Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell suggested yesterday that All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson can be more effective by not trying to go the distance on some plays. Specifically, Bevell said it can be better to “punch” into the hole rather than cut back while trying to make a big run.
“I think he tries to break every run,” Bevell said. “…I am not saying because he’s trying to break every run that he’s not doing his job. But I do believe there are some he needs to cram in there (the hole) and get the positive gain, and not try to slip it outside. Because sometimes when you slip it outside, you’re running east and west, and that’s when you get hit for a minus yardage play.”
Bevell answered questions at yesterday’s Vikings news conference including about the team’s running game that produced 62 net yards last Sunday in a 30-17 loss to Arizona. Peterson ran for only 19 yards, the second lowest of his career and fewest yards since he had three against San Francisco during the 2007 season.
Bevell wasn’t critical of Peterson yesterday and said expectations for Peterson to gain 200 yards a game aren’t realistic. Peterson, with 1,103 yards this season, has gained 100 yards or more only once in his last six games.
Peterson, with four games remaining in the regular season, has been under 100 yards nine times this season. All of last season he had only six games where he gained fewer than 100 yards.
Defenses have prioritized to stop Peterson and that has created opportunities for the Vikings to pass effectively. The challenge in running the ball on Sunday at home against Cincinnati will be formidable. The Bengals rank second in the NFL in rushing defense, giving up 81.8 yards per game. They are 12th against the pass yielding 211.5 yards per game.
Peterson and his Vikings teammates weren’t pleased with their work at Arizona. Coach Brad Childress said earlier in the week his team didn’t play with “urgency,” and yesterday Peterson blamed “lack of attitude.”
“Personally, I feel in that game everyone wasn’t there,” he said. “Lack of attitude. It can trickle down to an entire team. I feel like that was all it was. That can make the run look bad. It can make the pass game look bad. Special teams. It was all around. We can correct those things. Make sure we come in with the right mindset. We’ll be all right.”