Vikings CB Situation Went from Bad to Good – in One Year
Dustin Baker
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Mike Zimmer, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, was supposed to be the guy that squeezes lemons into lemonade – no matter the group of cornerbacks in his holster. The same mentality applied to his general defensive acumen, too.
That wasn’t entirely true.
While Zimmer maintains the moniker of defensive guru or defense-first coach, a plot twist in the 2020 season ostensibly proved that he cannot overcome widespread injury to personnel. Zimmer lost Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce, Anthony Barr, Mike Hughes, and even Eric Kendricks toward the end of the season – all to some form of injury or coronavirus opt-out.
The result? The league’s fourth-worst defense via points allowed. It was not aesthetically pleasing.
Unsurprisingly, Zimmer yanked general manager Rick Spielman by the shirt collar (he didn’t do that) and whispered into the man’s ear that he needs defense help.
Defensive help arrived.
In the form of Dalvin Tomlinson – a mammoth bloke – and All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson, the purple cavalry has arrived. Those two reputable names signed on Spielman’s dotted line and will start inside Zimmer’s defense this September.
The future is bright – the Vikings cornerback personnel went from “this probably won’t be pretty” to “wow, this is a deep group” in less than 365 days.
Heading into 2020: Bleak.
Full disclosure: The author of this article forecasted the Vikings defense – overall – would be fairly good in 2020. He was wrong. Injuries engulfed the roster, and next man up turned out to be a fancy slogan that works only for Bill Belichick. Or – it is merely successful when one or two players are seeking replacement. Not five.
Minnesota lost its three longest-tenured corners heading into 2020 via free agency – Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander. As a direct response, Spielman and Zimmer drafted Cameron Dantzler and Jeff Gladney as wet-behind-the-ears replacements. The strategy was understandable. In some ways, it was an astute plan for the future. The long-game verdict will materialize in the next few years.
Rhodes went to a team that reached the postseason, the Indianapolis Colts. The Vikings finished 24th in the business for passing yards allowed. The Colts revamped Rhodes’ career. The Vikings – amid a backhanded sense of jealousy – watched him from afar while Dantzler and Gladney matured on the fly.
The outlook in the summer of 2020 for Minnesota corners was shaky. The anxiety was confirmed in autumn.
After this offseason – and it’s still not over – the apprehension about the cornerback room has been vanquished.
Entering 2021: Yum.
Why? Well, his name is Patrick Peterson.
The Vikings didn’t believe they were real contenders for the former Cardinal’s services, so they never made a phone call to him when free agency commenced. Instead, Peterson [his agent] called the Vikings. Indeed, the “nobody wants to play under stubborn Mike Zimmer” fodder might be exaggerated. Whooda thunk it?
Peterson instantly forces accountability into the secondary. Being within throwing distance of Dantzler and Gladney should theoretically enhance their performances. The 2020 rookies now have a blueprint to emulate – something unabashedly nonexistent during the pandemic season.
And Dantzler was terrific in 2020, let’s not forget. He encountered a brutally scary injury at Green Bay in November, but after that, he was a maniac on the field [in the best way possible]. He carved a junior reputation of a shutdown corner on the backdrop of being designated the best rookie cornerback in football per Pro Football Focus.
What’s more, former 1st-Round pick, Mike Hughes, will experience a make-or-break year in 2021. The UCF alumnus has been marred by injury since entry into the NFL three years ago. If he can finally remain healthy, even he will relish some of the Peterson voodoo.
Last season’s projection for cornerback production was grim. One year later, hope is totally revitalized.
By the Way, There Will Be Pass Rush
Per PFF, the Vikings had the league’s worst pass rush in 2020. Dead last.
That does not bode well for young cornerbacks tasting trial by fire. The subsequent statistics, wins and losses – the whole tamale – confirmed the forecast. Zimmer’s young corners, on the whole, were not very good with an embarrassing pass rush.
When September hits in 2021, however, the pass rush should be restored. A defensive front-four that showcased Ifeadi Odenigbo, Shamar Stephen, Jaleel Johnson, and Jalyn Holmes is already erased. Completely stripped of starting gigs for 2021.
The defensive line will now brandish Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Stephen Weatherly (or an EDGE rusher to be named later).
It will make a difference.