Greg Jennings Says Vikings Offense Will "Showcase" Cordarrelle Patterson

The Minnesota Vikings' offense is certain to have a new look this coming season under new coordinator Norv Turner, regardless of who winds up playing quarterback for the team. However, one of the things that should not come as a surprise is that the team might be shifting the main focus of their offensive attack.

Speaking to Ben Goessling of ESPN, wide receiver Greg Jennings said that the offense will feature a much larger role for second-year wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.

"I wanted him to know that, coming in, the expectation of you is no longer 'rookie.' It's, 'You gotta go. We saw what you can do. We're gonna showcase this,'" Jennings recalled last week. "For me, it was making sure that he understands that he has to be a professional. He has to be a pro's pro when he steps foot in this building, because we're expecting (him) to give us what we've seen you put out there."

After getting very few opportunities early in the season (only getting 11 offensive snaps in the season's first two games), Patterson came on strong for the Vikings in the second half of the season. He wound up catching 45 passes for 469 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to carrying the ball 12 times for 158 yards and three more scores. He was also the only player in the league last season with multiple kickoff return touchdowns with two. He has already developed into one of the league's most dynamic players, and there are very few players more dangerous with the ball in his hands than Patterson.

With the multiple dimensions that Patterson brings to the Minnesota offense, combined with a coaching staff that seems intent on giving him more opportunities than he received as a rookie and all-world running back Adrian Peterson not getting any younger, the Vikings shifting the majority of their focus to #84 isn't the worst idea. Such a shift could really open things up for both Peterson and Jennings, as well as players like Jarius Wright and Kyle Rudolph.

In any case, whoever ends up taking the snaps for the Minnesota Vikings at quarterback won't have a shortage of talent around them to take advantage of.