[Bryan88]

Vikings' Frazier has plenty to work with - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Leslie Frazier finished up his first season as Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator knowing there was plenty of work to be done.

His group was once again good against the run, but a soft pass rush and some injuries in the secondary made them the worst team in the league against the pass.

As the offseason progressed, Frazier’s job got easier and easier by the month. The Wilf family tapped its billion-dollar bank account in March, shelling out $13 million in guaranteed money to Cincinnati safety Madieu Williams to replace Dwight Smith.

Then in April, the Vikings made a blockbuster trade for defensive end Jared Allen and made him the highest paid defensive player in the NFL with a whopping $31 million guaranteed.

Minnesota then capped the month by using its first pick in the draft to take safety Tyrell Johnson in the second round. They also added depth with safeties Benny Sapp and Michael Boulware and linebacker Derrick Pope.

The additions seem to have addressed every considerable weakness on the defense and have given Frazier plenty of new toys to play with heading into this season.

“Those guys are going to be great additions to what we’re trying to get accomplished, not only the guys who are going to start but the depth as well. … So it’s been an exciting offseason,” said Frazier, who was also promoted to associate head coach. “Now we have to carry that over to the real thing. You can have it on paper, but you’ve got to be able to produce on the football field, and I think we’ll be able to do that.”

So what do you guys & gals think, do the Vikings have a top 5 defense this year?

[Bryan88]

Also you gotta love this quote by Jared Allen.

“I look good in purple. That’s what I keep hearing,” Allen quipped. “It really highlights my eyes and my facial features.”

I am not so sure about all of that, but I am extremely pumped to have him here this year and I think he is the man that can vault this D to the leagues elite.

[Dusty]

The Vikes are definitely a team on the rise. I just hope for their sake Jackson pans out at QB. They have perhaps the most explosive runningback in the league so they just have to fill some holes and get Jackson to be a passer.

[Bette]

nah, not top five D yet. Allen can really add something to the pass rush, but he has to stay out of trouble. That's like my Cowboys and Pacman.
Still not top five. But I have no doubt they are going to be on the rise.
Still some questions about Tavaris, but I think he will improve lots more this year.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Bette

nah, not top five D yet. Allen can really add something to the pass rush, but he has to stay out of trouble. That's like my Cowboys and Pacman.
Still not top five. But I have no doubt they are going to be on the rise.
Still some questions about Tavaris, but I think he will improve lots more this year.

I don't know, they have a dominant run D and very good talent at all positions. The thing we lacked last year was a D-lineman who could consistently put pressure on the QB, I mean if you are giving an opposing QB all the time in the world back there, eventually someone will get open. Hopefully Allen is that guy who can provide the pressure. I think we will for sure be a top 10 D, but I would say they have the potential to be a top 5.