Vikings vs.Detroit: Henderson is the middle man

E.J. Henderson's wake-up call didn't come via an embarrassing on-the-field moment or a sideline dressing down from a coach intent on getting through to him. It didn't even happen during the NFL season.

The moment occurred in March 2005, when Henderson was informed the Vikings sent a seventh-round pick to the New York Jets for veteran Sam Cowart. Middle linebacker Sam Cowart.

And with that, Henderson lost his job.

Understand, middle linebacker wasn't just a position Henderson played: It was the only position he played. Since fifth grade. And he always thrived. As a four-year starter at Aberdeen (Md.) High School and as a two-time All-America at Maryland.

The expectation was that success would continue in Minnesota, and the opportunity was presented when the second-year player started 16 games in the middle in 2004. He had a team-leading 125 tackles and seven tackles for loss, but the Vikings weren't satisfied. The message was sent loud and clear.

"It's a 'show me' game," Henderson said. "I was a second-round pick, the 40th pick [in 2003], and two years later they bring in a guy to play for me. I kind of realized that if you want to make it in this league, if you want to be something in this league than you've got to put in that work."

Back in the middle

Henderson played his first game in two seasons at middle linebacker in the Vikings' 24-3 victory over Atlanta last Sunday. He had 10 tackles (sharing the team lead with weak-side linebacker Chad Greenway), a sack, two tackles for a loss and was credited with two quarterback hurries.

"He's doing everything we're asking of him and more," defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. "I don't expect that to change."

This was a far different, more dedicated Henderson than the guy who last lined up in the middle, for a playoff game at Philadelphia in January 2005. The transformation that began on the day the Vikings acquired Cowart continued into the following training camp. Henderson was listed behind Cowart on the depth chart when the team reported, but Henderson was so impressive that then-coach Mike Tice moved Henderson to the starting spot on the weak side.

He played that position the past two years, standing out in 2006 as the Vikings made the transition to the Tampa-2 defense under new-and-now-former coordinator Mike Tomlin. Playing a spot that could be considered the marquee position of this Cover-2 scheme, Henderson posted career-highs in tackles (142), sacks (three), interceptions (two), tackles for loss (eight) and quarterback hurries (19).

"I just learned that you have to take this game seriously or you will get exploited," Henderson said. "They will find your weaknesses and they will embarrass you. I definitely figured out that you've got to ply your trade. You've got to come in and put in the work and put in the time if you expect to be successful on Sundays."

Henderson's dedication didn't go unnoticed. The Vikings signed him to a five-year, $25 million contract extension last December that included $10 million in guarantees. Another reward came during the offseason, when Henderson was returned to the middle after Napoleon Harris signed as a free agent with Kansas City.

Henderson's feelings, somewhat surprisingly, were a bit mixed. He had grown to embrace the weak side and enjoyed playing with Harris and Ben Leber. "I was excited to move back, but the way we were working together with the corps that we had, me, Napo and Ben, we all had our little niche," Henderson said. "We worked well together. ... It was a good fit, so it was tough to see [Harris] go. But at the same time it did feel good to know I was going to be back in the middle."

Vocal position, quiet guy

Ask any of Henderson's teammates about his personality and inevitably the word "quiet" will be mentioned. Off the field, Henderson usually keeps to himself. His voice is rarely, if ever, heard in the locker room during media access when guys such as Pat Williams, Dwight Smith and Darren Sharper frequently trade barbs.

But Henderson is counted on to be one of the most boisterous players on the field. As the middle linebacker, he is essentially the quarterback of the defense. He not only must read both sides of the offense but also make calls and position the front seven.

"It's a different role for him," said Smith, the starting free safety. "Him not being a vocal guy and all. But he's done what the coaches have asked him to do. He's got everybody lined up. He's really had to change his personality to fit that role but it has worked."

Linebackers coach Fred Pagac might have hit on the reason why it works when he described Henderson as "not naturally vocal" but "as a natural leader."When he talks, people listen," Pagac said.

The coaching staff took Henderson's personality into consideration when they considered changing his position but decided he could handle the role. Frazier says Henderson has taken control "in his own way and done it very well."

Henderson, 27, appeared to be taking his leadership role very seriously last Sunday. At one point, he could be seen offering encouragement to the offensive players on the bench before heading out onto the field.

Former Vikings linebacker Pete Bercich, who helped coach Henderson as an assistant under Tice and is now the team's radio analyst, has seen Henderson's progress firsthand.

"There was never any question of him as a player," Bercich said. "He had the tools and abilities. I just think he's been around long enough now and the maturity factor is there. There is no doubt of that when you see him and talk to him. He wants to lead the defense and is doing so right now."

While Henderson admits he has made strides since 2004, one thing he disputes is that he struggled with the vocal responsibilities that come with the position. He calls those claims "overblown" and points to the fact that if things look disorganized on defense, the middle linebacker is almost always going to shoulder the blame.

What Henderson does say is he is far more comfortable with being placed in a position of leadership than he was three years ago. He still recalls walking into a locker room with veterans Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper and Matt Birk and being expected to have an air of authority. "I was kind of frazzled a little bit and then you have to go out there and play with them," he said.

That is no longer the case.

Henderson is entering his fifth season and ranks among the senior members of the defense. He also ranks up there in possessing the knowledge of what it takes to make it in the league.

"I definitely took my job seriously, and I definitely came out and worked and put in the time," he said, recalling his mindset of 2004. "But I don't think I put in the extra time. I don't think I took playing in the National Football League as serious as I do now. Being in my fifth year, realizing that your career is short. Ten years is a good [career for] a linebacker. So by good standards, I'm halfway through my career."

And finally back where he belongs.

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com