While Teddy Bridgewater might have exceeded expectations this season with the Minnesota Vikings, Cordarrelle Patterson failed to meet them altogether. The wide receiver started the season off strong, but disappeared after the first week getting benched later in the year. After head coach Mike Zimmer criticized the effort from Patterson, trade rumors began to circulate around the former first-round draft pick. However, Zimmer is now changing his tune, hoping Patterson returns to the team next season.
Patterson ended the year with 384 yards off 33 catches while having 117 rushing yards off 10 carries. Late in the season he lost his starting job to Charles Johnson after he was signed off the practice squad and coaches began questioning his effort towards the team. Patterson admits he can only blame himself for his struggles through two seasons of play and intends to work with everyone in order to get better.
"I blame myself for everything," Patterson said, via ESPN.com. "Just like a Teddy or somebody who knows the full offense. Quarterbacks coach] Scott [Turner]. Whoever. Just work with them, whoever it be. If it have to be in Minnesota or back in South Carolina, somewhere. Just to work with them, make sure that I get everything done, how Coach [Norv] Turner wants to run his offense."
Zimmer agrees that Patterson will improve in the upcoming offseason. The wide receiver was drafted in the first round after displaying strong athletic and dynamic abilities, but has only shown brief spurts of that in the NFL. According to Zimmer, he has a plan for Patterson that will hopefully push him in the offseason, but also noted that it is really up to the wide receiver what kind of player he becomes. Veteran Greg Jennings also vows to help Patterson improve.
"As long as I'm here, he will not fail," said Jennings. "I want him to see himself on film because he does a lot of things great, but there's some things that he has to tweak in his game to allow him to be the player he has expectations of being. That's a big part of this game, being able to mentally overcome a season like this. It's going to be a challenge. We're going to see if he has the resolve. I believe he does, but it's up to him to show the resolve and to bounce back."
