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Leslie Frazier: A calming influence for the Vikings
Kyndell Harkness, Star Tribune
Leslie Frazier’s defense is ranked ninth in the NFL, second against the run.
Leslie Frazier has dealt with many distractions, from losing his middle linebacker to possible suspensions of the Williamses, yet he keeps his players focused.
By CHIP SCOGGINS , ascoggins@startribune.com
Last update: November 30, 2008 - 10:13 AM
Leslie Frazier
Jerry Holt, Star Tribune
* Gameday: Vikings vs. Chicago
* Council gives veteran players a voice
More from Vikings
* Sean Taylor inducted into Commanders Ring of Fame
* Reggie Bush returns for Saints
* Five things: Vikings-Bears edition
* Burress among inactives for Giants vs Commanders
* Giants: Pierce spoke to NFL security about Burress
The cloud of suspicion has hovered for weeks, a potential doomsday scenario in waiting.
The Vikings could learn this week whether Pro Bowl defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams will have four-game suspensions for testing positive for a banned diuretic upheld. The defense already has endured more distractions than Vegas, but this would be a whopper.
Leslie Frazier knows it, but he doesn't show it. That's not his nature. The Vikings defensive coordinator provides a calming effect and focus-on-the-present mindset in the face of injuries, questionable hits and big-money fines, trips to the principal's office and the threat of suspensions to two of the team's best players.
Despite of the sideshows, the Vikings own a top-10 defense that remains as good as any at stopping the run entering tonight's game against Chicago Bears, a team that Frazier helped win a Super Bowl title in 1985 as a starting cornerback.
Employing Frazier's Tampa-2 scheme, the Vikings rank second in the NFL in rushing defense, ninth in total defense, seventh in sacks and fourth in touchdown passes allowed. They're doing it without middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 4.
"You have to adjust in the National Football League," Frazier said. "Everybody has to do it. You hate to lose your MVP, but you have to adjust and persevere."
The players credit Frazier, a soft-spoken man who earned a second Super Bowl ring as a special assistant to Colts coach Tony Dungy and has become a trusted confidante to Vikings coach Brad Childress.
Frazier carries the title of assistant head coach, and many believe he will get the opportunity to coach his own team soon. He interviewed for the Dolphins and Falcons jobs last offseason and likely will be a candidate for vacancies this winter.
Frazier admits his goal is to become a head coach, and this season alone has provided him a case study on how to manage crisis and handle adversity. But with a division title still on the line, Frazier said his career aspirations are not the focus right now.
"When the time comes, I'll be ready," he said. "But I really want to see this team get to the playoffs. We're so close. This is our chance to get over that hump. I just want to see us take advantage of it. I've had a chance to get two Super Bowl rings. I would like to get a third in Minnesota."
The Vikings were expected to field a top-shelf defense considering they began the season with three Pro Bowl defensive linemen, a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker in Henderson and vastly underrated cornerback in Antoine Winfield.
It has been anything but smooth sailing. Henderson's injury was a major setback because he was captain and backbone of the defense. The Vikings played the first seven games without high-priced free-agent safety Madieu Williams, who injured his neck.
Frazier compensated for those losses while also managing off-the-field distractions. Defensive end Jared Allen has been fined $80,000 for several hits and was summoned to the NFL offices in New York last week to meet with league officials. Frazier accompanied him on a day usually reserved for preparing game plans and spoke on Allen's behalf.
The possible suspensions of the Williamses has followed the team since late October and required the duo to miss a practice day last week while they made their appeals in New York.
That's a lot of big-ticket issues to manage beyond normal day-to-day business.
"It's important that the guys who are in leadership -- Brad, myself, [offensive coordinator] Darrell Bevell -- that we really have to lead from an emotional standpoint as well and not just X's and O's," Frazier said. "Brad talks to us all the time about that. Players are going to follow our lead. I've just tried to deal with every situation as it comes but to make no excuses."
Frazier's coaching philosophy was shaped by two men in particular: Dungy and former Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan. Both coaches left lasting impressions on him in terms of strategy and managing players.
Though his low-key personality stands in stark contrast to the fiery Ryan, Frazier said he's tried to emulate Ryan's willingness to listen to his players.
