More on Peterson as a receiving threat

I did a column on Adrian Peterson's development in the Vikings' passing game for today's kill-a-tree edition. The thing about that edition is things gotta fit in small spaces, so a lot of stuff gets left out. I know. How 20th century.

There were some other things I would have liked to have touched on in that column. And since I'd rather not use this space today to discuss how the now 4-5 Bears still have no shot of making the playoffs, let's expand the conversation on AD as a pass catcher.

As I said today, I've always thought the Vikings should throw the ball more to Peterson. It seems only natural that if the defense puts eight guys near the line of scrimmage, why not find a way to throw the ball over them to Peterson, a guy who is unstoppable in the open field? 

The Vikings are finally starting to do that more this season. Peterson is on pace for 38 catches and nearly 400 yards receiving. Both would shatter his career high.

As was touched on today, Peterson's opportunities have increased because, A, he now understands his many responsibilities in the passing game; and B, the Vikings now have a quarterback whose brain moves faster than the defense and can therefore check down to Peterson before getting clobbered. 

I spent a few moments talking to Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell after his press conference on Thursday. Obviously, Bev knows about 9,000 times more about designing an offense that any of us do. He explained how difficult it is to get a young running back up to speed in the NFL passing game, especially a guy like Peterson, who has been a pure I-formation tailback since about his first step as a toddler. Some of that I put in the column today.

What I couldn't get to was my last question to Bevell:

Q: Do you think there's any chance Adrian could become a dual threat along the lines of a LaDainian Tomlinson? You know, line him outside sometimes and throw him the ball from the wide receiver position?

Now, before you laugh, think about it. Peterson has the speed of a receiver. The Vikings like his hands. And how dangerous could this kid be on one of those quick slants that Favre loves to throw?

Bevell thought for a second and said:

A:"How can I answer this correctly? [laughing]. I think it’s important to do what they do well and put him in the position that he can excel in. To line him outside and have him run a route is probably not one of his strengths.

"I think since he was this big [puts hand about three feet off the ground], he’s been an I-back standing back there in the backfield. I’m not saying he’s never lined up at receiver in backyard ball. But to be able to say, `Hey, you’re going to be out here and you’re going to be covered like this and have that feel for running different routes, that would be new to him."