Minnesota’s hot corner

By Jonathan Mohr  |   Friday, July 11, 2008  |  Comments( 6 )

Minnesota Vikings
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You didn't have to spend time breaking down game film with Ron Jaworski last season to find the Achilles heel of the Minnesota Vikings' defense.

Here’s the thought that flashed through the mind of every offensive coordinator to game plan against the Vikings in 2007: “Let’s see, best in the league against. the run, worst versus the pass, so what should we do?”

And faster than you could read that last sentence, the obvious choice was made … and made … and made.

Last season, the Vikings had more passes attempted against their defense (646) than any team in the NFL -- 44 more, in fact, than Detroit and Washington, which tied for second in that statistic with 602.

Opponents attempted 40.4 passes per game against Minnesota, another category in which the Vikings unfortunately led the NFL. And, not surprisingly, they also led the league in yards surrendered through the air, giving up 264.1 per game. (Detroit was second in that stat at 258.2 yards per game, while no other team in the NFL gave up more than 250.)

The Vikings' phenomenal run defense had something to do with all the passes, obviously. But so did Minnesota’s inability to stop those throws. The Vikings’ defense had 415 passes completed against it in the regular season. Only Detroit (422) gave up more completions. And once again, those two teams were by far the worst in that category. Arizona and Houston were next, each allowing 361.

Minnesota's cornerbacks have to bear the brunt of the blame for those results. A great pass rush and help from the safety positions can make their jobs easier, and personnel upgrades in both of those areas should help them in 2008. But if the Viking 'D' is to be as fearsome as some expect this year, the corners will have to be better and play with more consistency than they did last season.

With that said, these five players will be key to the team's success in 2008:

Antoine Winfield: An elder statesman and one of the defensive and team leaders, Winfield has been a rock at the cornerback position during his career. While only 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, Winfield is one of the surest tacklers in the NFL. He has never been a shutdown cornerback capable of stuffing other teams' top receivers, but he’s still a valuable contributor; on the downside, Winfield, entering Year 10 of his career, is getting into his twilight days, and he missed six games last season because of injury.

Cedric Griffin: The former second-round draft choice from Texas had a promising rookie year, but he was somewhat inconsistent in 2007 and there were stretches when teams seemed to pick on him. With Winfield, Griffin figures to start at corner again in 2008, and both will have to prove themselves early on; after all, opponents will likely come out throwing again.

Marcus McCauley: Minnesota drafted McCauley in the third round last year, and he is currently listed as the primary backup to both Winfield and Griffin on the team's depth chart. A player many felt would have been drafted higher but for a disappointing senior season, McCauley appeared in all 16 games last year and recorded 50 tackles and eight passes defended.

Charles Gordon: Although he played in all 16 games last year, Gordon didn’t really begin to make his mark until the final two months of the season, when he made 27 of his 29 tackles and had all five of his pass breakups.

Benny Sapp: Entering his fifth season, Sapp played his first four with Kansas City and has 56 games under his NFL belt. The former Northern Iowa standout has 71 career tackles with two interceptions and has also returned 16 kicks during his time in the NFL, with 15 coming last year for a 17.0-yard average.

Dee McAnn, a second-year player out of West Virginia; Brandon Sumrall, a rookie from Southern Mississippi; and Marcus Walker, a rookie from Oklahoma, will battle for roster spots at the position when training camp opens at the end of the month in Mankato, Minn.
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About Jonathan Mohr

A lifelong Vikings fan, I live in the Twin Cities area (about a mile from Winter Park) and work as an editor at a boating magazine. As with all long-suffering Vikings fans, I patiently look forward to the day when Minnesota finally breaks through and wins a Super Bowl. Until then I eat my...
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