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PurpleMustReign wrote:So, people jump to conclusions about Adrian Peterson, and no one, other than a very small handful of people, were right about any of that. Now, people clearly haven't learned anything about reporting and what is actually going on, and overreactions aplenty with Patterson.
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I hope he did learn, but in my experience people who do things like this, generally don't work out.Patterson has had 2 years in the league. Training camp for his third season just started this weekend.
I think we'd all do well to remember that Patterson reportedly worked very hard this offseason and in reference to those efforts, Zimmer said he was proud of Patterson. I understand that people are disappointed CP didn't work with the undisclosed former player Zimmer recommended to him but that doesn't mean he didn't put in a good, sincere, productive effort to get better. We shouldn't draw too many assumptions from a paucity of information. ALL we have is "He didn’t feel it was necessary to work out with the mystery former NFL wide receiver that coach Mike Zimmer set him up with, though he said he did chat with him at the Super Bowl and that Zimmer seemed cool with that". That's not much from which to draw conclusions. For example, for all we know, Patterson had already made arrangements to work with "hell's trainer" Frank Mastriciano before he met with the mysterious former player at the Super Bowl and when the latter heard about those arrangements, he might told Patterson he didn't think it was necessary to work with both men.
If Zimmer is actually "cool" with how things worked out, I see little reason for us to be overly critical about it. Patterson sounds like a young man who is quite sincerely trying to make the most of the opportunity he's been given.
Wow 
This is pretty typical when fans dont get the immediate results that they desire. Though CP does need to get it together sooner rather then later.Purple bruise wrote:2 years in the league and some are giving up on him already.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Y9Tee8vbs
He's already said this was a "make or break" year for him. I don't think the importance of this season is lost on him. He probably needs a phenomenal camp (or injury/Charles Johnson face plant) to earn snaps, though. He needs snaps to get his opportunities and I'm not sure he's going to get them consistently.Jordysghost wrote: This is pretty typical when fans dont get the immediate results that they desire. Though CP does need to get it together sooner rather then later.
Problem is he needs snaps to show he has gotten better, and he needs to show he's gotten better lest the Vikings let him walk when he hits free agency.DK Sweets wrote:I think that at this point in his career, it would probably be better for him to not get a ton of snaps. Keep him hungry for more snaps and set up a "Flash" package for when he's in the game. He's dangerous as a threat with the ball in his hands, but until he becomes a complete receiver he doesn't need to be on the field every play.
I agree 100% and it's something I've brought up previously. I think part of his issue is that he's expected to play a certain way because of his body type when in actuality he's more simliar to a Percy Harvin. If we can get back to the way that Musgrave used Harvin (and Patterson, for that matter) I would expect to see a big increase in performance. The problem is that I don't think Charles Johnson, Mike Wallace, or Jarius Wright are going to be doing a lot of great blocking on screens and reverses.mosscarter wrote:i don't think patterson is being used in the right manner whatsoever. physically, he is similar to the makeup of a julio jones but he will never be that type of receiver. they need to use him like they did harvin and just get the ball into his hands whatever way possible. i don't think we'll see patterson ever catch 90 balls for 1200 yds and 12 touchdowns. maybe i'm wrong, but nothing i've seen has led me to believe that. what about using him in the red zone? in his rookie season they threw several nice jump ball touchdowns to him. where did that go last year? he is a talented weapon, but i don't think he will develop into the receiver everyone is expecting. we'll know this year.
I also have issue with defenses knowing what's coming when he's on the field. There's still the factor they have to stop it but if he's not playing in base or even three-wide sets he's not going to see the field often. If he does and that's primarily what he's used for, it's essentially like your opponent picking your play in Tecmo Super Bowl and the offense's chances of success probably drop as a result. At least when Harvin did it he was playing upwards of 70-80% of offensive snaps and defenses couldn't key in on those types of plays as readily.DK Sweets wrote:I agree 100% and it's something I've brought up previously. I think part of his issue is that he's expected to play a certain way because of his body type when in actuality he's more simliar to a Percy Harvin. If we can get back to the way that Musgrave used Harvin (and Patterson, for that matter) I would expect to see a big increase in performance. The problem is that I don't think Charles Johnson, Mike Wallace, or Jarius Wright are going to be doing a lot of great blocking on screens and reverses.
They can do likewise with Patterson. I don't think he has be used in a limited manner. He ran a number of routes effectively at times last year, just not consistently. He was open on some deep passes where he and Bridgewater just didn't connect. I think his limitations have been oversold. If he can improve his route-running consistency, he should be on the field more often than not.dead_poet wrote:I also have issue with defenses knowing what's coming when he's on the field. There's still the factor they have to stop it but if he's not playing in base or even three-wide sets he's not going to see the field often. If he does and that's primarily what he's used for, it's essentially like your opponent picking your play in Tecmo Super Bowl and the offense's chances of success probably drop as a result. At least when Harvin did it he was playing upwards of 70-80% of offensive snaps and defenses couldn't key in on those types of plays as readily.
I don't think he has to be either (used in a limited manner). But I just don't see where he's going to get meaningful, consistent snaps. At this point he might be lucky to get 20 per game. The question is, how will the Vikings choose to use him?Mothman wrote: They can do likewise with Patterson. I don't think he has be used in a limited manner. He ran a number of routes effectively at times last year, just not consistently. He was open on some deep passes where he and Bridgewater just didn't connect. I think his limitations have been oversold. If he can improve his route-running consistency, he should be on the field more often than not.