MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson led the NFL in carries in 2015 at age 30, and while the team carved out a larger role for Jerick McKinnon at the end of the season, coach Mike Zimmer doesn't necessarily see it leading to a reduction in Peterson's carries in 2016.

What the coach would like to do, however, is clear more room for Peterson to run.

"I think he can still handle the same role he’s had,” Zimmer said at the NFL combine on Thursday. “I think we have to do a better job of continuing to try to get him some more space to run in, so he’s not running into 100 guys all the time.”

Adrian Peterson will be 31 when the 2016 season starts, but the Vikings still expect him to carry the load. Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings let go of offensive line coach Jeff Davidson after the season, replacing him with former Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano. Zimmer said Thursday that he wants Sparano's personality to rub off on the Vikings' linemen. While the line's main area for improvement would seem to be in pass protection, the Vikings can do a better job of opening space for their running backs, too. Peterson was just 15th in the league in average yards before contact last season, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

Peterson talked after the season about needing to be more versatile, citing McKinnon's effectiveness on multiple facets of the Vikings' offense as a template for what he wanted for himself. Zimmer admitted after the season he thought Peterson would have more catches than the 30 he posted. The coach said he made a mistake by not doing more to help Peterson get reacquainted with the Vikings' offense in training camp and the preseason after the running back missed 15 games in 2014 following his child injury case.

But Zimmer said last month that he believes Peterson can do anything he sets his mind to in the Vikings' offense, and general manager Rick Spielman said Wednesday that Peterson is intent on proving he can expand his role in 2016.

"Everybody wants to label him from that dot position, or that deep back position," Spielman said. "I think one of the things he wants to prove is he can be just as effective out of the shotgun, and running from a spread-type offense, as just from a standard offense."

If Peterson is able to function in shotgun sets, it might help the Vikings create more space for him, but they've also got confidence in McKinnon, who ran for 538 yards as a rookie and became a nice weapon as a runner and receiver toward the end of the 2015 season. And, Spielman said on Wednesday, the Vikings eventually have to think about life after Peterson, who turns 31 next month.

"I think Adrian is still a very productive running back in this league," Spielman said. "I mean, he won the rushing title again this year and it’s amazing the stamina and the physical specimen that he still is. But at some point, everybody has to retire and I don’t know when that point is. Adrian may defy the odds and play until he is 50, I don’t know. But we’re very excited about some of the young guys."