Adrian Peterson, who didn’t even belong to the Vikings two weeks ago, is being called the “face of the franchise.” Tarvaris Jackson, a second round pick a year ago, can now be branded the “arm of the franchise.” Together Peterson and Jackson have two NFL starts.
A.P. and T-Jack will be fun to follow for more reasons than their nicknames as they try to use their arms and legs to generate production in a Vikings offense that frequently struggled last season including a three first down performance against the Green Bay Packers. Yes, there will be other storylines in training camp and early fall but the 22-year-old Peterson and 24–year-old Jackson will almost assuredly have more to do with the team’s offensive revival than other players.
Linemen and receivers must contribute for the offense to improve. Management is hopeful that converted center Ryan Cook will become a player at right tackle. Center Matt Birk, left guard Steve Hutchinson and left tackle Bryant McKinnie remain what they were last season, a trio with huge upside. Second round draft choice Sidney Rice, with speed and athleticism, boosts the potential at wide receiver where the Vikings are rebuilding.
The reality in regard to the line is Peterson, one of the great running backs to come out of college in the last 15 years, can make his blockers look very good. A handful of elite running backs have always had the ability to make their linemen more productive than normal.
Peterson was so good at Oklahoma he almost won a Heisman Trophy as a freshman. During his first season, the one year he was free from injury, he broke the NCAA freshman running record and the school single season rushing mark. He gained 1,925 yards. In three years with the Sooners he ran by and over tacklers with an angry demeanor and combination of power and speed seen only among the greatest college runners.
Vikings coach Brad Childress described Peterson as “electric” and is already an admirer. “We are obviously elated to have this guy,” Childress said on draft day. “He is an explosive football player that can take it to the house every time from any point on the football field. He has that type of speed and ability.”
The Vikings could have drafted Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn instead of Peterson. Quinn was highly regarded before the draft and although he slipped to No. 22, he was still the second quarterback taken. The Vikings chose not to bail out on their commitment to Jackson who compiled these stats as a rookie in four games: 81 pass attempts, 47 completions, two touchdown passes and four interceptions.
It’s almost done in a whisper but knowledgeable sources talk with near reverence about Jackson’s skills: the strong arm, quick release and fast feet. There’s probably near consensus that he has the physical skills to be a premier quarterback in the NFL. But then comes the question of whether he can process all the physical and mental aspects into a package that makes him the Vikings’ QB for a long time.
Playing quarterback at a high level in a player’s second year is asking a lot, more than NFL history teaches us to expect. Jackson didn’t play much last year and much of his career was spent at Alabama State, a second tier college football school. All of that probably doesn’t help but Jackson could play effectively enough, allowing for inconsistencies, to win and hold the starting job for the 2007 season. That will qualify for progress for Jackson and the Vikings.
Former Viking assistant coach Dean Dalton, now an NFL media expert, is a Jackson admirer. He said Jackson has an “incredible work ethic,” with a “fabulous attitude.” He praised Jackson’s “natural and innate leadership skills.” Dalton suggests the Vikings will be wise not to place too much management and execution of the offense on Jackson in 2007.
