The Adrian Peterson Watch

Well, that talk of back-to-back Super Bowls didn't last long, did it? Yesterday's six turnover masterpiece against the Denver Broncos essenitally eliminated the Steelers from playoff contention. Even if the black and gold run the table the rest of the way(stop snickering) their early season struggles have put them on the short end of virtually every tie-breaker. But fear not Steeler fans, there is at least one good reason to keep watching games this season.

Down at the good old University of Oklahoma, there's a junior running back from Palestine, Texas who goes by the name of Adrian Peterson. Peterson is a 6'2" 225 lbs. workhorse with unheard of speed (a 4.35 40 time) for a player his size. During his senior year in high school, many recruiting services called Peterson the best high-school recruit in the last decade. His college career has largely lived up to these loft expectations. In two and a half seasons with the Sooners, Peterson has rushed for nearly 4,000 yards, including 39 touchdowns with an average of 5.4 yards per carry. As a freshman in 2004, Peterson was the runner-up to Matt Leinart for the Heisman Trophy. If, as expected, he enters the NFL Draft this spring, Peterson is a likely top-five pick.

In case you couldn't tell Peterson is an ideal fit for the Pittsburgh offense, which, despite the flirtation with the no-huddle, and the glitz and glamour of Willie Parker, works best with a bigger back who can wear down defenses with 25-30 carries a game. Now getting Peterson in a Steelers jersey isn't going to be easy. There are a lot of bad teams itching to add a running back of this caliber to their roster, and even if the Steelers are in position to pick Peterson, there's a good chance they'll opt for an offensive lineman or linebacker or some other non-skill position. Still, there are eight games remaining this season, and with enough fumbled kick-off returns, red-zone interceptions and cornerbacks being burned for big plays, I think the Steelers can make this dream a reality. The drive for six may be dead, but the drive for Adrian Peterson is alive and well.