USA TODAY International Edition
Kickoff rule doesn’t scare Patterson
ATLANTA – Cordarrelle Patterson certainly didn’t need a new rule for kickoff returns. The Atlanta Falcons specialteams standout did quite well for himself under the old rules, sizzling as the NFL’s most prolific kickoff returner. The receipts include an NFL- record nine career kickoff returns for touchdowns.
Now there’s a new rule in the mix – returners can call for a fair catch anywhere and advance the ball to the 25- yard line – that many suspect is the next step for ultimately eliminating kickoffs from the game.
This rule may be designed to make the game safer, but for Patterson it is fair to wonder if it will simply minimize what makes him so, well, dangerous.
“I ain’t paid too much attention to it because, honestly, I don’t feel like it affects too much of what we’ve got on around here because we’re going to be aggressive,” Patterson, 32, told USA TODAY Sports following a minicamp practice this week. “That’s what coach wants, that’s what he’s going to get from us. We’re going to fly around.”
Easier said than done. In the next breath, Patterson, an 11th- year veteran, sounded like a man carefully processing how he might incorporate the rule.
“Honestly, it depends on the situation,” he said. “It they are sky- kicking the ball real high to the 10- yard line and the guy is 5 yards ( away from) me, why would I not fair- catch it? We’d get it at the 25. It’s just being smart. We’re going to be aggressive, but we still have to be smart.”
In some ways, this sounds like a whole new philosophy for Patterson, whose 29.5- yard career average return ranks third in NFL history ( minimum 75 returns, topped by the 30.6- yard clip produced by Gale Sayers).
Until now, Patterson has been the one to declare that wherever he receives a kickoff, he will take it and try to pop a big return.
Reminded of the time in 2013 during his rookie year with the Minnesota Vikings when he fielded a kickoff 9 yards deep in his end zone – and then returned it 109 yards for the longest touchdown in NFL history – Patterson nodded and grinned. “That’s called being hungry,” he quipped.
That said, Patterson downplays the idea of a philosophical shift.
“It’s situational, man,” he said.
“I think it will be good to see it in preseason, to see how every team adjusts,” Patterson added. “Not just the Atlanta Falcons, but all 31 other teams, to see how everybody else plays it. Just try to be smart. Who knows? We’ll see what happens.”
Patterson’s presence as a returner isn’t the only element of his game poised to change. The Falcons selected running back Bijan Robinson with the eighth pick in the first round of April’s draft. Considering Tyler Allgeier rushed for 1,035 yards as a rookie last season and his role expanded after Patterson suffered a knee injury, it appears that snaps from the backfield will be limited.
Then again, Patterson is one of the NFL’s most versatile players. Before being used as a traditional running back last season, his primary position on offense was at wide receiver.
Coach Arthur Smith certainly has options for the creative challenge of crafting a role for Patterson. “It’ll play itself out,” Smith said. “I’m excited to see he’s still here. That’s a good problem to have when you have guys that are versatile.”
And willing to adjust.