Adrian Peterson is Working On His Fumbles After All

by Christopher Gates on Jun 7, 2010 6:01 PM CDT in Minnesota Vikings

Anyone that saw the Vikings last season knows full well that Adrian Peterson's ball handling needs to be his number one priority. After all, the guy ran for 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2009, yet all anybody seems to want to talk about is his nine fumbles, six of which were lost. (Isn't it amazing having a player that has set the bar so high that nearly 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns brings more criticism than praise?)

Fortunately for us, it looks like Peterson has taken that advice to heart, as he's been lugging a 14-pound football around during the off-season activities that the Vikings have been conducting recently. And, as Solomon Wilcots says in the video there, if you can secure a 14-pound football, it stands to reason that you can secure it when you have defenders ripping away at it.

I have the feeling that the "problems" that Adrian Peterson has had with fumbles will be a thing of the past after this season. After all, there's a list of players with some pretty big names on it that have had more fumbles through their first three NFL seasons than Adrian Peterson has. . .Walter Payton's name is on it. Barry Sanders appears on that list, too.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the best running back in the National Football League is doing what it takes to get even better. . .good news for us, bad news for the rest of the NFC North and the rest of the NFL.

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problem solved, superbowl please

this is an excellent step for AP, although i was hoping that he would go to a sleep away camp at Tiki barbers house.

by muffin man on Jun 7, 2010 6:07 PM CDT reply actions

What? Chris Johnson is not, he's holding out of minicamps...

Anyway. Good for Peterson. Don’t ask me why they. . . didn’t try this before or anything, though. I’m going to take a wait-and-see approach to this season though. I’m rooting for him not to fumble, of course, but I haven’t seen any evidence that show these kind of drills will work for him. Otherwise I’m sure he would’ve been ‘cured’ already.

by Frost on Jun 7, 2010 6:26 PM CDT reply actions

Johnson, Shmonson

When that guy has more than one good season, we can declare him better than AP.

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by Christopher Gates on Jun 7, 2010 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I dunno,

I thought he had a pretty good rookie campaign too. I mean, people were dubbing Peterson the best RB after his second year in the league, so I think it’s only fair that Johnson, who broke Faulks yards-from-scrimmage record, be considered the best RB in the league for the time being. Gotta pay him some dues.

by Frost on Jun 8, 2010 1:22 AM CDT up reply actions

No dues

Peterson was considered the best back in the league because he lead the league in rushing while facing 8 and 9 man fronts his entire second season. It may have been Johnson’s second season but it was his first as a full time back, teams didn’t know what to expect from him. Records or not, very few teams respected him enough to stack the box against him.

Long story short, I will have respect for Johnson as more than just a Michael Bennett-esque speed back when he proves he can do it again this year. You know, when teams have spent all off season game planning for him. Based on his performance in weeks 15 and 17 (when teams did that and he averaged about 3.7 ypc), I’m not holding my breath.

by Cobra312004 on Jun 8, 2010 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions

8 in the box

is also a sign that the opponents do not respect the QB. TJ = 8, maybe even 9 in the box. VY or even Kerry Collins = ixnay on the 8 in the oxbay.

by KC Viking on Jun 8, 2010 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions

It may have been Johnson’s second season but it was his first as a full time back, teams didn’t know what to expect from him. Records or not, very few teams respected him enough to stack the box against him.

This just seems kind of silly too me..Are you really going to sit here and tell me that teams didn’t put 8-9 in the box against the Titans? So after Johnson had racked up 824 yards through his first 8 games, teams still “didn’t know what to expect”? Or after teams watched Collins played TERRIBLE football they didn’t think, “hey, why don’t we just do our best to take away Johnson and force Collins to beat us?” Not to be rude or anything but your crazy if you don’t think that teams started to realize what to expect from Johnson.

Oh and in weeks 15-17, he averaged 4.4 ypc. He had 380 yards on 86 carries.

