The Advantage Justin Jefferson Could Really Use
Somewhat ironically, Justin Jefferson may benefit from a Vikings team that figures out how to run the ball. Even better, perhaps, could be a Vikings team that has an elite rushing attack.
As things stand, RB1 Aaron Jones and RB2 Jordan Mason are a strong pair. The two top runners offer Minnesota a nice balance. Mr. Jones is a well-rounded weapon, capable of doing anything and everything well; Mr. Mason is a hammer who treats defenders like nails. Could there nevertheless be benefit in adding an elite option? If so, does the path ahead involve signing a top-tier free agent or investing in a sizzling draft option?
Justin Jefferson and The Upside of a Potent Running Attack
As things stand, Justin Jefferson is sitting in the eye of the storm. The team is working through swirling chaos as he maintains his elite play.
The stat sheet shows 66 catches for 832 yards and 2 touchdowns. He has never been an elite scorer, but finishing off the year with 2 or 3 touchdowns would be unusually modest. And then the 12.6 yards-per-catch average is also a career low, coming in quite far behind his 14.1 yards-per-catch average from his Offensive Player of the Year season in 2022.
All around, an elite rushing attack would help.
Inserting a talent who can mirror the prime version of Dalvin Cook — prime Adrian Peterson is unrealistic — could make a major difference. There’s the simply reality of keeping J.J. McCarthy happy and healthy, which has a downstream effect on the receivers (of whom Jefferson is the foremost).
But then there’s the need for the defense to reallocate its resources, pushing defenders toward the line of scrimmage instead of dropping into the secondary.
No defense ever wants to get its soul eaten. An offense that can relentlessly chew up yards by handing the ball off eats the soul of a defense. Defenders are a group of players who almost by definition want to think of themselves as being mean, rugged, and physical. A runner who runs all over those players causes (at best) humble introspection or (at worst) arrogant infighting and blame.
Couldn’t Minnesota use some of that? Couldn’t Jefferson?
By necessity, Justin Jefferson would get to operate with more room down the field. The more that players get shuffled forward, the more green grass for #18 to explore further down the field. Oh, and the passes are easier to complete when throwing windows are larger.
The focus has been on Mr. McCarthy recently. Vikings legend Cris Carter is just one voice insisting that the young passer needs to find a way to feature the top option. Fair, accurate, and reasonable.
Off to the side is the need for a reinvigorated ground game. Being able to gain ground by running — both in a modest and explosive manner — would make life considerably easier for Justin Jefferson. He hasn’t had excellent ground support since the Dalvin Cook and Mike Zimmer days.
High time to seek a change.
