MANKATO, Minn. — Instincts and natural playmaking ability have made Cordarrelle Patterson one of the NFL’s most dangerous kickoff returners. Patterson makes it look almost effortless when he fields a kick in the end zone, glides toward the oncoming coverage team and then identifies an open lane before dashing down the field.
Blair Walsh makes one of his tasks – kicking off – look just as effortless as he often times smashes the ball off the tee and through the end zone for a touchback.
Patterson’s flashy returns and Walsh’s booming kickoffs happen quickly and naturally, but that doesn’t mean they happen without intentionality.