Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson has expressed his belief that Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson needs a better and more settled quarterback to reach his full potential.
The Vikings have been hit by injury and poor form in the quarterback position this season, with Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman all starting matches at different points in the season.
Peterson came less than 10 yards away from breaking Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105 rushing yards on his way to winning the NFL MVP award last season, but the 28-year-old has only managed 851 yards in 10 games so far this season having predicted making 2,500.
"He really needs a quarterback; that would make it a lot easier on him. [The Vikings' quarterback situation is] terrible. I've been there. I mean, I've been so frustrated that when we completed a pass downfield I wanted to be like the people in the stands, jumping up and down and saying 'Way to go'," Dickerson told the St Paul Pioneer Press.
"It's hard to watch. It's extremely tough [for Peterson]. It's frustrating. It's not that Christian Ponder isn't trying his best, but they don't have any receivers. It's just hard on [Peterson]. I mean, he won't say it as a player. But it's frustrating to walk to the line of scrimmage and see eight in the box, sometimes nine.
"I'm going to reach out to him and say, 'Keep your head up. You're having a great year. I know the season is not going like you want it to. But just stay healthy."
The Vikings are currently bottom of the NFC North with a 2-8 record, although they still have an outside chance of reaching the playoffs in a tight division.
Barney Corkhill
