NEWSLETTER
Cordarrelle Patterson is a football player in the purest sense of the term.
The guy is willing to do anything and everything to get on the field. And when he takes the stage, Patterson gives it all he can with no questions asked (Michael: Seriously, watch that guy on the field … he’s a different breed of player). So it should come as no surprise that Patterson believes he can be the solution at what has been a problematic position for the Bears this season.
Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times shared an exchange with Patterson, that should open some eyes:
Re: Cordarrelle Patterson at TE… I’ve asked around about this several times going back to August because I like the idea, and it doesn’t appear to be on the table.
Patterson says he could do it. He also says he could play QB, K, LB… And I kinda believe him. https://t.co/rvKE0HHQ8D
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) November 26, 2019
With Trey Burton on season-ending injured reserve and Ben Braunecker likely to be out of action on Thursday, the Bears appear to be short-handed at the tight end position. That’s where Patterson and his confidence come into play. Because of course Patterson believes he can fill in at the tight end spot. Frankly, I admire the gumption of a man who says he can play quarterback, kicker, linebacker, or anywhere on the field.
Think back to what Patterson said back in June when Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy discussed the “Trojan” position Patterson was set to play this season.
“I don’t like being labeled,” Patterson said. “People try to say I’m a receiver, a running back, a kickoff returner. I can do anything on the field if I put my mind to it. I feel like when I get out there, I’m unstoppable. I’m not saying I can’t be stopped, but I feel like I can do anything on the field. Whatever Nagy needs me to do, I can do it.”
Read that last part again.
“Whatever Nagy needs me to do, I can do it.”
Good luck telling that guy he can’t play tight end, even though Lieser says he has asked about it and it doesn’t appear to be in the cards. And that’s a shame, too. The Bears offense seems to be at its best when it is playing back-yard football, and using Patterson as a tight end in this offense would fit the bill.
Whether or not the Bears are willing to be as bold as Patterson remains to be seen. But what is known as of now is that Patterson has come out of nowhere to be Chicago’s most valuable special teams player.
I mean, check out this punt coverage:
Oh, and you better believe he loves it:
Bears' Cordarrelle Patterson took his love of special teams just a bit too far. Had to dial it back a little– pic.twitter.com/lQLPKwSyi5
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) November 26, 2019
Patterson pinned the Giants deep in their own territory *TWICE* in last Sunday’s win. Without his efforts, I’m not sure the Bears squeak it out.
And as it turns out, people are taking notice:
Cordarelle’s punt coverage was more spectacular Sunday than anything the Bears offense has put on film this year. All-around stud special teamer. Can’t believe Belichick let him defect to Chicago.
— Chris Wesseling (@ChrisWesseling) November 25, 2019
Cordarrelle Patterson is so good on special teams way beyond kickoff returns!
— Hub Arkush (@Hub_Arkush) November 24, 2019
Bears special-teams coordinator Chris Tabor said of Cordarrelle Patterson: "I haven't had a player like this since I coached Josh Cribbs, to be honest with you."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) November 26, 2019
Through 12 weeks, Chicago’s special teams unit ranks as the 11th best in the league according to Football Outsiders’ DVOA metric. And while this group has taken a few steps back in recent weeks (the unit had been ranked in the top-5 as recently as Week 11), it still commands a tip of the cap for the turnaround that has taken place. Remember when the Bears’ special teams unit ranked 26th by DVOA’s standards? Yeah … I’m trying to forget that, too.
So even though the kicker continues to struggle through a slump, the rest of the squad has picked up the slack. Most notably, Patterson. Which – once again – leaves us wondering why the Bears won’t give this guy just a little more rope to see what he can do on the gridiron. With not much else to lose, I can’t see the harm in rolling the dice with the unknown.
