Vikings draft picks haven't played much

Former Vikings coach Bud Grant used to say he never expected any draft choice to show what he could really do until his third year in uniform.

Contrary to that theory, the Vikings certainly had one of their best drafts in history last season, when all five 2009 draft choices played a big part in the team's 12-4 regular-season record and a place in the NFC Championship Game before losing to the Saints, the eventual Super Bowl champions.

Vikings talent evaluators did a great job drafting, considering how late in each round they were picking.

After finishing 10-6 in 2008, the Vikings drafted 22nd in the first round in 2009. Their top choice was Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin, who went on to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. They also received quality contributions from Oklahoma offensive tackle Phil Loadholt (round 2, No. 54 overall pick) Georgia cornerback Asher Allen (3, No. 86), South Carolina linebacker Jasper Brinkley (5, No. 150) and Mississippi safety Jamarca Sanford (7, No. 231).

Two games into the season, the Vikings' 2010 draft choices haven't been as productive as the 2009 group was. Only second-round selection Toby Gerhart, a running back from Stanford, was active against Miami last Sunday. Gerhart missed the opener because of a knee injury. Another second-round draft choice, cornerback Chris Cook of Virginia, hasn't yet played during the regular season after having arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Injuries and the fact that it is tougher to win a regular position on this veteran team are two reasons why other players from the 2010 draft haven't moved into the starting lineup.

None of the other draft choices has seen any action. They are defensive end Everson Griffen of Southern California (fourth round), offensive lineman Chris De- Geare of West Virginia (fifth), quarterback Joe Webb of Alabama-Birmingham (sixth) and linebacker Ryan D'Imperio of Rutgers (seventh).

Former Gophers linebacker Nate Triplett (fifth) was released. The Vikings asked waivers on tight end Mickey Schuler of Penn State (seventh), and he was claimed by Miami.

It appears Cook, who played well in the preseason until he was hurt, could play Sunday against Detroit. And look for more playing time for Gerhart.

Big future for Gray For three years, Gophers quarterback Adam Weber's favorite target was wide receiver Eric Decker, who broke a lot of team receiving records. So Weber was asked to compare the athletic ability of MarQueis Gray, who has really put on a show so far, with Decker.

"There's a whole level of focus," said Weber, who will lead the Gophers against Northern Illinois at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday night. "Eric had four seasons to develop into a wide receiver, and MarQueis has been doing it for two months. Already he is leaps and bounds ahead, and if he continues to develop he's going to have one heck of a season. Already he's putting up some amazing numbers, but I look for him to continue to improve. He's got such a high ceiling, the sky's the limit for him."

Gray is working at quarterback as well as wide receiver, a very tough combination. As a receiver, Gray has caught 14 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

"What he does as a wide receiver, he can do that as a quarterback," Weber said. "He's going to find a way to get his yards. He's a quarterback that's hard to tackle. When the pocket breaks down he's such a gifted runner. That's a good problem to [have] -- he [could be] an all-conference wide receiver and then could be an All-American quarterback, and you try to pick which positions he can play. If that's the case, then I think next year we're in a good spot if we have to figure out which position MarQueis is going to play."

After watching the film of their 32-21 loss to No. 18 Southern California on Saturday, the Gophers were upset because they thought officials missed calling two big penalties on the Trojans.

One was a block from behind committed on Troy Stoudermire near the USC 40-yard line, right in front of an official, and it came on the 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by the Trojans' Robert Woods in the third quarter after the Gophers had taken a 14-13 lead. Then there was a second-quarter call that a USC punt touched a Gophers returner and the Trojans recovered on the Minnesota 38-yard line.

It will be interesting to see if the Big Ten admits errors were made.

Baker OK with relieving Twins pitcher Scott Baker, who has started 137 of the 139 games in which he has appeared for the Twins since 2005, said he doesn't believe it will be a problem if he is asked to go to the bullpen for the playoffs.

"You know, obviously, I haven't been there a ton," Baker said. "But I think you know there's a question of whether you can warm up fast enough or not, and for me personally, I don't think that will be a problem.

"As a starter you have plenty of time to get loose, but once that call comes down to the bullpen for you to get loose, I think the adrenaline gets going and it doesn't take quite as long.

"It'd be a little bit of an adjustment, but it's not anything that I couldn't handle."

Jottings • During Ron Gardenhire's nine years as Twins manger, 29 different players have played third base. But now it appears rookie Danny Valencia, who is hitting .424 at home and .332 overall, has become the third baseman of the future.

• Twins infielder Matt Tolbert has been hot, hitting .318 in September. Before September, Tolbert was hitting only .220 (11-for-50).

• The Vikings have about 300 tickets left for Sunday's game against Detroit.

• Vikings Pro Bowl wide receiver Sidney Rice missed his first year at South Carolina because of a hyperextended left knee and received a medical redshirt year. Rice will miss at least six games this season as he recuperates from hip surgery.

• Former longtime Vikings trainer Fred Zamberletti, who held the same job at Iowa before moving to the pros, will be honored at halftime of the Penn State-Iowa game on Oct. 2 at Iowa City. NFL Films is going to release a big film that depicts Zamberletti's life with the Vikings. He never has missed a game in the franchise's history. ... Speaking of Zamberletti, former Gophers and New York Giants center Greg Larson said he never would have played 13 years in the NFL after he suffered a leg injury if it wasn't for Zamberletti's treatment. Larson, who was one of the 1960 Gophers football national champions who were honored last week, said a doctor told him his career was over and Zamberletti saved it.

Sid Hartman can be heard weekdays on WCCO AM-830 at 6:40, 7:40 and 8:40 a.m. • shartman@startribune.com