I don’t think calling Johnson the best Rb in the league is out of the question. He can run the ball with the best of them, and can also catch it out the backfield with the best of them. One thing that I thought was pretty amazing when looking at the Titans season is that of the 5,623 total yards the Titan’s offense amassed in 2009, Johnson had 2,509 of them. He accounted for 45% of their offense, and basically was the sole reason they came within a couple games of making the playoffs (after starting out 0-6).
(Stats via nfl.com)

by packallday555 on Jun 8, 2010 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions

One thing to add.

Johnson also became much more effective as a runner once Vince Young regained his QB job. Having a mobile QB doesn’t mean their aren’t 8-9 man fronts but often one player has to stay home on a QB like Young which opens more room for Johnson. The same effect could be seen on the Atlanta running game in Vick’s pre-dog years and to a lesser effect this was even the case with Jackson at times.

That being said, Johnson and Peterson are both amazing RB’s with very different styles. Johnson was better last year, but AD also played a lesser role in our offense last year due to Favre, Harvin, and Rice making our passing game more prevalent than previous years.

Only time will tell which RB is the best as consistency is what makes any player great, but AD and Johnson are definitely both elite at this point.

by CanadianViking on Jun 8, 2010 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Keep in mind...

AP is on a much better team. (hard to type that). Better WRs, better TE, better QB (last year at least), better Oline, etc.

You are right though, they are both spectacular backs. I think I give Johnson the slight edge…I like his crazy speed and he hangs onto the ball better but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t take either of them over any other back in the league.

by TrevorR on Jun 8, 2010 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly

Everyone thought Favre was coming in to basically be a game manager, much like how the game plan was in the Bengals game, or, how the first two games went where AP ran wild and Favre threw little.

Favre became a little pass-happy leaving AP out of the spot-light. However, the trade off from less rushing yards, was that AP got more touchdowns.

Favre spread the wealth around this year giving some players like Rice/Harvin great years… It’ll be interesting how this year turns out..

The titans kind of remind me how the Vikings were when AP was a rookie/2nd year. Decent team with an awesome run game, but sort of 1 dimensional.

by Deek on Jun 9, 2010 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions

The titans kind of remind me how the Vikings were when AP was a rookie/2nd year. Decent team with an awesome run game, but sort of 1 dimensional.

Yeah, when you resort to running Qb options in PRO football you know you have a one dimensional offense.

by packallday555 on Jun 10, 2010 12:34 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think they (the Titans) are even more one dimensional than the Vikings were that year.

by TrevorR on Jun 10, 2010 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, they probably were, which only makes Johnson’s tremendous year look that much stronger.

by packallday555 on Jun 10, 2010 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I will agree with others though

Teams may not have correctly game-planned for him.
We could see him not having that great of a year.

However, I could be wrong… I’m just going on what I would predict. Will he have a great year? Most likely.. Will he top his rookie year? i don’t think so.

by Deek on Jun 10, 2010 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

You mean his 2nd year? His rookie year he had like 1,200+ on 250 carries. I’d say he’ll probably top that but yeah, it’s not every season that you break the 2,000 yard mark.

by packallday555 on Jun 10, 2010 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed, and good points. Their both tremendous Rb’s, and I know I’d have a hell of a time trying to pick between the two.

by packallday555 on Jun 9, 2010 12:41 AM CDT up reply actions

not sure about this....

i’m glad the issue’s being addressed. however, when he starts playing with a lighter, regulation football, it seems to me he may have more problems fumbling. think about if for a second. maybe i’m off on this one…

by belairjeff on Jun 7, 2010 6:43 PM CDT reply actions

Here's a thought

Other reports said his fumbles were due at least in part to his ‘huge biceps’. So now that he’s lugging around a 14 pound football, won’t that make his biceps even larger?

by rovibe on Jun 7, 2010 6:52 PM CDT reply actions

You want to fix AP's fumbling problem?

