Vikings rookie cornerback Mackensie Alexander hasn't played much, but he's embodied a problem his fellow defenders see during a four-game losing streak.
"You start to press and do too much," cornerback Terence Newman said. "You start to do things that create gaps and create seams."
Alexander, a promising second-round draft pick, has stumbled as an injury replacement during consecutive games filling in for Xavier Rhodes and Captain Munnerlyn.
"Mackensie has got to do better," coach Mike Zimmer said. The 23-year-old cornerback is "thinking too much" as he's clawing to get settled in the professional game in which he's played only 47 snaps of defense.
But they've been critical snaps. Alexander allowed a touchdown catch in the overtime loss to the Lions and was targeted by Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins for two big gains on consecutive field goal drives in the Vikings' 26-20 loss on Sunday.
"Just got to be more aware, tighter in coverage, stuff like that," Alexander said. "Didn't play bad, but could've played a whole lot better. I'm just putting a lot on myself, especially moving around a whole bunch. I just want to make every play."
The Vikings have big hopes for Alexander, who played both slot and outside cornerback at Clemson and could take over that role because Munnerlyn is set to be a free agent this spring. He's learning the slightest hesitation in the NFL causes a breakdown.
Alexander's eyes drifted to the backfield and he didn't follow his assignment, Pierre Garcon, when Cousins faked a handoff, rolled out and completed a 16-yard pass to a wide-open Garcon at the Vikings 12-yard line. Four plays later, Washington kicked a field goal for its 26-20 lead that stood as final.
