 |
| |
|
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||
 |
|||
EVENTS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|
Decisive factor Vikings' special teams unit a quiet key to their success
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Dennis Green coaches one of the best offenses in the NFL, and his defense has been frequently bashed. Naturally, Green singled out the Minnesota Vikings' third unit. "I think special teams are going to be a factor," Green said about the Vikings' NFC championship game Sunday against the New York Giants. "They were last week. Our guys did a great job." What Green seems to be saying is that kickers, returners and punters are just as important for a Vikings victory as the receivers and quarterback. Green's not alone. Linebacker Dwayne Rudd said Minnesota's special teams are its best unit. That might be a stretch, but it's an example of the importance the Vikings place on them. It's also difficult to discount the impact special teams had in last weekend's divisional playoff games. Baltimore beat Tennessee in part by blocking two field goals and returning one for a touchdown. The Giants returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown that set the tone for their victory over Philadelphia. Superb special teams play also sparked the Vikings in their 34-16 victory against New Orleans last Saturday. Gary Anderson's kicks accounted for 10 points. Mitch Berger punted for a 45-yard average and his kickoff coverage team stuffed the Saints' return game. "There were not spectacular plays, but a lot of good, solid plays," Green said. "Our guys have done a good job getting us a field-position advantage. If you can make your opponent travel 80 yards for a touchdown, that increases our chances. If you can take the ball and only have to travel 60 yards for a touchdown, that increases our chances." Probably the best thing Minnesota got out of its special teams Saturday was a lift for its defense, which played poorly in the Vikings' last three regular-season games. New Orleans' average post-kickoff possession started on its 23. The kickoff team is not all that's been solid. Anderson, the leading scorer in NFL history, has missed only one field goal this year: a 51-yarder that was blocked. Berger was the NFC's leading punter, and Troy Walters has come close to breaking a few returns for touchdowns. Many of Minnesota's top special teamers, such as Pete Bercich, Harold Morrow, Chris Walsh and Moe Williams have played together for several seasons. All of them seem to take to heart one of Green's favorite mantras about 'every man carrying his own water.' "Coach Green and all our teammates know what we do," Lemanski Hall said. "For us, the Super Bowl rings are the same as the starters. The only thing you're gonna see on them is '2000 Vikings.'"
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
