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Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress, whose winless team will play Carolina on Sunday, spoke with reporters this week including the Observer's David Scott. Here are excerpts:
Q. How will Steve Smith's return affect the Panthers?
They have a scheme that they're playing and how they want to play the game. I'm not crazy enough to think they are not going to have some different things in to take advantage of Steve Smith and his rare skills. You better be aware of where he is at and how you are defending him.
Q. Why did you replace Tarvaris Jackson with Gus Frerotte at quarterback?
I know that one position is not the answer to everything. Everyone needs to step up and fine-tune. I just need to make sure we retain an aggressive mentality at that position. I saw it through the end of last year with (Jackson) and I saw it in training camp. I saw it at the first two games of the preseason with Tarvaris. I haven't seen it in the last two games.
Q. What makes Panthers safety Chris Harris so effective at forcing fumbles?
He is a big hitter. I know that (Panthers coach) John (Fox) and (defensive coordinator) Mike Trgovac have always put a premium on being able to break, strip, grab and loosen the football, whether it's the first guy in the pile or the second guy in the pile. Besides being a great striker, which he is, obviously he has an aptitude much like the (Charles) Tillman kid from the Bears (who) is able to take the football away.
Q. Can you describe running back Adrian Peterson?
Adrian Peterson is a rare talent. Adrian is the guy that shows up to work every day with a smile on his face. He is a million-mile-an-hour guy. He loves to practice; the only thing he loves more than that is to play. If anything, you want to grab him by the belt and slow him down at times. That's what he brings every time he is out there. He is like a Tasmanian devil and I don't think there is any downside to that.
Q. The Vikings use a two-running back system, like the Panthers. Is that a trend in the NFL now?
That's exactly the reason I see it as a trend, because you take your lumps. We started Chester (Taylor) last year in the first quarter of the first game, he's out and Adrian's in; so much for your tag-team deal. It's great to be able to not lose anything with either one of those two.
