MINNEAPOLIS -- Perhaps the biggest question surrounding the Minnesota Vikings' defense heading into 2017 is whether Mackensie Alexander can shake off a disappointing rookie season and prove he's a worthy successor to Captain Munnerlyn at the nickel cornerback spot. And given how many of Alexander's struggles were in plain sight last season, it's worth spending some time on what coach Mike Zimmer had to say about the second-year corner last week.
"It looks like he’s grown up quite a bit," Zimmer said in a conference call with reporters on Friday. "He’s matured a lot.