Coordinators Speaks For Itself

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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates on the field after their 27-23 win against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Chri

Former Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinators seem to have the propensity for winning.

Tony Dungy coached for 13 seasons in the NFL, six years with Tampa Bay and seven with Indianapolis—and only had two losing seasons.

Dungy took the Colts to the Super Bowl in 2006, and defeated the Chicago Bears.

Mike Tomlin, only in his fourth year as the Steelers head coach already has two division titles and a Super Bowl Championship.

There must some karma that follows Vikings' defensive coordinators, and owner Zygi Wilf would be remiss not to try and capitalize upon it.