Former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton told Sports Headliners he expects the Vikings to make Adrian Peterson’s fumbling problem a priority this off season.
The All-Pro running back had seven fumbles during the regular season and two in last Sunday’s NFC championship loss against New Orleans. During three seasons in the NFL Peterson has gained over 1,300 yards each year. He led the NFL in rushing in 2008 with 1,760 yards. Any discussion of the NFL’s best running back either leads with Peterson or quickly includes him in the conversation.
But even prior to the most recent season and playoffs, fumbling was an issue. He fumbled nine times during the 2008 regular season and had four fumbles in 2007.
The timing of some fumbles has been costly. Among the memorable was his overtime fumble in Chicago last December that led to a Vikings’ loss. The defeat cost the Vikings home field advantage in the NFC title game and possibly an eventual trip to the Super Bowl.
“He’s got way too many fumbles,” Dalton said. “There’s no question about it.”
Dalton coached running backs under former Vikings head coach Mike Tice. He follows the Vikings closely because of media assignments on local TV and for Sirius Satellite Radio. He said Peterson and the Vikings are upset about the fumbling issue.
“Absolutely, they’re concerned about it,” Dalton said. “They’re completely frustrated, as is the young man. This isn’t a conscientious thing. This isn’t a lazy thing. This is an instinctive thing. He’s got to…emphasize the fundamentals. …His emphasis now has to be on ball security.”
Dalton regards running backs coach Eric Bieniemy as “detail oriented” and expects him to work with Peterson to correct the fumbling problem. The consequences of not doing so will bring the same results.
“Because…what happens in the National Football League is that every defender spends time every day in practice working on stripping and punching out (the ball) and creating turnovers,” Dalton said. “They’re all world class athletes when you get out there. When Adrian was a man among boys in college he could get away with some of the mechanics because he’s just so powerful. He’s got strong arms and strong hands. There should be no reason that he’s having as many fumbles as he is.”
The 6-1, 217 pound Peterson runs with a violent style, intent on breaking tackles and making long runs, seemingly on every carry. Dalton said Peterson exposes himself to fumbles when he drops the ball down low, or overextends himself trying too hard to fight off a tackler and not having the ball secured. He must learn to have the proper pressure points on the ball with his hands and arms.
Emphasis on the fundamentals can bring results. Dalton recalled a season when Vikings running backs fumbled only three times when he was coaching. He also mentioned how Tiki Barber, who fumbled 35 times during four seasons, corrected his problem when Tom Coughlin became head coach of the New York Giants.
Dalton said “that’s what needs to happen with Adrian Peterson.” There’s no questioning Peterson’s talent and intensity. When the problem is corrected, Dalton said “you’re going to have a magnificent player.”