Minnesota Favres' Board: Harvin: A glimpse of what's to come

Harvin: A glimpse of what's to come

Posted by Favre-Dennis on 9/1/2009, 8:37 am
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Percy Harvin's play gives the Vikings a chance to show off some of the new plays designed with the rookie in mind.

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

HOUSTON - Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell admitted this offseason that the Vikings decision to draft rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin allowed him to expand his playbook.

Bevell estimated that the offense features 20 to 30 plays designed to get the ball in Harvin's hands and that half of those are entirely new to the playbook. The Vikings gave a glimpse of those new possibilities Monday in their third preseason game, a 17-10 victory over the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

The offense opened things up and showed off Harvin's unique skill set with several formations that should give opposing defenses something to think about as they prepare their game plans.

The first-team offense unveiled the much-anticipated "Wildcat" formation as well as a split backfield look with quarterback Brett Favre flanked by Harvin and Adrian Peterson.

"I feel like Bevell is going to really to take advantage of mismatches and manipulate this offense to exploit defenses," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said.

Vikings coach Brad Childress' West Coast offense has been criticized for being too bland, but the Vikings certainly showed more creativity Monday night.

Example A: On the second play of their second series, Favre lined up in shotgun with Peterson on one side. Harvin came in motion and positioned himself in the backfield. On the snap, both Peterson and Harvin broke to the outside. That opened up the middle of the field and Favre found Shiancoe over the middle for a 19-yard completion.

Two plays later, Harvin lined up in the Wildcat for the first time with Favre split out wide. Harvin took the direct snap and handed the ball off to Peterson, who had come into motion. Peterson ran around the right end for a 5-yard gain.

"It was fun," Harvin said of the Wildcat debut. "It was great. We got a feel for it, see how it works against defenses."

Said Childress: "I thought there were a lot of people paying attention to Percy. You've got to decide which master you want to serve. The front side with the fake to Adrian or the three hands looking at Percy. It's just which one?"

The Vikings used a formation in the first half that included Peterson, Harvin and Chester Taylor on the field at the same time. Peterson and Taylor were split in the backfield with Harvin lined in the slot on third-and-6. Favre hit Harvin for a 5-yard reception against a heavy rush.

The Vikings have talked openly about their plans to use Harvin in myriad roles, and they gave a snapshot of that in the first half. In addition to the Wildcat formation, Harvin carried the ball once for 4 yards, caught two passes for 18 yards and returned two kickoffs for 52 yards.

He had a chance for a touchdown catch in the second quarter, but he couldn't get his hands on Favre's pass in the end zone.

Harvin made up for a mental mistake with a nifty escape on a catch late in the half. He drew an illegal shift penalty when he did not get set, but he responded with a 13-yard reception that required extra effort.

Houston's Glover Quin and Xavier Adibi sandwiched Harvin after a short catch, but he managed to stay on his feet and turn the ball upfield for more yards.