Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Nevertheless, the Vikings are optimistic about their up-and-coming defenders, and so is Hartman. He wrote the following in Thursday's column for the Star Tribune:
The only thing harder than being one of the best defenses in the NFL is staying there, something the Vikings learned last season.
In the previous three seasons (2016-2018) the club dominated the NFL, allowing 14,408 total yards (300.2 per game). The next-closest club to that mark was the Jaguars at 14,708 yards (306.4 per game). The next-closest NFC team was the Bears, who allowed over 1,000 more total yards than the Vikings at 15,449 (321.9 per game).
So while the club did just fine last season in giving up 303 points (18.9 points per game), which tied for the fifth fewest in the NFL, their 5,465 yards allowed ranked 14th.
Hartman said "a lot of people [are] expecting the defense to struggle" this season with so many fresh faces.
"But don't be surprised if the exact opposite is true and this defense actually improves from a year ago," Hartman noted.
He quoted Vikings Co-Defensive Coordinator Andre Patterson, who said he and Head Coach Mike Zimmer are motivated by doubters – and so are the players on Minnesota's roster.
"They look forward to the challenge," Patterson said. "Every year you have to earn how good you are. You know, it just doesn't carry over. You start from ground zero, you play 16 games and then when it's all over and done with, you look and see how well you've done."