Toby Gerhart would have been happy listening to Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave address the media today.
You remember Toby, right?
Decent player with good power. Backup running back. Came with a pretty high price tag (second-round draft pick) a year ago.
Gerhart has only 17 carries in eight games. That's 150 fewer than the big gun, Adrian Peterson, and two fewer than receiver Percy Harvin.
Well, that's a discrepancy that's going to change during the second half of the season, Musgrave said. Peterson, of course, is still going to get the bulk of the carries, but Gerhart's playing time will increase.
"We have to do a better job of getting Toby on the field and spelling Adrian," Musgrave said. "We did a little bit better job of that in Charlotte [a 24-21 win over Carolina on Oct. 30]. But we look to do a much better job of that over the next eight games. Toby was essential in that drive we had in the third quarter in Charlotte. When he got in the game, the ball started to move.
"We have to do a better job of getting him on the field and devise some packages where he's a part of it and can contribute because he's definitely capable."
During that 90-yard drive against the Panthers, Gerhart had four carries for 27 yards. Peterson also had four carries for 34 yards and a touchdown.
