Mike Zimmer “Has a Plan” For Cordarrelle Patterson
By Nick Fritz
What was supposed to be a breakout year for Cordarrelle Patterson has turned into one that he’d love to forget. Of course our hopes were high. He scored 9 touchdowns in 2013 and established himself as a threat through the air, on the ground and on kickoff returns. Throw all of that talent under the tutelage of Norv Turner and we should have something special on our hands.
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However, Turner clearly wasn’t going to change his offense for the likes of a single player. It’s a pretty conventional offense, with few tricks or wide receiver sweeps. Last season, Patterson rushed the ball 10 times in the last 5 games alone. This season, he ran the ball that many times ALL YEAR. If he’s going to find his way on this offense, it’s time for him to become a conventional receiver. Route running, blocking and catching have to improve over this offseason. His NFL career might depend on it.
On Sunday against the Bears, Patterson had one of his worst games as a professional. Teddy Bridgewater targeted him only once. It was dropped and intercepted. More disturbing was his effort to run down the Bear streaking down the field for a pick-6. If not for the effort of Teddy making the tackle inside the 10 yard line, it would have been a touchdown. Cordarrelle just watched.
Things like that, along with not giving 100% off the field, have caused tension between Patterson and the coaching staff. In Mike Zimmer’s post-game press conference, he was asked how he would move forward with the wide receiver. After a long, ominous pause, he said, “I’ve got a plan for this offseason for him, hopefully it works. But it’s going to be up to Cordarrelle. (another ominous pause) I’ll leave it at that.”
Don’t you just love our head coach? The man tells it like it is and uses no favoritism, whatsoever. He wants workers. He wants team players. He wants winners. Cordarrelle Patterson is a great locker room guy and a shining personality that we’ve grown to love. But until he learns to fit Zimmer’s mold, his future in Minnesota is very unclear.
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Nov 23, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) looks on prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports