Vikings defensive coordinator Alan Williams was asked about defensive end Jared Allen not having a sack in Sunday's 26-23 overtime win against the Jaguars. Williams smiled and added the words, "sacks that counted." He was referring to the Jaguars' second offensive play from scrimmage. Allen got the jump on left tackle Eugene Monroe and sacked quarterback Blaine Gabbert. But the play didn't count because Allen was penalized for being offsides. Asked if he didn't agree with the call, Williams smiled again and said, "That's a no comment" before adding "It was close. You look at the tape and he had a good jump on the ball and they called it as it was and that"s what it is. We have to move on and make sure we don't get those types of penalties." Allen had a sack in 12 of 16 games while getting a franchise-record 22 sacks a year ago. Sunday's game broke a streak of 25 consecutive games in which a defensive lineman had at least one sack. Although Allen was shut out in terms of sacks, Williams said the All-Pro's impact was felt. "He had pressure," Williams said. "Whenever they have to chip you, turn the protection to you, do those types of things, it leaves other guys in one-on-ones and helps the defense as a whole. It may not seem like he had a huge effect on the ballgame, but he does every time he lines up." Monroe called Allen a dirty player for taking the hit on Gabbert on the play that brought the offsides penalty. "You know what?" said Allen. "He's just an O-lineman worried about getting his quarterback hit. It's fine. They lost the game. So again, I don't have time for that. You know what? They get a free play." Other highlights from Williams' press conference today:

  • Williams spent 10 seasons with the Colts. It was "10 very good years in Indy," he said. But as far as being able to help the Vikings prepare for Sunday's game at Indianapolis, Williams said he can't offer much. "I looked at the sheet and counted the number of people and I think it was between 19 and 22 guys that are still there. It's changed dramatically in the past few months." The Colts ditched their 4-3 Tampa 2-based defense in favor of a 3-4 defense." Asked what he can offer as far as inside knowledge of the Colts, Williams said, "A little bit in terms of the personnel. But in terms of schemes, not a bit."
  • Williams talked about cornerback Chris Cook making the mistake of letting receiver Cecil Shorts get behind him for the go-ahead 39-yard touchdown with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter on Sunday. "We talk about playing situational football. In those situations, you want to be as deep as the deepest, wide as the widest and keep the ball in front of you. They had 17 to 23 seconds on the clock. You just keep the ball in front of you. Tackling those balls is a good thing because time is on your side. If we had done that, we would have been in great shape. a good learning experience. there were a lot of situations in that game that it might take three or four games to get, but we had them all in one ballgame. A good learning experience, and we'll be better the next time for sure."
  • Although Cook made the one glaring error near the end of regulation, Williams said Cook played well overall. "He tackled well," Williams said. "He covered well for the most part. I know the lay person will look at the ballgame and go, `Ooh, wow, not good.' But I don't look at it that way at all. We still have a ton of confidence in him. I think when you see the jump in him from the first ballgame to the second ballgame, You'll see what you would expect."