Monday's training camp report

The Free Press

MANKATO July 29, 2008 12:56 am

— The Vikings No. 2 offense was going against the No. 1 defense in the first day of full-pads, full-contact practice, and proceeded to chip away a 13-play, 49-yard drive that ended in a 31-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell.
Backup left tackle Chase Johnson and undrafted rookie Drew Radovich effectively stifled defensive end Jared Allen on the drive, helping running back Chester Taylor get loose and giving time to quarterback Gus Frerotte.
“I’m very competitive; I hate losing,” Allen said. “When we give up a 10-play drive, it messes me up.”
Allen did acknowledge that the competition will make everybody better.
In an earlier full-team drill, Allen bull rushed Johnson and swatted down a Frerotte pass.
“Chase is going to get better,” Allen said. “You’re going to get better when you go against somebody whose the best at their position. That’s why I loved going against (Pro-Bowl tackle) Willie Roaf everyday (in Kansas City).”
Despite the heat and humidity, defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said the players were pumped for Monday’s morning practice.
“There’s no question these guys look forward to putting the pads on and going live,” he said. “This what they get paid to do. The tempo, the intensity, everything rises when they know they’re going to be in pads and be able to do some hitting.”
A better AP?
Asked about the improvement of running back Adrian Peterson, safety Darren Sharper, who’s rarely at a loss for words, said Peterson already looks even better than he did last year.
“The guy’s special,” Sharper said. “When it comes to players like that, we gotta come up with a better adjective than ‘special.’ I gotta get my thesaurus out.”
Peterson said, being in his second year, things are coming easier to him this camp, including his blocking abilities.
“It’s a lot easier this year,” he said. “I’m understanding the offense better, the different techniques in the blocking game. It’s helped me improve my game.”
Edwards watch
Veteran defensive end Ray Edwards (back) continued to work by himself on a remote practice field Monday morning and, according to Frazier, is close to rejoining the team for regular practices.
“He’s really close to being back out there on the field with everybody else,” Frazier said. “I would expect him back by the end of the week. It’s highly unlikely that he’ll participate in the practices against Kansas City (at River Falls Thursday) but he could be back right after that.”
In the meantime, Frazier said Edwards’ replacement on the first-string unit, third-year player Jayme Mitchell, has looked good in training camp.
Highs and lows
The good: Jared Allen tipped two passes during 11-on-11 drills. ... Kevin Williams sacked Frerotte in full-contact (even pulling the backup quarterback to the ground, despite his red jersey). ... Receiver Martin Nance made a diving catch of a Frerotte pass. ... Cornerback Marcus McCauley’s hard hit on Sidney Rice broke up a pass from Tarvaris Jackson. ... Corner Benny Sapp ended the morning practice with an interception of a Brooks Bollinger pass.
The bad: Rookie quarterback John David Booty fumbled the ball trying to hand off during a short-yardage drill. ... There was another fumble on a bad exchange between Frerotte and running back Maurice Hicks.