No NFL team has fewer interceptions over the last three seasons than the Minnesota Vikings. They have only managed to pick off 30 passes since 2011. For the mathematically impaired, that's an average of 10 interceptions per year. For the NFL-impaired, that's not good at all.
Frankly, anyone associated with the Vikings the past three seasons is shocked to a certain extent at the sight of an interception by someone wearing a Vikings uniform.
There were just three (!) interceptions by Vikings cornerbacks in 2013. Three. As in one more than two. That's just absurd given that record numbers of passes are thrown in the NFL every year now and cornerbacks are usually right alongside the intended targets of most of those throws. By the way, the other two Vikings corners to intercept passes last year were A.J. Jefferson, who's no longer on the team, and Shaun Prater, who's a longshot to make the team this year. Sherels himself is on the roster bubble again this August.
Xavier Rhodes is being positioned as the Vikings' No. 1 corner… only he didn't have any interceptions as a rookie last season. Captain Munnerlyn, who was signed out of free agency following five seasons with the Carolina Panthers, is slated to start opposite Rhodes. Munnerlyn has seven interceptions in his career. That's a little more than one per season, which qualifies him as a ball hawk among Vikings corners.
So what are the Vikings going to do about this interception dilemma? After all, something must be done. Takeaways lead directly to wins. Turnover ratio is one of the most telling statistics in the NFL.
The answer seems fairly simple – beyond just, you know, catching more passes thrown by the opponents. It's all about defensive scheme.
Vikings fans were ecstatic when they learned that new head coach Mike Zimmer, whose specialty seems to be coaching up (and occasionally using "colorful" language towards) defensive backs, does not employ or probably even condone the Cover-2 defense. We've seen enough of the Cover-2 in Minnesota. It was a favorite of the previous administration and led to pillow-soft coverage.
The new name of the game on the Vikings defense is aggression. Sure, it might get you burnt sometimes, especially against some of the uber-talented receivers the Vikings have to contend with in the loaded NFC North. But more aggressive man-to-man coverage should also result in fewer easy receptions, more passes defensed and, by God, more interceptions.