If you were to use one word to describe Cordarrelle Patterson’s 2014 season it would be “bust”.
Patterson, a first round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2013, not only failed to improve on his numbers from his rookie season, but he actually regressed.
The former Vol wide receiver, in his second season in the NFL, caught ten less passes for 84 less yards than he did as a rookie.
But there could be a reason for Patterson’s regression that goes beyond his playing ability — the absence of running back Adrian Peterson.
Peterson was the undoubted centerpiece of the Vikings’ offense going into last season. When he was suspended, the Vikings didn’t have anywhere to turn to replace his production.
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A lot of folks believed that Patterson would be able to carry the ball out of the backfield to help alleviate some of the pressures in the running game for the Vikings.
That wasn’t the case.
Patterson couldn’t find any running room and actually played worse without Peterson in the lineup.
In fact, Patterson’s best game last season came in week one, before Peterson’s suspension, when he caught 3 passes for 26 yards and rushed the ball 3 times for 102 yards, including his lone rushing touchdown of the season.
Now those aren’t eye-popping numbers by any means, but there’s no questioning that the entire offense is opened up when Peterson is on the field.
Patterson’s strength is getting the ball in open space. Bubble-screens, end-arounds, etc. In order for Patterson to thrive, he has to get the ball in favorable situations where the defense is caught off guard.
He’ll of course have to develop his route running and become a more complete wide receiver if he wants a sustainable future in the NFL. Until he develops those traits, Patterson will have to rely on his natural ability.
Unfortunately for the freakishly athletic wide receiver, teams were able to zero in on Patterson last season, essentially removing him from the gameplan.
Patterson will also have to learn to adapt to defenses game-planning for him, but until that transformation is complete, he’ll be aided by the return of Adrian Peterson.
I’m not saying you should expect a Pro-Bowl caliber season from Cordarrelle Patterson in 2015, but I think you’ll see him improve on his numbers from not only last season, but his rookie season as well.