Former Vikings running backs coach Dean Dalton told Sports Headliners he’s still an Adrian Peterson admirer but after last season Peterson must re-establish himself as the No. 1 rusher in the NFL.
“No, there’s a legitimate debate,” Dalton said. “Chris Johnson ran for a couple thousand yards last year. He kept Tennessee alive when they were 0-6 and then they had an 8-2 finish. …”
Johnson led the league in rushing with 2,006 yards. What Dalton liked, too, was Johnson didn’t have turnover problems like Peterson who fumbled seven times during the 2009 regular season and six of them were recovered by the opposition.
Peterson, who led the NFL in rushing in 2008, ran for 1,383 yards last season. Dalton not only likes Peterson’s speed, power and elusiveness, but said the fourth year running back is improving his pass protection and catching. Still, Dalton, who hosts an NFL show on Sirius Satellite Radio, said Johnson will be No. 1 in the league “until Adrian can unseat him.”
Going into Sunday’s game against Detroit, Peterson is third in NFL rushing with 232 yards, while Johnson is No. 5 with 176 yards. After two games Peterson has no fumbles and that trend will obviously help him become No. 1.
In the September 20 issue of Sports Illustrated Peterson told Dan Patrick he’s better than Johnson. Patrick asked Peterson his reaction to those who say Johnson is the best?
“I say to each his own,” Peterson said. “I play the game to be the best player, and that doesn’t change my mindset at all.”