The Vikings entered their bye week ranked No. 5 in the NFL total defense and tied for second in scoring defense at 12.7 points per game.
While the team's passing game has struggled to get on track, the defense has played very well despite not having two of its top three cornerbacks the first two games.
But Cedric Griffin and rookie Chris Cook returned from knee injuries Sunday against Detroit, giving the secondary some much-needed size on the outside.
"I just think probably their presence," coach Brad Childress said when asked if the team did anything differently with those two on the field. "It's not like we dialed up a ton more blitzes or anything like that. But just their body presence and the type of physical stature they have allowed both those positions to play more aggressively versus some size at times, although Calvin Johnson you saw in the slot as well." Griffin (6-0, 203 pounds) and Cook (6-2, 212 pounds) are physical at the line and can handle bigger receivers, which should allow defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to play more man coverage and not as much zone. "We feel like we're full strength finally," defensive tackle Kevin Williams said. "Just to get back to last season's form and have the full unit together, it was a pretty good feeling and I think it showed up. Those guys were playing their butt off."
