Vikings: Defense A Huge Question Mark

: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

So as much as you see me ripping on Bill Musgrave for his play calls and personnel decisions I believe the other side of the ball was a larger factor in the week 2 loss against the bears. The unit has looked like a preseason defense for the first 2 weeks, lacking creativity in the playcalls and execution by the players. Alan Williams has kept the unit in a basic cover-two formation for most plays, which is to be expected, but very rarely does he dial up a blitz, rushing only the four down linemen play after play after play. Opposing QB’s have all day to stand in the pocket, making life difficult for the secondary. And please, don’t even get me started on the decision to play the prevent defense on the last play of the bears game instead of trying to put pressure on the often sacked Jay Cutler.

Going into the offseason the Linebacker position was a huge question mark and it looked like Spielman and Co. did a good job addressing that by picking up Desmond Bishop in free agency as well as drafting the 2 Penn State LB’s, Mauti and Hodges. The glaring hole was the MLB position, and Erin Henderson demanded he be given the opportunity to compete for that spot, he competed and he won. The coaches must have seen something from him that I have yet to see because from i can tell the young LB has looked confused and out of place the first 2 weeks of the season, which appears to be having a direct impact on the All-Pro Chad Greenway, as even he has been out of position and missing what would normally be sure tackles. Are they even playing Bishop? If so I sure can’t tell, I don’t recall hearing his name called once yet.

The D-line was putrid in week 1 with the absence of their anchor, Kevin Williams. Though they did show good improvement week 2 it still seemed as though they were having trouble putting pressure on the QB. The sack by Jared Allen that led to Brian Robison returning a fumble for a TD is the only sack from the defense as a whole .

Alan Williams needs to open up the playbook and find ways to pressure opposing QB’s, and if Henderson is not the answer at MLB they need to take a look at some other options.

-SKOL

-Jordan Nadel

@disko37