With each week the frustration builds. Bernard Berrian might be feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders by now.

He has to be frustrated — maybe Vikings fans are frustrated enough for him.

Two years ago he had the best season of his career, and that was with Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson under center. Berrian had just signed six-year, 42 million dollar contract that included 16 million in guarantees. He responded with a 964 yard, seven touchdown season. And the most impressive part was his 20.1 yards-per-catch average. Those three stats were career highs for Berrian. He didn't look unstoppable, but Berrian looked as good as advertised: a deep threat with speed that could stretch the field. That season, Visanthe Shiancoe had his breakout year, Bobby Wade was working over the middle of the field and Sidney Rice was still developing in the offense — Berrian's presence was much needed. Teams would stack the box to stop Adrian Peterson and that left Berrian with all sorts of room on the outside. But what a difference a year can make. In 2009, Brett Favre arrived, Minnesota drafted Percy Harvin to be its dynamic slot receiver and Rice grew into his own in his third year in the League — and Favre developed a great rapport with both of the young receivers. Favre had always loved using his tight ends in the West Coast Offense, so even Shiancoe was in on the act. Berrian was the fourth option in the passing game, and it might be generous to even rank him that high. His numbers dropped to 38 yards per game and less than 12 yards per catch. In 10 of the 16 games he didn't have a catch over 20 yards. Favre and Berrian didn't have the same connection the other receivers seemed to have. And their relationship may have started on a bad foot because of a hamstring injury Berrian was nursing when Favre arrived. But the lack of a solid connection between the two didn't hurt the offense, it was an afterthought. First there was Peterson, then Favre, then everyone else, then Bernard. Rice was the deep threat and pro-bowl target that Favre trusted. Even the rookie, Harvin, earned the veteran's trust. Whenever the ball was thrown Berrian's way it was like an audition, like he had to prove something. The offense was rolling without many hiccups, and we kept waiting for Berrian to get on board. Now, 2009 has come and gone and the Vikings are still waiting on Berrian. This time it's different though, the Vikings maybe need Berrian more than ever now. With Rice down with a hip injury for at least half the season, and Harvin dealing with migraine issues that sidelined him for most of training camp, Minnesota is a bit shorthanded at receiver. Last year, not having Favre and Berrian on the same page was a laughable problem — but no one's laughing now. Favre is still developing a relationship with Greg Camarillo. Greg Lewis is who he is. And Minnesota even decided to pick up Hank Baskett to help out on the outside. Berrian hasn't been able to be that reliable target that Rice was in 2009. And Peterson is still one of the most dangerous running backs in the NFL. He's proven it again and again during these first three weeks. He's still there to give Berrian good matchups in the passing game. But he has five catches for 38 yards in three games this season. So where can we point the finger? Is it Favre's fault for not working on his relationship with Berrian so this never became an issue? Is this solely on Berrian? Has his inconsistency prohibited Favre from gaining that unspoken bond that the other targets have developed? Had the Vikings traded for Vincent Jackson, what would Berrian's role have been? Probably a lot like last year — Berrian could have slunk away, back into the shadows. That's where he works best in my opinion. Berrian isn't a No. 1 receiver. If he could break more tackles, if he could catch the ball better, if he could run better routes then maybe we could talk. Berrian doesn't make the non-routine plays. Most of the time he'll catch the passes he's supposed to catch, but he doesn't make plays like Rice did last year. That's what this offense needs now. It's the age-old question of what came first: the chicken or the egg. Did Favre play well last year because of the weapons around him, or did the offense see the benefits of playing with Favre. The answer to the questions about Berrian and Favre's struggles is that the blame probably should be split between the two. Berrian's drops don't help and his injuries don't help either. Plus, when any quarterback is in doubt, they look to their security blankets. Favre had three: Shiancoe, Rice, Harvin — Berrian wasn't one of them, and he's not one of them now. Maybe opposing defenses caught on to Berrian's act. Maybe 2008 was his last hurrah and we'll never see 20.1 yards-per-catch from him again. I think he'll settle around where he was last season — not a 1,000 yard receiver, but a not five-catches-in-three-games receiver either. He can fill a role as a one-trick pony. If he was more than that, wouldn't we have seen more of him in 2009? Then this wouldn't even be a discussion. But it is. And Berrian remains an enigma wrapped in a riddle.