On the NFL: A corner's market

The Vikings defense has found an irresistible force in sending cornerback Antoine Winfield on the blitz.

By MARK CRAIG, Star Tribune

Last update: October 10, 2008 - 1:00 AM

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Whether it's Dick LeBeau's Fire Zone blitz in Pittsburgh, Jim Johnson's all-out attack in Philadelphia or the more conservative principles in the popular Tampa 2 scheme, defensive coordinators agree that the key to stopping an NFL offense is beating the quarterback silly.

LeBeau's Fire Zone can be as effective as it is odd-looking. The confusing array of blitz angles can be so unconventional as to include a cornerback or safety rushing the passer while a nose tackle drops into coverage.

Johnson's philosophy is similar. Blitz early, blitz often and, well, blitz darn near always.

Then there's the Tampa 2 -- or Cover 2 -- which, legend has it, Tony Dungy picked up from the late Bud Carson in Pittsburgh during the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s. The Tampa 2 generally demands that the pressure comes from the front four only.

Generally, that is.

The Vikings adopted the Tampa 2 in 2006 and are adding wrinkles as they go along.

"They are blitzing a lot more, it seems," said Lions quarterback Jon Kitna, whose 0-4 team visits the Metrodome on Sunday. "But that's the league in general. The league in general is blitzing a lot more now."

The Vikings haven't become blitzing maniacs, but one of the wrinkles that defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier has added is a wicked corner blitz by Antoine Winfield. It has helped the Vikings win two games while ruffling two of the better quarterbacks in the league in the Panthers' Jake Delhomme and the Saints' Drew Brees.

Winfield is 31. He's in his 10th season. Yet someone has done a good job teaching the old dog a new trick.

"I coached a guy in Philly who was real good at it as well in Troy Vincent," Frazier said. "He was outstanding coming off the edge on some of our corner blitzes. But Antoine is excellent because he's able to get touchdowns off some of those blitzes. It's fun to watch. That's off the charts."

In his first nine years and 131 games, Winfield had two sacks. In five games this year, he has already matched that total. He's tied with the Cowboys' Anthony Henry for most sacks by a cornerback, and his two fumble recoveries off those sacks are tied for first among all NFL defensive players.

Winfield scored off the strip sack of Delhomme and set up a touchdown with the one against Brees.

"I was with [a cornerback] in Tampa in Ronde Barber who had a great knack for [the corner blitz]," said Lions coach Rod Marinelli. "Guys have a feeling and they can time them. To disguise it, time it, and knowing when the ball is snapped and hitting that thing full speed is a special thing. [The Vikings] got a guy like that, too."

Winfield likes that comparison.

"He's got [22 career] sacks," Winfield said. "So he must know what he's doing."

Winfield said the key to the corner blitz is the disguise.

"New Orleans didn't expect me to do that because we were in Cover 2," Winfield said. "You don't see corners blitz when we're in the Cover 2."

Both of Winfield's sacks came from the quarterback's well-manned front side. Carolina had a tight end on that side. The Saints had two tight ends to that side.

"But watching film of the Saints against Tampa Bay, we noticed that [tight end Billy] Miller usually looked inside at the d-end," Winfield said. "Ronde was sitting on his outside in Cover 2. Miller looked inside. Ronde could have went around him, but he didn't. That's when we decided to put it in."

There could be more big sacks to come for the 5-9, 180-pound Winfield.

"It's worked for us so far," Winfield said. "Why not keep going to it?"