Sid Hartman: Defensive line faces a high-flying offense

The Arizona Cardinals have injuries in their offensive line, notably left tackle Mike Gandy, and that problem could be a plus today for the Vikings defensive line that may be the best in the NFL.

Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said he believes the addition of defensive end Jared Allen has made a difference as far the team's pass rush and "loosening those guys up on game day."

Dunbar said he believes the Vikings, in addition to having standouts such as Kevin and Pat Williams and Allen, were fortunate to add strong defensive depth by landing two good players in the fourth round of drafts, Ray Edwards (2006) and Brian Robison (2007), and Letroy Guion in the fifth round (2008).

Dunbar believes that Allen is the best defensive end in the league.

"He's worth every penny [Vikings owner] Mr. Wilf gave him, and then some," Dunbar said. And without a doubt he ranks Kevin Williams, whom Dunbar coached for one year at Oklahoma State, among the top tackles in the league.

About Edwards, Dunbar said: "We always knew what kind of talent he had, and the whole thing with Ray is he just has to show up and put it on tape. He's been doing it and he does a great job of taking care of his body and studying film. It's starting to pay dividends."

In addition, Dunbar said having Allen on the right side of the line has opened up a lot of things for Edwards on the left side. And the emergence of second-year tackle Jimmy Kennedy, who has three sacks, has really helped Edwards, too.

Dunbar said that Pat Williams, 37, is playing a limited amount of plays "because people are starting to figure out that they can't run against us with two backs in the backfield, so they get in different kinds of packages, and getting the fullback off the field. So that's when we take Pat off the field."

Dunbar believes the defense will face a pretty good offense today although they it has some key people injured, possibly including quarterback Kurt Warner.

"I think the last five or six games they're averaging 130 yards on the ground," Dunbar said. "With the quarterback [Warner if he is healthy] and the wide receivers, [especially Larry Fitzgerald], the weapons they have, it's going to be a 60-minute job for us come Sunday."

Future schedule The Vikings schedule next season will include the normal NFC North Division home and road games, plus games at the Metrodome with Dallas, the New York Giants, Buffalo and Miami and one more game to be determined by the standings. They will play at Philadelphia, Washington, New England and the New York Jets, with another road game determined by the final standings.

Vikings receiver Sidney Rice said that Fitzgerald, the great Cardinals receiver and former Holy Angels star, was his favorite player throughout high school and college and now is a close personal friend. "I learned a lot of things from him," said Rice about Fitzgerald. "Just a lot about the game. He taught me that it takes hard work to be successful in this game."

Jack Larson, vice president and general manager for Xcel Energy Center, was nominated for Facility Executive of the Year by Pollstar magazine. The Xcel Energy Center was nominated for Arena of the Year for the eighth time in nine years.

Former Gophers assistant Kevin Sumlin, who is in his second season as the University of Houston football coach, is being mentioned as a candidate for the Kansas job. Sumlin, who was a Gophers assistant from 1993-97, has coached Houston to an 18-6 record, 10-3 this year. On Saturday, Sumlin's No. 18 Cougars played for the Conference USA title, losing 38-32 to East Carolina, coached by Skip Holtz, son of Lou Holtz. The defensive coordinator at East Carolina is Greg Hudson, who was defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator for the Gophers from 2001 to 2005. Skip Holtz, who will take the Pirates to their fourth consecutive bowl game, could be a candidate for the Notre Dame job once held by his father.

Marc Trestman, the ex-Gophers player and NFL assistant coach who coached Montreal to the Canadian Football League's Grey Cup title, said he is not interested in moving and will be back with the Alouettes next season.

Rob Fornasiere, assistant Gophers baseball coach, looks for two players on his team to be drafted high when they become eligible for the draft next year: outfielder/catcher Michael Kvasnicka, son of former Gopher Jay Kvasnicka, who played in the Twins farm system, and righthanded pitcher Seth Rosin. ...The NCAA, after making pro-alumni games against the rules two years ago, is allowing them now because so many schools -- including Minnesota -- used the games as fund-raisers.

Ex-Gopher Robb Quinlan, who earned $1 million with the Los Angeles Angels last year, hasn't been offered a contract. ... Another ex-Gophers pitcher, lefthander John Gaub, is on the Chicago Cubs' 40-man roster, with a chance to make the big-league club next year. ... Seattle will likely bring back another ex-Gopher, Jack Hannahan, who hit .260 last year after being acquired from the A's, where he had struggled at the plate

Junior college transfer Tramaine Brock, who left the Gophers because of academic problems, played defensive back this past season for Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss., averaging 16.2 yards as a kick returner, and he was sixth on the team in tackles with 45.