Munnerlyn goes back to drawing board in effort to revitalize his play

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The words could have rung hollow if Captain Munnerlyn didn't follow through with action.

The veteran cornerback admitted to a poor 2014 season for the Minnesota Vikings, even acknowledging he could have listened better to Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer. Munnerlyn vowed to get back to the level he played at in Carolina, the steady play which led the Vikings to sign him to a three-year, $11.25 million contract just a year ago as a free agent.

Then Munnerlyn went to work.

"I went to the drawing board early, try and get this weight off me and try to focus on my speed," Munnerlyn said.

Instead of waiting until after the Super Bowl to begin his offseason training as he's done in the past, Munnerlyn started early. When he returned for offseason workouts with teammates in Minnesota in April, Munnerlyn said he had lost about 10 pounds. He said he changed his diet. He stopped eating red meat as part of his "LeBron James diet," as he called it.

Getting quicker was a priority.

Munnerlyn isn't one to hold back. He said he lost some speed last season.

"Coming in last year, I wasn't in the best shape," Munnerlyn said. "I didn't play my best football. I pulled hamstring early, started on the (physically unable to perform) list. I just wasn't myself. I wasn't myself. So I just had to go back to the drawing board. Gone back to the drawing board and I'm excited again, and ready to play."

Munnerlyn needs his speed. A return to the player he was before could help Minnesota's defense take another step. He was brought in last season to be the veteran leader for a young secondary. Now he's fighting to prove himself all over again.

"I've got a hard duty man, just chase those fast guys in the slot," Munnerlyn said. "I got to chase some of those guys down. For all the age, for all the time, I know my time and I know my size. I'm 27 now, been in the league going on seven years, so I got some work to do."

The slot could be where Munnerlyn does most of his work this season. Xavier Rhodes had a breakthrough season last year as a starting cornerback. Josh Robinson, who came on as the nickel back last year with Munnerlyn moving inside to cover the slot, also returns.

The Vikings then added Trae Waynes with their first-round draft pick two weeks ago and signed free agent Terence Newman, who has been a standout on Zimmer defenses in the past.

"It just makes me go harder," Munnerlyn said before the draft. "I'm a guy, I got big shoulders. I don't mind who they draft or who they go get. I just know I got to go out there and play better than I did last year. I didn't play my best football. I've been speaking it all offseason, so that's been in the back of my mind. I'm excited just to get back on the field and prove these people wrong around here."

There was a time where some wondered if Munnerlyn would even get another chance with the Vikings. He didn't play to expectations and finished with 61 tackles and two interceptions last season. His five pass deflections were the fewest of his career in a full season, and there was the admitted miscommunication between Munnerlyn and Zimmer.

Zimmer made comments at the beginning of the offseason of envisioning Munnerlyn as the team's nickel back, solely working in the slot. Munnerlyn, who is just 5-foot-9, had heard it all before.

Munnerlyn isn't ready to concede his starting job -- he started all 16 games last season -- but he's more focused on becoming a dependable player again.

"I'm a competitor, man; I just don't see myself as a nickel back," Munnerlyn said. "I see myself as an every-down corner. I want to be on the field every single down. But if the process work out and I'm just a nickel, I'm going to be the best nickel I can be. I'm going to be the best nickel in the NFL, that's how I look at it.

"I'm excited just to get the opportunity just to be back here. Like I said, I know I didn't have my best year of football, but I get the opportunity to be back here with these guys, with coach Zim and defensive coaches and go out there and show what I really can do."

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