At a time when all NFL teams are seeking coverage players with greater physical dimension, the Minnesota Vikings are turning to the NFL's smallest cornerback in an attempt to solve their biggest problem.

	Carter

Third-year veteran Tyrone Carter, who started 14 games at safety during his first two NFL seasons, will move into the starting lineup at right cornerback for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. It will mark his first start on the outside and the former University of Minnesota star knows Buffalo coaches are drawing a bull's-eye on him in preparations because of his size.

Or, more accurately, his lack of size.

Carter, 26, is listed at 5-feet-8 and 190 pounds. The 63 other starting corners in the league average 5-feet-11 ¼ and 192.3 pounds. The Vikings' starting cornerback on the left side, Corey Chavous, is 6-1 and 206 pounds. Needless to say, Carter, a standout defensive back in college, is definitely going to stick out on Sunday afternoon.

"It's a matter of heart," said Carter, who as a college senior claimed the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. "Look, I know teams are going to come after me. They'll throw a lot of 'fades' and things like that to try to take advantage of my height. I know it's coming and I'll be ready."

In truth, defensive coordinator Willie Shaw always felt Carter was better suited to play cornerback, even with his size limitations. In camp, he tried to convince Carter to make the switch outside, but the player fought the move. Now he is embracing it, even if it means replacing close friend Eric Kelly, who was victimized by Chicago Bears receivers several times last week.

The Bears completed 20 passes for 297 yards, a gaudy average of 14.9 yards per catch, and wide receiver Marty Booker posted 198 yards. The Bills, who have big, physical wide receivers in Eric Moulds and Peerless Price, are apt to come out throwing right at Carter.

There are 10 other starting cornerbacks listed at less than 5-10, but Carter is the shortest player at a position where size has become a prized commodity. Size clearly matters more at the position than ever before, but the coaches feel Carter is an exception.

"As the receivers got bigger around the league, everyone started looking for the more physical corners," Shaw said. "But that doesn't mean a guy with Tyrone's size can't play. Does he have more to overcome? Sure, he does, but he also has more with which to overcome it."

His elevation to the starting job would be remarkable, however, even if Carter was 6 feet tall. In the middle of training camp, it appeared that he wouldn't even make the roster under first-year coach Mike Tice, dropping from the starting strong safety to No. 3 on the depth chart. He had to have a strong preseason simply to earn a regular-season paycheck.

A fourth-round choice in the 2000 draft, Carter appeared in 30 contests his first two seasons, with seven starts each in 2000 and 2001. He registered 69 tackles and a sack but is still seeking his first interception.

Tice acknowledged there was a point in camp when the staff questioned the wisdom of even keeping Carter around. But given the struggles of the team's secondary, a problem area for years in Minnesota and one shortcoming the franchise did not fix in free agency or the draft, they are glad to have him.

"He's able to focus more at cornerback because he isn't responsible for all the coverage calls and things like that," Shaw said. "The size deal aside, he drives well to the ball, and he's a good tackler. We've got a lot of confidence in him and he's a guy who's never lacked in that area, believe me."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.