Dan Pompei

Adrian Peterson could become the best running back in football in his second season, and he already has become the running back opponents would like most to avoid.

With all due respect to the great LaDainian Tomlinson, Peterson is the most physically gifted running back in the NFL. The Viking's combination of size, speed, power and elusiveness is unique.

If you were a safety, would you rather try to catch Peterson (had had an NFL high 18.1 percent of his carries go for 10 yards or more last year) from behind or Clinton Portis (he had 9.2 percent of his carries go for 10 yards or more last year)?

If you were a linebacker, would you rather have a meeting in the A gap with Peterson, at 6-1, 217 pounds, or Brian Westbrook at 5-10, 203?

If you were a cornerback, in the fourth quarter would you rather try to tackle Peterson (6.45 fourth-quarter average per carry) or Willis McGahee (2.61 fourth-quarter average per carry)?

As a rookie playing against more men in the box than any other back in football, Peterson was incredible. He ran for an NFL record 296 yards against Tomlinson's Chargers. According to Stats, Inc., he averaged 2.7 yards after contact, which was highest in the NFL among full-time backs. That's a testament to his toughness, determination and strength.

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Peterson may even be too tough for his own good. His physical running style leads to spectacular collisions that can leave both parties on the trainer's table.

For Peterson to take the next step and establish himself as king of NFL backs, he'll need to stay healthy. As a rookie, he missed two games with a knee injury. He also was injured his final year in college, and one of the reasons he "slipped" to the seventh pick of the draft. Some NFL executives feared he could not stay healthy.

Many young running backs come into the league determined to take on linebackers and even linemen on every carry. Some are carried out on stretchers. Others learn the value of self preservation. Peterson needs to learn that the greater good sometimes is hitting the deck.

Peterson's durability should be boosted by the presence of Chester Taylor. The Vikings have the league's best 1-2 running back combination, and from the looks of it, coach Brad Childress will give opposing defenses a good dose of Taylor.

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He should, because Taylor is capable of doing his own damage. And a fresher Peterson is a more dangerous Peterson. Limiting his carries early in the game will make him stronger later in the game. Not wearing him out in September will pay dividends in December.

Taylor isn't the only teammate who should make Peterson's life easier. If receiver Bernard Berrian does what he was signed to do, there will be one less safety in the box on many downs, especially second and long. The Vikings love to run on second and long. That will mean Peterson will have more space from which to operate.

From the start of last season until now, the one area Peterson has improved the most is his patience as a runner. Initially, Peterson hit every hole full speed without giving the play time to develop. Through the preaching of running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, Peterson has learned the value of surveying the landscape before hitting the accelerator.

The next frontier for Peterson, and maybe the last frontier before he becomes the best back in the league, is consistency. Last season he averaged 3.5 yards per carry or fewer in five games despite having a 5.6 average per carry for the season.

If Peterson can avoid the dips and valleys this year and stay healthy, he can do things no other runner has ever done.