Adrian Peterson has played with some great hand-off quarterbacks for the Vikings since entering the league in 2007: Tarvaris Jackson, Kelly Holcomb, Brooks Bollinger, Gus Frerotte, Joe Webb, Christian Ponder, et al.
Minnesota's milquetoast collection of signal-callers -- minus Brett Favre's unworldly 2009 campaign -- constantly have led the generational running back to eight-man fronts and a conservative offensive system that Peterson now admits was predictable.
"Let's call it what it is: I thought in the past, we've been predictable," Peterson said, per ESPN.com. "I'm sure you guys wrote stories about us being predictable the past seven years. You won't be able to write that story this year. That's pretty much all I'm saying. You won't be able to do that, because this offense is so versatile."
New offensive coordinator Norv Turner is the antithesis to lack of creativity.
His first order of business in Minnesota was to install 10 plays for Cordarrelle Patterson to further develop in Year 2. Patterson looks like a can't-miss breakout candidate under Turner, who guided Josh Gordon to a league-leading 1,646 yards in just 14 games last season. Patterson will keep safeties honest and further give Peterson ample opportunities in open space.
Turner already expects Peterson to play a significant role in the passing game as well. He views A.P. as a three-down back, something coaching regimes of years past never consistently employed in Minneapolis. Peterson, however, will have to prove that he's not a liability with his blocking on passing downs to be more involved on that front.
With two Super Bowls on his résumé, Turner's guided wunderkinds like Emmitt Smith, LaDainian Tomlinson, Ricky Williams, Frank Gore and an assortment of other running backs to some of the best years of their respective careers.
Already with a 2,000-yard campaign under All Day's belt, the tune of Turner's play-calling prowess is music to Peterson's ears.
Now, if only they knew who would be orchestrating it all under center come Week 1.
Follow Manouk Akopyan on Twitter _@ManoukAkopyan_.
