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StickyBun · 09-12-2022, 10:43 AM

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/vi...ew-offense

09-12-2022, 11:19 AM

It's easy to think this can't happen every week, and it may not, but it sure did last year with Cooper Kupp...and again on Thursday. You put a guy in motion, move him all over the field, creating confusion and mismatches, if he can run routes at all, he's going to get open. And JJ can sure as hell run routes.

09-12-2022, 01:20 PM

Remember when former coach Mike Zimmer refused to let Justin Jefferson chase down a longstanding franchise record last season?With the Vikings mired in mediocrity in Week 18, trudging their way to the end of a joyless season, Zimmer had a chance to help Jefferson make history. The generational talent was within striking distance of Randy Moss and his single-season franchise record for most receiving yards.
Instead of trying to help Jefferson get the franchise record, though, Zimmer seemingly went out of his way to make sure it didn’t happen. He even opted to take a knee on the final play of the game. In the end, Jefferson finished 16 receiving yards short of Moss, whose franchise record of 1,632 receiving yards lived to see another day.

Asked about the decision afterward, Zimmer grunted, “I don’t care about records. I only care about wins.”
That exchange seems like a lifetime ago after Sunday, when new coach Kevin O’Connell helped Jefferson go nuclear at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Not only did Jefferson finish with 184 receiving yards to lead the Vikings to a 23-7 win over the Green Bay Packers, the third-year star receiver showcased the full potential of an offense that uses him as the focal point.
“Going into this game, I was really excited,” Jefferson said. “I didn’t really have too many expectations. Just glad K.O. called my name a couple of times.”
It was actually more than a couple of times. There were a number of highlight-reel sequences from Jefferson in the game. All of which proved that O’Connell is the perfect person to lead the Vikings into the future.

The incredible day for Jefferson started with him snagging a 20-yard catch and a 22-yard catch, respectively, on the opening drive of the game, then going in motion near the goal line and hauling in an easy touchdown.
Talk about making a statement. And as it turned out, Jefferson was only getting started.
He added a 64-yard catch a few series later, running down a long pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins and nearly breaking loose for another touchdown. He found the end zone on the very next possession, corralling a pass over the middle before making a couple of defenders miss en route to another touchdown.
While it seemed unbelievable at times how wide open Jefferson was throughout the game, cornerback Patrick Peterson noted how O’Connell helped receiver Cooper Kupp put up 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns last season with the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
“I knew this was going to be a really good marriage,” Peterson said. “We have an offensive guru like (O’Connell) that’s calling the plays and finding new ways to get (Jefferson) open. When we have a receiver like that, we want to find ways to get him the ball as many times as we can, and K.O. is really good at that.”
That’s very good news for the Vikings.
Though it’s not rocket science to get Jefferson the ball with regularity, Zimmer never seemed to figure that out. That shouldn’t be a problem with O’Connell leading the charge. He knows how talented Jefferson is, and it’s clear he’s going to utilize his skill set.
“He’s a great receiver in this league and he’ll probably be the No. 1 receiver in this league,” outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith said. “It’s coming. He’s putting in the work each and every day at practice, and it’s going to translate in the games.”
After coming so close to setting a franchise record last season, Jefferson has to have the attention of Moss once again after his performance Sunday. Asked about his goals before this season, Jefferson mentioned how he’d like to get to 2,000 yards.
“That’s my goal,” he said with a smile. “No better way to start it off.”
Maybe he undershot. Especially with O’Connell now in charge.
https://www.twincities.com/2022/09/11/da...jefferson/

09-12-2022, 01:30 PM

there will be teams that scheme him out early, the only thing is will the KC and KOC be able to recognize it right away and have the adjustments ready when they take him away. That will really sell me on the "new" O, lots of teams have a guy that goes off, but when they can shift that production to other players when they need to without having to burn a bunch of possessions to get the changes made... thats a winner.

09-12-2022, 01:53 PM

Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
there will be teams that scheme him out early, the only thing is will the KC and KOC be able to recognize it right away and have the adjustments ready when they take him away. That will really sell me on the "new" O, lots of teams have a guy that goes off, but when they can shift that production to other players when they need to without having to burn a bunch of possessions to get the changes made... thats a winner.

You're right that JJ isn't going to do that every week, but keep in mind that every team the Rams played last year knew what they were getting in Cooper Kupp...and they still couldn't stop him because of the movement. "How does he get that open" is what everyone said. Even JJ said it. Yesterday that was my thought about JJ. "How does he get that open?" They know he's the #1 target and still he was open by miles.

What's more, when they do choose to shadow him or whatever they might try, the Vikings have plenty of good 2nd-read options (Thielen, KJO, ISJ and Dalvin). I think the Vikings depth there is as good, if not better, than what the Rams had last year.

09-12-2022, 01:57 PM

Quote: @MaroonBells said:

@JimmyinSD said:
there will be teams that scheme him out early, the only thing is will the KC and KOC be able to recognize it right away and have the adjustments ready when they take him away. That will really sell me on the "new" O, lots of teams have a guy that goes off, but when they can shift that production to other players when they need to without having to burn a bunch of possessions to get the changes made... thats a winner.
You're right that JJ isn't going to do that every week, but keep in mind that every team the Rams played last year knew what they were getting in Cooper Kupp...and they still couldn't stop him because of the movement. "How does he get that open" is what everyone said. Even JJ said it. Yesterday that was my thought about JJ. "How does he get that open?" They know he's the #1 target and still he was open by miles.

