Preseason NFL games often provide minimal entertainment but the Percy Harvin factor offers appeal as the Vikings prepare for their 2009 opener on Friday against the Colts in Indianapolis. The No. 1 draft choice from Florida will debut his speed package, and where he will be positioned is a major part of the intrigue.
Harvin is listed on the roster as a wide receiver and his play-making ability there potentially fills a need. Bernard Berrian, the best at the position, has been labeled inconsistent, and past production by other wide receivers hasn’t always been so impressive. Harvin and Berrian give the Vikings deep threats on the field at the same time.
Harvin, though, could also contribute returning kickoffs or punts, but likely not both, as the two assignments demand different skills and increase potential for injury. Then, too, Harvin is expected to line up this season at running back, and where things could be particularly interesting is seeing him featured in the wildcat formation.
How much or little the Vikings run out of the wildcat in Indy and during their other three preseason games might be a tip-off to the extent which coach Brad Childress intends to use Harvin in that scheme. Minimal use in preseason (under-exposing the wildcat to future opponents) may signal plans for much more during the season.
The wildcat is a variation of the stone-age single wing formation where the running back takes a direct snap from the center and has the options of running, throwing or handing off the ball. At Florida Harvin ran the wildcat in an explosive college offense that also featured Heisman Trophy winner and quarterback Tim Tebow. (See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knv9wR0M5m4).
With consistency and production in doubt from the quarterback position, the Vikings potentially could benefit from a wildcat package each game. Perhaps a half dozen plays out of the scheme will throw defenses off enough that the Vikings could benefit more than usual from the passing out of the west coast offense by quarterbacks Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels. Then, too, the wildcat is a potential distraction to benefit Adrian Peterson in the run game.
But Childress and his coaches must be convinced that the Vikings, including Harvin, can run the wildcat with minimal mistakes. Team training camp priorities include orienting Harvin, partially rebuilding the offensive line (center, right tackle) and developing a starting quarterback.
No doubt Childress will keep the wildcat in mind. “You have to be able to hurt people (with the wildcat),” he said. “You cannot line up in it just to say you are in it. It is whether you can be productive in it, whether it is run or pass.”
Starting on Friday night we may be able to start grading the production and speculate on what’s coming.