Adrian Peterson, Marcus Lattimore, Denard Robinson
Adrian Peterson thinks the dramatic shift in coaching styles from Leslie Frazier to Mike Zimmer will have a noticeable impact on the Minnesota Vikings.
In Peterson's view, the more fiery approach of Zimmer and offensive coordinator Norv Turner should help generate greater effort from players who, unlike the Vikings' star running back, need some additional motivation.
"Me personally, I could play for a guy like Coach Frazier and go out and still give 110 percent," Peterson was quoted as saying in USA Today. "A lot of guys can't respond to him. …Some guys can respond to that. Some guys can't.
"Some guys need that guy that is going to be in your face and tell you what you don't like, but you know is true. Guys respond to that. It's a different energy level when you get that from your head coach. It's probably the first time we experienced that. Coach (Brad) Childress was kind of fiery at times. He'd talk noise to you and get on you as well.
"But in this sense, it's from the head coach, the offensive coordinator – it's around the board. I think as men, it's not to a disrespectful level. So, they're able to take the coaching, enjoy it more, have fun while doing it and then have that sense that, 'You know what? I like this. This is fun. This is what I want. This is what I'm needing.' That's what I'm kind of sensing. That can change a team just like that."
MARCUS LATTIMORE HAS SIGHTS SET ON FRANK GORE'S JOB
Running back Marcus Lattimore seems to have come a long way since the devastating knee injury he suffered in 2012 at South Carolina.
He has gone from not knowing if he would ever play again, to being on an NFL roster (the 49ers') as a rookie but not seeing the field, to performing well enough during offseason workouts the past few weeks to draw praise from his coaches, to now saying that his goals are much higher than merely getting playing time this season.
"I'm trying to take (Frank Gore's) job," Lattimore was quoted as saying in USA Today. "But I know that's going to be the hardest thing in the world."
Of course, Lattimore isn't the only running back on the 49ers with designs on becoming their No. 1 running back. Kendall Hunter and Carlos Hyde are certain to be thinking the same way.
DENARD ROBINSON HAS A MORE DEFINED ROLE FOR JAGUARS
The Jacksonville Jaguars no longer are referring to Denard Robinson as an "offensive weapon," the label they gave the former Michigan quarterback when he was a rookie last year because of his ability to fill multiple roles.
Now, Robinson has a clearly defined job: backing up Toby Gerhart at running back.
Based on the impressive work they have seen from Robinson during offseason practices, the Jaguars are expecting him to be more effective than he was as a rookie, when he gained only 66 yards on 20 carries, caught no passes, failed to complete his only pass attempt, and fumbled three times. Robinson also recovered from elbow and hand injuries that factored into his fumbling and dropping multiple passes last season.
"We knew the transition from quarterback to running back would take some time when we drafted D-Rob," Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell was quoted as saying in USA Today. "I told him the other day, 'I don't want to jinx you, but you haven't dropped a ball since we started OTAs.' He has excellent speed and ability to take it to the end zone from anywhere on the field."
WOODY JOHNSON MAKES IT CLEAR THAT 8-8 WON'T CUT IT FOR JETS
The New York Jets finished with an 8-8 record last season.
Woody Johnson, the Jets' owner, expects them to be better this year.
"(An) 8-8 (record) was good, but I wasn't satisfied," Johnson was quoted as saying in the New York Post. "That's for sure. We're not satisfied unless we go further than that." >>Be sure to tune in Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET, for "Cleveland Browns Daily, Driven by Liberty Ford" on ESPN 850 WKNR or catch the live stream right here on ClevelandBrowns.com. We take your questions at 216-578-0850 and via Twitter @Browns_Daily.
