For anyone doubting AD

[Pondering Her Percy]

And even that may not be totally accurate (didn't look to see if the 3 ahead of him had already had their "bye's" this year. But the YPA would ostensibly cover that variable and he is at "21." Take out the 2 QBs and the one running back with less than 50 attempts and he shows "18" (along with three others at 4.4 - ypc which is why I show 'tied at 15'). I'd be concerned with that (#15) but 4.4 is still pretty good, and as I mentioned before, is the same as his 2009 YPA average. I understand the thought that he might be 'falling off' because he has looked tentative at times, but the stats really don't suggest he is 'diminished' to any significant degree. (Especially when taken in context with how poorly the OL has been playing).
I didn't find the 'within 1 yard of LOS' stat, but I did find this article.
(Added emphasis was mine.)

Thanks for the info!!! And yes I just looked. Ahead of him are Freeman, Chris Johnson and Doug Martin in that order. The only one that's been on bye yet is Martin and Peterson is only 11 yards behind him

[Mothman]

I think Zimmer has said recently that AD may be "pressing" and trying to do too much (again) due to all the run blitzes and shoddy run blocking getting hit behind the line of scrimmage on 70-80% of his rushes and getting frustrated by it. Something to keep in mind that may be less about his potential decline and more trying to make bigger plays than the two or so yards that might be "blocked."

I think the key to all of this is to just watch the plays themselves. When I do that, carefully, I occasionally see Peterson miss an opportunity (which I think is inevitable—no back is going to make the best choice on every play) and I occasionally see a play where it looks like he's trying too hard. However, on the vast majority of plays, I see one of two things:

1.) He finds the hole and gains positive yardage, sometimes a great deal of it.

2.) There is no hole and he's met in the backfield or at the line by an unblocked defender or a defender that has already defeated an attempted block.

The plays that result in no gain or lost yardage almost always involve the latter scenario. There are very few plays where he simply misses a good opportunity for a decent gain by overlooking a gap or trying too hard to turn a short gain into something more. That's not to say it doesn't happen but it doesn't happen at a rate that should alarm or concern anybody.

Blocking is far and away the biggest issue and that's crystal clear on film.

[losperros]

I think the key to all of this is to just watch the plays themselves. When I do that, carefully, I occasionally see Peterson miss an opportunity (which I think is inevitable—no back is going to make the best choice on every play) and I occasionally see a play where it looks like he's trying too hard. However, on the vast majority of plays, I see one of two things:

1.) He finds the hole and gains positive yardage, sometimes a great deal of it.

2.) There is no hole and he's met in the backfield or at the line by an unblocked defender or a defender that has already defeated an attempted block.

The plays that result in no gain or lost yardage almost always involve the latter scenario. There are very few plays where he simply misses a good opportunity for a decent gain by overlooking a gap or trying too hard to turn a short gain into something more. That's not to say it doesn't happen but it doesn't happen at a rate that should alarm or concern anybody.

Blocking is far and away the biggest issue and that's crystal clear on film.

Absolutely correct!

By the by, have you had a chance to view the last game on the coaches film, Jim? It gets ugly for the Vikes OL after the snap on most of the runs.

[Mothman]

Absolutely correct!

By the by, have you had a chance to view the last game on the coaches film, Jim? It gets ugly for the OL at the line of scrimmage.

Yes, I watched it this morning. It got really ugly at times...

[Grashopa]

I say we split Peterson out wide, motion him into the backfield and while the defense is scrambling to stop the run... play action pass.

I agree with most everybody else. Petersons production is suffering due to defenses selling out to stop him. Run blitzes every down that he is in (besides obvious passing downs) proves that. As soon as he gets the ball he already has up to 3 defenders in his face on most plays. No running back in this league could be an more productive than Peterson in those situations. Seems that when he is able to make it to the line of scrimmage un touched he will get anywhere from 4 yds to 75 yds... I don't believe that Peterson is any better than he has ever been, but I also don't think he has begun and kind of decline. Its obvious to me that the issue is the offensive line.

I look forward to seeing what our offense is capable of going forward despite the line play.

[84BreaksAnkles]

Let's get some analysis of the O-line play to show these people..

I'll post 3 later

[UK Phil]

Slow day at work today and got sent this Youtube video of AD. What an absolute monster... Definitely the most exciting runner I have ever seen play the game. The way he accelerates through holes is almost unbelievable.

Sure, this is a highlights reel, but it's worth remembering what AD has brought to the Vikes through some pretty turgid years...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mItf5URwkk

[fiestavike]

I think the key to all of this is to just watch the plays themselves. When I do that, carefully, I occasionally see Peterson miss an opportunity (which I think is inevitable—no back is going to make the best choice on every play) and I occasionally see a play where it looks like he's trying too hard. However, on the vast majority of plays, I see one of two things:

1.) He finds the hole and gains positive yardage, sometimes a great deal of it.

2.) There is no hole and he's met in the backfield or at the line by an unblocked defender or a defender that has already defeated an attempted block.

The plays that result in no gain or lost yardage almost always involve the latter scenario. There are very few plays where he simply misses a good opportunity for a decent gain by overlooking a gap or trying too hard to turn a short gain into something more. That's not to say it doesn't happen but it doesn't happen at a rate that should alarm or concern anybody.

Blocking is far and away the biggest issue and that's crystal clear on film.

