Focus is on rhythm - and ending mistakes

The Vikings managed only 32 yards rushing in a 12-10 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday, but 10 penalties and self-inflicted mistakes seemed to be more disconcerting in their postgame locker room.

"Without rhythm you don't run the ball," coach Brad Childress said. "You don't do much."

The running game never got on track for a variety of reasons. Penalties too often kept the Vikings in passing situations. The offensive line had problems handling Pittsburgh's 3-4 front. And the absences of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and starting wide receivers Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice greatly reduced the threat of a passing game.

As a result, the running game suffered.

"The Steelers' defense is very stingy," said running back Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 21 yards on 12 carries. "They're a playoff team, so we knew what to expect. We came out the second half with a good drive and really got into a groove. That's what our offense is all about. When you play playoff-caliber teams it's going to be tough."

The Vikings made it harder on themselves with the penalties, which included three false starts on the first series.

"They're on everybody," quarterback Gus Frerotte said. "You can't put it on one person. [On] one I made a call late and somebody thought I did the snap count, but I was just trying to move the protection. Just things like that. Through the preseason you still work on those things, and hopefully you get all those kinks worked out."

Said guard Artis Hicks: "You can't go into the season and make that many mistakes. It's already hard enough to win a game, so if you create penalties and set yourself back, it's even harder."

Although Childress said the battle between Brooks Bollinger and John David Booty for the No. 3 quarterback job is "ongoing," it was Booty who played Saturday night.

The rookie entered with 2 minutes, 50 seconds left in the third quarter and finished by completing four of five passes for 19 yards. He was sacked once and did not throw an interception or a touchdown.

That was a significant improvement over the previous week, when Booty completed only one of three passes for 9 yards and had an interception returned for a touchdown. Childress said the plan was to have Booty replace Frerotte and finish up.

Bollinger could see time Thursday night in the preseason finale at Dallas. Childress said the plan is to keep three quarterbacks, meaning that either Booty or Bollinger is going to make the 53-man roster.

"You just have to let guys play so they can [get] a little bit of a feel as opposed to a series, then pull them out and put somebody else in," Childress said. "Would I have liked to see [Booty] the whole second half? Yeah, I would have."

• Veteran Ryan Longwell, whom the coaching staff has limited for much of training camp in order to keep him fresh, kicked for the first time in a preseason game. Longwell made a 37-yard field goal, hit an extra-point attempt and kicked off twice.

• Maurice Hicks saw his first action of the preseason as a kick returner. He returned three kickoffs for 67 yards, including a 30-yarder.

• Rookie free-agent linebacker Erin Henderson continued to make a strong push to make the team. Henderson collected five tackles -- including one for a loss -- and forced a fumble.