"As great as he was as a coordinator, I think one of his greatest strengths was he would listen to us as players," Frazier said. "We would be in the middle of the game and I would say, 'Hey Buddy, I feel more comfortable if I could do this versus that.' He would go, 'Just make it work.' As a player, when a guy says something like that to you as opposed to being rigid and saying, 'This is the way I want it. You have to do it that way,' you respond and you want to make it work because he's empowered you.
"So when Jared Allen or Ben Leber comes to me and asks, 'Can we look at this. Is that all right?' -- for me to be so rigid and not listen, that would be a contradiction to what I saw from a guy who I think is one of the greatest defensive coordinators in National Football League history."
Being himself
In Dungy, Frazier found a kindred spirit, a coach who commands respect without bluster. Frazier coached under Dungy for two seasons before joining the Vikings in 2007, and the two remain close friends who talk weekly.
"When I got to Indy and saw Tony handle his football team, his personality is so similar to mine and the way he approaches things," Frazier said. "I was like, 'Wow, this is me.' He and I laugh about it all the time. It just confirmed to me: Just be yourself and players will respect that. You don't have to all of a sudden become a yeller and screamer and cursing them out. Guys will respect you for being who you are as long as they know that you are truthful and consistent."
His scheme and even-keeled approach have struck the right chord with a veteran Vikings defense. Players say Frazier is firm when needed but has earned respect by showing respect.
"I think that's the one thing you can really appreciate out of any coach whether he's a yeller and screamer or a quiet guy," Leber said. "You just want consistency, and that's what he brings."
Said Allen: "Coach Frazier is a great man. He's a great example of a man to live like off the field. And he loves football. He's passionate, and you can talk to him."
Childress said he also uses Frazier as a sounding board on issues, saying he appreciates Frazier's perspective and calming influence.
"It's a good two-way flow of information where he may say, 'I had no idea that these five things are issues,'" Childress said. "Well, you better think about that because that's going to happen sometime and you're going to be the guy who is sitting there [as head coach] taking all the information in saying, 'What are you going to do?' But his perspective is good. And where I can jump sometimes and he'll come in and say, 'How are you doing?' [I'll say] 'Not very good, Les, I'll tell you what.' [And he'll say], 'Did you ever think about ...' He's just a good voice of reason."
Above, Leslie Frazier's defense is ranked ninth in the NFL, second against the run.
Kyndell Harkness, Star Tribune
Leslie Frazier’s defense is ranked ninth in the NFL, second against the run.
Leslie Frazier has dealt with many distractions, from losing his middle linebacker to possible suspensions of the Williamses, yet he keeps his players focused.
By CHIP SCOGGINS , ascoggins@startribune.com
Last update: November 30, 2008 - 10:13 AM
Leslie Frazier
Jerry Holt, Star Tribune
* Gameday: Vikings vs. Chicago
* Council gives veteran players a voice
More from Vikings
* Sean Taylor inducted into Commanders Ring of Fame
* Reggie Bush returns for Saints
* Five things: Vikings-Bears edition
* Burress among inactives for Giants vs Commanders
* Giants: Pierce spoke to NFL security about Burress
The cloud of suspicion has hovered for weeks, a potential doomsday scenario in waiting.
The Vikings could learn this week whether Pro Bowl defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams will have four-game suspensions for testing positive for a banned diuretic upheld. The defense already has endured more distractions than Vegas, but this would be a whopper.
Leslie Frazier knows it, but he doesn't show it. That's not his nature. The Vikings defensive coordinator provides a calming effect and focus-on-the-present mindset in the face of injuries, questionable hits and big-money fines, trips to the principal's office and the threat of suspensions to two of the team's best players.
Despite of the sideshows, the Vikings own a top-10 defense that remains as good as any at stopping the run entering tonight's game against Chicago Bears, a team that Frazier helped win a Super Bowl title in 1985 as a starting cornerback.
Employing Frazier's Tampa-2 scheme, the Vikings rank second in the NFL in rushing defense, ninth in total defense, seventh in sacks and fourth in touchdown passes allowed. They're doing it without middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 4.
"You have to adjust in the National Football League," Frazier said. "Everybody has to do it. You hate to lose your MVP, but you have to adjust and persevere."
The players credit Frazier, a soft-spoken man who earned a second Super Bowl ring as a special assistant to Colts coach Tony Dungy and has become a trusted confidante to Vikings coach Brad Childress.