Give him what he had in his rookie season — better run blocking from the o-line, and a great blocking fullback like Tony Richardson. At least that way, the hands swatting at the ball will come from LB’s and DB’s, and not 300 pound d-linemen who are even stronger than AP.

by rovibe on Jun 7, 2010 6:53 PM CDT reply actions

LBs and DBs still knock the ball out of his hands...

Just look at his fumbles last year. I recall Clay Matthews and one of the Bears CBs making strips on him. Even in the NFC CG, he was basically already past the D-Line when he was getting forced fumbles.

by Frost on Jun 8, 2010 1:25 AM CDT up reply actions

i think anything they are doing to help him figure it out is going to help.

i think just having him carry ANY football around all the time will help. just to get him thinking about it when he has it in his hand will make a huge difference.

I piss people off on a fairly regular basis. I cherish my right to speak my mind, whether I sound like an uneducated savage or not. I've never been accused of keeping what I think a secret, nor will I ever. Don't like it? I don't care.

by IABerserker1 on Jun 7, 2010 10:02 PM CDT reply actions

14 pounds will not let him forget he has it either.

You carry a a 10 lb bag of potatoes around awhile, and you will know that you have it, and you will seek a better grip when it starts to slip. Hopefully that will be the same for AD.

It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a Viking to raze a village.

by Luft Krigare on Jun 8, 2010 12:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Whatever it takes

AP’s football became the focus and target of choice of Viking opponents last year because they thought it was his weakness. I don’t expect that to change so he’s going to have to hold tight and be a bit more protective of the ball.

It’s the latter which the coaches are afraid of tampering with, they don’t want to screw up his ability to run by changing his running style. AP likes to run with his arms swinging wide and it’s going to take one hell of a grip if that’s all he’s doing to protect the ball.

Fingers crossed that it works.

Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!

by DCPurple on Jun 8, 2010 7:34 AM CDT reply actions

Adrian Peterson is a class act

He is such a competitor. I look forward to The Minnesota Vikings 50th year. I think it is time to get rid of Tahi, use De"imperio, and Mills, Use Schuler, and trade Sage, and do it soon. This is the Year. with or without Brett, we are the team to beat.

SKOL
14-2

by RickyBrune on Jun 8, 2010 8:46 AM CDT reply actions

how does a heavy ball help?

Its not about strength, its about technique. He needs to learn to hold the ball differently. Honestly I don’t see how this helps out the situation…have him work with Tiki Barber or the coach that worked with him on his fumbling. The ball is exposed so often when he’s running, he needs to have the ball held properly and then tucked up next to his heart.

by TrevorR on Jun 8, 2010 9:21 AM CDT reply actions

Exactly

He’s strong enough, he needs to tuck the ball when he gets into coverage or at the very least keep the ball toward the sideline that way if it is punched out it has a better chance of going out of bounds.

by sx2700 on Jun 8, 2010 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Or...

Put two arms on it when he feels like he will have contact soon.

by Deek on Jun 8, 2010 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

This is where it gets tricky

A significant part of the reason Peterson fumbles the ball is because of his running style. Plain and simple. He fights for every yard with all he has. And that means that as he pushes harder, his focus comes off the ball a little or it flails out a little more with his arm pumping so hard.

Now the question is do you tell a RB that is known for fighting hard for every yard, and has always had that as a trademark, to stop? To go down easier to prevent fumbles? If you tweak him too much he loses some of what makes him special.

I think this ball is a good idea. He has to hold on tighter to a heavier ball (honestly, with his strength, the weight is pretty much nothing still) to keep a firm grip of it. Teach him to hold on tighter is the best we can probably ever do without changing his running instincts.

by Cobra312004 on Jun 8, 2010 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Still say its technique. He can fight for yards but if the ball is tucked up against his chest, its not going anywhere.

by TrevorR on Jun 8, 2010 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, I think that’s the problem. I mean I know I always started off carrying the ball tight and secure, close to my chest but when your fighting for extra yards your using your whole body, and at that point you start using your arms for any extra strength or momentum you can get.

