CB Antoine Winfield (All B1G, All-American, Thorpe Award, Pro Bowl, All Pro)

[Meyer]

Gruden even was apologetic claiming that Winfield has a bum ankle. Maybe he does. All I know is that he looked horrible on that last play.

He's been out for some games this year so I doubt he's 100 percent. But he's played awful since coming back.

 

[CentralMOBuck]

He's been out for some games this year so I doubt he's 100 percent. But he's played awful since coming back.

What are the chances Cutler saw that all out blitz coming and made a hot route audible for that play? Leaving a DB who has been injured most of the year with ankle/leg/feet problems out there on an island by himself is guaranteed to get burnt. Even though that's not really an excuse for one of the best CB's in the NFL.

 

[billmac91]

What are the chances Cutler saw that all out blitz coming and made a hot route audible for that play? Leaving a DB who has been injured most of the year with ankle/leg/feet problems out there on an island by himself is guaranteed to get burnt.

Well, 100% since Cutler said in his interview after the game with Naimith's chick, that he saw the coverage and audibled. I still put that one on Antoine...he knew he didn't have saftey help and got beat deep.

I don't put the first throw he was beat on, on him though. He did his job not giving up the deep ball. Minnesota sent an all-out blitz and didn't get there. You can't expect your corner on an island to cover that route when his main job is not get beat over the top. He did his job....the blitzing safeties and linebackers didn't.

And his girst game back from the ankle injury was a thing of beauty. He hasn't had 3 straight bad games. He's had 2. His first game back was pro-bowl material. If anything, the lack of Minnesota's pass rush has hurt Antoine. I think he looks fine out there. QB's are just picking the secondary apart.

 

[Buckskin86]

No Winfield in the Pro Bowl...

Winfield will keep playing despite setback
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 29, 2009

The Pro Bowl rosters are announced Tuesday night, and there's a chance Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will make the squad because of some overzealous fan voting.

But Winfield has played like anything but a Pro Bowler the last two weeks, burned repeatedly by the Panthers and Bears.

Never a speedster to begin with, Winfield appears to be struggling with the foot injury that kept him out six straight games.

"I don't think it will be 100 percent until the offseason when I can rest it, but I'm going to keep fighting," Winfield said on KFAN today, according to Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Winfield admitted that he suffered a setback in Minnesota's win against the Bengals.

With that in mind, expect a lot more offenses to try to expose Winfield in man-to-man coverage like the Bears did Monday.

Winfield will keep playing despite setback | ProFootballTalk.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield's problem foot is only one issue plaguing unit
The cornerback said his foot is not fully healed, but the entire defense said it needs to shake its slump.
By JUDD ZULGAD and CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: December 29, 2009

Antoine Winfield said he isn't going to make excuses for his poor play the past two weeks, but the Vikings Pro Bowl cornerback is suffering from a serious foot injury.

Winfield is dealing with the pesky Lisfranc injury in his right foot, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. This injury involves a sprain or dislocation- fracture to one of the small joints of the mid-foot.

The injury sidelined Winfield for six games and clearly has affected his play since he's returned.

Winfield's problem foot is only one issue plaguing unit | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Ailing Winfield might get moved around
By CHIP SCOGGINS and JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: December 31, 2009 -

The Vikings are contemplating a different or reduced role for Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield this week after watching him struggle the past two games while dealing with a serious foot injury.

Winfield, who missed six games after suffering a Lisfranc injury to his right foot, admitted that he's not 100 percent and probably won't be until this offseason. He clearly hasn't looked like the same player the past two weeks. He has given up two long touchdown catches, including the game-winner in overtime against the Bears on Monday night, and has missed a number of tackles.

Winfield's play has been uncharacteristically shaky, which has forced the coaching staff to explore ways to help him. For instance, they moved Winfield inside to the slot in the nickel package and put Benny Sapp at the left cornerback spot against the Bears.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier gave an interesting answer Thursday when asked if Winfield is still a better option than a healthy backup.

"We're exploring that and talking that through and trying to come to some conclusions in that area," Frazier said.

One possible scenario could be to use Winfield strictly as the nickel back against the New York Giants on Sunday. Winfield was asked if it would make sense for him to sit out the game completely.

