Minnesota Vikings must force turnovers to have a great defense
By Dan Zinski
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense may be on the verge of greatness, but to get all the way there they must improve in one key area.
Great defenses don’t just slow down or stop the other team. Great defenses force turnovers.
Name a truly great defense in NFL history that wasn’t a turnover-producing machine. You can’t. Because every great defense has that dimension to its game.
If the Vikings want their defense to join the ranks of the truly elite, they must get better at taking the ball away.
Last year the Vikings finished high in the rankings in both yards and points allowed, but managed just 22 takeaways, ranking them right in the middle of the league.
Mike Zimmer knows better than anyone the value of takeaways, and that’s why the coach is putting such an emphasis on getting better at the techniques of ball-hawking (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune):
"“I’m kind of preaching turnovers more this year, because I think that can help us get to somewhere else,” said Zimmer, who added this caution: “I don’t ever want it to be in expense of fundamentals.”"
The Vikings last year improved in some key areas, including third-down defense, an aspect of their game that was truly bad two years ago.
The Vikes do still have a few things to get better at. Forcing more turnovers is one. Two-minute defense is another. And they have some issues against the run that need shoring up.
The good news is that Minnesota has plenty of athletes on defense, and when you have athletes, there is potential for great improvement.
Players like Anthony Barr, Harrison Smith and maybe a little down the road Trae Waynes all have the physical tools to become big-time ball-hawks.
And the Vikes have a defensive mastermind in Mike Zimmer who knows how to teach his players all the tricks.
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Zimmer’s emphasis on taking the ball away should mean a little more gambling from the secondary and a little more ripping at the ball from all tacklers.
As Zimmer said in the quote from the Star-Trib, this must all be done with proper technique in mind.
Playing smart and aggressive is the key. If the Vikes’ defense can be more ferocious in trying to take the ball away, while still maintaining proper technique, they will have a chance to edge into that elite area.