Strong Sides: Should the Vikings convert Cordarrelle Patterson to running back?

Strong Sides is a series where NFL editors David P. Woods and Michael Amato debate topics from around the league.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has struggled to make plays this season after a promising rookie campaign. As a result, his involvement in the team's offense has dwindled. Through six games, Patterson has just 17 catches for 204 yards and no touchdowns. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer recently called out Patterson for not doing enough to get open. 

Should the Vikings convert Patterson to running back?

Amato: Why not? He's had success running the football. There's a clear need
there with Adrian Peterson out of the lineup and, even though Matt Asiata
and Jerick McKinnon have looked promising at times, they don't have
anywhere near the same explosive ability as Patterson.

Woods: Patterson is 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, which isn't a bad size for a
running back, but he's a little too lanky and his running style is far too
upright to be conducive to long-term success running out of the backfield.
There's no doubt Patterson is a burner and is adept at changing direction
at full speed, but I don't see the low pad level and lateral agility needed
to cut through the hole and around defenders on a consistent basis. He
could have some success as a Darren McFadden-type slasher in a one-cut scheme, but the Vikings are better off turning their backfield over to McKinnon, whose body type and skill set is that of a traditional feature back. 

Amato: With the running back position becoming less of a focal point in today's offenses, it shouldn't make much difference if he resembles a traditional back. 

Woods: Right, but the Vikings don't need a running back, they need a wide receiver. Anything that hinders his development as a wide receiver is a step backwards.

Amato: Norv Turner should be able to create more ways to get the ball in Patterson's hands out of the backfield than having him line up out wide. More touches for Patterson is going to take pressure off Teddy Bridgewater, which is the most important thing right now.

Woods: I'm all in favor of manufacturing touches for Patterson via screens and even some reverses, but those touches shouldn't come at the expense of the Vikings' other young, exciting offensive weapon. Putting Patterson in the backfield on a permanent or semi-permanent basis means taking McKinnon off the field. It also means one fewer downfield threat for defenses to worry about (in theory, at least, since Patterson is anything but a realistic deep threat right now). 

Amato: Hinder his development? He's nearly a year and a half into his NFL career and it doesn't look like he can run anything but a go route. That ship hasn't sailed yet, but it's getting close to leaving the dock. Patterson is at his best when the ball gets into his hands quickly and he doesn't have to worry about adjusting to pass coverages. They could work a committee backfield and still make use of McKinnon. If that's what the Vikings need to do in order to get value out of Patterson, so be it. Otherwise, they could be looking at another Troy Williamson. 

Woods: A year and a half into the development of a receiver, who everyone knew was very raw coming out of college, is far too soon to pull a 180. There is reason to believe some of Patterson's struggles at receiver are mental. Asking him to suddenly learn a new position, even one as easy to learn as running back, may only further overwhelm him. Instead, the Vikings must simplify things for him at receiver and, above all, be patient. We've unreasonably raised our expectations for young receivers in recent years. The old rule of thumb was that receivers need three years to truly adjust to the pros. Patterson may well end up as another Troy Williamson, but we can't draw that conclusion for at least another full season of games.

Amato: It may take receivers three years to develop, but a head coach won't last that long on a losing team. Although Mike Zimmer is only in his first year with the Vikings, he can't think too far into the future if he wants to save his job. I'm sure he planned to lean on Adrian Peterson heavily, but that obviously isn't happening. If Patterson doesn't make plays, who will on this Vikings offense right now? Instead of hoping he'll pan out at receiver, move the man to running back where he can produce now. 

Woods: I'm excited about McKinnon and Teddy Bridgewater, both of whom have really flashed in a small sample size. With Peterson seemingly out of the picture for good, I think developing McKinnon as the next franchise back, and someone Bridgewater can lean on, is a higher priority for the Vikings than solving the Patterson mystery. Both Bridgewater and McKinnon's progress could be hindered by splitting carries with a misfit wideout. Patterson needs to sink or swim as a receiver.