As terrible as the Arizona Cardinals were last season, you would be surprised to know that they were fifth in the league at defending the pass. The play of Patrick Peterson played a big part in that. If the Cards’ had a QB with a pulse last year, it may have been a totally different year. Teammates say Peterson could play any position, why try Brian Hoyer at QB and not him? We need answers.
It only took two seasons, but Patrick Peterson has already proved himself to be one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. He is one of two players to be named to the Pro Bowl as a defender and punt returner. During his rookie season, he established himself as one of the games most dynamite kick returners, scoring four touchdowns, each of them over 80 yards. One was an incredible game winning 99-yard return. He's the closest thing to Prime Time, that we have in our game today.
At 6’1 and 219 pounds, he is one of the bigger corners in the league. His ability to defend and return punts has many fans comparing him to the great Deion Sanders, and while he's not the shutdown corner Prime was, he has racked up 111 solo tackles already in his young career. Deion had 270 total tackles during his entire fourteen-year career. Sanders also had a career high seven interceptions in '93, which Peterson matched in only year two. Peterson, like Sanders, will see some time at WR this season. To date he has only four career receptions, but according to Cardinal's head coach Bruce Arians, Peterson could be one of the best WR’s in football if he had extended time on offense.
Via ESPN:
"I had hopes that he could be something special in a package a week," Arians said. "But after you see the athlete he is, he probably could be one of the top five receivers in the league. So you say, 'Hmm, that's a lot of weapon sitting over here next to me.'"
With the acquisition of Carson Palmer, the Cardinals now have a QB that can get the ball in the hands of its playmakers. While Larry Fitzgerald will certainly have a comeback year this season, and will command double teams, PP should be able to step in and make some big plays on the offensive end. It will come as a surprise to no one on the Cards. There’s nothing he can’t do on the football field.
