The Vikings ran 233 offensive plays in the preseason. One was worthy of YouTube -- Adrian Peterson spinning and sprinting his way to a 43-yard run against the Jets.
The Vikings ran 50 offensive plays in their season opener. One was worthy of YouTube -- Peterson scoring virtually untouched on a 60-yard catch-and-carry.
That play accounted not only for the Vikings' only offensive touchdown in their 24-3 victory over Atlanta -- it accounted for their only visit inside the Falcons 20.
Without Peterson, the Vikings' offense would have been duller than hotdish in the preseason, and rewarding as credit card debt in the opener. With Peterson, the Vikings can run many of the same plays that earned them a reputation for dullness last year, and be rewarded with touchdowns.
A supremely talented skill-position player can change an offense, perceptions of an offensive coach, the Q factor of a franchise and perhaps even an entire season. It's happened before. In 1997, the Vikings ranked eighth in total offense and 14th in passing offense. In 1998, the Vikings drafted Randy Moss.
At that point, offensive coordinator Brian Billick had a low national profile. Denny Green's offense had ranked 11th, 17th, third, fourth, 12th and eighth during his tenure with the Vikings.
Then the Vikings drafted Moss, and without changing much else shot to No. 2 in total offense and No. 1 in passing offense in the NFL, and set a record for points scored in the regular season.
Vikings coach Brad Childress has to hope that Peterson is his Moss -- a player who makes him look as smart as Billick once did.
Remember, Billick was a glorified go-fer for Green at the beginning of his career. He progressed to offensive coordinator, benefitted from the offensive talents of Robert Smith, Cris Carter, Jake Reed and a stout offensive line, and then became one of the league's hottest head coaching candidates after Moss arrived.
Then he went to Baltimore and, without talented offensive players, became known for winning with defense.
Similarly, Childress was an anonymous career coach until the Eagles drafted Donovan McNabb. When he flourished, Childress became a hot head coaching candidate.
Last year, in his first opportunity to run his own offense, Childress' Vikings ranked 23rd in total offense and 18th in passing.
This week, someone started a question to Childress by saying, "Your reputation has been as an offensive guru ... "
Childress, smiling, interrupted by saying: "It used to be."
Later, he was asked whether, in reality, coaches' reputations are made by players.
"Yeah, good players make good coaches," he said. "I don't make any bones about that. Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, a good offensive line, a good defense. ... But you have to have a system that you believe in to kind of install and implement and then hopefully get the pieces."
Peterson is the most exciting "piece" the Vikings have employed since they traded Moss. Last Sunday, Peterson became the first Vikings rookie to rush for 100 yards in his first game. Had Peterson dropped that pass, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson would have been 12-for-23 with one interception for 103 yards, no touchdowns and no trips inside the 20.
This Sunday, with Chester Taylor hurting, Peterson is likely to get most of the carries. Given his injury history at Oklahoma, how many carries would be too many?
sports
resize text 
Newspaper Subscriptions
eEdition
RSS
Newsletters
