WR Cordarrelle Patterson

[Mothman]

Hopefully Jennings and maybe even a healthy Simpson can provide opportunities for more down-field passing than we had last year. If Patterson can help restore some of the short-field plays that Percy brought to the offense, then I think it is a win-win.

Agreed. If Simpson can step up (which is a big "if") then between Jennings, Simpson and Wright (who did a nice job on some deep routes last year) they should be able to put together a more effective downfield passing game even without getting Patterson heavily involved. However, he did make some big plays down the field at Tennessee so I'm sure he'll get opportunities and hopefully, he'll make the most of them.

It would help this team a lot if Simpson stayed healthy and played up to his potential this season. I'm not going to make any predictions or count on improvement from anybody but there's a chance the Vikings WR corps could look much, much better in 2013 than it did over the course of 2012.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Kevin Siefert has written a nice piece on Patterson and how the Vikes may use him this season:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... -patterson

It concludes with this:
I'm excited to see what Patterson will bring to the offense but why do I get the feeling that if the Vikes wisely find ways to get the ball in his hands without asking him to do more than he can initially handle in terms of downfield route-running, we're going to have another season of fussing and fretting over how far Ponder's passes travel in the air?

Lol. It will happen Jim, don't worry about that!

In all seriousness, I hope Ponder doesn't force the ball to Patterson though. I hope this year he is comfortable enough to go through his progressions instead of taking option one immediately. Time will tell, but I think Ponder has a good chance to prove his worth this year.

[Mothman]

In all seriousness, I hope Ponder doesn't force the ball to Patterson though. I hope this year he is comfortable enough to go through his progressions instead of taking option one immediately. Time will tell, but I think Ponder has a good chance to prove his worth this year.

I do too but remember, it's a QB's job to take the first option in his progression if that option is open (unless, of course, his pre-snap read tells him he'll have a better play elsewhere). That's why it's his first option. When Musgrave was calling those bubble screens and quick passes to Harvin, it was Ponder's job to get the ball to Harvin immediately if the play was there and on those quick-hitters, if the QB takes the time post-snap to scan the field and consider options, the opportunity to throw quick-developing routes like slants and bubble screens is gone. Those are routes that have to be thrown quickly and decisively.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I do too but remember, it's a QB's job to take the first option in his progression if that option is open (unless, of course, his pre-snap read tells him he'll have a better play elsewhere). That's why it's his first option. When Musgrave was calling those bubble screens and quick passes to Harvin, it was Ponder's job to get the ball to Harvin immediately if the play was there and on those quick-hitters, if the QB takes the time post-snap to scan the field and consider options, the opportunity to throw quick-developing routes like slants and bubble screens is gone. Those are routes that have to be thrown quickly and decisively.

I am sorry, I should have been more clear in my post.

In a west coast offense, the offensive game plan is tailored to a quarterback with a quick release and quick decision making. As you mentioned Jim, a lot of the offensive play calling (slants, flats, curls, digs, flares, screens) encompasses quick, decisive throws. However, there are also plays (posts, corner, fades, outs, options, seams) in which the quarterback has to go through his progressions.

What I am trying to say is that Ponder needs to be able to show that he can consistently execute those plays in which the number one option may not be open. I think Greg Jennings will help tremendously with the slant route. I don't think there is a better receiver in the NFL when it comes to the slant route. I just want to see that Ponder doesn't panic when the first option isn't there. I think we will see that this year (or at least I hope we see that) from Ponder.

[losperros]

It would help this team a lot if Simpson stayed healthy and played up to his potential this season. I'm not going to make any predictions or count on improvement from anybody but there's a chance the Vikings WR corps could look much, much better in 2013 than it did over the course of 2012.

I agree. I think this year's WR corps is going to be far superior to what we saw last year. We can talk about the addition of Patterson but overall health has a lot to do with it. It was supposedly Simpson's job last year to stretch the field, which he did admirably for only one game. Aside from that, he played hurt and was just an average receiver, if even that much. Simpson needs to stay healthy and put his great athleticism to good use.

