MANKATO — Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier gave his team’s 11-day training camp in Mankato high marks on Thursday, shortly after the team’s final practice at MSU. He said the weather and the atmosphere were ideal and conducive to what they were trying to get done.

“I think we just about got everything done that we wanted to get done as we get ready to embark on our trip back to Winter Park and prepare for the regular season,” he said. “I am very thankful to our fans for their support; it was a great training camp for us as a team.”

Berrian revival

Perhaps the biggest turnaround on the team during training camp has been by veteran wide receiver Bernard Berrian. The receiver has gone from nearly getting waived during the offseason to regaining his starting spot during practice.

Head coach Leslie Frazier believes the resurgence is due more to Berrian’s mental outlook than his physical skills.

“He’s come back with a great approach and the right attitude and we need that from him,” Frazier said. “We really need him to stretch the field and make big plays for us in the passing game. ... Part of what we do for a living is not just physical but (to) be mentally into what you’re doing and there’s no doubt he has come back in the right frame of mind.”

Quarterback Donovan McNabb has also been impressed and believes the receiver will have a big role in the offense this season.

“He has made some big time catches out there for us. It’s not just about his speed, he is a great rout runner as well so he will help us in the intermediate passing game, too.”

Johnson feeling better

Charlie Johnson’s first few days of practice were pretty rough. After signing a free-agent contract on the first day of training camp, then sitting out for three days, he got thrown into the top offensive line at left tackle when Bryant McKinnie was released.

“It was tough, I’ll admit that,” Johnson said. “That first practice, in full pads, and (facing Jared Allen) didn’t help. Now, we’ve had a week, and I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with the offense. And I’m a lot more comfortable with the guys around me.”

Johnson, 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, said the Vikings’ one-back offense is similar to Indianapolis, where he played for five seasons and started 54 games. But the Vikings’ two-back, run-oriented schemes are new to him.

“As I’ve gotten more practice time, I’m getting back into a routine,” he said.

An eye on veterans

Marcus Sherels knows how hard it is to crack the Vikings corps of cornerbacks. It’s the same task he had last summer at training camp.

Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield will likely be the starters when the season begins Sept. 11, and Chris Cook and Asher Allen have been competing for the nickel position. It’s unlikely that the team will keep five corners, but he still wanted to come back.

“Working with veterans like Antoine and Cedric, you learn so much,” Sherels said. “You need to be a student of the game.”

Sherels, who played at Rochester John Marshall and the University of Minnesota, was released after camp last summer be but signed to the practice squad two days later. He was released from the practice  Sept. 28 but resigned Oct. 13. He was activated for the final game against Detroit and played a handful of snaps on special teams.

“I have a year of experience under my belt, and I’m able to play faster because I know what I’m doing,” he said. “I’ll try my hardest and see what happens.”

Big Vikings fan

Alexander Robinson still has an autographed photo of Jim Marshall in his bedroom, and he remembers well the talk of the Purple People Eaters. Now that he’s wearing his hometown team’s uniform, practicing alongside Adrian Peterson, it’s been a little surreal.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Robinson, who grew up in Minneapolis and attended De La Salle. “Things are getting familiar, and I’m improving every day.”

Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said that Robinson, who played at Iowa State, was probably afraid to make a mistake in the first few days of camp.

“He’s a sharp kid,” Musgrave said. “When he gets in there, he knows exactly what to do.”

Camp Notes

The Vikings signed free agent cornerback Tony Carter to replace Marcel Gipson who left camp to deal with a death in the family. The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder out of Florida State was with Denver in 2009 and New England in 2010 .... Three players who definitely will not participate in Saturday’s preseason game at Tennessee are offensive guard Anthony Herrera (ACL), cornerback Cedric Griffin (ACL) and tight end Visanthe Schiancoe (hamstring) .... Donovan McNabb confirmed Thursday that the Vikings intend to get running back Adrian Peterson more involved in the passing game this fall. “You’ll be getting to see more of him catching the ball out of the backfield and getting up the field and picking up yards for us.”