I really don’t think his fumbling problems are ever going to go away. Unless he stops fighting like a mad man for extra yards but something tells me that probably won’t happen. Because of his excellent strength and athleticism, he can often break tackles or avoid tackles in sometimes unimaginable ways. This often leads to him being in crazy positions, and in those positions the ball often is left vulnerable.

I remember one of the guys from WGC posting a thread on DN that compared AP’s fumble numbers to some of the other greats like Peyton, Dickerson, Sanders, etc., and pretty much all of their numbers were quite similar. Obviously all those guys had immense talent, and athleticism like Peterson does, and all of them probably found their bodies in crazy positions like Peterson often does. I guess I just think the fumbles are naturally going to come when you run the way that Peterson does.

by packallday555 on Jun 9, 2010 12:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah probably a good take…though I think (and I didn’t back this up with research so if I am wrong sorry) those guys cleaned up their fumbling (at least somewhat) as their careers went on. I know Barry did. So I guess the question is did they change something? Running style? Technique? or was it just luck?

by TrevorR on Jun 9, 2010 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Good question. Whatever it is, I’m sure AP will eventually do something similar to improve his ball safety.

by packallday555 on Jun 10, 2010 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Okay

Well imagine this…
You hold on to 5 to 8 pound dumb-bells as you walk. Walk for a half hour and than walk without them for a half hour. You will notice the speed your arms will be able to move and the ease at which your arms will be able to move. People know about APs grip of his hands when giving a hand-shake, now the grip of his arm to his chest will be so insane it’ll take several defenders at one time to pull the ball away. What he needs to do is go running with the 14-lb ball, since why would anyone want to run and not keep something like that high & tight? A 14 pound football bouncing off your chest would be pretty painful.

He should also sleep at night with a football in his arms. Keep doing it so he is extremely comfortable with a football in his arms. Nearly give the guy carpal tunnel syndrome (However you spell that) but to his arm… Maybe we can mold his arm to best fit with a football.

We also hope he’s being coached to switch arms too.. Hate to see him have great security with 1 arm and not the other.

by Deek on Jun 8, 2010 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Switching arms is something he has never done but I hope he starts to do soon. That fumble against Detroit last year where he was caught from behind probably wouldn’t have happened if he switched arms. There’s also a greater chance of fumbling out of bounds instead of in play if he started switching to the outside arm.

by CanadianViking on Jun 8, 2010 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Don't mess with switching arms

If a player doesn’t do it naturally, it’s best to leave it alone. Emmitt Smith ALWAYS carried in his right arm and he was able to do pretty well for himself. Trying to teach that at this point in a players career can cause more problems than it solves.

by Cobra312004 on Jun 8, 2010 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions

a heavy ball makes him realize that he has it in his hands.

it is heavy, so it will naturally begin to slip at times and the best way to effectively carry something that heavy is to tuck it up into your armpit, just like everyone wants him to do. think of it like you’re carrying around a baby. you’re not going to carry a baby clear down at your hip, you carry it up tight, and it’s way easier.

by IABerserker1 on Jun 8, 2010 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

A made up story during a down time...

Not AP’s fumbling problem, but that this 14 pound ball has anything in particular to do with AP. What NFL Network failed to mention is that every Viking RB ran with that ball in camp that day. But hey, they have to fill the airwaves with something I guess…why not create drama out of (what appears to be) a normal drill.

by Vikes_Fan_in_ND on Jun 8, 2010 10:18 AM CDT reply actions

interesting!

Nice catch! I didn’t realize that…ugh why is the media so deceiving?

by TrevorR on Jun 8, 2010 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Nice to see him addressing the situation, and I really hope it helps.

But it is his style that is the main problem. He fights for yards with the ball away from his body. I love the desire and fight he displays, but he needs to learn that sometimes it is OK to go down. And, when in traffic, two hands on the ball.