What's more, when they do choose to shadow him or whatever they might try, the Vikings have plenty of good 2nd-read options (Thielen, KJO, ISJ and Dalvin). I think the Vikings depth there is as good, if not better, than what the Rams had last year.

I agree, but will KC be ready and willing to come off JJ, we have seen him stay on receivers to long and end up taking a beating or worse... I think we saw it a couple times yesterday where he seemed to be really waiting for something to come open that never did. If they are taking JJ away then somebody else will be in an uprotected single coverage and I hope KC is ready to make that adjustment in play. I think he will, but it remains to be seen. I am guessing the iggles will be ready with some wrinkles to make KOC and KC show something different.

09-12-2022, 02:17 PM

Quote: @JimmyinSD said:

@MaroonBells said:

@JimmyinSD said:
there will be teams that scheme him out early, the only thing is will the KC and KOC be able to recognize it right away and have the adjustments ready when they take him away. That will really sell me on the "new" O, lots of teams have a guy that goes off, but when they can shift that production to other players when they need to without having to burn a bunch of possessions to get the changes made... thats a winner.
You're right that JJ isn't going to do that every week, but keep in mind that every team the Rams played last year knew what they were getting in Cooper Kupp...and they still couldn't stop him because of the movement. "How does he get that open" is what everyone said. Even JJ said it. Yesterday that was my thought about JJ. "How does he get that open?" They know he's the #1 target and still he was open by miles.

What's more, when they do choose to shadow him or whatever they might try, the Vikings have plenty of good 2nd-read options (Thielen, KJO, ISJ and Dalvin). I think the Vikings depth there is as good, if not better, than what the Rams had last year.
I agree, but will KC be ready and willing to come off JJ, we have seen him stay on receivers to long and end up taking a beating or worse... I think we saw it a couple times yesterday where he seemed to be really waiting for something to come open that never did. If they are taking JJ away then somebody else will be in an uprotected single coverage and I hope KC is ready to make that adjustment in play. I think he will, but it remains to be seen. I am guessing the iggles will be ready with some wrinkles to make KOC and KC show something different.

We'll see. It's a new offense and there will be adjustments he'll need to make based on how defenses choose to play us. But it's not like he's had a problem in the past throwing to Thielen or KJO...or even the backs and tight ends. He's a flawed QB, but historically, an inability to spread the ball around has not been one of them.

09-12-2022, 02:20 PM

Quote: @MaroonBells said:

@JimmyinSD said:

@MaroonBells said:

@JimmyinSD said:
there will be teams that scheme him out early, the only thing is will the KC and KOC be able to recognize it right away and have the adjustments ready when they take him away. That will really sell me on the "new" O, lots of teams have a guy that goes off, but when they can shift that production to other players when they need to without having to burn a bunch of possessions to get the changes made... thats a winner.
You're right that JJ isn't going to do that every week, but keep in mind that every team the Rams played last year knew what they were getting in Cooper Kupp...and they still couldn't stop him because of the movement. "How does he get that open" is what everyone said. Even JJ said it. Yesterday that was my thought about JJ. "How does he get that open?" They know he's the #1 target and still he was open by miles.

What's more, when they do choose to shadow him or whatever they might try, the Vikings have plenty of good 2nd-read options (Thielen, KJO, ISJ and Dalvin). I think the Vikings depth there is as good, if not better, than what the Rams had last year.
I agree, but will KC be ready and willing to come off JJ, we have seen him stay on receivers to long and end up taking a beating or worse... I think we saw it a couple times yesterday where he seemed to be really waiting for something to come open that never did. If they are taking JJ away then somebody else will be in an uprotected single coverage and I hope KC is ready to make that adjustment in play. I think he will, but it remains to be seen. I am guessing the iggles will be ready with some wrinkles to make KOC and KC show something different.
We'll see. It's a new offense and there will be adjustments he'll need to make based on how defenses choose to play us. But it's not like he's had a problem in the past throwing to Thielen or KJO...or even the backs and tight ends. He's a flawed QB, but historically, an inability to spread the ball around has not been one of them.

This. lol, I'm not worried about Cousins finding other WRers/TEs/RBs than JJ. He's done it consistently. I find it hilarious that some fans are never satisfied: utilize a great weapon like JJ to the max, and now we're over reliant. Don't utilize him enough and we're 'wasting his prime years'. JFC.

Hey Vikings fans (you know who you are).....learn how to enjoy a freaking win. Get the lemons out of your mouths.

09-12-2022, 02:24 PM

"Though it’s not rocket science to get Jefferson the ball with regularity, Zimmer never seemed to figure that out."

I know the writer is trying to make a point, but he had the second most yards in Vikings history last year, yet you say Zimmer didn't get the ball to him with regularity. He should have said he didn't utilize him to his fullest potential.

09-12-2022, 02:26 PM

Q4 last SB, McVay just fed Kupp the ball even when covered and the other team knew it was coming...It won them a ring. JJ is good enough to do that with as well.

I agree teams will play us differently week to week...Maybe even shadow JJ with their best cover guy - which GB fans were howling about post game. But even that is fraught with peril as you put the rest of your secondary @ risk of being and looking stoopid.

Pre-snap movement and being able to execute a variety of different plays from the same formation is tough to defend. Then add to it how easy it is for a player to get lost going across the field (when there is time) really gives an offense an in this century feel.

I'm not saying we got a re-incarnate of 98 on our hands offensively - but at least for now, I feel like we've taken steps forward on that side of the ball.