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According to defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn and defensive coordinator Bob Sanders, the Packers’ problems against Peterson last season — he ran for 157 yards on just 23 carries
(6.8-yard average) against the Packers as a rookie — stemmed from their defenders “peeking” into gaps other than their own, which in turn allowed Peterson to burst through for big gains.
In the Packers’ gap-control defense, that is a big-time no-no.
“There were a couple times when we peeked out of our gap, and you don’t have to peek long, because he’ll hit it quick,” Nunn said. “The biggest challenge is seeing how fast he is moving. As fast as he looks, I think he’s even faster than that. That’s the thing. You can’t really get a good picture of that in practice of how fast he’s moving. Time will tell, but I really think he’s going to be a back that’s going to be talked about a long time.”
Asked just how good he thinks Peterson is, Vikings coach Brad Childress said, “The numbers (1,341 yards, 12 TDs in 14 games/nine starts) speak for themselves. I don’t know that I need to throw another adjective after it. As a rookie running back, it was extraordinary what he was able to accomplish in not-full-time play.”
Rookie free agent halfback Kregg Lumpkin drew the assignment of playing Peterson on the scout team in practice this week, but replicating Peterson’s ability is nearly impossible, Nunn said.
“You can only do so much in practice,” said Nunn, who has only three active tackles: Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole. “(Pickett) does make a difference for us. He takes a lot of pride in not letting people run when he’s in there. He doesn’t get moved around a lot. He does make a difference. But we still have to be disciplined, because this guy can make things happen in a hurry. You can’t cheat with this guy.”
The Packers know that firsthand.
In the teams’ first meeting, a 23-16 Packers victory at the Metrodome, Peterson had 12 carries for 112 yards while sharing time with Chester Taylor. Peterson’s longest run was a 55-yarder, but he also had two 8-yarders, a 9-yarder and a 10-yarder. (Peterson also returned the second-half kickoff 51 yards.) Taylor also had a 37-yard run.
In the rematch at Lambeau Field a week after he set the NFL single-game rushing record (296 yards) against San Diego, Peterson carried 11 times for 45 yards before a low tackle by cornerback Al Harris knocked him out of the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. Peterson’s longest run of that game was 12 yards, and with him out, the Packers went on to win 34-0.
“He’s one of the premier backs in the league, there’s no doubt about it,” Sanders said. “He’s strong, he’s powerful, he’s got really good vision, he can bounce, he can cut back, he can go downhill, he can change directions, and when he gets out in the open, he’s got the speed to take it the distance. It’s a challenge, no question.”
Hawk questionable
Despite the second straight day of what he considered full-fledged practice, linebacker A.J. Hawk is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report and will miss Monday’s game if the medical staff doesn’t clear him.
Hawk, who hasn’t played since being injured in the Aug. 11 preseason opener against Cincinnati, practiced Friday wearing a brace to protect a strained right chest muscle.
“I feel like I could’ve played awhile ago,” Hawk said. “(But) I’m still not cleared. I’m still talking to the doctors, trying to figure stuff out.”
