Hartman: Vikings pass defense has been a problem

All the headlines, radio talk shows and TV newscasts this week have focused on the Vikings quarterback situation, with the signing of Josh Freeman and questions surrounding Christian Ponder's status with the club.

But the real problem the Vikings have had in all four games this year, and the reason they don't have a better record, is that their defense hasn't had any answers in the passing game. They were burned by the pass in losses to the Lions, Bears and Browns and almost were again in the victory over the Steelers.

Linebacker Chad Greenway and defensive end Jared Allen were asked what can be done to tighten up the defense, especially late in the game, where the Vikings have been run over by opposing two-minute offenses.

"I think the biggest thing is just not putting yourself in that situation to start," Greenway said. "You get into that situation at the end of the game, it's a tough two-minute situation, and a lot of NFL games do come down to that. We just have to continue to improve in that aspect and get off the field with some wins."

Asked if the pressure changes in those two-minute situations, Greenway said: "I don't think the pressure is necessarily doing anything to you. You're in the moment of the game you're playing, and if the play comes your way you have to make the play. That's how it has to go."

Greenway said that the Vikings work often on improving the pass defense.

"It's an integral part of what we do and we know it's a critical situation, so we have to get better at it," he said.

That means the team is giving up 97.7 more passing yards per game and 104.8 more total yards per game this year.

"We've given up a lot of yards, but the yards aren't always indicative of how we're playing," Greenway said. "We just have to continue to get off the field in critical situations."

With the release of Antoine Winfield, the secondary has been without its most experienced defensive back. And the Vikings no doubt miss him.

Greenway said the young players in the secondary have to just keep working. "Experience is going to come to those guys as they play more games," he said. "We just have to continue to get better."

Allen, who has 3½ sacks through four games, said the defense has to not only improve every week but become a lot more consistent.

Given his track record as a pass-rusher, Allen always finds himself a marked man against opposing offensive lines.

"It is what it is," he said. "You have to deal with it. You're going to deal with double-teams. That's why it's a team game."

When the Lynx traded the No. 1 pick in the 2010 WNBA draft for former Gophers point guard Lindsay Whalen, the team had posted a 152-214 record through the first 11 years of the franchise's existence.

And while dealing away the No. 1 pick in the draft is difficult, team owner Glen Taylor said Friday that it wasn't a tough decision for him.

"Not for us, no," he said. "I know we gave up a really good player [Tina Charles] … but Lindsay, not only is she local, but her leadership on the floor is just as vital. … You need someone at point guard who is a great leader and knows how to make the other players better."

Taylor said the Lynx had wanted Whalen for some time. "We had contacted [Connecticut] each year about Lindsay coming here," he said. "But they would never do a trade with us. Then the No. 1 pick in the draft became available, [Charles] played [in college] at Connecticut, so that was a hometown girl for them and they wanted her."

The Lynx also gave up Renee Montgomery to the Connecticut Sun in that trade but did receive the No. 2 pick, which was used to take top reserve Monica Wright.

Taylor also pointed out that the Lynx has been very lucky in drafting Seimone Augustus and Maya Moore and adding Rebekkah Brunson in the dispersal draft from Sacramento. Adding former Gophers center Janel McCarville this season was another big boost.

Does he think the team has the making of a dynasty?

"There's some other good teams in the league, so we have to stay healthy," he said.