Vikings WR Patterson putting in work in hopes of bounce-back season
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Cordarrelle Patterson arrived on the NFL scene in spectacular fashion, a versatile playmaker who was a first-round draft pick after a big trade, complete with his "Flash" nickname and the game to match.
The early talk centered on why the flashy receiver wasn't making a bigger impact as a rookie, slow to be utilized heavily by the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff at the time. He was already showing his talent by becoming one of the league's best kickoff returners. Late in the season, Patterson developed into an offensive weapon.
The rhetoric entering last season was about a receiver on the verge of a true breakout in his second season. The impact didn't match the words and Patterson became a highly discussed bench player. Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer said a plan was devised for Patterson's offseason, but Zimmer and the Vikings didn't want to divulge much information.
For Minnesota and Patterson, progress wasn't going to be defined by words.
"I just want to let my game speak for itself," Patterson said last month as he returned to Vikings headquarters for voluntary offseason workouts. "I just focused on the little things that really matter and I hope this year will be way better than last year and I hope I can continue just to grow and get better."
Like Zimmer, Patterson remained tight-lipped about his offseason work. By all accounts, Patterson followed through on the offseason to-do list designed by the team. But Patterson had more in mind.
Patterson went to San Francisco to work with a trainer. Patterson had spent weeks with the guy he would only refer to as "Frank" and was going back to the Bay Area when he was done with some of the workouts with the team at Winter Park.
"It's just nothing to talk about," said the suddenly reserved receiver. "I went to San Francisco to work on things I feel like I can improve on. I had a good talk with my agent and I felt good about it. When we get done here, I'm going to shoot back up to San Francisco."
"Frank" turned out to be Frank Matrisciano, a well-known trainer -- but one who enjoys some amount of mystery -- who has worked with Navy SEALs, triathletes and NBA players like Minnesota Timberwolves Shabazz Muhammad, Anthony Bennett and Ronny Turiaf. Muhammad, Bennett and Turiaf returned to the team this past season with bodies transformed by Matrisciano's "chameleon training."
Patterson hoped for the same. He was looking for the edge to get the most out of his immense talents.
"This whole offseason, I spent a lot of time just thinking to myself, 'How can I get better?'" Patterson said. Entering his third season in the NFL, Patterson knew the importance of this offseason.
He earned a Pro Bowl invitation as a rookie after leading the NFL with a 32.4-yard kickoff return average and two returns for touchdowns, including an NFL record-tying 109-yard return. He added four receiving touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns as a threat any time the ball was in his hands.
Last year he slipped from 45 catches for 469 receiving yards to 33 receptions for 384 yards. His kickoff return average slipped to 25.6 yards per return. He had two total touchdowns, none on returns.
"I try to say last year didn't happen, but it really did happen," Patterson said. "So sometimes I found myself always thinking about last year and I have to get past that. (Receivers coach George Stewart) always taught me that God gave you eyes on the front of your head so you can see where you're going and not where you've been. I've just got to keep that mindset. Just let last year go and just get better."
Zimmer has noticed and is pleased with the offseason work put in by Patterson, who's suddenly looking at a depth chart that includes offseason trade acquisition Mike Wallace, last year's breakout player Charles Johnson and Jarius Wright. Patterson will try to etch out his own niche and become a valuable piece of the receiving corps.
"He's really done well," Zimmer said last week of Patterson. "He's running routes good. He's working hard. So we just need him to continue to do those things and continue to keep getting consistent and keep improving. I've been impressed with the things that he's done."
Consistency, particularly in route running, is a major factor for Patterson. Always blessed with the physical talent, Patterson has concentrated more on the mental aspect of the game.
"Growing up, I was always athletic and could just do anything," Patterson said. "I'm in the NFL now so I just have to focus on my craft and just work at route running, getting in and getting out of breaks and stuff like that."
Patterson realized he needed more than just his speed and athleticism to succeed against NFL defenses. Patterson and the Vikings hope the offseason work, both mentally and physically, helps him rediscover the game-breaking ability which led to so much talk about the young receiver and returner.
"I felt like I was letting my whole team down and the coaches," Patterson said of seeing his season slip away last year. "I feel like I have a lot to prove this year to everyone, fans and everybody else. So, this year is going to make me or break me. I hope I step up this year and have a good role in this offense."
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