A little bang for great deal of bucks

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The expectations were high, and so was the price tag.

The Minnesota Vikings shelled out nearly $21 million in bonuses to bring in five defensive starters, but after four games they have little to show for it.

In fact, the defense ranks lower than it finished last season in two of the three major categories: 29th overall (28th last season), and 32nd and last in the league (down three spots) against the run.

The Vikings have improved from 29th to 13th in pass defense, but defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell’s crew clearly hasn’t played up to expectations.

Even so, cornerback Antoine Winfield insists this is a better defense than the one he played on in 2004.

“Talent-wise, yes,” he said. “But on the field we don’t show it. Not yet. That’s what we need to get to, and it needs to happen quickly.”

This has been an up-and-down season for the defense, which showed flashes of its potential in an opening 24-13 loss to Tampa Bay and appeared to hit its stride in a 33-16 Week 3 victory over New Orleans.

Playing the attacking style the players prefer, the Vikings had three sacks and two interceptions against the Saints. Then they went out Sunday and allowed 285 yards rushing in an embarrassing 30-10 loss at Atlanta.

The Vikings played that day without five defensive regulars – starting free safety Darren Sharper and defensive end Kenechi Udeze, pass-rushing defensive end Lance Johnstone, nickel back Brian Williams and third safety Willie Offord. Udeze and Offord are out for the season following knee surgery.

Injuries are only part of the story.

“We’ve had some guys in and out,” said middle linebacker Sam Cowart, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Jets. “I missed a game a couple of weeks ago. Sharper missed his second game Sunday. Corey (Chavous) went from strong safety to free and back to strong. E.J. (Henderson) missed a little time. But we’ve got quality depth. We’ve got guys who can step in and do a good job. We’ve just got to go out and execute.”

With so many new starters, the Vikings knew it might take time for all of their defensive parts to mesh. The injuries have prolonged that process.

That was one of the first things that jumped out at longtime NFL assistant coach Foge Fazio, who will join the team next week as a defensive consultant.

“I don’t care where you are, I don’t care who you bring in here, it is tough because of the team communication problems you have,” Fazio said. “Then you have one or two injuries, which is what happened here, it can multiply.”

Cottrell agreed, but he said simplifying the game plan isn’t the answer.

“Streamline? We’re not going that way anymore,” he said. “We’re not going to talk about that anymore because it’s been streamlined. If it gets any more streamlined, it’d be just one line.”

The Vikings’ biggest defensive challenges, in Cottrell’s opinion, are to do a better job in the second quarter (they have been outscored 53-7) and on third downs (opponents are converting 43.3 percent of their opportunities).

A byproduct of the second-quarter scoring discrepancy has been opposing teams running more on the Vikings, neutralizing cornerbacks Winfield and Fred Smoot and getting the defense out of the hard-and-fast style it seems to play best.

“We’ve got some pretty good corners, and we play quite a bit of man to man,” Cottrell said. “Sometimes that plays to their strength.”

Sometimes it doesn’t, which is why Cottrell is contemplating more first-half zone coverage.

The good news, in the view of one outsider, is the Vikings have the players to turn around the season. Fox Sports analyst Bill Maas saw the defense at its worst in a 37-8 Week 2 loss at Cincinnati, but he believes this team has the talent to improve.

“It will take some time, but it’s early,” he said. “Defensively, for the first time ever, I think it will be a lot easier to fix their problems than it will offensively.”

Defensive tackle Kevin Williams hasn’t played up to his all-pro credentials following off-season knee surgery, and linebacker Napoleon Harris, acquired from Oakland in the Randy Moss trade, is in danger of losing his starting job to Keith Newman.

Even so, Cottrell said nose tackle Pat Williams and all the new starters are playing well, “so that money’s been well spent.”

So, what’s the problem?

“That’s what we’re trying to solve,” Cottrell said. “Once we get that thing rectified, we can see the philosophy of what we are.”

The Vikings expect Sharper and Johnstone to return for their next game, Oct. 16 at Chicago, which won’t hurt, and the players are confident that whatever is ailing their defense isn’t terminal.

“Yes, it’s fixable and, no, I can’t explain it,” Smoot said. “That’s basically what I have to say about it. Some stuff needs to be corrected. I’m just glad we’ve got a bye week and can take a breath of fresh air and try to correct everything that’s going on.”