Is more Peterson a no-brainer for Vikings?

Published: September 22nd, 2011 | Tags: Adrian Peterson, Around the League, Heath Evans, Minnesota Vikings

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Donovan McNabb says the winless Vikings are in must-win territory, and we’ve heard plenty of suggestions as to how to make that happen against 2-0 Detroit in Week 3.

Maybe that starts with a bigger dose of Adrian Peterson. Sure, that sounds obvious to most of you. Peterson ranks fourth in rushing yards (218) and seventh in attempts (41) and a healthy 5.3 yards per carry. But the Vikings, and Peterson, have been stopped cold in the second half of both games while surrendering double-digit leads. Peterson had seven carries for 24 yards in the second half against the Chargers and 10 rushes for 37 last week against the Bucs.

“I don’t think there’s enough (pressure). When you look at his numbers, this guy does nothing but produce,” Heath Evans said Thursday on “Around the League”. “They need to get the ball in this guy’s hands more. … They can’t feed this guy enough with the way they’re struggling on offense; this is that security blanket. Feed (Peterson) the football.”

Perhaps to no fault of his own, Peterson has been more “Half Day” than “All Day” this season. The Vikings are running out of time to find a solution.

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LSU's Peterson a consensus All-American

LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson was the lone SEC player to earn consensus All-America honors this season.

According to the NCAA, unanimous status is given to those who appear on all of the following All-America teams: American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Walter Camp Foundation, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Associated Press and The Sporting News.

Even though he won the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding player in college football this season, Auburn quarterback Cam Newton didn't earn consensus All-America status. He was left off the FWAA All-America team.

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Frazier is sticking to plan, which is Peterson

Eric Bieniemy probably deserved a game ball following the Vikings’ win last week over the Bills.

Adrian Peterson, who was limping around on his injured ankle and clearly wasn’t healthy during practice last Friday, had to prove to interim coach Leslie Frazier that he could play. He worked out for Frazier, Darrell Bevell and a trainer two hours before the game. Still, Frazier didn’t want to play Peterson.

But it was Bieniemy who convinced Frazier that Peterson needed to play.

Peterson, who had started 51 consecutive games, basically had to beg coaches to play. Then he went out and rushed for 107 yards and three touchdowns, including a 43-yard score.

During his postgame chat with the players, Frazier told them he didn’t know how he even thought about not playing Peterson. He joked Bieniemy should have stopped him the minute it entered his mind.

This is the kind of thing, though, that builds team unity and chemistry. The Vikings can believe in one player and that player comes through for them.

The week before against the Redskins, after Peterson injured his ankle, there was a discussion at halftime about whether the Vikings should stick with the game plan behind Toby Gerhart or let Brett Favre try to win the game. Center John Sullivan approached Frazier and encouraged him to keep running the ball. Frazier decided not to deviate from the plan.

Frazier learned from Buddy Ryan how to listen to his players. Frazier has veto power, of course, but he knows the players have a vested interest to make things work. The Vikings stuck with the game plan and went out and ran the Redskins out of the stadium.

The Vikings also stuck with the game plan against the Bills after Favre went down. They didn’t panic. This is a different team after the last two wins as a result of how they have won. And they love Frazier for it.

Peterson is the best running back in football. He runs violently and breaks the will of the defense. Defenders just don’t want to tackle him late in games. Chris Johnson is a “Can you catch him?” type of back. Peterson is that, as well as a “Can you tackle him?” back. Even if you catch him, you might not get him down … but he’s fast enough that you might not catch him.

Frazier told me the Vikings want to get back to being the team they were in 2008, and you’re seeing it the last two weeks. That was a team that ran the ball in a physical way and relied on Peterson (who had his best season in ’08 with 1,760 yards) because they didn’t have a quarterback they could rely on.

That’s where the Vikings are headed, with Peterson leading the way.

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You have to start Peterson out of obligation

Published: December 3rd, 2010 | Tags: Adrian Peterson, Adrian Peterson, Leslie Frazier, Percy Harvin, Toby Gerhart

The Vikings have officially listed RB Adrian Peterson (ankle) as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Bills. But coach Leslie Frazier told reporters that Peterson is probable to play (via the Pioneer Press).

“He did a much better job than we thought he would today, so we’re optimistic,” Frazier said.

And we know how this will fall out. Everybody will start Peterson, who will give it a go, before having to sit out after the first quarter. Then Toby Gerhart – who nobody is playing — will come in and have a great game. But you have to stick with your stud if he is going to start. Benching Peterson and watch him go nuts is much worse than starting him and having him do nothing. Though, not by much.

Vikings WR Percy Harvin (illness) is also listed as questionable for the Vikings. He is a good start if he is able to go.

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Dear coach, you can beat Buffalo without Peterson

Dear Leslie Frazier,

I feel that we have become pen pals in recent weeks. And I do appreciate you taking my advice to run the football repeatedly against the Redskins. That was huge. Only RB Adrian Peterson‘s bum ankle kept that plan from working out perfectly.

But I need you to listen to me again.

Please keep Peterson on the bench. I know that you said that Peterson’s ankle injury would probably come down to a game-time decision. No, make that decision now. That decision should be to keep him on the bench.

I understand your unwillingness to do so. I mean, it’s easy for me to say, seeing I am not the one auditioning to be the coach of the Los Angeles, oops, I mean Minnesota Vikings next year. But we have seen these ankle injuries become too problematic because the players are rushed back into the lineup way too quickly.

And if you don’t want to listen to me, just go ahead and call your pal Norv Turner in San Diego. Ask him how RB Ryan Mathews is coming along.

That’s the thing, coach. You put Peterson in the lineup, he runs wells for a couple of plays, maybe, and then he pulls up lame and is gone for the game. And then all of those fantasy enthusiasts who put Peterson in their lineup — almost out of obligation — will be left with maybe a handful of fantasy points. If they are that lucky.

The best thing to do is to run rookie RB Toby Gerhart — and not just because I added him off the waiver wire. Honestly, if you cannot beat the Bills without Peterson, I am not sure you deserve to be the coach.

Now I understand that you might just be pulling a rouse, so the Bills have to study film on Peterson. But believe me coach, I am not even sure that the Bills study film. In fact, I am not sure that they even practice. And if they do practice this week, they will likely spend all of that time reteaching WR Stevie Johnson how to catch. The Bills look like some pickup football team that gets together for a game every Thanksgiving.

So let’s end the charade and put Gerhart in the lineup. Then he becomes a start of the week, puts up a great stat line and everybody goes home happy.

Regards.

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Peterson will test ankle on Friday

Published: December 2nd, 2010 | Tags: Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart

With one week left before the start of the fantasy postseason, countless owners are holding their breath over the status of superstar Adrian Peterson. He suffered an injured ankle last week in a win over the Redskins.

While he was held out of working on Thursday, Peterson does plan to test the ankle during Friday’s practice. He also said that he’d be able to play against the Bills even if he’s not 100 percent.

“The swelling has gone down on it, more mobile and my flexibility is getting there too and the soreness is going away,” Peterson said. “I’m taking steps forward.”

Fantasy owners should expect A.D. to be a game-time decision, so be sure to check in with NFL.com’s inactives Sunday morning. If for some reason he’s unable to play, rookie Toby Gerhart would be a great sleeper in his absence against Buffalo’s weak run defense.

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