Why the Minnesota Vikings Struggle to Generate Interceptions on Defense

November 20, 2013   ·   Tim Arcand   ·   Jump to comments


The Minnesota Vikings have eight interceptions on the season, ranking them 20th in the NFL. Seven of those interceptions came in the first four games. Following their bye in Week 5, the defense has only picked off one pass over the last six games. 
So, what has changed? 
Perhaps it was the loss of starting safety Harrison Smith, who suffered a severe turf-toe injury in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers. The injury landed him on the injured reserve list. Smith seems to have taken the desire to pick off opposing quarterbacks with him. 
Only A.J. Jefferson, a backup pressed into duty because of even more injuries to the Vikings' defensive backfield, has found the courage to step in front of a pass and actually catch it.
What keeps going through my mind is the Tom Cruise-Craig T. Nelson movie All the Right Moves.
Cruise plays a high school football player, and Nelson is his coach. They have a difference in philosophy on the best way to ...

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