Vikings secondary a favorite to be the next Legion of Boom

Under head coach Mike Zimmer, the Minnesota Vikings have transformed their defensive backfield into one of the NFL’s best units.

Before Mike Zimmer was hired to be the new head coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, the team’s defense was coming off an embarrassing season. In 2013, the Vikings’ defense finished last in the NFL in points allowed for the first time since 1984.

In the last four seasons with Zimmer leading the way, Minnesota’s defense has transformed from one of the league’s bottom dwellers to the cream of the NFL’s crop. Last year, the Vikings allowed the fewest total points and total yards in the league.

Much of Minnesota’s turnaround on defense has had to do with Zimmer’s ability to develop the team’s secondary into one of the NFL’s best. The recent success of the Vikings’ defensive backfield has even caused a few people to draw comparisons between them and the recently disbanded Seattle Seahawks secondary that was once known as the Legion of Boom.

With the Legion of Boom no more, The Ringer’s Danny Kelly has predicted which team he believes will take over the reigns from the Seahawks as the NFL’s most consistently, ferocious secondary. Included among Kelly’s group of favorites for the role is the Vikings’ group of corners and safeties.

Minnesota Vikings

"“Minnesota allowed an opponent passer rating of 73.0 (third), 6.0 yards per attempt (tied for first), 5.3 adjusted yards per attempt (second), 192.4 pass yards per game (second), and just 13 passing touchdowns on the year (first). The Vikings ranked third in defensive DVOA without pressure, and got better as the year went on, finishing tops in weighted DVOA, which factors late-season play more heavily. And, critically, they return all their key contributors.”"

It’s a little odd to see Minnesota now being considered as a home to one of the league’s best secondaries considering how much the team’s pass defense has struggled this century. Prior to Zimmer’s hiring four years ago, the Vikings last had a top five pass defense in 1990.

Also included in Kelly’s favorites to take over as the NFL’s next Legion of Boom were the secondaries of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and Baltimore Ravens.

Next: 5 best Vikings cornerbacks since 2000

With the talent and experience they currently have, Minnesota certainly has a good chance to remain as one the league’s best defensive backfields over the next few seasons. Now all they really need is a cool nickname.