Missing tight ends on Vikings' radar

The Vikings' most significant investment last offseason was made in the tight end position when they signed Visanthe Shiancoe to a five-year, $18.2 million contact that included $7 million in guarantees.

Shiancoe had spent his first four NFL seasons playing behind Jeremy Shockey with the New York Giants, but the Vikings personnel department liked what they saw of him on tape and believed he could add the type of speed and playmaking ability Jermaine Wiggins failed to give them.

But through two regular-season games, Shiancoe has been given limited opportunities to show what he can do, and the tight end has been a seldom-used option in a West Coast system that often times is very friendly to this position. Coach Brad Childress said Monday he had discussed this topic with his offensive staff and would like to get his tight ends "a little more involved in the offense."

This came a day after Shiancoe did not catch a pass in the Vikings' 20-17 overtime loss at Detroit. More disturbing perhaps was the fact Shiancoe was the intended target on only one of the 37 passes thrown by Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger.

Late in the second quarter, Shiancoe had a 10-yard reception that would have given the Vikings a first down at their own 40-yard line. However, a holding penalty on right tackle Ryan Cook wiped out the play. Shiancoe did not have another pass directed toward him until the fourth quarter, when a Jackson throw fell incomplete.

Veteran tight end Jim Kleinsasser, who is considered more of a premier blocker but not a threat as a receiver, saw only one ball come his way, and that turned into a first-quarter interception by the Lions. In two games, Shiancoe has caught two of four passes thrown to him -- he tipped one that was intercepted against Atlanta -- and between the two, Shiancoe and Kleinsasser have three receptions.

"It's definitely not by design that they're not getting the ball," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said of the tight ends. "There are opportunities and plays that they're either the first or second guy in the progression. Coverage can dictate that the quarterback go elsewhere with the ball. It's something that we'll continue to look at and find ways to get them more involved."

'Combination of things'

Childress, the former offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, admitted there are several factors that enter into getting the tight end more involved in the passing game.

"You can call a play to that person with the best intention but get a bad look," he said. "It's a combination of them wiggling a little bit better, us maybe trying to build something against a coverage that we think we're going to get to accentuate what they can do. A combination of things."

Shiancoe remains somewhat of an unknown commodity when it comes to his pass catching. He was utilized mainly as a blocker with the Giants and had only 35 receptions in 64 career games. His 12 regular-season receptions last season were a career high; Wiggins, who was released by the Vikings last March, had 14 catches in the first four games in 2006.

Shiancoe struggled and did not look completely comfortable in offseason camps but said being new to this system is no longer an excuse.

"The learning process has now ended," he said. "I am now officially not new to this offense. I am now officially in the mix. I don't feel new anymore, I don't feel green like I did before. Especially because of my teammates, they make me feel comfortable, like Tarvaris, they make me feel comfortable in this offense."

No frustration

There doesn't seem to be any real concern from the key parties involved. Shiancoe has not shown any frustration with his role to date, saying, "We've been establishing the run, and then we can get into our passing game a little bit more."

Bevell, meanwhile, said Shiancoe's lack of involvement is "absolutely" not a reflection of any lack of faith in him by the coaching staff and that he "is coming along."

Added Childress: "I think he's pretty comfortable with what we're doing. It's just a little bit different every week now as we start to game plan. That's the stuff that he's learning. The principles are going to stay there but the window dressing is going to change."

Staff writer Jim Souhan contributed to this story.

Judd Zulgad • jzulgad@startribune.com