Inside Adrian Peterson's success

We are seeing a season by a remarkable player that may never be duplicated, and every week, the Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson makes plays that defy description and add to his lore -- all of this production coming after a devastating 2011 knee injury that might have ended the career of a lot of players.

Everybody is talking about AD's numbers in 2012 and the potential for him to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record, but I will take a different approach and go into the film room to dissect Peterson and break down his overall game.

Inside runner

His power is off the charts, and he seems to attack defenders with almost a defensive mentality. He is the best back in the NFL in yards after contact, and he rarely goes down after the first hit. His pad level is excellent, and he is not an upright runner who gives you a lot of surface to hit.

By nature, Peterson is a north-south runner who does his best work between the tackles. He is a no-nonsense guy who attacks the hole straight on, and there is rarely any wasted movement.

To read more about Adrian Peterson's amazing season and why he has been so successful, plus to get all of Insider's NFL content, sign up to be an ESPN Insider.

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Gary Horton

Scouts Inc.

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Gary Horton spent 10 years in the NFL as a scout and another 10 years at the college level as an assistant coach and recruiter. He is the founder and most seasoned member of the Scouts Inc. staff, and his extensive experience at all levels of football make him an excellent talent evaluator.