Packers Better Equipped To Stop Peterson

Unlike Week 7, the Packers could have the services of Cullen Jenkins and Ryan Pickett to help stop Adrian Peterson.

For as much as the Minnesota Vikings are in turmoil–from Brett Favre's injuries and alleged escapade to Brad Childress' job security to the trade and release of Randy Moss to Bernard Berrian's self-benching to Sidney Rice's game status–Adrian Peterson is not among their problems.

Through nine games the talented running back already has tallied 908 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground and has added 281 more on 30 receptions with 1 touchdown through the air.

"He’s such a powerful runner," said Packers head coach Mike McCarthy. "He can turn a 2- and 3-yard run into the 8- and 9-yard run consistently. So you have to do an excellent job of low tackling him and make sure you wrap him up and rally to the football.

"And then on top of that, he has the breakaway speed and the tenacity in his running style to finish runs. Anytime you play against Adrian, your run defense has to bring its A game."

Even though the Vikings lost to the Packers in Week 7 at Lambeau Field against the Packers, Peterson was still effective while running for 131 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown and adding another 41 yards on 2 receptions.

The good news for the Packers, they should be better equipped to stop Peterson, Toby Gerhart and company than they were three games ago, especially along the defensive line.

"The fact that they had the success running the football here in the first game … we had the injury to Cullen Jenkins there before kickoff too," said McCarthy. "We’re going to be healthier than we were in that game, but our run defense has to be much better this week."

Jenkins strained a calf muscle in pre-game warm-ups and didn't play a single snap, something he never thought could happen to him.

The defensive lineman said, "That's one of the things you hear stories about other people. 'Oh, this person got hurt during pre-game warm-ups.' But you never think that it's going to happen. It's definitely a tough one. It's definitely something that you approach all pre-game warm-ups with a different attitude now."

In addition to Jenkins, Ryan Pickett aggravated an ankle injury in the first quarter of the Week 7 game against the Vikings and barely played.

Pickett was limited during practice on Wednesday, reportedly going through the the jog through portion, although little else. Both Pickett and McCarthy are optimistic the defensive lineman will practice tomorrow, however, which could signal that he'll be active on Sunday if he responds well.

Even if he does play, stopping Peterson isn't going to be easy, according to Pickett.

"You got to get off the block fast with Adrian Peterson, he hits the hole so hard," said Pickett. "I mean, if you get tied up too long, he's past you.

"It's about getting off, getting a good blow on them and throwing them, because if you don't, you're going to be trying to  arm tackle Adrian Peterson, and that don't happen. You can't arm tackle him. So it's vital that you get off blocks."

With the services of Jenkins and Pickett in addition to B.J. Raji, Howard Green and C.J. Wilson, stopping Peterson just became a little less problematic.

"If we stop the run and make them one dimensional, we got some of the best players on the outside covering and rushing the passer," said Pickett. "So it makes the game a lot easier for us once we stop the run."

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Comments (17)

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Patrick Duprey's picture

November 17, 2010 at 10:58 pm

Good article as always, Brian.

Honestly, if we can hold Peterson to what he did last time, I'll be happy. Yes, he ran for 131 yards, but he was under 5.0-yards per carry, and if I recall correctly, he did not have a run over 20 yards. If the Packers are successful in this regard against perhaps the best back in the game, they'll force Brett and his receiving corps to beat them. Who's playing for them at WR, anyways? Simply put, I like our chances if this is the case.

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djbonney138's picture

November 17, 2010 at 11:03 pm

I was at the Minn @ G.B. game and one thing that really stood out was A.P. From our seats you could tell which player he was without knowing the number. We let him get some yardage but mostly kept him out of the endzone. We need to stop him again at home. It just goes to show you how screwed up the Vikings are when they can't win games with that dude on their team. Thank God for Childress. Save Chilly!

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Wiscokid's picture

November 18, 2010 at 02:12 pm

I am officially starting the "Save Chilly" foundation. Please send all financial donations to Cheesehead TV attention me.

Remember,an incompetent coach is a terrible thing to waist. :)

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lebowski's picture

November 17, 2010 at 11:08 pm

I still can't believe AP fell into the Vikings laps in that draft. Ugh.

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Bearmeat's picture

November 17, 2010 at 11:40 pm

Don't forget Randy Moss in 1998 either.

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IdiotFan's picture

November 18, 2010 at 09:22 am

AP was as injury-prone in college as Justin Harrell (if not more so). Since Peterson has been able to stay healthy, it's looked like a no-brainer pick. If he had continued getting injured, people would be treating him like Justin Harrell.

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alfredomartinez's picture

November 18, 2010 at 05:25 am

freeeeeee agencyyyyyyy!

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davyjones's picture

November 18, 2010 at 07:46 am

As I recall, AP got off a couple of good runs at the end of the first half on that final drive when chilly couldn't decide to go for it or pack it in for the half (remember Moss looking to the sidelines with the WTF look?). I think there were at least a couple of runs that sort of skewed his numbers and we actually did a better job than the 131 yds would indicate.
On turf he'll be tougher, but Capers has proven many times he's more than up to the job of coming up with new schemes. The beefy line of Jenkins, Green, Raji & Pickett seems pretty formidable.

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CSS's picture

November 18, 2010 at 09:17 am

Brad Childress may be the best defense against AP. Givng the guy less than 25 carries is silly, not to mention consistantly pulling him when the down-n'-distance is anything more than 3rd and 5.

Brian, good article. I hope the Packers fans start a loud chant of, 'keep Childress, keep Childress, keep Childress', if the Packers are comfortably ahead in the 4th.

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PackersRS's picture

November 18, 2010 at 12:21 pm

CSS, Peterson leads the league in carries. About 3rd and 5, he's supposedly not a good blocker.

I don't agree with this one. Fact is their OL isn't getting the job done, that's why Peterson, though playing well like always, maybe even better, isn't getting the results he usually does...

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CSS's picture

November 18, 2010 at 01:54 pm

I know his total carries. I"m referencing close games like last week where, in terrible conditions, Peterson only gets 17 carries and is standing on the sideline. He shouldn't just lead the league in carries, he should lead the league in carries by a wide margin.

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CSS's picture

November 18, 2010 at 01:55 pm

You are very correct on that OL. Peterson has made them look better than what they are for 2 years. Their game has slipped so far even the best RB in football can no longer help them.

Great points, btw.

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packerwest's picture

November 18, 2010 at 11:35 am

Packers could have had Peterson if they would have traded up into Redskins spot at number 6 that year but Thompson would not pay the high price Washington was asking.No Justin Harrel and AP on Packers if thompson had pulled the deal off...

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CSS's picture

November 18, 2010 at 11:51 am

Packers/Redskins had trade discussions that year? What were they asking? Source?

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PackersRS's picture

November 18, 2010 at 12:31 pm

Damn you Thom P. Tedson!!!!!!!!!!!!

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SpartaChris's picture

November 18, 2010 at 12:46 pm

Hindsight is just awesome.

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JD's picture

November 18, 2010 at 01:45 pm

Love our run defense. Jenkins, Raji, Pickett, Green and Wilson. With these guys all getting time we have good run stoppers in the line and good LB's that can stop the run behind them. I think they should handle Peterson fairly well this week.

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