Peterson and his 2,500 yard goal.

[Funkytown]

So do the coaches, which is why they trot Gerhart out there on third downs.

If AD wants more touches, he should flap his lips less and work on blocking and catching the ball more. This isn't just no-nothing fans who don't watch tape. His own offensive coordinator takes him off the field on third downs.

No-nothing or know-nothing?

Either way, I'd love to see AP get more involved in the passing game. You're right though, I've seen him drop some really easy ones, too. I remember yelling at him through the TV about it. lol. It's not that hard to catch a football, especially the little girl passes that come towards him. He should be able to catch better than he does, and I hope he gets it figured out. He's always needed to work on that part of his game. I hope he gets better NOW so we can have that extra weapon on the field. We need it.

[Demi]

No-nothing or know-nothing?

[The Breeze]

I love AD too, but i have some reservations regarding his ego and football IQ. He's a once in a lifetime talent....but he can't win games by himself. On any day he can tip the balance for sure. But i'd rather see him have 2000yds combined rushing\receiving and a superbowl appearance than some individual regular season record.

He's young hence the flappage of lips....much ado IMO.

[dead_poet]

Good story by Wiedererererer. Great artwork too.

Vikings’ Peterson relishes the thrill of the chase
Adrian Peterson is coming off the most brilliant season of his six-year career, a 2,097-yard effort through opponents. And he's far from satisfied.

Coming off the most brilliant season of his six-year career, a 2,097-yard blitzkrieg that added the letters M, V and P to his résumé, Peterson continues plowing through the human nature tendency to be satisfied with his superhuman push to raise the bar.

Last season’s surprise accomplishments? Celebrating that success, Peterson believes, will be fruitless if it’s not also used as a springboard to something greater.

Those 10 Vikings victories from a year ago, a total no one foresaw? More can be had.

An unexpected trip into the playoffs? That ended far too early, 29 days before the Lombardi Trophy was handed to the Baltimore Ravens.

Peterson’s own 2,097 yards, all of them coming within a span of 365 days after he underwent career-threatening surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee? What an amazing run it was. But imagine if he had been fully healthy from the start of the season. Imagine if Peterson had turned only five or six more 4-yard gains into 60-yard scores.

Imagine the possibilities.

Which, of course, includes this new pursuit of 2,500. As in yards. As in an alluring subplot to an intriguing Vikings season.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 48541.html

[mondry]

Like I said in the other ponder thread, Peterson averaged 7.1 YPC in the last 10 games. That's an absolute ridiculous number by all other standards but If we throw that into his entire 348 carries you get 2,470 yards. To think Peterson would be able to average more than 7+ YPC for an entire season feels like a hard pill to swallow but I'm sure that's exactly what everyone said last year if you some how mentioned running for 2k+ after his injury.

Still, the smart money is on him not breaking 2,500. The thing about Peterson's goals though are that they are meant to be ridiculous, and yet he believes he can do it and he WORKS his butt off believing he'll get there. Even if he falls a little short, at say 2300 he'll win MVP again and essentially erase any doubt he's the best of all the time. No one has EVER ran for 2k back to back.

[Raptorman]

"Yup, I am the best running back in the NFL last year, this year, I'll settle for 1,500 yards." Said no RB ever. If you don't set you goals high, you will never know how high you can go.

[DK Sweets]

Maybe, just maybe, AD will get his 2546 yards and 27 TD's. And Ponder will throw for around 4,000, 30 TD's and we will smash all the records the '98 squad set on our way to a 16-0 regular season and 3-0 in the postseason. BOOM! That's what's happening here.

I don't see why anybody would argue with your logic.

[indianation65]

Sure he "can," anything is possible, but while asking for opinions maybe the poll should be "Will" he get there, this season or next?

...wisdom

[Just Me]

Never bet against "Superman"

[Eli]

Superman doesn't call the plays.

[Just Me]

Superman doesn't call the plays.

Nope. He just "makes the plays".

Do I think it's likely? TBH, no. But I still wouldn't bet against it.

[Grashopa]

I voted yes because i believe he can do it.

He needs 157 yds/ game but he is going to to get atleast 100 yards in every single game this season.
He will reach 2500 yards in less than 400 carries.

[The Breeze]

I would totally bet against it. I'd consider it easy money. Sure he could get that total...but no one has ever reached that total receiving and rushing combined. Chris Johnson had over 2400 in his big year, that was the best ever.

I think Peterson could do it if he got upwards of 400 carries...but I would definitely bet against 2500.

I do think he has a legit shot of a 2nd 2000 season. I would not bet against that.

[dead_poet]

So, is Ad's goal of 2500 pure rushing yards? Or total yards from scrimmage?

Rushing yards. Pure. Uncut. Rushing yards.

[Reignman]

As has been mentioned, AD is ahead of last years pace (when his touches were limited). He rushed for 1598 in the final 10 games alone last year and averaged 6.8 YPC (235 carries). He needs another 2307 yards in the final 14 games to reach his 2500 yard goal. If he could maintain that same 6.8 YPC average the rest of the way, he'll need 24 carries per game to do it. But averaging 165 yards per game for 14 games is a tall order even for a back like AD. However, he did average 165 yards per game over the final 8 games last year so it's not impossible.

On the other hand, he only needs to average 137 yards a game the rest of the way to break Dickersons record, and that's a little more realistic than his 2500 yard goal. He needs to average 5.7 YPC at the same 24 carries a game pace.

2012

Code: Select all

Opponent     att  yds  avg  td  lg
wk 1 vs JAX   17   84  4.94  2  20
wk 2 at IND   16   60  3.75  0   6
2 game total  33  144  4.36  2  20

2013

Code: Select all

Opponent     att  yds  avg  td  lg
wk 1 at DET   18   93  5.17  2  78
wk 2 at CHI   26  100  3.85  0  36
2 game total  44  193  4.39  2  78

In week 3 last year he only had 86 yards on 25 carries vs the Niners. He wasn't AD until week 7 when he torched Arizona for 153 yards on 23 carries.

So far this year Cleveland has allowed 17 yards rushing on 18 carries (Miller and Thomas) to the Dolphins (not including scrambles), and 93 yards to Baltimore on 32 carries (Rice and Pierce). So if Cleveland has anything going for them, it looks like a solid run defense.