Slow to (the line of scrimmage), fast through. Let the scheme work for you.

"I'm always in his ear, and he's tired of me saying the same things," Vikings running backs coach Eric Bieniemy said of Peterson. "But throughout the course of a game, you have to calm him down.

"I'm a coach-slash-psychologist."

Repetition has yielded execution in one of Peterson's primary preseason goals: letting his blocks develop, then launching himself upfield.

Bieniemy and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell do not have tangible statistics to track Peterson's patience. But they insist their star tailback has improved in that area.

"Trust me. He's done an outstanding job of being more patient," Bieniemy said. "Is he there? Not yet. He still has a long way to go. But that's part of the process."

Added Bevell, "He's another year better."

During the bye, as part of his in-depth evaluation of the first half of this season, Bevell scrutinized Peterson's carries and asked two questions.

"I don't think there's anything, statistically, you can point to," Bevell said. "You look at tape, and watch the same play, over and over.

"Is he reading it right? And is he putting it up on the heels of the linemen?"