Cardinals' Peterson adjusting to new responsibilities in scheme
Although he's been named to seven consecutive Pro Bowls, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson may have a new learning curve to adjust to this fall.
Peterson is renowned for his ability to single out his opponent's best receiver and neutralize them completely. But under the direction of new head coach Steve Wilks, the veteran cornerback will be moving around a lot more than usual.
"Over the last seven years, everyone who played against me knew exactly what I was going to be in," Peterson said recently, according to the team's official website. "When they come here and play in Arizona, nine times out of 10 we didn’t see what they ran in the previous game plan. It was always a lot of motions and a lot of stacks to get my hands off (the No. 1 wideout). Now they have to play a little bit more honest to where I’m still going to be in a little bit of press, but now my game has evolved into playing off the ball as well."
Wilks impressed upon Peterson that despite reigning as one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks, there's still room for growth.
"The one thing I try to challenge Patrick with each and every day … is that sometimes guys are so gifted that even at 85-to-90 percent, they’re better than the guys around them,” Wilks said. "I used to tell Josh Norman the same thing: You’ve got to learn how to compete against yourself. It’s not about the guys around you. You try to get better each and every day.
"Patrick is trying to position himself long term to one day be in Canton (as a Hall of Famer). To be able to do that, you’ve got to start separating yourself even more. So that’s the challenge I try to give him."
Peterson described himself as an artist at taking away the team's top receiver, but says he's looking forward to the challenge.
"It should be fun," Peterson said. "I'm looking to make a ton of plays this year. I’m looking to start jumping routes now. I’m looking to be a little bit more aggressive off the ball, and be the same as I am when I’m in the receiver’s face."