foobar75
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Things are looking promising for Gerhart this Sunday. Best case scenario is that he'll get the start and hopefully have a solid game against Buffalo. Worst case, Peterson is still not 100%, so Gerhart will definitely get more than his usual share of carries. Hoping for the best, of course.
Here's a positive article about Gerhart, and if you read some of the comments, they are also pretty decent.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_16745787?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1
Vikings rookie RB Toby Gerhart gaining yards, trust
The girlfriend was using the car, so Toby Gerhart borrowed the keys to teammate Adrian Peterson's ride in order to make a team meeting last month.
Only one problem: Gerhart, a former Stanford star, was still on California time, not Minnesota snow time. Minutes after hitting the roads, Gerhart was stuck in the snow on a quiet road.
Rookie mistake.
"I thought I was going to miss the meeting, so I was calling a bunch of players," said Gerhart, who playfully blamed Peterson's low-rise sports car for the snow jam. "Joe Webb finally picked me up, and I made it in time."
Turns out the Vikings have no problem handing Gerhart the keys to the offense if necessary.
Gerhart slowly has earned the trust of the Vikings' coaching staff, carrying the offensive load Sunday with 22 rushes, 76 yards and his first career touchdown in a 17-13 victory at Washington after Peterson left the game with a right ankle sprain.
Peterson is questionable for Sunday's game against Buffalo at the Metrodome, which increases Gerhart's value to a team insistent on running the ball under interim coach Leslie Frazier.
Frazier confirmed on KSTP-AM 1500 that tests revealed nothing more than an ankle sprain for Peterson, but Peterson's streak of 51 games played is in jeopardy. Gerhart is expected to get extended reps in practice this week, said running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who sounds optimistic that Peterson would return swiftly.
"He'll do everything under the sun to get back," Bieniemy said. "He's the last guy I'm worried about. He wanted to go back in the game last week."
Gerhart is used to an enhanced offensive role; the Heisman runner-up rushed for 1,871 yards and 27 touchdowns last year at Stanford.
The adjustment from California celebrity to a third-down specialist pining for snaps behind the game's best running back has been difficult at times for Gerhart.
Through the first 10 games, Gerhart touched the ball 37 times â€" 24 rushes for 86 yards and 13 catches for 139 yards. His snaps have increased steadily, but he rarely plays more than 10.
"I go from Stanford, where I was the marquee player getting 25 to 30 carries a game and the offense basically revolved around me in essence, to where I get limited playing time, whether it be third downs or whenever Adrian needs a blow," Gerhart said. "It's been a different adjustment, but it's something I knew going into it what to expect. I've got to make the most of my opportunities when I get them."
The most difficult challenge, Gerhart said, is entering the game for one play, then waiting 10 minutes from the sideline. Gerhart, like most competitors, wants to find a rhythm on the field.
He did just that Sunday, impressing teammates with consistency. Gerhart didn't have a rush longer than 6 yards, but he didn't turn the ball over and showed the ability to push for extra yardage with his 230-pound frame.
"One thing about Toby is he takes a tremendous amount of pride using his pads on people," Bieniemy said. "He's really flourished in the last month. He plays hard all the time and has tremendous hands to catch the football."
The Vikings traded up in the draft to get Gerhart after the offseason departure of Chester Taylor, who helped Minnesota convert plenty of third downs in his four seasons.
Instead of trying to match Peterson's explosiveness, Gerhart decided in training camp to make blocking and blitz pickup his priorities.
Save his two fumbles, Gerhart is pleased with his performance.
"I think it was trust more than anything," said Gerhart of his enhanced snaps in recent weeks. "My role has primarily been at this point third down, that's a passing down, a blitz down. Them having trust in me to protect Brett (Favre), not mess up, catch the ball out of the backfield, run the appropriate routes, beat man-to-man coverage. Over the course of the season I proved I can do that in practice."
Regardless of whether Peterson returns for Sunday's game, Gerhart's value is still rising from a performance and logistical standpoint.
The Vikings want to keep Peterson fresh after averaging 21 carries per game through the first 10 games, Bieniemy said.
Though Gerhart would like to become an every-down back eventually, for now he'll settle for a better NFL experience after the Vikings' circus-like season.
From a talent-rich team falling out of the playoff race to Brad Childress' firing to the Randy Moss mess, Gerhart has seen it all.