Frazier carries the title of assistant head coach, and many believe he will get the opportunity to coach his own team soon. He interviewed for the Dolphins and Falcons jobs last offseason and likely will be a candidate for vacancies this winter.
Frazier admits his goal is to become a head coach, and this season alone has provided him a case study on how to manage crisis and handle adversity. But with a division title still on the line, Frazier said his career aspirations are not the focus right now.
"When the time comes, I'll be ready," he said. "But I really want to see this team get to the playoffs. We're so close. This is our chance to get over that hump. I just want to see us take advantage of it. I've had a chance to get two Super Bowl rings. I would like to get a third in Minnesota."
The Vikings were expected to field a top-shelf defense considering they began the season with three Pro Bowl defensive linemen, a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker in Henderson and vastly underrated cornerback in Antoine Winfield.
It has been anything but smooth sailing. Henderson's injury was a major setback because he was captain and backbone of the defense. The Vikings played the first seven games without high-priced free-agent safety Madieu Williams, who injured his neck.
Frazier compensated for those losses while also managing off-the-field distractions. Defensive end Jared Allen has been fined $80,000 for several hits and was summoned to the NFL offices in New York last week to meet with league officials. Frazier accompanied him on a day usually reserved for preparing game plans and spoke on Allen's behalf.
The possible suspensions of the Williamses has followed the team since late October and required the duo to miss a practice day last week while they made their appeals in New York.
That's a lot of big-ticket issues to manage beyond normal day-to-day business.
"It's important that the guys who are in leadership -- Brad, myself, [offensive coordinator] Darrell Bevell -- that we really have to lead from an emotional standpoint as well and not just X's and O's," Frazier said. "Brad talks to us all the time about that. Players are going to follow our lead. I've just tried to deal with every situation as it comes but to make no excuses."
Frazier's coaching philosophy was shaped by two men in particular: Dungy and former Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan. Both coaches left lasting impressions on him in terms of strategy and managing players.
Though his low-key personality stands in stark contrast to the fiery Ryan, Frazier said he's tried to emulate Ryan's willingness to listen to his players.
"As great as he was as a coordinator, I think one of his greatest strengths was he would listen to us as players," Frazier said. "We would be in the middle of the game and I would say, 'Hey Buddy, I feel more comfortable if I could do this versus that.' He would go, 'Just make it work.' As a player, when a guy says something like that to you as opposed to being rigid and saying, 'This is the way I want it. You have to do it that way,' you respond and you want to make it work because he's empowered you.
"So when Jared Allen or Ben Leber comes to me and asks, 'Can we look at this. Is that all right?' -- for me to be so rigid and not listen, that would be a contradiction to what I saw from a guy who I think is one of the greatest defensive coordinators in National Football League history."
Being himself
In Dungy, Frazier found a kindred spirit, a coach who commands respect without bluster. Frazier coached under Dungy for two seasons before joining the Vikings in 2007, and the two remain close friends who talk weekly.
"When I got to Indy and saw Tony handle his football team, his personality is so similar to mine and the way he approaches things," Frazier said. "I was like, 'Wow, this is me.' He and I laugh about it all the time. It just confirmed to me: Just be yourself and players will respect that. You don't have to all of a sudden become a yeller and screamer and cursing them out. Guys will respect you for being who you are as long as they know that you are truthful and consistent."
His scheme and even-keeled approach have struck the right chord with a veteran Vikings defense. Players say Frazier is firm when needed but has earned respect by showing respect.
"I think that's the one thing you can really appreciate out of any coach whether he's a yeller and screamer or a quiet guy," Leber said. "You just want consistency, and that's what he brings."
Said Allen: "Coach Frazier is a great man. He's a great example of a man to live like off the field. And he loves football. He's passionate, and you can talk to him."
Childress said he also uses Frazier as a sounding board on issues, saying he appreciates Frazier's perspective and calming influence.
"It's a good two-way flow of information where he may say, 'I had no idea that these five things are issues,'" Childress said. "Well, you better think about that because that's going to happen sometime and you're going to be the guy who is sitting there [as head coach] taking all the information in saying, 'What are you going to do?' But his perspective is good. And where I can jump sometimes and he'll come in and say, 'How are you doing?' [I'll say] 'Not very good, Les, I'll tell you what.' [And he'll say], 'Did you ever think about ...' He's just a good voice of reason."
Above, Leslie Frazier's defense is ranked ninth in the NFL, second against the run.