It was quite noticeable the difference of intensity with which Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson played on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Matched up primarily against Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr., he was extra fired up because Beckham was pretty much the last of the big-time receivers in the game Peterson had gotten to cover.
His play earned him defensive player of the week honors. He promises to maintain that level of play.
“It was definitely a different intensity level, for sure, and I’m planning on keeping that through the rest of the season and as long as I’m here,” he told reporters after practice on Thursday.
He has had his share of struggles leading up to Week 15. However, he said it wasn’t so much a physical thing. It was his comfort in the defense.
This is the first year he has played under defensive Vance Joseph and he was not with the team for the first six weeks of the season.
He cited having to learn the terminology, techniques and leverages of Joseph’s system. He has a comfort level now.
“Now that I have a better understanding and a better grasp on how plays work and where I need to be in order for this defense to be successful and in order for me to be successful, it’s definitely coming into full circle,” he said.
He said things had changed in the defense since he was in training camp, which was the last time he had any contact with the team and practiced. The “training camp rules” were different than the “in-season rules” that had been implemented. He said that the defense had gone through about three different technique changes in the time he was out.
“Now I have a great understanding about how he wants to call the game,” he said. “I think I’m right where I need to be right now.”
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Ep. 252:
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Ep. 251:
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