Last season the Vikings’ defense ranked fourth in yards allowed and ninth in points allowed.
Since Mike Zimmer took over the Vikings, the defense has been the backbone of this team.
That’s why it’s no surprise that the Vikings are expected to do that again.
Adam Schein, a columnist for NFL.com, put together his top-nine defenses heading into the 2019 season.
The Vikings ranked seventh.
Here’s what Schein wrote about the Vikings:
Mike Zimmer has a stout defensive line with Griffen, Linval Joseph and Danielle Hunter disrupting the backfield. Getting Anthony Barr to change his mind and spurn the Jets in free agency was big. The Vikings’ secondary, led by Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith, is great. Smith is one of two defensive backs to make the Pro Bowl in four straight seasons (the other is the Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson).
If there is any concern with the Vikings defense, it’s probably the cornerback position. Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander are solid, but with Holton Hill’s eight-game suspension, the Vikings are looking for depth. We understand how important that can be to a unit.
I think there’s a pretty good chance the Vikings finish better than a top-seven defensive unit in the league in 2019.
