Vikings at Tampa Bay: Taylor causes a chain reaction

The stop-and-go move that sent the defender flying badly out of position was pure instinct. What came next illustrated how important Chester Taylor remains to the Vikings offense. Taylor turned a short pass into a 47-yard touchdown last week when he made Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop look foolish with a fake, then outran the defense, including a safety with an angle, to the end zone.

"I'm just taking advantage every time I touch the ball," Taylor said.

With his touches limited because of a certain running back ahead of him, Taylor is maximizing his opportunities as a third-down back and change-of-pace option. Relegated to being a backup because of Adrian Peterson's rocket ride to stardom, Taylor has carved out a vital role in the offense, one easy to overlook if blinded by Peterson's supernova.

Taylor leads NFL running backs with 16 catches on third down and is third on the Vikings in receptions (25). He also is a superb blocker in pass protection and likely would be an every-down back on many teams.

"Chester is the kind of guy who is a little bit overlooked," Peterson said. "He makes great plays, picks up big third-down conversions and really helps our offense stay alive. He really teaches me a lot and different things like that."

Signed to a four-year, $14.1 million contract in March 2006, Taylor has morphed from featured back to supporting cast. He has become Robin to Peterson's Batman.

He said he has accepted that reality. In a league where skill players often whine about involvement, Taylor hasn't said a peep publicly about his reduced role. Instead, he has produced in different ways. It doesn't make Donald Trump any less of a businessman because he doesn't have Bill Gates money.

Taylor insists he's not about to go all Terrell Owens and start making demands, either.

"I'm a team player, and I just want to win," Taylor said. "People probably think [I'm upset] because when they first brought me here I was running the ball, and I started the whole year. Then they brought Adrian in so people figure any running back who's gone from first string to second string is going to be upset. But Adrian has earned his spot. It's not like he's doing bad. He's helping our team win and that's all that matters now."

He paused for a second.

"Don't get me wrong," he continued. "I love getting the ball and running the ball. But I know when my number is called, I will step up and do the job."

He has done that this season. Taylor has 10 catches for first downs, and seven of those have come on third down. That might not be glamorous or headline material, but the Vikings say Taylor's ability to keep drives alive should not be ignored.

"People always ask, 'Well, why doesn't Adrian play more on third down?'" running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said. "It's not because he can't do it, but Chester just has a knack in those situations of being able to get the first down and keep drives going."

Said center Matt Birk: "Making the most [of his opportunity] would be an understatement. He's so valuable. When everyone else has been covered, he's gotten the ball dumped to him and made a move and gotten the first down, extending drives. That's huge. That's probably not fully appreciated on the stats sheet or highlight reels."

Taylor has become a security blanket for quarterback Gus Frerotte, who knows he has a reliable outlet receiver typically matched up against a linebacker if nothing develops down field. Frerotte said Taylor's ability as a third-down receiver reminds him of former Pro Bowl fullback Larry Centers, who caught 827 passes in his 14-year career.

"[Centers] always got the first down, always picked up the big yards and always moved the chains," Frerotte said. "That's Chester. If the reads aren't there, you throw the ball to Chester and he's going to do great things for you. He's moving the chains."

Taylor rushed for 1,216 yards in 2006, his first season with the Vikings. He finished with 844 yards last season and has rushed for 211 yards on 56 carries this season. Peterson leads the NFL with 1,015 yards rushing.

Taylor's average of 3.8 yards per carry this season is lower than his career average (4.4 yards) and the lowest since his rookie season (3.7) in 2002. But many of his carries come in short-yardage situations when defenses are expecting a power run.

"I'm not getting many carries, but the carries I get I try and make the best of them right now," Taylor said.

Wide receiver Bobby Wade described Taylor's role in terms of "quality vs. quantity."

"He gets a lot of quality touches," Wade said. "When he touches it, he has opportunities to make big plays for us."

This is not new for Taylor, who served as Jamal Lewis' backup for four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. But Vikings coach Brad Childress said Taylor's role "swung in a hell of a hurry within the course of the three years he's been here."

"He's worked hard, and we've worked hard just in terms of communicating," Childress said. "Would he like to have the ball every time? Yes. Every one of those skill guys want it every time. But he's a team guy. That's the big thing. He'll do whatever it takes for us to be a better football team, and obviously he's contributing."

Bieniemy said Peterson and Taylor have "great chemistry" inside the running backs meeting room and that Taylor, as a seven-year veteran, has embraced his status as the elder statesman in the group. Taylor even sounds like a fan when asked about Peterson.

"He's a special guy," Taylor said. "He has tremendous speed, vision. Everybody holds their breath when he gets the ball because they know he's going to do something exciting. I'm glad he's on my team."

The Vikings likewise are happy to have Taylor as Peterson's backup. His role has shifted, but Taylor remains an important part of the offense, knowing all the while that things could change in an instant.

"You have to stay focused in the game mentally and physically," Taylor said. "At any given time you're just one play away. That's what I always think in my mind. Being a veteran I've seen a lot. I know it just takes one play to get in there."