The Vikings' Leslie Frazier is one of the NFL's best defensive coordinators and should be given the opportunity to be a head coach somewhere. Maybe this will be the year it happens for him. He was scheduled to be interviewed Thursday for the Buffalo Bills' opening. Though he'd like to get a shot at running his own team, Frazier also has a few other things on his mind. Like helping the Vikings advance in the playoffs. I talked to Frazier about the postseason and his head coaching aspirations.

BS: Is the defense where you want it to be heading into the playoffs?

LF: We finished strong in that last game (against the Giants). It was a great effort by our guys on defense. We had a few bumps in the month of December, but I feel like we're heading in the right direction. It's a totally new season once you get in the playoffs.

BS: How much preparation can you do for your game when you don't know who you'll play?

LF: It's hard. There are three possibilities, so you can't really hone in on one of those teams. You can take a glimpse at something, but you can't begin to make plans.

BS: As you've noted, there are three teams you possibly can play in the first round. You've beaten the Packers. Lost to the Cardinals. And haven't faced the Cowboys. Do any of those offenses present more issues than the other two?

LF: They're all very good offenses and they do pretty good things and they all present some issues you have to deal with. We'll just have to hone in when we find out who we have to play.


BS: Is Green Bay better than the last time you faced them? (The Vikings beat the Packers twice in the regular season — the last time 38-26 on Nov. 1 in Green Bay.) The Packers look to be an ascending team.

LF: It looks that way. It looks like they've really made some strides on the offensive side, doing some things a little bit better. So they'll be a team to contend with.

BS: What gives you the most sense of serenity or security about your defense?

LF: The fact that we have Jared Allen and Kevin Williams gives me peace of mind, as much as anything. And just the way our guys play hard. Things aren't always perfect, but they play hard. That's all you can ask for as a coach.

BS: Anything that worries the heck out of you?

LF: You like to avoid those injuries. I don't worry about it. It's just a part of our game. You just like to keep your best guys on the field.

BS: Speaking of injuries, do you expect Antoine Winfield to be 100 percent, or close to it, by game time?

LF: This time off should help him. We'll just have to monitor and see where he is when we get back.

BS: Which of your players have been ascending?

LF: One new guy who seems to be improving every time he gets out there is (middle linebacker) Jasper Brinkley. I think he's making some improvements, which helps our defense. There's a big void when you're trying to fill E.J. Henderson's shoes. To see Jasper make some strides is a plus. (Defensive end) Ray Edwards is making some strides, as well. And I think (safety) Madieu Williams has begun to make some improvements in some areas that are important to our defense. Another young guy who is beginning to get a little more playing time, Jamarca Sanford, is a guy we're keeping on eye on who is making some improvements, as well.

BS: That young man can hit.

LF: (Smiles.) He can hit. He'll knock you out, which is what we want from a safety.

BS: Brinkley seemed to have a tough time on passing downs a few games back. On running plays, there is no hesitation and he seems to play well. Have you seen advancements in the way he plays the pass?

LF: That's where he's making the majority of his strides. He's always been pretty good against the run, which is why we drafted him.

BS: How much better does the defense play at home than on the road?

LF: I think if you look at any sport, home-field advantage is huge, whether you're the Minnesota Twins, the L.A. Lakers, the Indianapolis Colts. And if you're a dome team, it's even bigger because of the noise in the dome compared to outdoors. We should be a better team at home. And we are.

BS: Does your gut tell you this will be the year you'll become a head coach?

LF: If there are (limited) openings, it's going to be real tough. It may be one of those years.

BS: The Rooney Rule is, in theory, a good one (for mandating that NFL teams interview minority candidates for head coaching openings). But do you think some teams just go through the motions?

LF: I hope not. I hope when they bring in a minority candidate they legitimately are looking at that candidate as a potential head coach as opposed to satisfying the Rooney Rule. I'm hoping that's the case, that they are legitimately believing that this guy has a chance.

BS: I asked Brad Childress this the other day, and he brushed if off. So I'll try with you. I'm predicting a Vikings-Packers NFC championship game. How about you?

LF: Hey, I don't care. As long as the Vikings are in the championship game, I'm a happy camper. Bring 'em on, whoever it is. Bring 'em to the Metrodome.