Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
I know i've been driving some of you crazy with my dissatisfaction for PP's lack of effort on aspects of his job that he does not relish---thus, this will be my final say and I will leave it at that.
Going into this season I viewed Patrick Peterson as a symbol of why the current Cardinals are pretenders rather than contenders. Unlike some, I think the Cardinals' roster is loaded with talent---but so much of it is unfulfilled and/or wasted talent. Thus, Peterson's play takes on an added significance for me.
Physically, Patrick Peterson is an elite CB, FG blocker and punt returner. He has the ideal size and speed to be the very best CB, FGB and PR on the planet.
But, Patrick Peterson has to be the most carefully calculated player I've watched in years---he has everything meaured---he wants to cover the #1 WR on each team and win that battle, and in doing so, be recognized as the best shut-down CB in the NFL.
While Peterson still gets handsy at times---which he gets away with now more than he used to---save for a holding penalty here or there---he relishes the one-on-one matchups---and in most cases he wins them---and beyond that....
On the other hand, Peterson has insisted that he does not want to cover any slot WRs, even if the slot WR on the other team is the one most hurting the defense, as Golden Tate was during the game one loss to the Lions.
So, why is that?
Why would the most talented CB in the NFL not want to cover the slot WR if the team needs and wants him to?
The logical assumptions are that (a) it's easier to get beat from the slot, particularly on drag and dig routes and (b) sifting through traffic is far riskier than playing on an island on the perimeter.
Peterson no longer wants to return punts---he lost that desire the day BA became HC---and when PP turns his mind off to something, he slams the door on it. At times, BA insists that PP get back there and return a key punt or two, but PP will fair catch anything close (which is smart) or he will catch the punt and look for the most immediate escape route out of bounds---and if the most immediate escape route is unavailable, he will slip and take a dive and give the appearance that he was earnestly trying to get started.
Peterson no longer even tries to block FGs. Watch him, snap after snap. He doesn't even try. Not sure why they even line him up on his edge.
Then there is the issue of his tackling---or lack thereof. He has already convinced himself that he will only try to tackle players high and if he gets stiff armed or pushed away, so be it. He will not break down---ever---and he will not try to make any tackle at the waist or below---unless it is a tackle from behind when he has been beaten in coverage---he will tackle at the waist from behind, but never from in front.
The other very surprising thing about Peterson and for a player of his elite speed is that you never see him chase a play down from behind. Why is that?
In Tyrann Mathieu's first game as a Cardinal he chased a TE from behind and jarred the ball loose at the goal-line which saved a sure TD. Why have we never seen any play like that from Peterson?
The reason is that Peterson has made it his sole focus to cover his man and his man only. This is what allows him to look like he's miles away from any running play in his direction or any pass play that he is within striking distance of if he wants to leave his man and go try to chase the play down.
With PP, to reiterate---everything is carefully calculated.
Thus the question becomes---should it be all right for PP to stick to his man and not be asked to help out in the running game, on screens to his side (or away) or on WRs who are off and running with the ball in the open field?
The answer is absolutely not---it is not all right---especially for a team captain---and especially on a team that as a whole has had yearly issues with tackling and busting up screens.
Peterson, like any player on the defense, should be asked to make common ordinary tackles and to help out his teammates any way he can. He can't play every game like it's the Pro Bowl (where tackling and physical play are not encouraged), can he?
If anyone thinks his teammates aren't frustrated with his lack of effort in aspects of the game that are considered the dirty work---think again.
How do you feel at work when the top salesman is allowed to skip out on taking the grueling weekly inventory like you and all the other salesmen are asked to do?
Football is a brotherhood...in which players take on a foxhole mentality---every single player needs to be fully committed to having each other's backs and to doing everything it takes to win the games. It's like links in a chain. Losing football games is both physically and mentally painful. At least when you win, you can better cope with the physical aches and pains.
When one teammate thinks he's too special to be asked to do what every else is asked to do---that erodes the morale of the team, especially when that teammate gets away with it. Double standards in the work place create division, jealousy and conflict.
For right or for wrong, I concluded a while back that the Cardinals won't be a legitimate contender until Peterson either gets on board, or he's traded, or when he leaves at the end of his contract.
What I wonder is---could Peterson take his game to a fuller, higher level within a different team culture or under the leadership of a more motivational coach or teammate?
I think he could, but I worry that he won't.
What gives me hope is that Peterson is very driven when he wants something (look at how he's getting after the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, for example---he's been doing extraordinary philanthropic work)---thus, if he decides that he wants a Super Bowl ring more than anything else---who knows? We might even see his first punt return TD since his rookie year in 2011. After that the dam might burst, and soon after, the confetti might fall.
