Versatile Patterson looks for big plays
Marshawn Lynch wandered over to Cordarrelle Patterson’s side of the locker room Tuesday, joking with Patterson about needing the ball only once or twice in a game to make an impact. Patterson smiled in response.
As the Raiders begin to prepare for Sunday night’s game at Washington, they relish an abundance of offensive options. Patterson might stand sixth on the list behind Lynch, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Jalen Richard and Jared Cook.
That’s a swift, sizable No. 6 threat.
Patterson made his name as a return man the past four years in Minnesota. He led the league in kickoff returns three times and twice was rewarded with a trip to the Pro Bowl. When he wasn’t returning kicks, he spent time at wide receiver.
The Raiders are using him in much the same way, with the notable exception of his thirdquarter, 3rd-and-1 carry Sunday against the Jets. Patterson took a handoff from quarterback Derek Carr (who was in the shotgun formation), burst through a giant hole, juked cornerback Juston Burris and glided 43 yards for an easy touchdown, stretching Oakland’s lead to 28-13.
Patterson kind of liked lining up in the backfield, which
he also did occasionally with the Vikings.
“I’m a playmaker, man,” he said Tuesday. “I just like getting the ball in my hands. No matter where I am on the field, I want to make a play.”
The end of this particular play revealed a slice of Patterson’s somewhat goofy personality. He slowed down at about the 15-yard line, expecting a solitary stroll across the goal line, and accelerated once he realized prospective tacklers were approaching.
Patterson also punctuated his score with a Lambeau-like leap into the Black Hole, where one female spectator wearing Lynch’s No. 24 jersey was among those to greet him.
Asked about slowing a bit near the end of his run, Patterson chuckled and replied, “I think I slowed down a lot. Then I felt someone coming and thought, ‘Oh, let me get in here before I get embarrassed.’ ”
Patterson, 26, grew up in South Carolina and played in college at Tennessee. He brings a rare combination of size (6-2, 220) and speed (he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds at the 2013 NFL combine), which is why Minnesota took him with the 29th pick of the first round.
That speed hasn’t always translated to production from the line of scrimmage. Patterson’s career high in receptions is 52, posted last season, and he has had just two passes thrown his way in his first two games with the Raiders (resulting in two catches for 8 yards) since signing as a free agent in March.
Even so, Patterson insisted he’s not worried about getting enough touches with his new team. He compared the situation to when he chose Tennessee after playing at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, knowing the Volunteers already had several skilled wide receivers.
At least one teammate was not at all surprised to see Patterson break into the open field Sunday. Cornerback TJ Carrie has watched it happen in practice many times and understands why opposing defensive backs expect to chase him down. And then they can’t. “His stride is so long, it’s deceptive speed,” Carrie said. “You think you’re going to catch him and he just pulls away from you.”
Now Patterson yearns to pull away on a kickoff return. He took five kicks all the way back in Minnesota, including two as a rookie (one covering 109 yards). He’s averaging 27.8 yards on four returns for the Raiders, with a long of 41.
More than most players, Patterson knows the distinctive exhilaration of building up steam, breaking through coverage and blissfully galloping alone.
“When I get in the open field and know I’m going to score, everything goes quiet,” he said. “I don’t even hear anybody breathing. It’s like everything goes blank and I’m out there by myself.” Mexico City game: The NFL and Raiders are monitoring the situation at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium in the wake of Tuesday’s devastating earthquake, which caused more than 100 deaths.
The Patriots and Raiders are scheduled to play in Mexico City on Nov. 19. The stadium apparently sustained damage in the quake, though several reports suggested there was no major structural damage.
Later on Tuesday, the Raiders released a statement saying, in part, they have “the people of Mexico City and the surrounding areas in our thoughts and prayers.” The statement included no reference to the game against New England.