Adrian Peterson started the season inactive in Week 1. Five weeks later behind a new head coach, Peterson and the Redskins rediscovered a winning formula, getting their first win of the season. Sure, it was against the Miami Dolphins, however, the formula has been proven time and time again.
Give Peterson his touches, let him catch rhythm, and the chances of victory increase mightily.
Sunday against the Dolphins, Peterson had 23 carries for 118 yards in a 17-16 win. The Redskins are now 8-1 in games Peterson has at least 17 carries.
It’s a winning formula, former head coach Jay Gruden forgot or ignored when he turned the reins over to second-year running back Derrius Guice at the start of this season. That was despite, Peterson being the Redskins Offensive Player of the Year in 2018.
Peterson didn’t even dress for the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Guice tore his meniscus in his non-torn ACL knee, putting him on injured reserve. The 34-year old was thrust back into the feature back role, but in four games under Gruden, he felt anything but featured.
The limited touches were well below a winning formula, as he averaged 10 carries per game. After a 0-5 start, Gruden was fired last Monday and Bill Callahan was promoted to interim head coach.
Callahan preached the Redskins were going to be a running team with run attempts being emphasized over yards per carry. The first test of that method was fruitful against the league’s worst run defense in the Dolphins.
Peterson had strong runs repeatedly. He caught a groove. He even stopped quarterback Case Keenum from calling an audible from a run play to a pass.
After the win that improved the Redskins to 1-5 on the season, Callahan called Peterson the “it factor” and compared him to LaDainian Tomlinson.
Callahan says AP has an āit factorā in practice that reminds him of guys like Ladanian Tomlinson.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) October 13, 2019
Says you can see Petersonās competitive nature in a game like this. āHeād take the ball every time if we let him.ā
Remember, the Redskins with a similar core, got off to a 6-2 start behind the legs of the ageless Peterson before Alex Smith’s leg injury and the offensive line became a MASH unit. Sure, it was the Dolphins, but a win is a win. Peterson was the focal point of the offense, and the Redskins don’t plan on changing that anytime soon.
