Saints may use Peterson’s pass catching abilities
Team has history of running backs contributing more often in passing game
METAIRIE, La. — Adrian Peterson is learning what it’s like to play in an offense that won’t feature him. Then again, this is exactly what arguably the greatest running back of his generation signed up for when he agreed to play with the New Orleans Saints and prolific passer Drew Brees. “I think he’s looking forward to that,” Saints fullback John Kuhn said after Thursday’s voluntary offseason practice, the first with veterans that has been open to media this offseason. “Not to put words in his mouth, but everybody in here, especially on the offensive side, realizes that the more weapons that we have, the more explosive we can be.” While players were in shorts and there was no tackling, Peterson appeared to be fit and largely recovered from knee and abductor injuries that sidelined him most of last season. He partici-vigorously pated in the entirety of Thursday’s non-contact practice. Other than a fumbled a handoff exchange with backup quarterback Chase Daniel, he had few missteps and saw perhaps more action that he otherwise might have because incumbent starting running back Mark Ingram was held out for unspecified reasons. The Saints seem inclined to explore whether Peterson might be more of a factor as a receiver out of the backfield than he has been
during his first 10 NFL seasons. He caught several passes at practice — not just screens, but a few balls thrown farther downfield, along the sideline.
Just how serious coach Sean Payton is about making Peterson a regular receiving threat isn’t clear, but the Saints do have a history of running backs contributing regularly in the passing game in Payton’s offense, starting with Reggie Bush in 2006 and continuing with Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Ingram.
Payton said Peterson looks “comfortable catching the ball in space … much the same way you’d expect Mark or any of those backs to have a variety of things that they can do.”
“Now, as we get closer into the season, you begin to hone in on how you want to deploy certain people,” Payton continued. “But he made a few catches today that looked pretty good.”
Peterson did not speak with reporters.
He was one of a several players, including Brees, who did not appear in the locker room.
However, Peterson said in a conference call after signing with New Orleans last month that he liked the vision Payton had for him in an offensive scheme that has rarely featured a single workhorse running back.
“I know what type of offense New Orleans runs,” Peterson said then. “I knew what I was getting myself into and I am comfortable with that.”
It remains to be seen how effectively Peterson, at 32, can summon the form of his prime, when his combination of power, speed, agility and instincts seemed to set him apart.
Kuhn has seen Peterson up close many times, having played eight years for Green Bay. Peterson spent all of his previous seasons with Minnesota, in same division as the Packers.
“He looks the same way he looked when I was watching him from the other sideline,” Kuhn said. “I’m just excited to see him in the same team colors.”