Donovan McNabb: Can He Help Adrian Peterson to Become a Better Pass Catcher?

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave intends to increase Adrian Peterson's role in the passing game. 

This is a good thing—especially with no clear cut down-field, number one receiver.

Peterson has indicated that he wants to be an every-down back, a role he struggled in last season.

Donovan McNabb wants to prove he is still an effective quarterback.

While it's still extremely early in the 2011 NFL season, it's good to know the offensive coordinator and the team's best offensive weapons have the same objective.

McNabb may be the best quarterback to come to Minnesota to get a running back involved in the passing game.

For eight of his 11 seasons in Philadelphia, McNabb shared the Eagles backfield with running back Brian Westbrook. McNabb and Westbrook led the Eagles to the playoffs in six of those eight seasons, with four appearances in the NFC Championship game. 

In 2004, both McNabb and Westbrook would be named to the Pro Bowl when they led the Eagles to a 13-3 record and trip to Super Bowl XXXIX. That season, Westbrook's 73 receptions would finish second on the team to Terrell Owens' 77.

Over four seasons (2004 to 2007) Westbrook would lead the Eagles in rushing with an average of 995 yards per season. He would also lead the team in receptions in three of those seasons, averaging 75.2 receptions.

Westbrook's best season came in 2007 when he rushed for 1,333 yards and caught a team-high 90 passes for 771 yards.

After having his worst season in 12 years, McNabb comes to Minnesota with something to prove; being able to turn around and hand off to one of the best running backs in the NFL is a good way to prove he still has the ability to lead a team to the playoffs.

For his career, McNabb has averaged 6.9 yards per passing attempt—almost perfect for the swing pass out of the backfield.

In four seasons, Peterson has averaged 29.8 receptions. If McNabb's first appearance in Purple is any indication—and it's way too early to count on it—the short passing game could be a huge part of the Vikings offense. McNabb completed six passes for a total of only 40 yards, a 6.7 yard average. This would bode well for Peterson to increase his presence in the passing game.

Think of the headaches defensive coordinators will get trying to figure out how to defend the Vikings with McNabb in the shotgun and Peterson on one side, Joe Webb on the other, and Percy Harvin in the slot.

The potential of having Peterson add another 700 receiving yards on top of the 1,445 rushing yards he's averaged since joining the Vikings in 2007 can only help to open things up for Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe and Kyle Rudolph. Perhaps Bernard Berrian and Michael Jenkins could even become significant contributors lined up out wide. 

Here's to hoping for a win-win-win-win situation—Musgrave gets Peterson more involved in the passing game, Peterson stays on the field for the third down, McNabb proves he's not washed up, and the Vikings improve on their 6-10 record from last season.