Winfield Improving, Hopes To Play

By MikeBullock | Thursday, November 19, 2009 | ( 0 )

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Before I get into this, I had to admit to some bias: I’m a huge Antoine Winfield fan. Having played cornerback in my youth, I gravitate towards good corners when watching NFL games. From Darrel Green and Rod Woodson to Nnamdi Asomugha and Winfield, there’s just something about that position that cranks the adrenalin.

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, it’s easy to see why the loss of Winfield on game day for the last several weeks has been readily apparent to me. Opposing quarterbacks do not pick on Winfield. Offensive coordinators are often reluctant to run plays to his side of the field and many a QB has felt the sting when Winfield comes on a corner blitz. (Carolina Panthers signal caller Jake Delhomme more than others.)

Winfield is a true game changing player. Just as Jared Allen, E.J. Henderson, Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson must be accounted for by opponents, so too must Winfield. And, it goes far beyond just the stats. Watch an opposing wide receiver after he’s taken a few of Winfield’s patented hits. His route running won’t be as crisp, his concentration on the mid-air ball a little shaky and his desire to run after the catch not as certain.

The fact of the matter is Antoine Winfield scares opposing players, coaches and fans.

And, for that very reason, the Vikings’ faithful should hope he doesn’t get much time on the field this week.

Why?

With Winfield not up to one hundred percent, are the Seattle Seahawks fearsome enough to warrant risking his recovery? Looking past them at upcoming games against Chicago, Arizona and Cincinnati, the answer is a resounding “no!” While Benny Sapp, Karl Paymah and Asher Allen aren’t in Winfield’s league yet, the three are doing a respectable job in his absence. With Seattle only averaging 244.2 yards per game in the air, Brad Childress and Viking defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier have the luxury of letting Winfield take another week to heal.

Turning to history as a teacher, Winfield’s hamstring injury in 2007 should speak volumes about the risks of putting him back in the lineup before he’s fully healed. It’s simply a risk not worth taking.

While not much may be as exciting to a former corner as watching Winfield take the wood to opposing wide outs, running backs and QBs, this team will need Winfield’s skills and x-factor down the stretch, especially when facing potential playoff opponents, such as New Orleans, Dallas or Philadelphia. And what Vikings fan isn’t salivating at the idea of pick six against those three, followed by a few forced fumbles on corner blitzes? Good things come to those who wait, and Winfield at one hundred percent is as good as it gets.

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