Bring in Tiki Barber to help him. He had a huge fumbling issue early in his career also.

by Arsist on Jun 8, 2010 12:31 PM CDT reply actions

I'm glad he's working on it

I think there is a big difference between a 14-lb. ball and a normal football, though. Some of his fumbles just popped out or flew out because it is light, and a heavy ball won’t do that. After bulking up last year more than he already was, I really doubt that the solution is more muscle mass. It must be a matter of technique and mindfulness.

by KC Viking on Jun 8, 2010 1:05 PM CDT reply actions

Ranking

AP did get a bit worse last year since he went from being in the top 61 in fumbles by RBs through their first 2 years to the top 42 for RBs through their first 3 years. LaDainian Tomlinson, Eddie George, James Wilder, Frank Gore, Roger Craig and Tiki Barber are just a few of the RBs who had fewer fumbles through 4 seasons than AP has had in 3.

by KC Viking on Jun 8, 2010 1:16 PM CDT reply actions

Barry Sanders

had 1 fewer fumble through his first three seasons.

by KC Viking on Jun 8, 2010 1:19 PM CDT reply actions

BUT -- he had fewer carries

Peterson has 915 carries in 3 years. Sanders took until some time into his fourth season to match that.

by rovibe on Jun 8, 2010 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions

It’s very close. In terms of Fumbles per YScrm, Sanders gained more yds before fumbling. I don’t remember whether AP fumbled as a KR or not, but he regains the edge in touches/fumble, but they are close.

Barry would have had more receptions and touches on a 2WR formation team rather than on a run-and-shoot team.

by KC Viking on Jun 8, 2010 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions

yup…and he made an effort to change and get those numbers under wraps. ALSO, Barry was on some TERRIBLE teams, he was getting hit all over in the backfield and had to make things happen on his own. Just because another great had struggles doesn’t mean you should make excuses for your guy. He needs to fix it…

by TrevorR on Jun 8, 2010 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions

tiki barber, tiki barber, tiki barber.

prop his eye lids open and make adrian watch tape of tiki barber and the nfccg….
and then tape the ball to his arm, and tape his arm to his chest until september 9.

in the future there will be no war...there will only be rollerball.

by jethrophet on Jun 8, 2010 10:38 PM CDT reply actions

Good news

But I would caution against explaining away his stats by comparing him to players of completely different eras. Rules, strategies, and technologies — heck even the ball itself! — have changed.

I would not be surprised if Jim Brown had a lot of fumbles too. And Eric Dickerson & OJ Simpson. But I’m not sure that means as much as you think it does. I mean, I don’t care how many HR Barry Bonds hit, Babe Ruth is still a greater HR hitter than him, and so is Hank Aaron. Everything has changed, the ball, the height of the pitching mound, everything.

by puddnhead on Jun 9, 2010 9:51 AM CDT reply actions

good point…the game has changed…trying to remember what rules around fumbling have been altered. I think they’ve made it a little harder to have a fumble called and its reversible by replay now too.

Ruth and Aaron both totally trump Bonds though…you are totally right on that point.

by TrevorR on Jun 9, 2010 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Johnson like Rodgers has the stats but can't convert the effort to wins !!!

1. Correct the ball needs to be carried high and tight .
2. He needs to switch the ball to the left hand when running to the left side .
3. The loss to carries ratio isn’t as bad as others pretend hat it is .
4. Undisclosed foot injury could have been a loss in burst and speed causing him to get caught from behind more often .
5. Johnson has one dimensional speed . They sacrificed games to pad his numbers .
6. Gerhart will handle the ballinside the 20’s . AP will bounce outside more often in 10’.
7. A healthy line will correct the situation .

by gothicpurple on Jun 10, 2010 11:30 PM CDT reply actions

Johnson has one dimensional speed? Are you delusional lol?

All your knocks on Johnson could be said for AP, and are probably things that AP doesn’t do as good a job as Johnson does.

They sacrificed games to pad his numbers? Please tell me your kidding? Care to give any examples, or is this another one of your highly speculated statements?

by packallday555 on Jun 11, 2010 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions