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Before joining our Access Vikings team, Dan Wiederer covered Atlantic Coast Conference basketball for the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer and was named North Carolina's top sports columnist in 2010. His previous reporting experience includes covering the Chicago Bears. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Frazier said coaches need to stay committed to running Peterson
Posted by: Mark Craig under Vikings, Lions, NFC, Leslie Frazier, Adrian Peterson, Bernard Berrian, Leslie Frazier Updated: September 26, 2011 - 3:00 PM
Coach Leslie Frazier said the coaches -- himself included -- need to make sure they don't stray from feeding the ball to Adrian Peterson like they did in the second half of Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Lions.
Peterson had only five carries for 5 yards in Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Lions.
"I think we've been pretty good about getting him his carries, although in the second half yesterday his numbers were down," Frazier said. "We got to take a look at that because in a close ballgame, we don't want him only carrying the ball five times. So we got to revisit that.
"What we have to make sure we're always conscious of, and I have to remind myself of, is even if Adrian gets stopped for a negative gain or 2 yards because they have so many people at the line of scrimmage, he's such a great player that even against eight-man fronts, he's such a great player that he can make things happen. We can't ever forget that. In the second half, they came with more eight-man fronts because Adrian. We just have to stay with it because it will open other things."
Asked if the team should stay committed to giving him the ball in the second half, Peterson said, "What do you think?"
Peterson said Frazier hasn't talked to him personally about making sure the coaches stay committed to giving him the ball. But he did say Frazier "kind of addressed it, talking in the team meeting. ... But if he said it to you, I guess that's what we're going to do, so I'll be looking forward to it."
Frazier also said Harvin became ill on the sideline and was throwing up. That's why he missed the last two series. He said Harvin will be fine for Wednesday's practice.
Other highlights:
- Donovan McNabb 24th in the league in completion percentage (58.0). Frazier said, "think his percentage is pretty goo. We've just got to be consistently good when we have opportunities to make plays." McNabb is 34 and in his 13th season, but that doesn't mean the Vikings won't try to help him through coaching. "It’s one of the things that we’re going to go through this week in practice," Frazier said. "Just looking at what we’re doing with his mechanics whether it be his drops or whether it be the footwork. Whatever we need to do to help improve some of those balls that aren’t quite on target. That’s not the only reason we’re falling short. That’s one of the reasons, there were some other things we’ve got to work on as a team. Specifically to Donovan, consistent play at the position is what you’re always looking for."
- Although Bernard Berrian, their designated deep threat is stuck on one catch for 17 yards this season, Frazier said the team isn't looking for receivers in the free-agent market. "I don’t think we are at that point yet," he said. "We need to keep trying to develop what we have. We had a chance late in the game yesterday that we just missed on. That was one of those plays that might turn the game in our favor. We missed and we’ve got to keep working at it."
- Frazier said the team is working working out free agent offensive tackle Max Starks, but added, "It has no effect on what we are trying to do with our current roster right now. We're pleased with the way our guys are competing and we got to get better in some areas. but we're really focused on the guys that are here right now." Frazier also said, "I know we've talked about bringing in some guys to work out. And I know Max is one of the guys we're going to work out. But we're always bringing in guys all through the season to work out. It doesn't mean it's an imminent signing. I don't forsee us, barring injuries, making any type of moves."
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