Patrick Reusse: Array of options to spell Peterson

MANKATO - There are Vikings fans willing to lament the loss of Chester Taylor as a reason for concern in the season ahead. This is a stretch even for those Purple loyalists steeped in a tradition of paranoia.

The Vikings were able to drain the best from Taylor during four seasons and had no qualms in seeing him leave as a free agent. The fact Chicago was willing to guarantee $7 million for a backup running back who will turn 31 next month was more a Bears blunder than a Vikings setback.

There are enough options to assist Adrian Peterson in this training camp that a couple of Vikings running backs could wind up being cut and landing with other teams.

The Vikings traded upward to get Stanford's Toby Gerhart. They have been grooming Iowa's Albert Young for two seasons, first on the practice squad and then as a special-teamer.

They are also taking a look at veteran Ryan Moats and Ian Johnson, a Boise State standout who spent 2009 on the practice squad.

Darius Reynaud, fourth in the NFC last season with an average of 10.9 yards on punt returns, also is listed as a running back. On Wednesday, he twisted an ankle in a special teams practice and was taken off the field on a cart.

Rick Spielman, the Vikings' vice president for player personnel, said Wednesday that running back and cornerback were the areas where the front office was aggressive in finding options. Taylor's departure and right corner Cedric Griffin's torn ACL in the NFC Championship Game were the motivations.

This strategy was obvious in the draft, where cornerback Chris Cook and Gerhart were the team's first two picks as second-rounders.

Cook has made an immediate impression, making three interceptions in drills on Sunday. Gerhart has been more noteworthy as the victim of huge hits from first Pat Williams and then linebacker Jasper Brinkley.

"He has come in there, taken a couple of hits the first day, and that's one thing we talked to him about -- being able to get his pad level down," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "He is picking up things, showing quick feet. He has the ability to catch the football and be able to run with it."

Taylor received much of his tribute for slipping from the backfield on third down and collecting passes. He had 45 receptions for an average of 8.9 yards per in 2008, with Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson as the quarterbacks. He had 44 for 8.8 yards per in 2009, with Brett Favre as the quarterback.

A big difference with Favre was using Peterson as a receiver. He had 43 receptions for 436 yards in 2009, compared to 40 catches for 493 yards in his first two seasons.

That increased production from Peterson as a receiver would seem to have made Taylor more redundant as a well-paid veteran.

"We had six guys with over 40 catches last year, and two were running backs," Bevell said. "We like to use Adrian. He has the ability to catch the ball, but his protection is something he needs to focus on.

"He will be in there at times on third down, and at times with the two-minute personnel."

Peterson missed 15 of the 17 OTA and minicamp days at Winter Park. And he's been limited in training camp since Saturday because of "tightness" in his left leg. Asked if the down time in camp sets him back for work on pass protection, Bevell said:

"It's important to get Adrian as many reps as he can. He's still a relatively young player. When he first got here, it was turn around, hand him the ball and let him run. He can still bring himself along in ... reading zone play, picking up protection. He still needs every rep he can get."

Peterson's absences could increase the opportunity for the 5-10, 209-pound Young -- in his third year in the Vikings' employ -- to replace Taylor as the primary third-down back.

"Albert comes in and takes care of his business," Bevell said. "He does his job, does it correct every time. That is what you need. We don't want guys that are out there and do it right some of the time."

Patrick Reusse can be heard noon-4 weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP. • preusse@startribune.com