Adrian Peterson has yet to finish his second season in pro football but former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton told Sports Headliners that Peterson is the “best runner in the National Football League.”
In 23 NFL games the 23-year-old running back has become the identity of the Vikings’ offense, a franchise player. Peterson, who leads the league in rushing yards with 1,015, was Rookie of the Year last season and finished second among NFL runners in total yards despite missing two games. Last Sunday his 29-yard touchdown run with about two minutes to play was the difference in a 28-27 win over Green Bay.
“He’s a special, special talent,” Dalton said. “A special player with the rare combination of speed, power and vision, as well as just an attitude when he plays the game. He has a certain nastiness. He runs with a little bit of violence to his game. Finishes all his runs square, with power, and he runs through tackles that would bring regular National Football League backs down. …I hope he stays healthy because he sure is fun to watch play football.”
Dalton, who still lives here and attends Vikings games, said Peterson reminds him of legendary Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown, regarded by some historians as the best runner ever. Brown was probably a stronger runner, Peterson likely faster, but both played with that nasty running style Dalton described.
Dalton was a running backs coach but never had a talent like Peterson in his years with the Vikings earlier this decade. The prospect of coaching Peterson stirs passion in Dalton and he has an opinion on how best to use him. “I would love to coach Peterson,” he said. “I would highly encourage my offensive coordinator and head coach to get (Peterson) more single back work because they’re (the Vikings) more productive when they have him in a single back and spread formation. …
“When they add that fullback in the mix right now it seems to congest things. They’re a lot more productive when they open it up with Adrian. Get him the ball deeper in the backfield. Let him find the creases. And then I’d also do a little bit more man blocking than zone blocking. …He makes your scheme work no matter what it is.”
Coach Brad Childress has watched Peterson score seven of the offense’s 20 touchdowns this season. He has learned to appreciate Peterson for multiple qualities including work ethic and attitude. “…He’s a great, great worker,” Childress said recently. “He comes to work with a smile on his face everyday. He’s not a diva. He’s not a prima donna. He gets right with it. He’s a million mile an hour guy, whether we’re in a walk through or we’re practicing.”
Looks like he’s one-in-a-million, too.