Written by Sam Ekstrom
It’s not a glamorous job being Adrian Peterson’s back-up. Just ask Toby Gerhart, who was drafted in the second round, only to spend four quiet years in Peterson’s shadow and move on to Jacksonville in free agency.
But when you are Matt Asiata, an undrafted back from Utah, it’s not such a bad gig.
Asiata made the team as a third back last season and started two games with Peterson and Gerhart sidelined with injury.
In his first career start, Asiata scored three touchdowns in a victory over Philadelphia. Two weeks later, he amassed 115 yards and over eight yards per carry in the season finale against Detroit.
“Your number can be called any time,” said Asiata. “Whatever they want you to do, you’ve got to come up there and step up, do your assignments and just do your job.
“I had to step up, and I had to show them what I could show them; show them on the field. Filling in for Adrian and Toby, I had my chance.”
Asiata was never a finesse back, exactly. In his four years at Utah, he never averaged more than five yards a carry. He ran a 4.77 40-yard dash time at the combine – about right for his 5-foot-11, 230-pound frame. He made infamous history in his debut start against the Eagles by carrying the ball 30 times for only 51 yards, the second fewest in history for a ball carrier with 30 or more attempts.
But his burly build is durable, his pass blocking is sound – farther along than rookie Jerick McKinnon’s – and he feels apt to catch passes in Norv Turner’s offense.
“Yeah, I take pride in that,” said Asiata of his pass catching. “In coming out of the backfield and catching the ball – that’s what coaches see me do, and I take a lot of pride in it.”
It was important for the Vikings to have a cheap counterpart to Peterson, who is set to make almost $12 million this year. Asiata is earning less than $600,000.
The third-year running back is also valuable to help ease the rookie McKinnon’s transition. McKinnon doesn’t have the size to be a third-down back, nor the experience as a blocker since he was a quarterback in college. When asked about his mentors on the team, McKinnon listed Asiata first, and Asiata is more than willing to tutor the rookie.
“[Jerick] started off like a rookie, but he kind of picked it up,” said Asiata. “He stepped in, and he’s doing a lot better… Whatever he needs help with, we’re going to help him.”
The Vikings’ plan is not necessarily to choose between Asiata and McKinnon in terms of which back gets more game reps. Both bring something different to the table. Asiata will be the more traditional second back, good at pounding away in short-yardage scenarios, while McKinnon acts as a wild card who can run, catch and even pass the ball.
It is likely that both back-ups will receive touches on a game-to-game basis, unlike last year for Asiata where he only had carries in two different games. This kind of security is helpful for Asiata to stay focused.
“Just stay motivated, just come in and do your job; you never know when your number’s going to get called.”
| Sam Ekstrom is a staff writer for Cold Omaha at 105 The Ticket. He has previously served as a play-by-play broadcaster in Iowa and South Dakota and has covered Minnesota sports since 2012. Follow him on Twitter @SamEkstrom for further insights. |