Vikings: Former tight end finds new life at fullback

The Vikings are 1-for-1 on fourth-down conversions this preseason. It was a 1-yard blast near midfield, and, no, it wasn't executed by super rookie Adrian Peterson, 1,200-yard rusher Chester Taylor or two-time Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson.

Nope. The guy who threw himself into a wall of Jets defenders last Friday did so on only his second carry since 1992, back when he was a member of St. Mary's fifth-grade team in Pittsburgh.

"I was the fullback in fifth grade, and then they made me the quarterback in sixth grade," Jeff Dugan said. "And that was it for fullback. Until last year."

The Vikings moved the 6-4 258-pounder from tight end to fullback after Richardson broke his arm nine games into the 2006 season. Richardson is back, but Dugan hasn't budged from fullback, except, he said, for an occasional snap at tight end during offseason drills.

As Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said, "the fullback is kind of a dying position" in college and professional football. But not everywhere. And certainly not at Winter Park, where, Bevell said, "It's a position that's of importance to the West Coast offense and the things we do."

How important? Apparently enough that the Vikings seem prepared to keep both Dugan and Richardson, a respected 13-year veteran. Naufahu Tahi, a 254-pound bowling ball with some classic fullback skills, finished the 2006 season on the Vikings' active roster but appears to be the odd man out.

"Sure, there's room for two fullbacks on the roster," Richardson said. "You have a first-team guy and a second-team guy. Just like every other position."

But the Vikings backfield became much more crowded in April when Peterson was drafted seventh overall. Coach Brad Childress has visions of playing Peterson and Taylor together in a "Pony Backfield" once the regular season starts. Presumably, when Peterson and Taylor share the field, the fullbacks will be on the sideline.

"There are no plans to come out in the wishbone, if that's what you mean," Richardson said. "I know when I was in Kansas City and we had Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson on the field at the same time, I came out. But I do think that when you have two backs like that, it gives you some unique matchups that will be good for us."

The Vikings finished last season with five running backs, two fullbacks (including Dugan) and three tight ends on the roster. This year, they have five running backs, three fullbacks and five tight ends still on the roster before the cutdown days.

So it's possible that the only cuts to come at those three positions would be Tahi and young tight ends Stephen Spach and Braden Jones. However, if the Vikings prefer to keep one of those three, then third-year running back Ciatrick Fason becomes a possibility to be cut.

"The coaches mix and match everything, so I'm sure they're going to have a lot of different groups for different situations," Dugan said. "I don't know how they're going to do it. They kind of put it in as they go along. But I just do what they tell me, so whatever they come up with is fine with me."

Dugan has only 3 yards on two carries this preseason, but then again, who cares? He got two first downs. His other carry was a 2-yard run on third-and-1.

And, by the way, his carry on fourth down came after running back Mewelde Moore was stopped short on third-and-2. And his 2-yard run on third-and-1 came after Peterson was stopped short on second-and-3.

"[Dugan] is a smart guy," Bevell said. "He has the ability to get to the second level, and he's physical enough to drop his pads and drive someone out of there."

With a thin receiving corps, one has to wonder if maybe the Vikings will find a way to put the 258-pound Dugan or the 238-pound Richardson alongside the 217-pound Peterson and Taylor, the 213-pound grinder.

"You mean like the power-I, or something?" Bevell asked. "Well, you never know."

Mark Craig • mcraig@startribune.com