Chad Greenway's Take On Vikings' Defense

Chad Greenway praises Vikings’ new defensive direction, departing from Leslie Frazier’s methods. How will this change impact the team’s future?

Chad Greenway Praises Vikings’ Defensive Evolution Away from Leslie Frazier

Retired Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway has shared his candid views on the team’s defensive strategy, expressing his delight with the shift away from the methods employed by former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Greenway, a two-time Pro Bowler with ten seasons at the Vikings, recently voiced his support for the hiring of Brian Flores as the team’s defensive coordinator, highlighting a stark departure from Frazier’s approach.

Greenway’s sentiments surfaced during a recent interview on KFAN, where he enthusiastically endorsed the Vikings’ new direction. He emphasized,

“We’re not sitting back playing Leslie Frazier’s Tampa 2, just getting dinked and dunked on drives. We’re gonna go attack people.”

Frazier, who served as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator before transitioning to head coach during Greenway’s early years, later moved to the Buffalo Bills as their defensive coordinator in 2017. However, Frazier parted ways with the Bills after a heartbreaking playoff loss to Cincinnati and intends to return to coaching after a one-season hiatus.

Chad Greenway's Take on Vikings' Defense

Despite Frazier’s impressive track record in shaping formidable defenses, Greenway’s candid comments indicate a preference for a more aggressive defensive strategy under Flores.

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While Frazier’s coaching philosophy was influenced by Tony Dungy’s Cover 2 concept—a softer, two-deep zone coverage scheme with an emphasis on preventing deep passes—Greenway and many others appear to favor a more proactive defensive approach.

Frazier and Bills head coach Sean McDermott have undeniably crafted one of the NFL’s premier defenses in recent years. In the 2021 season, the Bills boasted the league’s top-ranked defense in terms of yards allowed and the second-fewest points conceded. Nevertheless, they faced criticism for their defensive lapse in the final 13 seconds of regulation against the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2021-22 divisional round playoff matchup. The Chiefs gained 44 crucial yards in two plays, leading to a game-tying field goal and an eventual overtime loss.

In the upcoming season, Coach McDermott will assume defensive play-calling responsibilities, opting not to hire a coordinator to replace Frazier. The outcome of this decision, especially in light of those critical 13 seconds, could define both coaches’ legacies, particularly McDermott’s, should the Bills fall short of a Super Bowl appearance.

Nonetheless, Leslie Frazier’s remarkable success as an NFL defensive coordinator remains undeniable, despite differing opinions on his coaching style. As the Vikings embrace a new era under Brian Flores, football fans will be eager to see how this shift impacts their defensive performance in the coming seasons.

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