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Minnesota's Adrian Peterson led the league last season with 1,760 yards rushing and already holds the NFL single-game record, the 296 yards he gained against San Diego as a rookie two years ago.

With the addition of receiver Percy Harvin, the Vikings should be more balanced this season. But the instability at quarterback remains, and Peterson will be running behind an offensive line with a new center in John Sullivan and a rookie right tackle in Phil Loadholt.

For Peterson to have a shot, the new-look line will have to jell during the preseason and his receivers will have to be dedicated to sustaining blocks down the field.

“It was a lot of work and a lot of work that went into it and it wasn’t just me,” Lewis said of his big year. “But it was my offensive line coach with the offensive line and guys blocking down field. We had some good receivers who did a nice job of getting guys downfield and that’s where the big runs come from.”

Peterson won’t be alone in his pursuit of 2,000. His offensive line, led by All-Pro Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie on the left side, wants it just as bad.

“That’s a great thing to have on your resume, a guy that’s rushed for 2,000 yards,” right guard Anthony Herrera said. “Hard thing to do in the league. Of course, it’d be a great thing.”

His receivers and fullback feel the same way.

“We’re all in it together,” fullback Naufahu Tahi said. “We’re in there to help him out when he does get the ball. It takes all the other guys to do their jobs and make things right for him to be successful.”

The final key to success, of course, will be Peterson staying healthy. He missed two games during his rookie season with a knee injury and never met a sideline that he didn’t try to avoid in favor of delivering a hit to a defender.

In the end, Lewis said the biggest factor was a desire to be great, to work at it with teammates and make it happen.

With Peterson, that won’t be an issue.

“Well, he may be as good a running back as there is in the league, but he wants to be great in all facets,” Childress said. “You’ve got to give it to him from the standpoint of working on your weaknesses. You say he can’t get better at running the football. He’s the leading rusher.

“He can get better and he knows he can. He’s resolute about doing that.”

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