Chargers running back Melvin Gordon grew up idolizing Adrian Peterson.
So in addition to getting to hang out with his hero, Gordon’s hoping to learn to hang onto the ball as well.
According to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, Gordon has joined Peterson for his offseason workouts in Houston this offseason, as both of them try to get a better grip on the ball.
“I talked to Adrian about it, and he said, ‘The biggest thing about the lack of ball security is, it’s a mental thing,’” Gordon said. “You can do a lot of drills, but you can still go out there and mess up if you’re not mentally focused on it. It’s [having that reminder of], ‘Someone’s there. Someone’s always there [trying to take it].’”
And last year, people took it from both of them.
After not losing a fumble the year before, Peterson fumbled seven times, losing three. Gordon fumbled six times last season, so he joined in with Peterson and trainer James Cooper this offseason.
While it can’t replicate would-be tacklers, Cooper puts them through boxing and Brazilian jujitsu drills to work on balance and security, getting them ready for the hits to come.
"[The punches are] more of an instinctual trigger than a hit,” Peterson said. “It’s kind of like going through that front line, where you’ve got arms coming, you’ve got legs coming. It really makes you clench on it even more and keep it tight.”
Peterson has shown in the past he can eliminate fumbles, and Gordon’s hoping that’s one of the tricks he can mirror after a disappointing rookie season.