Minnesota Vikings: Observations from Mini-Camp

Cordarrelle Patterson is Locked In

Over the past few seasons, we have heard the same things over and over again. “Patterson is working really hard this offseason.” That is why when we heard it again this offseason, most want to see results before giving Cordarrelle Patterson the benefit of the doubt.

After catching just two passes last season, the Minnesota Vikings declined to pick up Cordarrelle Patterson’s fifth-year option. This must have been an eye-opener for him. He seems like he is focused on making an impact on the field this upcoming season and not just on special teams.

Head Coach Mike Zimmer is not the type to give compliments that are not deserved. Remember after the season concluded Zimmer was quoted saying that the Vikings defense “wasn’t very good.” Zimmer has been able to see the progress of Patterson first hand and has raved about him on multiple occasions from OTAs to minicamp. Here is what Zimmer had to say yesterday about Patterson’s progress.

"“He’s not making mental errors — very, very few mental errors,” Zimmer said Tuesday. “He’s running the routes at the proper depth, he’s lining up in the proper place. I don’t know that it’s ever been an issue with athletic ability with him, but maybe sometimes the focus. [Before Tuesday’s practice] he said, ‘I’m going to get better today.’ In the past, it maybe was not all about that.”"

Patterson has built a bond with Vikings Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. We will see if that bond translates to on the field play. Patterson says he plans to go back to California to work with cross-fit trainer Frank Matrisciano and to Florida to attend the “Teddy Two Gloves Passing Academy”(which players have named their offseason Florida workouts with Bridgewater). He says that workouts with Bridgewater in Florida come first, though.

Next: Super Bowl Goals