Mike Tomlin, DC, Minnesota Vikings

January 13, 2006 @ 16:00:00

By Bryce McRae
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

New Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress wasted no time in naming Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive backs coach Mike Tomlin as his new defensive coordinator. This continued a meteoric rise that has seen Tomlin named defensive coordinator of an NFL team after only five years in the league. Before his NFL coaching career began, Tomlin coached at the University of Arkansas State, the University of Memphis and the Virginia Military Institute. His final stop before Tampa Bay was as the defensive backs coach for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats from 1999-2000, where the Bearcats ranked eighth in the nation in interceptions.

Tomlin spent the past five years in Tampa Bay learning the intricacies of the Tampa Bay defense (sometimes called the Tampa 2 defense) devised by defensive gurus Monte Kiffin and Tony Dungy. While Dungy left early in Tomlin's career with the Buccaneers, Tomlin has spent the last five years learning from Kiffin and putting up some of the best defensive numbers in the league, including a Super Bowl win in 2002. Proving that the NFL really is a copycat league (the Vikings' NFC North division rivals, the Chicago Bears, currently use a very similar system under head coach Lovie Smith), Tomlin also brings his Super Bowl ring to the Vikings, something fans there have been missing and will hope to see soon.

Days in Tampa

When former Tampa Bay defensive backs coach Herman Edwards left Tampa Bay for the vacant head coaching position with the New York Jets in 2001 many wondered who would fill the void left by the well-liked coach. Under Tomlin, the Buccaneers would go on to be the top ranked pass defense twice during his tenure, in 2002 and 2004. They would also never fall out of the top 10 in pass defense. One of the requirements of defense Tampa Bay used is having speedy linebackers who can drop downfield into pass defense. This role was primarily filled in Tampa Bay by WLB Derrick Brooks. Under Tomlin, Brooks had his best seasons including being named defensive player of the year in 2002. He has also received Pro Bowl seasons from SS John Lynch and CB Ronde Barber.

Overall, the defensive backs he coached in Tampa Bay were quick and aggressive ball-hawks, swarming to the ball and creating more than their fair share of turnovers. This defensive style is predicated on each man taking responsibility for his area of the field, and the scheme emphasizes forcing everything into the middle of the field where the linebackers can make a big play on the ball. Tomlin will hope to bring the aggressive and hard-hitting nature of his defense in Tampa Bay to the Vikings.

What to Expect in Minnesota

Expect Minnesota to play a 4-3 on most downs with a mixture of Cover 2 in the secondary. One of the key parts of the defense is getting a good pass-rush from the front four. For this, Minnesota has two defensive tackles in Kevin Williams and Pat Williams that can draw double-teams as well as collapse the pocket, giving the outside rushers a better chance for the sack. In this system, the cornerbacks are expected to get up and play their man aggressively to give the defense line the time to get to the quarterback. CB Antoine Winfield should fit this role well due to his physical nature, and he could put up good interception numbers in this system if thrown at.

Linebackers are usually given a roaming assignment and although the Vikings don't seem to have the prototypical Cover 2 linebacker on their roster right now, they should find someone to fit that position before the next season. LBs Sam Cowart and Dontarrious Thomas both are athletic enough to make the transition into that mold, but neither player has shown enough on a consistent basis to warrant stating that as gospel.

The safeties usually drop back to keep all the offensive players ahead of them, waiting for the quarterback to make a mistake. Their roles are built around being aggressive, being around the ball and generating turnovers. Look for the following players to benefit most from playing in this system. Furthermore, the position is used frequently during disguised and open blitzing situations.

1) SS Darren Sharper - Consider some other safeties who have fared well in this system, Denver Broncos All-Pro SS John Lynch, Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl SS Bob Sanders and Chicago Bears SS Mike Brown, are a few of the safeties who have had career years in this system. Sharper had a stellar year last year, picking off nine passes and returning two of those for touchdowns. He also defensed 16 passes and had one fumble recovery. He could benefit immensely in this system designed for a high takeaway count.

2) DE Erasmus James - If James cracks the starting lineup on a full-time basis this year he could fulfill potential he showed in order to be first-round draft pick a year ago. James' best attributes are his quickness, first step and this system is designed for fast defensive ends to do well (see Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE Simeon Rice or Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney). James had modest numbers last year, garnering four sacks and two passes defensed as a rookie, but these numbers could increase if given the opportunity in this system.

Summary

When Lovie Smith introduced a defense similar to this one to the St. Louis Rams in 1999 it immediately turned their defense into one that would win a Super Bowl in 2000. Defense has been the spark that has seen the Bears go from a 5-11 record last season to the No. 2 seed in the NFC this season (again from Smith). Indianapolis has only become Super Bowl favorites since their defense has stepped up, mainly due to head coach Tony Dungy's introduction and maturation of the Cover 2 in Indianapolis. Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl in 2002 with a defense like this one.

Tomlin has been touted as being one of the better up-and-coming defensive coaches in the league, and he should provide a field a defense that is built on aggressiveness as well as risk-taking, which is in sharp contrast to the one fielded last year under former defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell.

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Bryce McRae
Bryce McRae is a Managing Editor with KFFL and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1999. He joined KFFL as a volunteer writer in March 2005 before becoming a Hot off the Wire Analyst in March 2006. He began working in his current capacity in September 2008. His work has appeared on fantasy sports sites such as Yahoo! and CBS Sportsline as well as in print. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 2008 with a B.A. in History and U.S. Studies.

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