When the Minnesota Vikings dispersed for the offseason, head coach Mike Zimmer left instructions for second-year receiver Cordarrelle Patterson after an enigmatic finish for the talented player.

Patterson didn’t become the centerpiece offensive weapon he was expected to be when running back Adrian Peterson was lost for the season. Instead, Patterson regressed and fell down the depth chart behind Jarius Wright, newly signed Charles Johnson and even good friend and former undrafted player Adam Thielen.

To bring out Patterson’s talent, Zimmer asked the receiver to work with someone in the offseason. Zimmer wouldn’t divulge who he wanted to mentor Patterson.

Two months into the offseason, the plan is unfolding. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Zimmer said Patterson has been in contact with his new muse. Patterson even stepped out on his own to work on developing his game, Zimmer told KFAN radio.

"I communicated with (Patterson) once and gave him all the information of who he needs to contact," Zimmer told KFAN’s Paul Allen from the combine. "That has (happened) and I found out recently that, on his own, he decided he wanted to do this other thing too, which I think is a good thing for him. So he’s off doing that thing right now."

Zimmer didn’t offer any details but said he likes the approach Patterson has taken.

"The thing that he’s doing right now is not so much about the coaching," Zimmer said when asked about Patterson going out on his own. "It’s about the mentality of being a professional football player. I think this is a good thing for him. If it wasn’t I would let him know."

A step forward by Patterson would be a boost to Minnesota’s offense, which is still looking for a No. 1 receiver despite Johnson’s breakout last year. Patterson was expected to make the leap after finishing his rookie season strong.

Instead, Patterson was limited to 33 catches for 384 yards, 10 carries for 117 yards and two touchdowns. His production dipped across the board from his rookie season.

By the end of the season, Patterson had effectively been benched behind Johnson, Greg Jennings, Wright and Thielen.

"At the end of the day, our players have to earn their playing time," Zimmer told KFAN. "He wasn’t earning it at that particular time. I still have high hopes for him. It would benefit me if he’s a great football player, and I want that to happen extremely bad. Hopefully he wants that to happen extremely bad and then we’ll have a good mix.

Johnson became Minnesota’s top receiver by the end of the season.

Minnesota can’t go into next season counting on big production from Patterson and will likely add to the receiving corps this offseason. But the team is hoping the talented playmaker who they traded up to draft in the first round does grow.

"CP is working extremely hard right now," general manager Rick Spielman said at the combine, adding that he was going to meet with Patterson’s agent during the combine. "He wants to be a good football player. He’s a talented athlete, and he is a good football player, but we have to get him, put a plan in place for him. I believe he’s going to do everything he can to make himself the best player he can be."

Part of the plan also includes changes on the coaching staff’s part, Zimmer said.

"Yeah, we have to do a better job of manufacturing touches for him," Zimmer said during his time on the podium at the combine. "Cordarelle’s a very talented young man who’s been in a bunch of different systems. And Cordarrelle is doing a good job so far this offseason. So there’s a lot of things we have to do a better job with him. And in saying that he has to do a better job himself, so it is a two-way street on this."

So far, it sounds like the traffic has been traveling both sides down the street.

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