Cordarrelle Patterson had his best offensive season after switching to running back in his first year with the Falcons. | Dave Adamson on Unsplash
Cordarrelle Patterson had his best offensive season after switching to running back in his first year with the Falcons. | Dave Adamson on Unsplash
Cordarrelle Patterson, 30, has always been a speed threat but never truly found his footing as a consistent member of an offensive game plan. That all changed when he put on a Falcons uniform and became the main playmaker out of the backfield.
For years Patterson was known for his incredible skills as a kick returner, which earned him four All-Pro selections over eight years. This year was different, as he switched positions from wide receiver to running back to become a big-play threat at any time, both running and catching the ball.
“I just have to thank coaches for giving me a chance,” Patterson said in a team press conference, as reported by the Atlanta Falcons website. “I didn't play in the preseason, and I didn't really think much in camp about this season being special. They trusted me to go out and make plays, and I really appreciated that.”
According to Pro Football Reference, Patterson was the number one choice for running the ball this year, with 153 carries for 618 yards and six touchdowns. He was also a force receiving the ball out of the backfield and going in motion, catching 52 passes for 548 yards and five touchdowns.
His rushing totals were by far the best since he entered the league and his receiving totals were also tops of his career. He tied his high for receptions and shattered his personal record for more than 90 yards. His 11 touchdowns were the highest of his career and he even had his most ever yards from scrimmage.
Patterson also kept up his duties as a kick returner with 18 returns for 434 yards, which was an average of 24.1 yards per chance, which was the only area of his game that fell off slightly from years prior. While he wasn’t the All-Pro kick returner of the year before, he was still extremely effective in a league that has limited kick returns through rule changes.
The Falcons have expressed interest in bringing back Patterson, who is a free agent, and after playing for five teams and eight different offensive coordinators, Patterson has shared that mutual interest. He also said he feels great and could have up to 10 years left in the tank.
“I feel like I’m at home,” Patterson said to the Falcons website. “Why not just finish my career here?”
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