Forcing the Ball to Cordarrelle Patterson isn’t Working
By Dan Zinski
I want Cordarrelle Patterson to be a great receiver. You want Cordarrelle Patterson to be a great receiver. We all want Cordarrelle Patterson to be a great receiver.
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But is it possible that Cordarrelle Patterson will never be a great receiver? Or even a good receiver?
Right now, Cordarrelle Patterson isn’t any kind of receiver.
The only time Patterson impacts a game is when Norv Turner gets him the ball on a designed play and lets him take advantage of his return skills.
Patterson running routes, trying to get separation from defenders, doing all the other things receivers are supposed to be able to do…he just isn’t getting it done.
Yet, with all the pressure to get Patterson the ball, Vikings QBs keep forcing it to him.
Two pieces of evidence that show why it’s a terrible idea to keep forcing the ball to Patterson.
1.
Per @PFF, #Vikings QBs have a 40.9 passer rating and have thrown zero touchdowns and four picks when targeting Cordarrelle Patterson.
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) October 13, 2014
2.
Forcing the ball to Patterson isn’t working. Coaching a rookie QB like Teddy Bridgewater to look for Patterson when Patterson isn’t getting open is not going to help his progress.
Bridgewater needs to stay calm and make his reads and hit his open men. If Patterson can’t get open then the Vikings will have to find a receiver who can.
Maybe Patterson is just not very good. It’s possible.