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When you have a versatile weapon that’s a threat to make a play every time the ball is in his hands, you should do everything you can to get him the ball as much as possible. Which, unfortunately, is something the Chicago Bears failed to do with Cordarrelle Patterson last season.
Patterson had an All-Pro year as a kick returner last season, including a 102-yard kickoff return against the New Orleans Saints. There were also times when Patterson was brought in either as a running back or receiver and was able to make a big play to keep the chains moving for an offense that really needed it.
So it’s no surprise that getting the ball into Patterson’s hands more often in 2020 has been a focal point for the Bears. Whether that’s as a receiver, running back or kick returner.
“I think we all have realized that [regardless of] how we do it or how it happens, the guy has to have the ball in his hands,” receivers coach Mike Furrey said, via ChicagoBears.com. “He’s one of the most elite, explosive, dominant football players with the ball in his hands in this league, whether it’s kick return or whatever he does on offense. Those are the traits that he has, so we have to get him ready and get him going.”
The Bears have a loaded receivers room where players like Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller are the go-to guys for whoever wins the starting quarterback job. So one of the ways Chicago is considering utilizing Patterson more is in the running game.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Patterson was meeting with the running backs rather than the wide receivers during training camp, which could indicate an increased role for Patterson in the run game this season.
Last season, Patterson had 17 rushes for 103 yards, which should change this year given a bigger workload for Patterson in the run game. With the intention to get Patterson the ball as often as possible, the run game is probably the best chance to do just that.
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