Vikings Insider: Interceptions? Not this year

The Vikings defense prides itself on being aggressive and opportunistic, causing havoc and creating turnovers.

But when it comes to interceptions, that hasn't been the case.

Through 10 games, the Vikings have six interceptions. That's 24th in the NFL, and consider this: The Packers have six interception returns for touchdowns.

One of those came two weeks ago when safety Nick Collins stepped in front a Gus Frerotte pass and went 59 yards at the Metrodome. That was one of seven games in which the Vikings haven't had an interception. They have only two on the road, and they will be there again today when they face Jacksonville and quarterback David Garrard, who has thrown only six picks.

Veteran safety Darren Sharper, whose 53 interceptions lead all active players, has been shut out in 2008. Sharper, in fact, hasn't stepped in front of a ball thrown by an opposing quarterback in the past 12 games. That is nothing compared to cornerback Cedric Griffin, who has two interceptions in 33 career starts, and none since his rookie season in 2006.

"Usually the turnovers, the interceptions, come in bunches," Sharper said. "You'll see that trend pick up at a point in the season. We haven't had too many opportunities. We've had some but haven't cashed in. But I think as far as the opportunity, numbers like they were in the previous years were a lot higher.

"I don't know why that is. Maybe teams have adjusted and are more careful with the football. That could be a reason."

The Vikings defense can't be accused of dropping many opportunities. Sharper had a chance for an interception in Week 4 at Tennessee, but he collided with Griffin and nickel back Charles Gordon. Another missed opportunity happened in the aforementioned Packers game, when Benny Sapp failed to hang on to a deflected pass. But that's about it.

"We haven't had as many balls thrown downfield as we have in the past, and our yards given up in the pass defense is down from a year ago, but we're not getting attacked as much downfield," defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. "That's probably a result of our pass rush and the number of sacks we've gotten. So it could be a combination of things. But I'm accustomed to seeing our guys get their hands on balls, and I hope that will pick up in the next six weeks."

The common assumption when the Vikings obtained defensive end Jared Allen from Kansas City was that an improved pass rush would create more chances for interceptions. The thinking was quarterbacks under pressure would make poor decisions in their haste to get rid of the ball.

"You would think if you've got a dominant pass rusher, the quarterback gets the ball out of his hands quick and the cornerback would get a break on the ball," said cornerback Antoine Winfield, whose has two interceptions, leading the Vikings. "But either the quarterbacks aren't putting it there or we're not making the plays. Something is going on."

Vikings coach Brad Childress doesn't agree with the pass-rush theory. "What were we in sacks [in previous years]?" he asked. "If you're sacking a quarterback, can he throw it and can you intercept it? He's got the ball in his hand, he's on the ground."

The statistics only support Childress to a point. Through 10 games, the Vikings have 26 sacks and six interceptions. Last season at this point, they had 23 sacks and nine picks. Two years ago, with Mike Tomlin as defensive coordinator, they had 22 sacks and 10 interceptions through 10 games.

Working under Sharper's theory about interceptions coming in bunches, the Vikings can only hope Game 11 this season is a repeat of last year's. In a 41-17 victory over the host Giants, the Vikings had four interceptions and returned three for touchdowns.

While Frazier would like to see a similar performance, he makes it clear there are areas of more importance.

"Even if those numbers don't increase, the goal is for us to play good defense and to win," he said. "If we finish with six interceptions for the year and we get to the playoffs and have a good run, I'll be a happy dude. Stats don't matter to me as much as they matter to other people."

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com