"They tell me the NFL isn't always like this," Gerhart said. "It'll get better, trust me."
Here's a positive article about Gerhart, and if you read some of the comments, they are also pretty decent.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_16745787?source=most_viewed&nclick_check=1
Vikings rookie RB Toby Gerhart gaining yards, trust
The girlfriend was using the car, so Toby Gerhart borrowed the keys to teammate Adrian Peterson's ride in order to make a team meeting last month.
Only one problem: Gerhart, a former Stanford star, was still on California time, not Minnesota snow time. Minutes after hitting the roads, Gerhart was stuck in the snow on a quiet road.
Rookie mistake.
"I thought I was going to miss the meeting, so I was calling a bunch of players," said Gerhart, who playfully blamed Peterson's low-rise sports car for the snow jam. "Joe Webb finally picked me up, and I made it in time."
Turns out the Vikings have no problem handing Gerhart the keys to the offense if necessary.
Gerhart slowly has earned the trust of the Vikings' coaching staff, carrying the offensive load Sunday with 22 rushes, 76 yards and his first career touchdown in a 17-13 victory at Washington after Peterson left the game with a right ankle sprain.
Peterson is questionable for Sunday's game against Buffalo at the Metrodome, which increases Gerhart's value to a team insistent on running the ball under interim coach Leslie Frazier.
Frazier confirmed on KSTP-AM 1500 that tests revealed nothing more than an ankle sprain for Peterson, but Peterson's streak of 51 games played is in jeopardy. Gerhart is expected to get extended reps in practice this week, said running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who sounds optimistic that Peterson would return swiftly.
"He'll do everything under the sun to get back," Bieniemy said. "He's the last guy I'm worried about. He wanted to go back in the game last week."
Gerhart is used to an enhanced offensive role; the Heisman runner-up rushed for 1,871 yards and 27 touchdowns last year at Stanford.
The adjustment from California celebrity to a third-down specialist pining for snaps behind the game's best running back has been difficult at times for Gerhart.
Through the first 10 games, Gerhart touched the ball 37 times â€" 24 rushes for 86 yards and 13 catches for 139 yards. His snaps have increased steadily, but he rarely plays more than 10.
"I go from Stanford, where I was the marquee player getting 25 to 30 carries a game and the offense basically revolved around me in essence, to where I get limited playing time, whether it be third downs or whenever Adrian needs a blow," Gerhart said. "It's been a different adjustment, but it's something I knew going into it what to expect. I've got to make the most of my opportunities when I get them."
The most difficult challenge, Gerhart said, is entering the game for one play, then waiting 10 minutes from the sideline. Gerhart, like most competitors, wants to find a rhythm on the field.
He did just that Sunday, impressing teammates with consistency. Gerhart didn't have a rush longer than 6 yards, but he didn't turn the ball over and showed the ability to push for extra yardage with his 230-pound frame.
"One thing about Toby is he takes a tremendous amount of pride using his pads on people," Bieniemy said. "He's really flourished in the last month. He plays hard all the time and has tremendous hands to catch the football."
The Vikings traded up in the draft to get Gerhart after the offseason departure of Chester Taylor, who helped Minnesota convert plenty of third downs in his four seasons.
Instead of trying to match Peterson's explosiveness, Gerhart decided in training camp to make blocking and blitz pickup his priorities.
Save his two fumbles, Gerhart is pleased with his performance.
"I think it was trust more than anything," said Gerhart of his enhanced snaps in recent weeks. "My role has primarily been at this point third down, that's a passing down, a blitz down. Them having trust in me to protect Brett (Favre), not mess up, catch the ball out of the backfield, run the appropriate routes, beat man-to-man coverage. Over the course of the season I proved I can do that in practice."
Regardless of whether Peterson returns for Sunday's game, Gerhart's value is still rising from a performance and logistical standpoint.
The Vikings want to keep Peterson fresh after averaging 21 carries per game through the first 10 games, Bieniemy said.
Though Gerhart would like to become an every-down back eventually, for now he'll settle for a better NFL experience after the Vikings' circus-like season.
From a talent-rich team falling out of the playoff race to Brad Childress' firing to the Randy Moss mess, Gerhart has seen it all.
"They tell me the NFL isn't always like this," Gerhart said. "It'll get better, trust me."
