Adrian Peterson praised by Jon Beason, Perry Fewell
Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) breaks the tackle of Carolina Panthers cornerback Melvin White (23) in the second quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. Panthers win 35-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Giants run defense has a tough task ahead of them Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings, as Adrian Peterson will look to dominate a Giants run defense that is allowing just 3.9 yards per carry this season. Peterson had just 62 rushing yards last week against the Carolina Panthers, but he would have easily eclipsed 100 rushing yards if given significantly more carries (he had just ten). The Vikings pass defense is in dire straits with Harrison Smith out, so Peterson could also receive a limited amount of carries if Eli Manning finally bounces back this week (the Vikings still have to be very careful with defending his deep ball) and the Vikings decide they don’t want to limit Josh Freeman in his first start with the team.
Adrian Peterson has 483 rushing yards on 102 carries this season for an average of 4.7 yards per rush, and he also has five total rushing touchdowns. He’s had worse blocking in front of him than he did last year, but he is still doing a solid job and continues to be the man holding together the Vikings offense.
New Giants starting linebacker Jon Beason already has 11 tackles with the team this season, and he has been solid. Per NJ.com’s Dave Hutchinson, Beason love watching Peterson and views him as a benchmark opponent, “I like to tell people that he should be playing on the defensive side of the ball with his determination. The way he plays every down like it’s his last. I love to watch him play football.”
Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is one of the best in the NFL at his job and gave plenty of praise to the superstar back, “I don’t think there’s any doubt about it. When I watch the tape … He was the MVP of the league last year. He’s dynamic.
“He’s a very patient runner. When I say patient, you can contain him, contain him, contain him and then `bam,’ he’s out. Once you vacate a gap or miss a tackle, he makes a big play.”
That second quote from Fewell seems to have plenty of experience to it, as Adrian Peterson ran for 103 yards on 21 carries in a game against the Giants in 2012. The Giant contained him for most of the day and allowed him to run for just 36 yards on 20 of his carries, but he had one carry for a big 67-yard touchdown.
You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe. Be sure to like us on Facebook here and follow our site on Twitter as well.