Bucs head coach Arians calls Thielen Vikings “go-to” guy over Jefferson/Cook. Is he right?
Joe Johnson
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The Minnesota Vikings objectively have the best 1-2 punch at wide receiver in the NFL. Don’t believe me? After last weekend’s win against the Jacksonville Jaguars the duo of Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson were the third and fourth highest rated wide receivers in the league (according to PFF).
I’m not sure why I asked if you didn’t believe me, as the last thing I need to remind Vikings fans is how great those two are together. However, with Jefferson lighting the league aflame with one of the best rookie seasons of all-time, it feels like Adam Thielen has been forgotten by those on the national stage.
Case in point, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians was asked this week about the conundrum of covering both Jefferson and Vikings superstar running back Dalvin Cook.
Arians responded; “Jefferson takes the top off the coverage,” Arians said. “Don’t ever forget Thielen because he’s really the go-to guy.”
He’s not wrong. Or is he?
Let’s compare their 2020 stats.
First, Thielen.
Adam is a touchdown machine. Which, if you ask Mike Tice is more important for Hall of Fame consideration (as he said on the radio show he and I host together on KDLM Radio in Detroit Lakes when I asked him about the Jefferson/Moss comparisons), but does it make one more of a “go-to” guy?
My definition of a go-to guy is the guy who gets the ball more in general, but especially in big moments. That has increasingly has become Jefferson this season, who trails Thielen in the TD category but is bested him basically everywhere else.
Jefferson has had over 31% of his 61 catches (which tops Thielen’s 57) in the last three games (19) and 27 in the past four game (nearly 45%). While Thielen has had 20 grabs in three games (and 22 in four), Jefferson’s grabs are increasing as the season progresses.
Beyond that, Jefferson has come through in clutch situations (outside of that drop on the Vikings’ final drive of the Cowboys loss, but then again, Thielen had a drop on the next play) and bests Thielen by almost 8% in the catch percentage category.
While I’m splitting hairs here, Arians’ comments got me thinking. Thielen is still the Cris Carter to Justin Jefferson’s Randy Moss, and while Thielen does more than just catch touchdowns he has had some astounding grabs in the end-zone this season when the Vikings have needed him most.
So, my point here is not that Jefferson is better than Thielen (or vice versa) but rather that we as Vikings fans are spoiled rotten. It’s an embarrassment of riches at every skill position on the offense, and if the Vikings can best Arians’ Bucs on Sunday (especially by limiting their many, many mistakes)?
The sky could be the limit for these Vikings, not just this season but for many years to come. Especially when you throw the also mentioned (to Arians) Dalvin Cook.
Regardless of where you stand on Jefferson v. Thielen, the real go to guy on this Vikings offense is Cook. Cook opens up the pass game for these Vikings (especially in the play-action game, where quarterback Kirk Cousins is especially lethal), and if he can stay healthy he really does make you believe that the Vikings are this close to being a contender yet again.
Just don’t forget about Thielen. Ever.