Thomas Tapeh: Blocking required

The first time he touched the ball in his first preseason game for the Vikings, fullback Thomas Tapeh caught a short pass and rumbled 6 yards for a touchdown.

A sign of things to come?

"My No. 1 job right now is to block," Tapeh said. "When they call the play, I'm going to go give Chester [Taylor] and Adrian [Peterson] everything that I've got."

The Vikings signed Tapeh this offseason to replace Tony Richardson, who was not retained despite making the Pro Bowl last season. He signed with the New York Jets.

Richardson's loss could have been significant because he was a respected veteran and valuable lead blocker for Peterson and Taylor. But Tapeh, the former St. Paul Johnson and Gophers standout, was an attractive free-agent target for several reasons.

At 28, he is eight years younger than Richardson and already familiar with coach Brad Childress' version of the West Coast offense. Tapeh played in Philadelphia when Childress was the offensive coordinator.

Tapeh (6-1, 243 pounds) is a serviceable lead blocker and a reliable outlet receiver. He had more catches (26) than carries (22) in three seasons in Philadelphia.

"He can catch it, he can block and he can also run it," running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said. "I think with our fullbacks, we're truly getting back to the old-school, West Coast form of football where you had not only a guy who hit you 20 times a game but also can go out and catch it in the flat. On top of that, you can line him up in the backfield, give him the ball and let him run it."

Childress said he believes Tapeh, who played mostly tailback in college, is capable of being used as a single back in certain formations. Granted, that probably would be a rare occasion, considering Peterson and Taylor will get most of the carries. But it speaks to Tapeh's versatility.

"He's a fluid pass catcher," Childress said. "He's probably not a knock-you-down fullback, but there are very few of those left in the league. He's more of a cover-you-up type of guy."

Tapeh said offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell might "throw me a bone" occasionally in the passing game. But his primary function is to clear holes for the guys behind him.

"My biggest role is to make sure I protect Adrian and Chester and all the other running back as best I can," he said.