When the Arizona Cardinals come to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, they'll bring with them one of the most impressive rookies in cornerback Patrick Peterson. The 21-year-old is already a fixture on defense, playing in all but 11 of the team's 600 defensive snaps so far this season, according Pro Football Focus. He has also quickly established himself one of the game's top return specialists.
Special teams coordinator Bobby April is impressed by the game-changing ability that Peterson brings to the table.
"Sometimes you face a returner who has the ability to strike quickly, and Peterson is definitely one of those guys," April said. "He's very good. I don't know how long he can keep up his current pace, but what he's done so far is pretty impressive."
"Pretty impressive" is quite the understatement. The 219-pound corner, who was the fifth-overall pick in the 2011 draft out of LSU, has already returned three punts for touchdowns through just eight games this season. He's only the fourth player in NFL history to notch that many through half a season. He's already tied the Cardinals' franchise record for most punt return touchdowns in a career.
In overtime of last week's game against the St. Louis Rams, Peterson fielded a punt from his own 1-yard line and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to win the game in walkoff fashion. It is the second straight game in which Peterson scored a touchdown on a punt return.
Special team ace Colt Anderson was in awe of the game-winning play, but noted that Peterson defied one of the fundamental rules that are hammered into return men at the pro level - never attempt a return on a ball punted inside the 5-yard line.
"He won't learn that lesson until he tries it against us and we stop him," said Anderson. "Peterson is really dynamic. He's strong so he breaks a lot of tackles. This is going to be a big week for this special teams unit."
This will be the second-straight week in which one of the league's top return men has come to town. Last week, Devin Hester, the NFL's all-time leader in return touchdowns, was shut down by Bobby April's crew.
Coach April expressed pleasure with his group, as they allowed Hester to gain just 30 yards on three kick returns and 19 yards on one punt return Monday night.
"It was the best special teams play I've ever had against a guy like Hester," April said enthusiastically. "I told them during the week, 'We can play as simple as we want. I just want you to play as fast and hard as you can play.' The guys did a really good job and they played him very well."
Anderson echoed this sentiment, noting that April's bare-bones scheme was the key to the Eagles being able to make plays against Hester. Facing Peterson this Sunday, Anderson knows how important it will be to put together an encore performance.
"Slowing down Hester really gave us momentum last week," he said. "It will be key for us to repeat that this week. The walkoff touchdown that Patterson just had against the Rams, just like the one DeSean Jackson had last year, demonstrates how important special teams can be."
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