While almost all of the focus for fans of the Minnesota Vikings has been centered on Adrian Peterson in recent days, there's another member of quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's arsenal of offensive weaponry facing an important offseason in purple.
Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson broke out to a certain extent in his rookie season, showing a knack for making big plays in nearly every facet of the game. He finished 2013 with 45 receptions for 469 yards and four touchdowns, 12 rushing attempts for 158 yards and three touchdowns and 43 kickoff returns for 1,393 yards and two touchdowns.
In short, he was the type of versatile playmaker head coaches usually only dream about.
2014 though, brought a significant change in Patterson's on-field fortunes and a serious downturn in his NFL output. Across the board, his production decreased and his touchdown total receiving, running and returning dropped to just two.
NFL Network's Jamie Dukes, addressing Patterson's and the Vikings looming 2015 season, wouldn't go so far as to dub it a "make-or-break" season, but sounded an ominous tone where the young wide receivers future in Minnesota is concerned.
"There's no question this guy is a phenomenal talent, but you have to be able to know and understand and comprehend the playbook," Dukes said, via NFL.com. "Right now they basically replaced Percy Harvin with him, because he's that kind of an athlete, but the only problem has been, it's about getting an opportunity and understanding and learning the craft at wide receiver. And that's where he just seems to be kind of a ship that's kind of lost at sea."
Vikings GM Rick Spielman passed on the opportunity to add Bridgewater's former college teammate, receiver DeVante Parker, in the first-round of the 2015 NFL Draft in order to further shore up a pass-defense in dire need of reinforcements.
As such, Bridgewater's continued development from potential-laden youngster to legitimate franchise signal-caller now hinges on the contributions of players like Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson and Patterson.
While Patterson is still just 24, if he's unable to take a step forward next season, his time as a Viking could be drawing to a close sooner rather than later.
"I'm not exactly sure I would say this is the make-or-break season but the clock is certainly ticking on him," said Dukes.
Rumors swirled earlier this offseason that Spielman and the Vikings were willing to listen on trade offers for Patterson, but nothing has come to fruition and Spielman, speaking at the NFL rookie scouting combine, indicated that Patterson's been hard at working honing his game this offseason.
"CP is working extremely hard right now," Spielman said, via FOXSports.com. "He wants to be a good football player. He's a talented athlete, and he is a good football player, but we have to get him, put a plan in place for him. I believe he's going to do everything he can to make himself the best player he can be."
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer also made it clear that he was happy with the approach Patterson - who lost playing time as 2014 went on to the unheralded Johnson, Jarius Wright and Adam Thielen - has taken this offseason, indicating that Patterson's issues last season had a lot to do with his mental approach to the NFL.
"At the end of the day, our players have to earn their playing time," Zimmer said. "He wasn't earning it at that particular time. I still have high hopes for him. It would benefit me if he's a great football player, and I want that to happen extremely bad. Hopefully he wants that to happen extremely bad and then we'll have a good mix."
Patterson, who recently took part in Vikings OTAs, said that he went to San Francisco to work with a trainer this offseason, but was otherwise tight-lipped about his regimen. He was adamant that last year was an aberration.
"I felt like I was letting my whole team down and the coaches," Patterson said, via a separate FOXSports.com report. "I feel like I have a lot to prove this year to everyone, fans and everybody else. So, this year is going to make me or break me. I hope I step up this year and have a good role in this offense."
Football being the ultimate team sport, Patterson's development will aid many causes beyond just his own - the more he improves himself and his game, the greater chance there is Bridgewater will continue to grow into the player the Vikings hope he can be, meaning less pressure will be placed on the young signal-caller as well as the other offensive weapons, meaning the Minnesota defense will likely be put in better positions to succeed, meaning Zimmer has a better chance of turning a good Vikings team into a great one, able to consistently vie for the NFC North crown and, presumably, a Super Bowl.
Patterson though, is keeping his focus narrow for now.
"I just want to let my game speak for itself," Patterson said. "I just focused on the little things that really matter and I hope this year will be way better than last year and I hope I can continue just to grow and get better."
