Everything the Vikings have done since the conclusion of last season — from hiring of former Super Bowl-winning coach Gary Kubiak, to spending a high draft pick on bulky ballcarrier Alexander Mattison — has fallen in line with the school of thought that head coach Mike Zimmer has subscribed to since the early days of his career.

As much as the 63-year-old Zimmer is known as a defensive savant for how he so expertly schemes against opponents, his hard-nosed approach to the game is something that stretches to the offensive side of the ball.

Though spread offenses have become the norm among NFL teams, Zimmer would still much rather establish the run game and go from there.

Thus, the Vikings have implemented a new run-heavy scheme this offseason, and while that means star running back Dalvin Cook should expect an increased workload, it also means that backup role will be extremely important in the long run.

“You don’t want to run the No. 1 back into the ground,” Cook said earlier this offseason. “You see that around the league. It is a two-back league. You definitely need two backs to run the football. It would be selfish to say otherwise.”

That’s where Mattison and second-year back Mike Boone come into the equation. Both reported to training camp a few days early, privy to the fact that they will be locked in a position battle for the next month or so, and maybe even longer.

Not that either is too concerned about any animosity creeping in.

“Everybody has each other’s back,” Mattison said. “As a group, we’re just trying to be the legs of the team.”

“Exactly,” Boone agreed. “It’s all love. We come out here to compete and at the end of the day we’re still boys when we leave the field.”

Still, it’s only a matter of time before somebody separates themselves as the next man in line, and chances are it won’t be simply because of how either of them is carrying the ball.

“I think the biggest thing for those two guys is really the pass protection part of things and the pass routes that they have to run,” Zimmer said. “Just carrying the ball for those guys is pretty natural. It’s the other parts — where they have to block this linebacker or that linebacker, whichever one comes, or they have to get in a certain route, and it’s a read route. Those things are all things that take the most time for running backs.”

In that sense, Boone might have the upper hand over Mattison, at least for the time being. He spent last season with the Vikings, behind Cook and former backup Latavius Murray, and finished his rookie year running for 47 yards on 11 carries. Murray signed with the New Orleans Saints in the offseason.

“It feels good to have some experience under my belt,” Boone said. “I’m more comfortable in pass pro and things like that. That’s what really separates guys at this level. Everybody can make somebody miss and run for a first down. It’s about being able to consistently protect the quarterback and pick up on concepts and schemes on the fly.”

Though Boone has more experience starting training camp, he was an undrafted free agent, and Mattison might be viewed as a bigger investment since he was a third-round pick. He is well-spoken, and managed to turn some heads during organized team activities a couple of months ago.

“It feels good to get back out here and start to get things flowing again,” Mattison said. “It comes back a lot quicker because in OTAs we spent a lot of time out here. It’s about trying to contribute in any way I can, and wherever they need me. I just want to make sure I can contribute.”

While the position battle will be a talking point moving forward, with how much the Vikings plan to run the ball this seasons, there’s a chance both players play a role in some way, shape or form.

“We are going to put the ball on the ground a little more, and as a group, obviously that’s great for us,” Boone said. “It’s a long season. It’s better when there are two guys back there that can produce. Just for Dalvin to know that he has a solid backup and solid teammates adds depth and gives us a better chance at winning.”