We don't want to delve too deeply into X's and O's here because we might get lost right along with some of you. But we have heard quite a bit of chatter lately about the Vikings defensive scheme -- primarily referred to as the Tampa 2 -- and Leslie Frazier's acknowledgement that the system could be in line for a tweak (or maybe even an overhaul) warrants a closer look at the scheme itself and the Vikings' defensive predicament. Said Frazier on Monday: "There are definitely some things that we've got to take a look at in the offseason to make sure we're doing the right things based on the guys that are lining up and playing the Tampa 2 defense. We'll have to take a very hard look at our schemes, like we do every offseason, and just see if we're doing the right things. We can't be opposed to tweaking things if that's what you need to do. Especially after the season that we've had."
So is it the wrong players playing the right scheme? Or is it the right players playing the wrong scheme? Our best guess, based on enough reading and watching to make us just a little dangerous, is the answer is neither. It is the wrong players in the wrong scheme. And that is why you're seeing the Vikings defense look so helpless, particularly against the pass.
At its most basic philosophical level, the Tampa-2 (pictured, via Footballtimes.org) attempts to flood the field with fast defensive players. It tries to keep big gains to a minimum with deep safeties and a talented middle linebacker dropping into deep coverage on passing plays. And it needs players in the secondary to generate turnovers.
From a personnel standpoint, the Vikings are not particularly fast. They do not have a middle linebacker who can cover enough ground. And as you can see by their nine consecutive games without an interception (and six total on the season), they are not adept at creating turnovers in this scheme.
Could these same players perform better in another scheme? Well, there was a sense even a few years ago that the Tampa 2 was starting to become outdated -- that too many teams were using it, giving offenses enough looks at it to figure out how to beat it. Remember, it's not just the best QBs shredding the Vikings this year. Overall, they are allowing opponents to complete 69 percent of passes for a 110.8 rating.
But even if the scheme is outdated, you would be foolish to think it's all the scheme's fault. The holes in the Vikings D would be exposed in plenty of systems. Playmaking linebackers and d-backs, for instance, are welcome in pretty much any scheme. [You should also know the Vikings play a defense other than Tampa 2 in a lot of different down/distance situations].
As a fan, then, your simple hope should be that the Vikings don't address one or the other of the issues. They shouldn't just run the same base scheme with new players or a new scheme with the same players in 2012. If the system has holes and the players running it have cracks, then both need fixing.
