Peterson May Change His Running Style, Should Barber too?

[Pick6TerenceNewman]

PETERSON MAY CHANGE HIS RUNNING STYLE

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 11, 2008, 11:04 a.m.
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is only 23 years old, and he should have a long career ahead of him.
But Peterson says that in order to prolong his career, he might need to change his running style and stop fighting for additional yardage if it means exposing himself to additional hits.
“I hear that from so many different people, ‘When three guys got you wrapped up it might be in your best interest to go down,’” Peterson said. “It was kind of hard for me to take that until I took a shot to my knee. I want to say it was the Tampa Bay game. Some guys are really out there to hurt you. I found that out that game. It was a play where I was being held up and the whistle was blown. I wasn’t going anywhere, and I just kept fighting for yards and a guy that wasn’t in the play just came in and dove straight for my knee and tried to take me out. It is really all about being smart. I have learned a lot and took heed of that.”
Fans usually want to see players fight for every yard they can get, rather than go down or step out of bounds to avoid hits. Of course, it’s easy for fans, from the comfort of their couches, to complain about players who avoid contact. And considering that there were concerns about Peterson’s durability when he was coming out of Oklahoma, if changing his running style makes him less prone to injury, it’s probably a good idea.



Just wondering if Barber should change his style too? I know Emmitt suggested that Barber should because of the pounding he takes.

Some suggest that Barber is what he is and shouldn't change.

It will be interesting to see if indeed Peterson changes his style or continues to run over people.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I don't think he has to change his style, necassarily, just be a little smarter with it. Every now and then realise that it's better to step out of bounds rather than take a pounding for an extra yard or two. If you've got three guys holding on you and trying to bring you down, unless you're just about to score, sometimes it's better to live to play the next down.

Avoiding unneccassary hits and punishment is the key more than anything.

 

[joseephuss]

No, I think he should just do what he does. He obviously likes to play the game that way and feels comfortable doing so. Plus I don't think you can really change who you are and how you play. At least not do it and stay effective.

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

If these guys change their style, their reluctance and opposing their instincts will get them hurt anyway.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Barber can keep his style on the carries he gets... He just needs lots of help from Felix and Choice so he can keep being ferocious on every snap.

 

[ajk23az]

There have been times this year where MB3 has skadaddles out of bounds instead of bull dozing the opponent for another 1-2 yards.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

There have been times this year where MB3 has skadaddles out of bounds instead of bull dozing the opponent for another 1-2 yards.

That is true. He has taken the smart route more this year. Again I'm not saying he shouldn't run hard when he's grinding things out, as he does, but if you've got a first down, or whatever, and you can slide out of bounds and avoid an extra hit or two, instead of sacrificing your body for an extra 1 or 2 yards, every now and again there is nothing wrong with that.

I'd rather have Barber running hard, when games are on the line, for another 5 or 6 years rather than another 2 or 3 years.

 

[TheCount]

Peterson should keep fighting for more yards. Barber though, since I actually care if he stays healthy and productive, should definitely not take unneeded hits.

 

[djmajestik]

Plus I don't think you can really change who you are and how you play. At least not do it and stay effective.

See Tony Brady.

 

[Faerluna]

Barber has stated that he's been told he should change his style. He didn't care what anyone else said, he was going to run how he wanted to.

 

[joseephuss]

See Tony Brady.

Bad example. Tony is not trying to change his style of play. Just improve it. I don't think him not wanting to drift around a good pocket as a bad thing. Plus it has not stopped him from improvising this season. Many of the big plays this season are a result of Tony still creating play when there is pressure.

 

[2much2soon]

There have been times this year where MB3 has skadaddles out of bounds instead of bull dozing the opponent for another 1-2 yards.

I am glad someone is paying attention.
Thats what I have noticed most; he slips out of bounds when its clear taking on tacklers won't buy him anymore yards.
Before this year, Barber would just hammer tacklers whenever he had the ball. I think he took heed of what some of the retired NFL RBs were saying about running intelligently.
Just because he can run like a brute, he ain't no dummy.

 

[Yeagermeister]

If you change Barber's running style I believe it will take his aggressiveness away also.

 

[jday]

I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this, but Barber has changed his style. Last year, you rarely saw him step out of bounds without being forced out. Now, that's typically how his run ends, with him stepping out. Last year when he entered a hit, he would immediately twist into a backwards run, that typically would yield him an additional 5 yards. I have yet to see him do that once this year. I'm not knocking it; but on the other hand, there are some situations I have been a little dissappointed by his overall effort in given runs where more yards are critical. Again, it's hard to criticize a guy like Barber; if everyone on this team had his work ethic, we would have very little to complain about on this forum. But, like I said, either way, it's still not the same Barber...