Minnesota Vikings: Cordarrelle Patterson misses the point

The Minnesota Vikings are hoping for more production from Cordarrelle Patterson at wide receiver, and that starts with Patterson getting his head in the right place.

Cordarrelle Patterson burst upon the scene his rookie season with 45 receptions for 469 yards and nine touchdowns. Then something terrible happened to Patterson: the Vikings fired Bill Musgrave and hired Norv Turner.

Since Turner arrived, Patterson has been used only sparingly as a wide receiver, and in two seasons has produced just 35 catches for 394 yards and one touchdown.

Last year, Patterson caught only two balls for ten yards. Not the numbers you’re looking for from a first-round pick.

To Patterson’s credit, he has spent this offseason trying to improve as a receiver, efforts that have not been lost on head coach Mike Zimmer.

After Zimmer’s praise of Patterson, fans started to think maybe Flash had finally turned a corner and was starting to get it. But does Patterson get it?

Sometimes Patterson talks and you think maybe he still is missing the point. St. Paul Pioneer-Press reporter Chris Tomasson tweeted several quotes from Patterson Monday and this one really stood out as evidence that Flash is still not quite where he needs to be in terms of his mental approach:

Patterson did indeed make some electrifying plays his rookie season. But those plays only happened because then-offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave was willing to manufacture touches for the receiver.

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Over the past two years, the film has shown that Patterson is nowhere near where he needs to be when it comes to the fundamentals of the wide receiver position. And Norv Turner has thus far been unwilling to mix in the kind of plays that might showcase what Patterson can do as an open-field runner.

Should Turner try harder to get Patterson the ball in ways that allow him to make use of his talents? Patterson appears to think so.

Patterson’s remarks strongly imply that he was happier his first season when Bill Musgrave was dialing his number, and that he’s grown somewhat frustrated with his reduced role.

Sorry but a man who caught just two balls for ten yards doesn’t get to imply anything about his role.

Some fans think Norv Turner is out-of-touch but his track-record speaks for itself. Norv Turner has forgotten more about running an offense than most fans will ever know.

And if Norv Turner thinks Cordarrelle Patterson isn’t any good, then Cordarrelle Patterson isn’t any good.

After so many months of positive reports on Patterson, it’s somewhat annoying to see him running his mouth off in a way that suggests he’s not happy playing in Norv Turner’s system.

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Somebody inform Patterson that the Vikings have plenty of receivers who can produce in Turner’s offense, and he is pretty much an afterthought.

Maybe it would be best for the Vikings to try to move Patterson in a trade. Evidently, he is not thrilled to be in Minnesota.

I wish he would focus on getting better and stop talking to the press. Every time he opens his mouth, something kind of silly comes out.