Raiders' goal Sunday: Not let Vikings' Peterson run wild
By Jerry McDonald
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Posted: 11/16/2011 03:34:59 PM PST
Updated: 11/16/2011 04:10:12 PM PST
A play Kamerion Wimbley would rather forget was cued up at a recent Raiders' defensive meeting.
It was tape of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson breaking off a 64-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of a 34-20 win over Wimbley's Cleveland Browns in the 2009 season opener.
"He just threw a couple of defensive backs aside," Wimbley said. "It was a phenomenal run."
Peterson, the NFL's fifth-leading rusher with 846 yards, plays against the Raiders for the first time Sunday at Mall of America Field. The last time the Raiders played the Vikings in the regular season in November of 2007, Peterson was sidelined with a knee injury.
"I'm pretty pumped up to play against these guys," Peterson said Wednesday in conference call with Bay Area media.
How the Raiders fare against Peterson will go a long way toward maintaining or building on their one-game lead in the AFC West. The Raiders are ranked 25th in the NFL against the run, a dubious ranking built largely on their performance in defeat.
The Raiders have given up 837 yards on the ground (209.3 yards per game) with opponents averaging 6.3 yards per carry with eight rushing touchdowns in their four losses.
In Oakland's five wins, the Raiders have surrendered just 348 yards (69.6 yards per game) and 3.5 yards per carry with a single rushing touchdown -- a 1-yard sneak by the Jets' Mark Sanchez in Week 3.
"They're playing outstanding on defense as far as what I've seen, and I strive to play well against good defenses," Peterson said. "Just growing up and watching the Raiders, hearing about how great their defense was, and they're pretty much back to their old ways."
At 6-foot-1, 217 pounds, Peterson has the speed to break away from defenders, the elusiveness to make them miss and the power to break tackles and finish off runs.
Since breaking in as the No. 7 overall pick in 2007 (Oakland took JaMarcus Russell No. 1 that season), Peterson leads all NFL running backs with 6,628 yards and 62 touchdowns.
It's clear Raiders coach Hue Jackson likes his team's chances against rookie quarterback Christian Ponder if it can keep Peterson relatively under control.
"The No. 1 guy on their offensive football team obviously is Adrian Peterson," Jackson said. "That's where it starts for them and that's where it ends for them on offense. That's a huge advantage for them when you have a guy like him who can run the ball."
Raiders defensive tackle Tommy Kelly puts Peterson at the top of the list of opposing runners.
"He can get the 1-yarder and push the pile, he can take it the distance," Kelly said. "He has the speed to get to the edge, but that ain't his thing. He just wants the opportunity to get downhill. You know they're going to run the ball so you'll get the opportunity to hit him."
Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier sees opponents shy away from Peterson on a weekly basis rather than subject themselves to the punishment.
"I mean, there are times that defenders don't really want to tackle Adrian Peterson," Frazier said. "They'll hope someone else gets in the way before they get to him. He strikes fear in opposing defenders the way he runs."
Peterson doesn't shy away from putting himself at the top of the list of NFL runners, either.
"Others make that judgment, but I definitely consider myself that, too," Peterson said. "In order to be the best to ever play, you have to believe it first."
Free safety Michael Huff's memory of playing against Peterson is not a pleasant one. He remembers Peterson running for "about 270 on us as a true freshman" when Oklahoma beat Texas 12-0.
Peterson's yardage total that day was actually 225 yards (on 32 carries) but the damage inflicted was considerable.
"He's the same guy," Huff said. "One guy will never tackle him. You've got to gang tackle him. That's the key. You've got to have two or three guys to tackle him. We've got to swarm."