Special teams are crucial

Pat Christman/The Free Press

Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer spoke to the media after Saturday morning's walk-through practice and said that Percy Harvin (pictured) is the team's No. 1 kickoff returner -- when available.

"When we have the opportunity to use him, we'll use him," Priefer said. "When we can't, we're going to train two or three other guys to make sure we have a capable backup."

With a team full of young faces, Preifer talked about having three punt and punt return teams and three kickoff and kick return teams during camp. Players are going to have opportunities to win jobs. The coach said he has picked the brain of newcomer Zackary Bowman, whom the Vikings signed as a free agent from Chicago, a team with an outstanding return game.

"The mentality that they take to every Sunday is where I want our guys to get to. And that's a great challenge for us with the Bears, Packers and Lions; they're all very good special teams units," Preifer said, adding that Bowman told him the Bears have the mentality that "they believe every time they return the ball, punt or kickoff, they had a chance to score.

Some other notes:

* Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said the Vikings will miss retired tight end Jimmy Kleinsasser, saying "it may take two players to replace Jim," because of the fullback-type duties Kleinsasser took on as well as the way he blocked as a tight end play.

* After a good first practice passing (Thursday afternoon), Musgrave said this of quarterback Chrisian Ponder: "Christian has a greater working knowledge of our system than he did 12 months ago -- hopefully even more than we started in May. ... We'll continue to ramp him up, as well as our whole offense up, based on what they can handle."

* Both Musgrave and Preifer sounded like they're excited to have practices in full pads, which will be Monday.

* Linebacker Chad Greenway said he was glad to make the Pro Bowl last year but felt like he's had better seaons. "For me, there are a lot of things to get better at. In some ways, I took some steps backward last year."