I pretty much agree. Most of the opportunities I see him miss are plays that go for -2 and probably could have gone for 0 or go for 0 and probably could have gone for 2. Mainly its him stopping his feet and freezing in the backfield before contact, instead of initiating the contact to pick up the extra couple yards. That's not insignificant but again, the biggest issue by far is the offensive line. We've already discussed the shotgun situation in depth so I won't comment on that except to say that I think that's a separate issue that I wouldn't lump in with the other carries.

[losperros]

I say we split Peterson out wide, motion him into the backfield and while the defense is scrambling to stop the run... play action pass.

I agree with most everybody else. Petersons production is suffering due to defenses selling out to stop him. Run blitzes every down that he is in (besides obvious passing downs) proves that. As soon as he gets the ball he already has up to 3 defenders in his face on most plays. No running back in this league could be an more productive than Peterson in those situations. Seems that when he is able to make it to the line of scrimmage un touched he will get anywhere from 4 yds to 75 yds... I don't believe that Peterson is any better than he has ever been, but I also don't think he has begun and kind of decline. Its obvious to me that the issue is the offensive line.

I look forward to seeing what our offense is capable of going forward despite the line play.

I wonder what the offense will be capable of doing if the OL does not improve. The lack of good blocking is affecting both the run and the pass. That means Teddy could take some nasty shots this year.

Actually, TB already has, let alone AD having problems finding space to run.

[84BreaksAnkles]

Slow day at work today and got sent this Youtube video of AD. What an absolute monster... Definitely the most exciting runner I have ever seen play the game. The way he accelerates through holes is almost unbelievable.

Sure, this is a highlights reel, but it's worth remembering what AD has brought to the Vikes through some pretty turgid years...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mItf5URwkk

The run at 7:51 is of mythical proportions for me. I guess I just get so upset because I'm shocked that people can seemingly put aside all the incredible things he's done for us in the purple over the years.

He is one of the best to ever play this game. He plays my favorite position. He's on my team. I'm truly thankful we get to have a guy like this play for us. top 1-3 pure runner in the history of the game.
I still think he can bounce back and get 1800 yds this year.

[dead_poet]

Peterson’s Unfamiliar Role
Three seasons ago, Adrian Peterson finished nine yards shy of setting the NFL’s single-season rushing record. In some ways, the All-Pro is now relearning his position

The Vikings are winning. They’re contenders, for now, at 4-2 after a convincing 28-19 win in Detroit on Sunday. Peterson, at 30, ranks third in yards and third in attempts in the league, and he’s cherishing the big victories and even some smaller ones, too. His eyes get wide when it’s pointed out during a postgame media session that his two longest runs against the Lions—75 and 15 yards—came out of the traditional I-formation variants he and Felton once used to terrorize defenses. He grins through a lower lip stuffed with moistened tobacco as if to say, You better tell somebody.

“I know, I know,” Peterson says. “Zach takes pride in his job when he’s in there and it showed on those plays. Hopefully coaches will look at that and say, ‘OK, what personnel did we have in?’ and they’ll take it from there.”

If only it were so simple.

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/10/28/nfl- ... ta-vikings

[fiestavike]

Peterson’s Unfamiliar Role
Three seasons ago, Adrian Peterson finished nine yards shy of setting the NFL’s single-season rushing record. In some ways, the All-Pro is now relearning his position
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/10/28/nfl- ... ta-vikings

Thanks. I agree with the piece. I know Peterson doesn't get many carries out of the shotgun, but it does make the offense a lot more predictable as a result. If he could see the lanes and play effectively in that set, I bet they would run out of the shotgun a much higher percentage of the time.

[Mothman]

I agree with the piece. I know Peterson doesn't get many carries out of the shotgun, but it does make the offense a lot more predictable as a result. If he could see the lanes and play effectively in that set, I bet they would run out of the shotgun a much higher percentage of the time.

Probably. It cuts both ways. They need to be able to pass effectively enough from the I, a pro set, etc. to keep defenses honest and ditto for running from the shotgun. It's never desirable to have formation or personnel packages tip the defense to what's coming. Peterson will probably adapt to running from the shotgun as he gains experience doing so and hopefully, Bridgewater will become a better passer when playing from under center too. Ideally, it's best if they meet in the middle by improving in both areas because that will lead to a more versatile (and hopefully more effective) offense.

Thanks for the link, dead_poet. That was an interesting read, the best I've seen on this subject so far.

[fiestavike]

Probably. It cuts both ways. They need to be able to pass effectively enough from the I, a pro set, etc. to keep defenses honest and ditto for running from the shotgun. It's never desirable to have formation or personnel packages tip the defense to what's coming. Peterson will probably adapt to running from the shotgun as he gains experience doing so and hopefully, Bridgewater will become a better passer when playing from under center too. Ideally, it's best if they meet in the middle by improving in both areas because that will lead to a more versatile (and hopefully more effective) offense.

I think we're rounding the bend Jim! We agree again.

Thanks for the link, dead_poet. That was an interesting read, the best I've seen on this subject so far.

it was almost as good as some of the posts I made on the subject...

[Mothman]

I think we're rounding the bend Jim! We agree again.

Scary.

Thanks for the link, dead_poet. That was an interesting read, the best I've seen on this subject so far.

it was almost as good as some of the posts I made on the subject... [/quote]

Oh! We were so close...