That said, I could also make a case for Jennings, who has had his own set of injury issues the past couple years. My biggest concern regarding Jennings isn't his age or ability but the fact that he was only able to start in 18 out of 32 regular season games the last two seasons.

[Purple Rage]

Patterson, though I'm obviously biased, fell into the perfect spot. For one given that the headline is he is raw at running routes, now he has one of best route runners in the game with Jennings to school him. Second he will get every chance to get on the field given our passing attack is short handed, will also get the chance to grow with making mistakes. It's not like he's 3rd or 4th wr on the roster, without even setting foot on the field he's expected to be 2nd given where he was drafted and his talent. Third our offense is kind if built for his talent, west coast, dink an dunks and intermediate passes which were exactly what was thrown at him in tenn. Fourth I think George Stewart is probably the best or at least one of the best wr coaches in the game, he will get him going day one. Patterson will be a bigger threat in the passing game then people think, kick returns will just be the cherry on top.

[dead_poet]

Moss fan.

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... c79202079a

[dead_poet]

Cordarrelle Patterson - WR - Vikings

One AFC personnel executive told ESPN 1500 Twin Cities that No. 29 overall pick WR Cordarrelle Patterson is going to need the "full process" as a rookie.

"It's going to take time," the AFC executive said. "It's going to take a patient coach. There's going to be a lot of teaching. There's going to be a lot of walkthroughs. He's going to need to see it and then physically do it. It's going to take repetition and reinforcement in the classroom. He's going to need what we would call 'the full process.'" Patterson played just one year of Division I football, so it's understandable that he's going to face a learning curve. He'll likely open up the season as Jerome Simpson's backup at "X" receiver.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities

[mansquatch]

Poet to your post, that is to some extent par for the course with WR draft pick. I think Patterson will require more time than most given how raw he is, but the aspect of this taking time should be expected by all given how this position typically develops. I think the fact they can use him in the return game and on the short routes is a nice positive while they wait for him to become more.

The reason I think our WR will be better this year has more to do with GJ, JS, JW, and KR. I think we know what we will get with Jennings, the big thing is he is better than anyone we had last year other than Harvin. JS and JW should be better. Wright will have a year under his belt so we should expect improvement. Simpson, if healthy should finally show us his value, he also has solid chemistry with Ponder. Rudolph should also continue to get better. All in all, given how bad the group was last year, I think the guys most likely to start will just be considerably better overall than what we had last season. Injuries could of course change this, but on paper I think we are slated to see better play from this group.

IMO, Patterson getting touches and playing well is bonus. He’ll add another nice dynamic to the offense, but as long as everyone stays healthy they’ve got enough depth to be able to let him take his time learning the NFL game.

I think they are taking the same route with Childs at this juncture. It seems like the coaches have a bet that if they invest the time and the talent pans out, they could have something like the Falcons have in White and Jones with those two guys. It is a gamble for sure, but both players have the talent to be that level of WR. They just need to get healthy and learn.

[dead_poet]

The column on Patterson: http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Peli ... _now050213

Nervous about his football IQ (among things). I hope he really loves the game and desires to get better. Then becomes Jennings' shadow and watches/absorbs and produces similarly.

[losperros]

IMO, Patterson getting touches and playing well is bonus. He’ll add another nice dynamic to the offense, but as long as everyone stays healthy they’ve got enough depth to be able to let him take his time learning the NFL game.

I agree. Patterson has abilities that can be important to the team right now, plus potential that can make him a more complete player in the future. FWIW, given all the things to concern oneself with regarding the team, I see Patterson as not much of a worry, at least not when it comes to talent.

That said, I'm looking for maturity and better consistency from the entire passing game, including Ponder and ALL of the receivers.

[dead_poet]

Even in install you can see the explosion with Patterson. He's such a smooth mover too.

Tom Pelissero on Twitter

[PurpleMustReign]

Tom Pelissero on Twitter

What does "install" mean?

[dead_poet]

What does "install" mean?

Installing the offense. Learning/executing plays.

[dead_poet]

Vid of Patterson: http://telly.com/K1T5TF