"Depends on who you're asking that question," he said. "Of course I want be out there. This is a really big game for us. We need to win this game, but I'm going to do whatever I'm asked to do. If they want me to go out there and start, I'm going to start. Play nickel, [I'll] play nickel. Or sit out, I'll do that too. I'm a competitor. I definitely want to be on the field Sunday."

Frazier said he expects that to happen.

"For where we are in our season and the importance of this ballgame, if he can help our football team then we have got to have him out there," Frazier said. "It's just a matter of putting him in the best position to be successful, and that's what we've got to do."

Ailing Winfield might get moved around | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Still-struggling Winfield sets his sights on Sunday
By JUDD ZULGAD, Star Tribune
Last update: January 1, 2010

Antoine Winfield doesn't know the exact role he will play Sunday against the Giants, but the Vikings cornerback said Friday that discussions have included everything from having him start to playing only in the nickel or perhaps just on third downs.

What Winfield doesn't want to do is continue to feel like he is hurting his team by trying to play on a broken right foot that clearly is not yet healed. The normally reliable Winfield struggled in the Vikings' back-to-back losses at Carolina and Chicago and was in coverage when wide receiver Devin Aromashodu caught Jay Cutler's 39-yard touchdown pass in overtime Monday against the Bears.

"The last couple of weeks I felt I hurt the team," he said. "Like giving up close plays, which early in the season I would have easily made. I felt like I was letting my teammates down; I was really frustrated. I want to go out there, I want to do well and I want to win. We haven't been doing that the last couple of weeks. ... Eventually my foot is going to get better. Hopefully, it will be good by Sunday."

Winfield, who admits it will take the offseason for the foot to fully recover, also has had trouble making tackles. Winfield is considered one of the top tackling cornerbacks in the league, but he hasn't looked like one the past two weeks.

"It's still hard for me to push off. To burst, to turn and run. I still feel it," said Winfield, who missed six games after suffering the injury Oct. 18. "It's hard to plant off my right leg and especially tackle. The way I tackle I'm usually pushing off. That's lacking. You can tell. It's my leverage. The way I tackle, I strike and hit and it's kind of hard to push off this foot. You'll see me sliding off or missing. That's probably why."

Still-struggling Winfield sets his sights on Sunday | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Winfield used in limited role
1/4/2010
By Guy N. Limbeck
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

MINNEAPOLIS -- After having two straight rough games, Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield had a more limited role on Sunday.

Winfield missed six games with a foot injury and has now played the last four games.

Benny Sapp played the majority of the game at cornerback and Winfield came in on passing situations when an extra defensive back was used. Winfield said the plan was to limit him to 20-25 plays.

"I want to come back and play like I did (before the injury)," Winfield said.

Winfield expects to play full-time once the playoffs begin.

"I think I'd be out there all the time," he said. "I want to play."

Sapp said he would relish a bigger role, if needed, in the playoffs.

"Absolutely, I'm ready," he said. "I've been ready."

Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN

 

[Buckskin86]

Vikings' Winfield expected to move back to cornerback
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
By PHIL MILLER / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. ? Antoine Winfield is still limited in practice by his broken right foot, according to the Vikings' injury report. But a better indication of his condition was revealed in coach Brad Childress' plans for his one-time Pro Bowl cornerback.

"We'll put him back outside some," Childress said. "He seems to be pretty comfortable."

Winfield looked far from comfortable in weeks 15 and 16 after missing six games, so the Vikings just played him inside and had him take the slot position in the nickel defense in the regular-season finale. But the bye week allowed his foot to improve enough to resume his cornerback duties outside.

"Wherever they need me or feel I'll be most effective, I'll be there," Winfield said after practicing Wednesday. "Playing the slot, I didn't have to run as much, didn't have to cover the deep ball. But I'm feeling pretty good now."

Vikings' Winfield expected to move back to cornerback | Dallas Cowboys News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News

 

[Buckskin86]

The Winfield plan
Posted by Judd Zulgad
Last update: January 15, 2010

Antoine Winfield and coach Brad Childress both said the plan is for the veteran to get some snaps Sunday against Dallas at his normal left corner spot and also for him to move inside to play in the nickel defense.

How much Winfield ends up playing on the outside remains to be seen and honestly this could be a smoke screen to throw off the Cowboys. (In other words, I have no doubt Winfield is going to play in this game but would not be shocked if his reps were limited.)

