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Gerhart takes his lumps

After the rain cleared up, the hitting started at this morning's training camp practice.

August 7, 2010 at 8:53PM

MANKATO -- Rookie Toby Gerhart continues to take a pounding.

We noted early in training camp that Gerhart had a practice -- one that wasn't supposed to feature tackling -- in which the running back was knocked over by Chad Greenway, Pat Williams and Jasper Brinkley on separate plays. Well, the Vikings were in pads Saturday morning for the second time in camp and things got a bit rough for Gerhart.

In live periods -- meaning tackling to the ground was allowed -- Gehart took numerous shots both when he was handed the ball during a drill that featured the offense at its own 1-yard line and then in a 4-minute drill. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kevin Williams delivered a particularly big hit in the latter segment.

"You try to deliver [the hits] more than you take them," Gerhart said. "But the 'backers are running through. Everybody is just hitting it. Yeah, you took your fair share of shots that's for sure."

Actually, Gerhart seems to be taking more than his fair share of shots as he is welcomed to the NFL. Coach Brad Childress essentially admitted that Gerhart is taking excess abuse. "I think he's got to learn a lot of things about the tempo," Childress said.

That's a nice way of saying Gerhart has to understand how to pick up the pace. At one point Saturday, Gerhart ran a play and when he thought it was complete he began to return to the huddle. "Finish, finish, finish," running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said loudly, meaning Gerhart was to continue to the end zone.

As I wrote this morning, at this point it's clear that Albert Young is ahead of Gerhart in the competition for the backup job to Adrian Peterson.

Other notes from this morning.

The morning practice was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. but it was pouring in Mankato at that time. Somebody with the Vikings must have a doppler radar -- I believe the device belongs to quality control coach Kevin Stefanski -- because the team announced it would wait until 10:30 a.m. before taking the field. Sure enough, by 10:30 a.m. the rain had stopped and it turned out to be a very pleasant morning. At least if you're name wasn't Toby Gerhart.
The live portion started out with the second-team offense taking on the second-team defense with the ball at the offense's 1-yard line. The goal was for the offense to advance the ball to its own 20. Here's how it went: Gerhart got a yard before being hit by Jared Allen and Heath Farwell. Sage Rosenfels connected with Logan Payne on a pass that put the ball at the 11. Gerhart got another yard before being tackled by Tyrell Johnson. Gerhart picked up 5 yards before being hit hard again, this time with Brian Robison leading the charge. Rosenfels found Payne to complete the drive.
The first-team offense then went against the first-team defense: Jeff Dugan took a fullback handoff from Tarvaris Jackson and gained a yard. Albert Young (in place of Peterson) carried for minus-1 yard -- the key to the play being nose tackle Pat Williams getting through on center Jon Cooper. Ray Edwards got a touch sack of Jackson at the 1. Not exactly impressive for the first offense.
The third-team offense then went against the third-team defense: Joe Webb dropped back into the end zone, made a nice play-action fake before throwing to Garrett Mills. Webb found Payne for his third catch of the segment. The Vikings then went into their 4-minute offense.
Rookie Chris Cook got first-team work at left cornerback in place of Antoine Winfield during a non-live team drill.
The Vikings are scheduled to hold an evening practice from 5 to 7 p.m. today and then will have their first off day of training camp on Sunday.

Here is the medical report.

Players missing because of injury included wide receiver Sidney Rice (hip), cornerback Cedric Griffin (knee), RB Darius Reynaud (ankle), fullback Naufahu Tahi (calf), linebacker J Leman (turf toe) and center John Sullivan (calf).
Running back Adrian Peterson did the most work he has done in any practice since camp opened, so obviously the tightness in his left leg is going away. Peterson took part in non-hitting periods but not any that involved full contact.
Wide receiver Percy Harvin remains away from the team after his grandmother passed away last weekend. It sounds as if the Vikings expect Harvin will return to Mankato very soon. In fact, the expectation is likely Monday. The Vikings have a day off Sunday.
Cornerback Benny Sapp, who was held out of practice all week after suffering from post-dehydration symptoms, returned on Saturday morning.
Childress said he thought right guard Anthony Herrera suffered back spasms during the 4-minute period. Herrera was replaced by fifth-round pick Chris DeGeare, who played left guard in place of Steve Hutchinson at times earlier in camp. The Vikings had wanted to get a look at DeGeare at both guard spots and he is the leading candidate to be the backup guard.