MINNEAPOLIS — Antoine Winfield ran down the line of scrimmage from his cornerback position and belted Detroit running back Kevin Smith dead in his tracks Sunday for no gain.

Another textbook tackle by the Vikings’ Pro Bowl cornerback last week showed why his teammates love having him on their side.
“’Toine knocks the life out of you when he tackles you,” Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen said. “When he hit that dude in Detroit, I thought (Smith) just disappeared.”
While cornerbacks typically are recognized for their cover skills, Winfield has earned the reputation as being one of the best tackling corners in the NFL. His counterpart, Cedric Griffin, also doesn’t shy away from contact.
In his 11th season, Winfield still has the speed and quickness to cover top wide receivers, and Griffin has made considerable improvement in that part of his game too.
But . . .
“We feel like we have the two best tackling corners in the National Football League in both Antoine and Cedric Griffin, bar none,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “I’ve had coaches call me to tell me that they put on Antoine’s tape to show their corners how to be a complete corner, just to give you an idea of the respect that Antoine has throughout the league. And to me, Cedric is an outstanding tackling corner as well.”
Winfield and Griffin are two of only five cornerbacks in Vikings history to collect 100 tackles in a season. They also are tied for second in team history in forced fumbles by defensive backs with eight. The team signed both players to long-term contracts this offseason.
“They just bring a lot of aggression,” safety Tyrell Johnson said. “They hit harder than most safeties or just as hard as safeties do.”
The Vikings expect that style from their cornerbacks, who are asked to support the run defense on the perimeter.
“If we don’t get that or we don’t see that in a corner when we are evaluating corners, whether it be for the draft or free agency, that knocks him down a notch in our eyes,” Frazier said. “Although he may have great cover ability, he may have tremendous numbers from an interception standpoint, if he can’t tackle, that’s an issue.”
Few do that better than Winfield, who hits like a semi truck despite being the team’s smallest player (5-9, 180 pounds). Winfield said he’s excelled at tackling since youth football.
“It’s technique and knowing that I can tackle,” he said. “I’m not worried about going up there and hitting a 240-pound guy. I’m going to get low, wrap up and usually they come down.”
At his size, it also requires a fearless approach.
“Absolutely,” Winfield said. “You can’t go in there scared because there is no room for that in this league. You go out there and play scared (and) eventually you’ll get hurt. I’m only 180 pounds. I cannot go half-speed at all.”
Winfield said his most memorable tackle came against Green Bay’s Terry Glenn in 2002, when Winfield played for Buffalo. Brett Favre threw a deep pass down the sideline to Glenn as time expired in the first half. Winfield, playing deep safety, ran across the field and unloaded, sending Glenn’s helmet and ear pad flying.
“That was a nice hit,” Winfield said, smiling.
Winfield’s teammates marvel at how someone his size can tackle so hard on a consistent basis.
“I’ve been trying to understand it but really I just think it’s the way God made him,” Johnson said. “He’s just wired up differently than a lot of guys his size. I look at him every day and I’m like, ’How does this guy bring the punch that he does?”’
They get that physical presence on both sides with Winfield and Griffin.
“We have hard-hitting corners,” Allen said. “You try to bounce that ball outside, you’re going to get chopped down. They fly up and make tackles. That’s the way we play defense. We count on everybody to be physical.
“Just because you’re a corner, it’s probably pass first but sometimes you have to come up and make a tackle on the run.”