After struggling the previous two weeks against Chicago and Carolina, Winfield played exclusively on the inside (about 20 snaps) in the regular-season finale against the Giants two weeks ago in order to give his injured right foot some rest. He then received treatment on the foot before heading to Houston last weekend to spend time with his family.

Asked what would be an ideal number of snaps on Sunday, Winfield said: "It?s really hard to tell. With how big this game is, I plan on playing every snap. I don?t want to come out."

Winfield, though, said "he?s definitely going to be smart about" not pushing himself. "If I feel anything, I will definitely come out," he said.

The Winfield plan | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Don't underestimate Winfield's importance
Posted by Judd Zulgad
Last update: January 17, 2010

We'll have plenty more on the blog shortly but as Chip and I go through and write our stories and notes I wanted to share this quote from defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier about the importance of cornerback Antoine Winfield to a unit that held Dallas to 3 points in a 34-3 playoff victory Sunday.

Frazier said that Winfield's use in some base and plenty of nickel situations inside had everything to do with putting him "in the best situation to be successful" as he continues to play with that injured right foot. Frazier said talking to Winfield during the game he doesn't think the veteran had any problems.

?He?s so, so key to us," Frazier said. "It?s just big to have him out there. When I saw him moving the way he was in practice on Thursday, I told one of our coaches, I said, ?You know what? We?re going to play lights out.? I really felt that way, just seeing how he moved on it and just knowing what he does for our defense. His presence. It?s much like if Jared [Allen] wasn?t out there or Kevin [Williams]. The way he?s moving around in practice. I went up to him and asked him, I said, ?Are you feeling better.? He said, ?Coach, I feel about as well as I?ve felt in a while.? I go, ?Wow, OK, we?re going to play pretty good on defense.'?

Don't underestimate Winfield's importance | StarTribune.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Vikings add another Pro Bowler
Posted by Mike Florio on January 19, 2010

The Minnesota Vikings already had nine Pro Bowlers.

Now they have 10.

The Vikings have announced that cornerback Antoine Winfield has been added to the NFC team. Winfield qualified despite missing six regular-season games with a foot injury, and despite being limited in several others after returning from the injury.

Though the announcement doesn't identify the player Winfield will replace, he's undoubtedly standing in for Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who suffered a knee injury in Saturday's playoff loss to the Saints.

The other NFC cornerbacks are Asante Samuel and Charles Woodson.

Of course, the Vikings are hoping that Winfield and his nine teammates will have to be replaced for the Pro Bowl, which will be played a week before the Super Bowl. Pro Bowlers who are also Super Bowlers won't be playing in the All-Star game.

Vikings add another Pro Bowler | ProFootballTalk.com

 

[Buckskin86]

CB Antoine Winfield said he will play the slot Sunday against the Saints. He expects Saints will play nickel 70% of the time. Bet it's more. about 2 hours ago
JuddZulgad

Twitter / JuddZulgad: CB Antoine Winfield said h ...

 

[jwinslow]

So they snub Winfield for years (until 08), and then reward him after a mediocre season? The pro bowl is a sham.

 

[Buckskin86]

Vikings' Winfield says he feels better but can't play whole game
Originally published January 21, 2010
By Chip Scoggins
Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Antoine Winfield texted his former teammate Darren Sharper on Sunday evening after the Vikings-Saints matchup in the NFC Championship Game was set. The two veterans became friends as leaders of the Vikings' secondary for four seasons.

"See you Sunday," Winfield wrote.

Sharper's response?

"It's on like Donkey Kong," Winfield said, laughing.

The Vikings certainly could use a monster performance from Winfield against the Saints' run-and-gun offense. Still recovering from his fractured right foot, Winfield said he'll play primarily in the slot as the nickel back once again.

That's been the case the past two games, but that hardly means a reduced role for Winfield this week. He estimated the Vikings will employ their nickel package 70 percent of the time because the Saints use three and four wide receivers so often. Winfield said the defense uses its nickel package roughly 40 to 45 percent against most teams.

"Not against them," Winfield said. "They have so many explosive players, and they want their playmakers on the field."

Winfield said his foot feels better, but he's not comfortable enough to play in his regular spot at left cornerback for an entire game

Victoria Advocate | Vikings' Winfield says he feels better but can't play whole game