Vikings goin' wild(cat) with Harvin

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell joked that Brad Childress turned to him immediately after the team drafted Percy Harvin in the first round and asked for a list of plays designed specifically for the dynamic playmaker from Florida.

The Vikings have conducted a football science experiment ever since. Bevell said the offense features 20 to 30 plays just to get the ball in Harvin's hands and that half of those are entirely new to the playbook.

"We're up there trying to diagram everything we can," Bevell said. "We're looking at things we do, we're looking at things other teams have done and trying to get the ball to our playmakers."

The Vikings unveiled a new one Saturday at their mandatory minicamp. The offense worked on the "Wildcat" formation, using Harvin as the quarterback. Running back Chester Taylor and wide receiver Darius Reynaud also took the direct snap in that formation, which became fashionable in the NFL last season after the Miami Dolphins had success with it.

The fact that the coaches are giving Harvin an opportunity to run the Wildcat so soon speaks to his versatility, playmaking skills and ability to handle myriad roles within the offense.

"He's very athletic," Bevell said. "In terms of mentally, he's struggled a little bit. It's not something that we didn't expect. We've really put a lot on his plate. He's swimming a little bit, but that's to be expected."

Harvin has lined up all over the field this weekend. He's played in different receiver spots, lined up as a running back, taken the direct snap in Wildcat and is getting reps as both the punt and kickoff returner.

"They just want me to learn multiple positions," Harvin said. "We don't know quite where I'm going to play right now. I'm just learning kind of a little bit of everything. I'm just working hard and whatever they need me to play, that's what I'll do."

His teammates have noticed his workload.

"I know that guy is exhausted because I'm exhausted for him [with] all the running around he's doing," running back Adrian Peterson said. "He's a tremendous athlete and he has a lot of ability."

Peterson said Harvin's versatility added to the mix of returning skill players should allow the offense to become more creative. The Vikings are using the minicamp to tinker with different plays and formations.

"When you have guys out there with speed running around in different formations -- you've got running backs out wide and motioning across and things like that -- [defenses] are really going to have to be on top of their game," Peterson said.

Their experiment with the Wildcat is certain to create a buzz because it not only shows Childress' willingness to open things up, but it also maximizes the fear factor by lining up an offense with guys such as Peterson and Harvin.

"I'm so glad [Harvin] is on our team," Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said, "so we don't have to come up with a plan for him because that's exactly what you end up having to do is game plan a guy like Percy Harvin. Fortunately for us, I'll be watching other teams try to defend he and Adrian and good luck to those defenses."

Harvin's teammates sound equally excited.

"We were talking about AP's first year and everybody was throwing the word around 'explosive,'" linebacker Ben Leber said. "I think it's the same thing you can say about Percy. He's explosive. You definitely want to get the ball in his hands."

Said cornerback Marcus McCauley: "Oh man, the guy is sweet. I mean, Percy is what they said he is."

Quarterback Sage Rosenfels said Harvin has unique skills. "Percy is a special athlete," he said. "Not only is he a good receiver, but he's got a little bit of that tailback in him."

The Vikings aren't promising radical changes next season based on experiments conducted in a May minicamp. But it certainly creates the feeling that Harvin's arrival could spark new ideas.

"I like [the Wildcat]," Peterson said. "You've got guys out there -- Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Chester, me and the quarterbacks. When you get the majority of those guys on the field you really can create some things."