MINNEAPOLIS -- In challenging the marks of a gridiron icon, the collegiate version of Zach Line identified and burst through even the slightest of creases. Friday, he made similar work of the first one he saw as a pro.
The Minnesota Vikings' rookie free-agent fullback can only hope the next year of his life plays out the same way.
Line turned in the longest play from scrimmage in Minnesota and Houston's preseason opener Friday night, rumbling out of the backfield, snaring a swing pass from Matt Cassel, and following receiver Stephen Burton down the right sideline for a 61-yard score. It would be Line's only meaningful opportunity in a game where the Vikings coaches opted to test their young receiving corps rather than create potential controversy in a backfield where the depth chart is relatively set.
Well aware the chances to rock that ship are scarce, Line made good on it in his team's 27-13 loss.
"I guess it was just the perfect play," said Line, who didn't touch the ball again. "You've got to make splash plays, and I'm just glad it happened."
It happened often at Southern Methodist, where Line operated as an option running back out of a shotgun-based spread attack. The 6-foot-1, 233-pound Michigan native tallied 4,185 yards during his four-year college career, good for second in school history. His 47 rushing touchdowns tied a program record.
The only other back to reach paydirt that many times in a Mustangs uniform was a guy by the name of Erick Dickerson.
But I-formation, power-running Minnesota didn't sign Line to a rookie contract because it needs another between-the-tackles, make-you-miss galloper -- the Vikings already have a couple of those, including one who won the NFL MVP award last year.
Instead, Line has spent training camp attempting to make the difficult transition to fullback, the primary duties for which involve paving the way for Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart.
"He was a good runner coming out of SMU," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said of Line. "That was one of the positives about him. Now being a fullback, we want to see him block a little bit more."
That asset hasn't come nearly as natural.
When asked to lead block Friday, Line was often turned sideways before he could help clear space for Minnesota's ballcarriers, especially on a pair of off-tackle plays in the second half that went for no gain. Hitting a hole without the ball is a new duty, one he was rarely asked to carry out in college.
"It's definitely an adjustment," said Line, the only player in Southern Methodist history to rush for more than 1,200 yards in three different seasons. "It's kind of like a whirlwind of learn quick, or get beat.
"I'm not used to lead blocking, so I've got to get the pad level down a little bit."
Running backs Peterson, Gerhart and Matt Asiata all return from last year's playoff squad along with fullback Jerome Felton. Asiata can play fullback, too, leaving virtually no room for Line on the active roster.
With those spots all but locked up, Minnesota displayed a pass-to-run ratio completely uncharacteristic of its regular-season tendencies; Vikings quarterbacks threw 33 passes, while only 14 running plays were called.
So when Line saw a wide-open expanse of Metrodome turf 2 minutes, 20 seconds into the second quarter, he knew another crack to try and slip through probably wasn't coming anytime soon.
"That was an exceptional run," Frazier said.
Crouched under center at his own 39-yard line, Cassel dropped back five steps, took a quick peek downfield in the direction of blanketed tight end John Carlson, then flung ball to Line in the right flat. Line stutter-stepped through safety D.J. Swearinger's arm tackle attempt and let Burton clear the out the next 35 yards before cutting back and hopping into the end zone, eliciting the loudest cheer of the evening from a contingent audibly enthused to be witnessing a football game again.
A small chunk of the contest's 62,306 witnesses were Line's future in-laws; his fiance's family hails from Clear Lake, Iowa, and are "huge Vikings fans," he said. About 30 of her relatives and both of Line's parents took in his highlight-reel moment.
It was a simple enough play call. "That's the best touchdown pass I've ever thrown," joked Cassel, who completed 12 of 19 passes for 212 yards in his Minnesota debut.
But it could just be the latest opening for Line to navigate, perhaps onto the Vikings' practice squad or another roster in need of a back who's mighty comfortable with the ball in his hands.
"He showed his open-field running ability, the ability to catch the football," said Frazier, who has between now and Aug. 27 to trim his roster from 90 to 75 players. "So that was encouraging. Now, we just got to keep working with him as a lead blocker and just see if he can fulfill that role as well."
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