Vikings training camp: Multitalented group not receiving corps of old

MANKATO

Evidence of how far the Vikings' wide receiver corps has progressed since Brad Childress took over as coach in 2006 came this week when Aundrae Allison was jettisoned only five days into training camp.

Three years ago, a player with Allison's abilities not only would have made the roster but could have seen significant playing time. Those were the days when players such as Travis Taylor, Troy Williamson, Marcus Robinson, Billy McMullen and Bethel Johnson graced the depth chart.

Like Allison, all of them are now former Vikings.

The makeover at the position has been gradual and ongoing but appears to have reached a point where the Vikings now possess a group of receivers who should cause opposing teams to worry about more than the Adrian Peterson-led rushing attack.

"It's turned over. I would think that would speak to it," Childress said when asked about the fact that no wide receivers from 2006 are left. "The guys we have added have definitely been useful pieces, in terms of Bernard Berrian, [tight end] Visanthe Shiancoe, Bobby Wade and Sidney Rice. I think the talent is getting better there. I think it has improved."

That improvement started in March 2007 when Wade and Shiancoe were signed as free agents. Rice was selected in the second round of the draft a month later. The biggest impact moves have come the past two offseasons with the addition of Berrian, a free agent who signed a six-year, $42 million deal in March 2008, and the selection of the multitalented Percy Harvin with the 22nd pick in this year's NFL draft.

The Vikings have 10 wide receivers in camp and likely will keep five. That means the battle for the final spot is expected to come down to Glenn Holt, Jaymar Johnson and Darius Reynaud. Ability to contribute on special teams might be the deciding factor in that race.

"Potentially this is a pretty good group," wide receivers coach George Stewart said. "I had a pretty good group in San Francisco during that run with J.J. [Stokes], Jerry [Rice], T.O. [Terrell Owens], Tai Streets and Kevin Williams. But this group is a pretty good group in terms of older talent with Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade and young talent with Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin. As I said on draft day, Percy gives us something we haven't had here before in terms of a guy that is a true gamebreaker as a wide receiver, as a football player."

Among those who should benefit from this is Berrian, who averaged an NFL-leading 20.1 yards per catch last season and could prove to be that much more dangerous with Harvin adding another potential threat.

One thing the Vikings have tried to do in assembling this group is acquire receivers who complement each other with their various skill sets.

"It's like your portfolio -- you want to have some diversity in your stock portfolio -- we want to have some diversity with our wide receivers," Stewart said. "Sidney's a big red-zone target, Bernard is a deep threat, Percy is a wiggle, Bobby Wade is possession. Different guys do different things and that's their forte, but we are very versatile in what we can do with our receivers so we feel very fortunate about that."

Said Wade: "That's the nice part about it. Especially with the addition of Percy. It was that one element that we were missing. Guys can do it, but not at the level he can do it. It's the same thing with Bernard. We can put guys in that position, but guys aren't going to be able to excel [like he did]. Same thing with Sidney in the red zone. Me, a lot of stuff finding zones, every down blocking. Those type of things. We have a lot of guys that are playing a role in this offense. Everybody has a role and the better we understand that the better we'll play together."

Entering his seventh NFL season, Wade is the graybeard among the receivers. Often working out of the slot, he has led the Vikings in receptions in each of his first two years in Minnesota.

However, Wade likely will see his numbers decrease because Harvin will be frequently used from the slot. Wade hasn't seemed bothered by that fact and has a good reason why.

"The biggest thing is I talk about the quality of reps," he said. "Not only that, but when I first came to this team I understood the role that I was going to try to play. I was going to be a specialized receiver, a third-down guy. However, due to whatever ... my overexceeding the expectations that they had for me it allowed me to start the last couple of years and play at a high level.

"But whatever they need me to do, I'm capable of doing that. I just know with Percy being on the field it brings a more quality of reps."