Rebuilt Vikings defense difficult to run against

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - For most of the last 13 years, after the departure of former defensive coordinator Tony Dungy in 1995, the Minnesota Vikings focused more on annihilating a defense than actually fielding one.

After the Dungy-led defense ranked No. 1 in 1993, the Vikings' unit has steadily slipped from that perch. From 1994 to 2007, the Vikings' defense finished in the bottom third 10 times, including 26th or worst in six seasons.

Vikings coach Brad Childress vowed to change that trend when taking over in 2006, implementing the Tampa Two scheme and upgrading the personnel at several key positions.

Now, as they prepare for their first playoff game since the 2004 season, the Vikings boast a defense befitting of its Purple People Eater-led lineage.

They are the first team since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to lead the league in run defense for three consecutive seasons, allowing an average of 70.8 rushing yards; they are tied for second with 20 defensive touchdowns over the last three seasons; and their total defense ranking of sixth overall was their highest since 1995.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier's assessment of his unit?

"We could be better. We could really be better," said Frazier, the Eagles secondary coach from 1999 to 2002. "There are a couple of things we can do to help us get better, and there are a couple of people who can help us get better."

The Vikings' 2007 defensive MVP, middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, suffered a season-ending foot injury in the fourth game of the season, and the team's nickel cornerback, Charles Gordon, broke his ankle in the ninth game.

But the depth of the defense proved deep enough, as strong side linebacker Ben Leber handled the calls that Henderson usually made and shifted to the middle in nickel situations, and veteran Benny Sapp jumped in Gordon's cornerback spot.

Vikings Pro Bowl defensive tackle Pat Williams, who has missed the last two games with a fractured right shoulder blade, was limited in practice for a second consecutive day yesterday, and he will be a game-time decision.

Continuity, several players said, has helped the unit persevere through the injuries; six of the current starters lined up in the same positions in 2006. In addition, Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway said the personnel and scheme are strong enough that players just have to focus on their jobs.

"You start getting gashed when people try to do too much," said Greenway, the Vikings' leading tackler. "I think the people who have stepped in for those players who went down have simply tried to do their job, whether that would be hold their gap, or play a block the correct way.

"You definitely lose [something] when you lose players like that," Greenway said. "But, even though [the backups] lack experience, if they do their job, players will make the plays and it's fine."

Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield said one of the biggest keys to the unit's jump from 20th to sixth overall and last to 18th against the pass was the addition of Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen.

The Vikings have long struggled to address the position, spending three first-round and two second-round picks on defensive ends from 1999 to 2005. Remarkably, the most successful of the five players is Kenechi Udeze, who has 11 sacks in four seasons (he was sidelined this entire season with leukemia).

Under previous owner Red McCombs, the Vikings were unwilling to spend the necessary money in free agency to land a proven pass rusher. But new owner Zygi Wilf green-lighted one of the most aggressive trades in recent NFL history. The Vikings sent a first-round pick and two third-round picks to the Kansas City Chiefs then signed Allen to the largest contract by a defensive player (6 years, $74 million, with $31 million guaranteed).

Despite playing through several injuries, Allen finished the season with 14 1/2 sacks, tied for the fifth most in the NFL this season.

"I'd shudder to think where we'd be on defense without him, especially losing Kenechi and E.J.," Frazier said of Allen. "He's one of those guys that we expect on Sunday to help us take it to the next step."

Added Winfield of Allen, "He's made a huge difference."

Last season, the Vikings were 23rd in the NFL with 38 sacks. This season, they were fourth with 45.

Yet this defense's signature is stuffing the run.

Over the last 48 games, the Vikings have allowed just two individuals (Steven Jackson, of the St. Louis Rams, and Ryan Grant, of the Green Bay Packers) to top 100 rushing yards.

That players were frustrated about giving up 135 rushing yards in the season finale to the league's top-ranked run defense bolsters their collective pride.

"We probably didn't end the way we wanted to," Greenway said of their effort against the New York Giants. "We didn't play our best game against the run, as a defense.

"[It's a] point of pride, it's our No. 1 goal," Greenway said. "We want to stop the run, and make teams one-dimensional. And we've done it enough to be ranked No. 1 in the NFL, which says a lot about the 11 guys on this defense." *