Going into this season I viewed Patrick Peterson as a symbol of why the current Cardinals are pretenders rather than contenders. Unlike some, I think the Cardinals' roster is loaded with talent---but so much of it is unfulfilled and/or wasted talent. Thus, Peterson's play takes on an added significance for me.
Physically, Patrick Peterson is an elite CB, FG blocker and punt returner. He has the ideal size and speed to be the very best CB, FGB and PR on the planet.
But, Patrick Peterson has to be the most carefully calculated player I've watched in years---he has everything meaured---he wants to cover the #1 WR on each team and win that battle, and in doing so, be recognized as the best shut-down CB in the NFL.
While Peterson still gets handsy at times---which he gets away with now more than he used to---save for a holding penalty here or there---he relishes the one-on-one matchups---and in most cases he wins them---and beyond that....
On the other hand, Peterson has insisted that he does not want to cover any slot WRs, even if the slot WR on the other team is the one most hurting the defense, as Golden Tate was during the game one loss to the Lions.
So, why is that?
Why would the most talented CB in the NFL not want to cover the slot WR if the team needs and wants him to?
The logical assumptions are that (a) it's easier to get beat from the slot, particularly on drag and dig routes and (b) sifting through traffic is far riskier than playing on an island on the perimeter.
Peterson no longer wants to return punts---he lost that desire the day BA became HC---and when PP turns his mind off to something, he slams the door on it. At times, BA insists that PP get back there and return a key punt or two, but PP will fair catch anything close (which is smart) or he will catch the punt and look for the most immediate escape route out of bounds---and if the most immediate escape route is unavailable, he will slip and take a dive and give the appearance that he was earnestly trying to get started.
Peterson no longer even tries to block FGs. Watch him, snap after snap. He doesn't even try. Not sure why they even line him up on his edge.
Then there is the issue of his tackling---or lack thereof. He has already convinced himself that he will only try to tackle players high and if he gets stiff armed or pushed away, so be it. He will not break down---ever---and he will not try to make any tackle at the waist or below---unless it is a tackle from behind when he has been beaten in coverage---he will tackle at the waist from behind, but never from in front.
The other very surprising thing about Peterson and for a player of his elite speed is that you never see him chase a play down from behind. Why is that?
In Tyrann Mathieu's first game as a Cardinal he chased a TE from behind and jarred the ball loose at the goal-line which saved a sure TD. Why have we never seen any play like that from Peterson?
The reason is that Peterson has made it his sole focus to cover his man and his man only. This is what allows him to look like he's miles away from any running play in his direction or any pass play that he is within striking distance of if he wants to leave his man and go try to chase the play down.
With PP, to reiterate---everything is carefully calculated.
Thus the question becomes---should it be all right for PP to stick to his man and not be asked to help out in the running game, on screens to his side (or away) or on WRs who are off and running with the ball in the open field?
The answer is absolutely not---it is not all right---especially for a team captain---and especially on a team that as a whole has had yearly issues with tackling and busting up screens.
Peterson, like any player on the defense, should be asked to make common ordinary tackles and to help out his teammates any way he can. He can't play every game like it's the Pro Bowl (where tackling and physical play are not encouraged), can he?
If anyone thinks his teammates aren't frustrated with his lack of effort in aspects of the game that are considered the dirty work---think again.
How do you feel at work when the top salesman is allowed to skip out on taking the grueling weekly inventory like you and all the other salesmen are asked to do?
Football is a brotherhood...in which players take on a foxhole mentality---every single player needs to be fully committed to having each other's backs and to doing everything it takes to win the games. It's like links in a chain. Losing football games is both physically and mentally painful. At least when you win, you can better cope with the physical aches and pains.
When one teammate thinks he's too special to be asked to do what every else is asked to do---that erodes the morale of the team, especially when that teammate gets away with it. Double standards in the work place create division, jealousy and conflict.
For right or for wrong, I concluded a while back that the Cardinals won't be a legitimate contender until Peterson either gets on board, or he's traded, or when he leaves at the end of his contract.
What I wonder is---could Peterson take his game to a fuller, higher level within a different team culture or under the leadership of a more motivational coach or teammate?
I think he could, but I worry that he won't.
What gives me hope is that Peterson is very driven when he wants something (look at how he's getting after the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, for example---he's been doing extraordinary philanthropic work)---thus, if he decides that he wants a Super Bowl ring more than anything else---who knows? We might even see his first punt return TD since his rookie year in 2011. After that the dam might burst, and soon after, the confetti might fall.
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