KRT: Vikings, desperate for playoffs, expect tussle with Redskins' defense

[bubba9497]

Vikings, desperate for playoffs, expect tussle with Redskins' defense

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/10544131.htm?1c

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Vikings are 8-7 and hoping to go to the playoffs. The Washington Redskins are 5-10 and going nowhere. That doesn't mean Sunday's regular-season finale at FedEx Field is a complete mismatch.

The Redskins have struggled mightily on offense in coach Joe Gibbs' comeback season, but they boast one of the NFL's stoutest defenses, ranking No. 2 in the league behind only the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Take it from Vikings coach Mike Tice, his third-ranked offense will have its hands full, even with linebacker LaVar Arrington sidelined by a knee injury and cornerback Fred Smoot ruled out Friday because of a bruised back and kidney.

"This is a very good defense, regardless if Fred Smoot is there or not there," Tice said. "No. 36 (Sean Taylor) might be the best safety in the league. They are a blitz-happy team. ... This'll be a challenge for our offense. This is not going to be like march up and down the field and score 40. This is going to be a heck of a challenge."

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan called it probably the toughest test of the season for his group, and one that has caused him some sleepless nights this week.

"No question, this is as good a defense as we've seen," he said. "I compare them a little bit off what we've seen on film to a 2002 Tampa Bay defense and their team speed and running to the ball. The difference is, obviously, Tampa Bay finished the year like they did and went on to win the Super Bowl.

"This defense here, what I notice is, when you look at tape of the finished play you see eight, nine defensive players in the frame. They are all to the football. They all expect to make the play, and that's why they're so stingy defensively. They're really pretty darn good."

That competitiveness makes the Redskins dangerous, despite their injuries and offensive limitations, in a game that could mean everything to the Vikings' playoff chances.

Cornerback Shawn Springs, asked what he and his defensive teammates have to play for Sunday, had a simple answer.

"Pride," he said. "Try to be the No. 1 defense. You can't just go out there and quit. ... Although we're not going to the playoffs, we have different things that motivate us."

The Redskins have allowed only 94 yards more than the Steelers, so their goal of finishing as the No. 1 defense is achievable.

The question is, how will they play the high-powered Vikings offense, which put three quick second-quarter touchdowns on the board against man-to-man coverage in the Christmas Eve loss to Green Bay but were held to a field goal in the second half after the Packers switched to a Cover 2 zone?

Cover 2, a zone coverage scheme that relies on the two safeties to defend deep passes while the cornerbacks and linebackers cover the middle and short zones, isn't the Redskins' style. However, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams played a lot of zone in last week's 13-10 loss to Dallas, and - except for one blown coverage late - played it effectively.

"It's going to be a cat-and-mouse game with them because they're willing to play some man," Linehan said. "They have the ability to, and they're very good at their zone. So they have the ability really to do both, and we've got to be prepared for both."

The Vikings have prepared a flexible game plan with that in mind, but if they do see a lot of Cover 2, they know the best way to beat it is with runs, short passes and long, time-consuming drives.

"There's a difference between being conservative and being patient," Tice said. "We've got to be patient."

Zone or man-to-man, the Redskins' defense is all about pressure, and ESPN analyst Sean Salisbury said how well the Vikings handle that pressure is the key to Sunday's game.

"You better know who to get and how to get them," he said. "Whether that's blocking the blitz in the run or the blitz in the pass. You'll have six or seven or eight opportunities present themselves in a game where there's a chance of a big play, and you've got to make a couple of them. You're not going to hit all eight, but you've got to hit a couple. Gregg is not going to line up and play Cover 2 and let you get a look. Especially this week, because what have they got to lose? The Vikings are going to see it all. The Redskins are going to cut it loose."

The way Linehan sees it, that could make them a perfect opponent for the Vikings heading into for the postseason.

"If we can execute and play well and beat this defense, this will be a great momentum-builder going into the playoffs," he said. "Because they're going to be the toughest challenge we've had."

[[[ghost]]]

:wavetowel:

yyyayyyy

No. 36 (Sean Taylor) might be the best safety in the league...

bout time somebody caught on!

[SkinsNatsFan]

Originally posted by bubba9497

what have they got to lose? The Vikings are going to see it all. The Redskins are going to cut it loose."

Hopefully, we'll see that with the Redskins offense also!