Poll of the Week: Remembering Adrian Peterson’s Historic Day

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

So much has changed since November 4, 2007. The Metrodome is gone, soon to be replaced by the Vikings’ new home, U.S. Bank Stadium. LaDainian Tomlinson, the league’s leading rusher that year, has since retired and joined the crew at NFL Network. And the Vikings finally have a legitimate starting quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater.

One thing, however, remains the same. Despite a number of obstacles — a terrifying knee injury, last season’s year-long suspension, and a bitter contract dispute — Adrian Peterson will line up in the Vikings’ backfield when Minnesota hosts the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Why is November 4, 2007 so important? It was Adrian Peterson’s explosive introduction to the NFL, a 30-carry, 296-yard performance that set the league’s all-time record for rushing yards in a single game. The rookie and seventh-overall selection out of Oklahoma had already put together a 224-yard outing against the Chicago Bears in Week 5, but took his game to another level against the Chargers.

“It was a like from the beginning of the game, he was on a different level. He was running at a different speed,” Tomlinson told Chris Tomasson in a recent interview. “He was playing at a different level than what our defense was playing then.

As the Vikings prepare for the Chargers this week, all eyes are on Adrian Peterson, who will try to elevate his game a second time and break a still-standing record from eight years ago.

In his career against the Chargers, Peterson has thrived, rushing 46 times for 394 yards and an unthinkable 8.57 yard-per-carry average. Those numbers are obviously skewed given his totals through the first game, but Peterson could easily surpass the century mark on Sunday. Through two weeks, the Chargers are allowing 122 yards per game to opposing offenses, including 175 yards to Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.

Last week, Peterson rushed 29 times for 134 yards against the Lions a week after analysts and media members questioned his fit in Minnesota’s offense. Peterson called himself “hesitant” operating out of the shotgun, and Ben Goessling at ESPN noted that Peterson has always been more successful lined up behind the quarterback. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner adjusted quickly, giving his star running back plenty of opportunities to work out of the I-formation. Per the Star Tribune’s Mark Craig:

From I-formation with no fullback: 13 carries for 101 yards (7.8), one fumble.

From I-formation with the fullback: Six carries for 8 yards (1.3).

From the shotgun: Nine carries for 27 yards (3.0), one fumble.

From the pistol: One carry for minus-2 yards.

For a player like Peterson, whose game is built on aggression and hitting the hole quickly, it makes the most sense to give him a running head start. That formula worked well for the Vikings last week, and it could very well continue against the Chargers this Sunday. If and when the Vikings use the shotgun-mesh concepts, it should primarily be with Jerrick McKinnon, whose short-area explosiveness and quick feet are better suited to those plays.

The Chargers struggled to stop the Bengals last week, who use both Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard in the backfield. Like Peterson and McKinnon, Hill and Bernard bring varying styles to the Bengals’ rushing attack — Hill is the ground-and-pound back while Bernard provides a change-of-pace element on third down and in quick-hitting situations. Specifically, the Bengals hurt the Chargers with a brand of power football, employing fullbacks and pulling guards to chew up 9-yard gains throughout the game. Below, the Bengals attack the Chargers with 21 personnel — two running backs and a tight end, lined up on the right of the formation.

The Bengals, specifically the offensive line, dominate one-on-one to open a clear hole for Bernard.

The Bengals, specifically the offensive line, dominate one-on-one to open a clear hole for Bernard.

Here, the Bengals design a run through the A-Gap between the center and right guard. The fullback pulls across the formation to block the middle linebacker, and Bernard takes the handoff left before cutting back through the hole blasted open by the offensive line. The center, guards, and tackles each win individual battles, sealing defensive players and creating a gigantic hole up the middle. Bernard’s vision, quick feet, and decisiveness lead to a positive gain the red zone and a clear win for the offensive line. Easy to see Peterson running through a hole like this on Sunday, right?

The Vikings’ offensive line is nowhere near as stout as Cincinnati’s, but Adrian Peterson and the running backs as a whole found success against a ferocious Lions defense last week. Norv Turner mixed up his play-calling, from incorporating single-back runs to introducing the Pistol formation — a hybrid between the shotgun and traditional under-center looks. Many of the fullback-heavy looks came near the goal line, hence Minnesota’s low yards-per-carry total, but the Chargers struggle against such formations. Zach Line, the Vikings’ lone fullback, may play a bigger role this week, along with blocking tight end Rhett Ellison.

Given Adrian Peterson’s resurgence, the Chargers’ struggles against the run, and recent statistical history, Minnesota has a chance to pile up the yards this Sunday. Stay tuned for a full breakdown of the Vikings’ success against the Lions tomorrow and detailed previews of Minnesota’s Week 3 matchup!

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