Vikings receivers ready for new chances
Williamson competing to start; Robinson happy with featured role
BY DON SEEHOLZER, Pioneer Press
Vikings coach Brad Childress says he isn't looking for any one wide receiver to step up and fill Nate Burleson's shoes, but Troy Williamson is up for the challenge.
The team's No. 1 draft choice from last year used a three-day weekend minicamp to begin the process of proving he is an NFL starter, while Koren Robinson settled confidently into his new role as No. 1 receiver.
"I've been ready to do that since I came into the league," Robinson said. "I had my issues, but I feel like I'm now back to where I want to be in my life and just focusing on football."
With his off-field problems behind him, Robinson moved to the top of the Vikings' receivers chart even before Burleson left for Seattle, signing a three-year, $12.7 million contract on the eve of free agency.
Coming off a season in which he made the Pro Bowl as a kickoff returner but caught just 22 passes, Robinson is looking forward to playing a feature role as lead receiver in the Vikings' new West Coast offense.
"I'm loving it," he said. "It's the same offense I played in when I was in Seattle. I had a big year (in 2002) with 1,240 yards and 78 catches, so I'm looking forward to it. I'm the No. 1 guy right now, and I'm looking forward to a big year.'
So is Williamson, who is being given the first shot at the other starting receiver spot.
He had an unspectacular rookie season with the Vikings, catching 24 passes for 372 yards and two touchdowns, but Williamson said he felt much more at home during this minicamp than he did a year ago.
"Right now, I'm just getting into the playbook and learning what I've got to do," he said. "I'm just going on from there. The draft, you really don't know what's going to happen. Now I know what's going on and what I can expect come training camp."
Based on what Robinson has seen this offseason, Williamson has the right stuff to live up to the Vikings' expectations.
"I feel like he's going to be the other starter with me," Robinson said. "We're going to rely on him. He's going to have to carry his weight and some of the load on offense. I feel like his focus is up during the offseason workout program. He's trying to learn the playbook as fast as he can and doing extra stuff to get better to show everybody his mind is right and he's ready to help us to the next level."
Looking back on his rookie season, Williamson called it "pretty much a learning experience," but Childress has said he expects the former South Carolina star to blossom this fall.
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said he and the other coaches feel good about their receiving corps, even without Burleson.
"Well, we look at it as an opportunity for those other guys that are still here," Bevell said. "We felt like we had a good stable of wide receivers. That was a strong point of this offense, and we still feel that way. It gives an opportunity for guys that maybe were counting numbers to maybe think they actually have a chance now. They've all put forth great effort. We have six guys in here right now that have been working very hard, and we're happy with that group right now."
Childress seemed less pleased when asked Sunday to evaluate the minicamp performance of his receivers.
"In general, guys that get paid to run need to make sure that they're able to run," he said. "I think we need to be in a little bit better condition. That's always a question this time of year. Body weight and conditioning — those are two things that take no talent to take care of. I would say that, across the board, as a team we could be at a little bit better level of cardio condition."
That comment was typical of the no-nonsense, businesslike atmosphere of Childress' first minicamp. But Robinson sees the method behind the tough-love strategy.
"I like coach," he said. "He's a straight shooter, just straightforward. Right now, he has to set a standard. Some people might think he's being hard, but this is his first head-coaching job. This is all new to him. You want guys to do what you say, so you've got to come in and step on some toes a little bit. Once you set a standard, everybody can relax.
"Everybody calls him a disciplinarian. I don't know if that's what was needed here, but I feel it will help us out in the little parts of the game and normal everyday life in the locker room, and that will carry over into the season."
LINK
Kleinsasser's hands are decent, but it's after the catch that he has trouble holding onto the ball - I think that Childress wants to pound the ball this year and Kleinsasser will be big part of that not the pass catching machine that Wiggins is.
'bout sums it up.
