Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss

Oracle Bone Diviner
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Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Jan 5, 2021 9:22:27 GMT -6

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Post by Oracle Bone Diviner on Jan 5, 2021 9:22:27 GMT -6

Jan 5, 2021 5:21:54 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

Jan 4, 2021 15:05:40 GMT -6 vikingpwr said:

When Kirk wasn't curled up in a fetal position he managed to throw it to a talented rookie WR 88 times for 1400 yards and 7 TDs. It's a shame Kirk's, JJ's and Cook's impressive stats weren't enough to get the team to the postseason.

Looks like it took Diggs 127 catches to get 1,535 yards (and 8 TDs). All things considered, I'd say our boy had the better season, or, at minimum, the same. Having the most receptions is nice, but if you're less productive with them?

JJ did his thing with two fewer starts, too. Freaking shocking how good he is already! Hopefully his humble attitude stays the same, as well:

There's an electric swagger ingrained in this physically gifted 21-year-old Vikings receiver. But teammates and coaches swear the supreme confidence stops well short of arrogance and is coupled with a level of maturity that should alleviate fears that this rising superstar will grow unhappy and incompatible with a run-first offense built around Dalvin Cook.

Jefferson concurs. And, for the record, he and Cook both made the Pro Bowl while toiling together in Gary Kubiak's offense.

"I'm definitely an unselfish player," Jefferson said. "Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good. A lot of things have to work for our team to be successful.

"I'm not about to be a drama queen just because I'm not getting the amount of targets that I want."

...

Jefferson disputes the notion that he would have to follow Diggs' lead and leave Minnesota if he wants to be successful as a receiver.

"Coach Kubiak definitely gives us a lot of opportunities," Jefferson said. "I feel like Stefon Diggs just wanted the ball a lot more than he was getting. I mean he's first in receptions, first in targets. But I'm still doing the same type of stuff and I'm getting [44] fewer targets than him. So the opportunities are there. He just wanted the ball a lot more."

Link:

www.startribune.com/vikings-justin-jefferson-brings-the-swagger-to-rookie-of-the-year-competition/573475291/

And if he's content to be a winner on a team that is a hopeless loser, he'll toe the line and hang around and keep his mouth shut. Mostly looks like he's trying to ward off speculation that he'll become a Diggs, but that doesn't mean he won't. Diggs was compliant and complacent his rookie year too, and beyond.

There's a ringing in my ear and I think it's the Call of the Wild

itinerant, noun; a person who works and wanders.

diehardtwinsfan
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Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Jan 5, 2021 11:56:26 GMT -6

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Post by diehardtwinsfan on Jan 5, 2021 11:56:26 GMT -6

Jan 4, 2021 14:37:08 GMT -6 TAFKASP said:

Jan 4, 2021 13:27:19 GMT -6 vikingpwr said:

I'm gonna turn it every which way I can. It's 2021 and it's time to get back at it!

What's with the name changing? I liked your last one A LOT!! Ricky hasn't been fired yet so the name was perfect!

Firesun coast?? Is that some obscure place off Lake Mead by Valley of the Fire?

No, suncoastvike is one of your local, friendly mods. I want everyone fired, kinda like giveu1guess , but the name field will not allow me to list everybody so each gets their day!

sweet, when is mine?

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,661 Likes: 31,586 Fan Since: 1998 Member is Online	Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Jan 15, 2021 11:42:08 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Jan 15, 2021 11:42:08 GMT -6

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Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Jan 19, 2021 17:58:13 GMT -6

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Post by Purple Pain on Jan 19, 2021 17:58:13 GMT -6

Justin Jefferson: Being the fifth receiver drafted was disrespectful

Justin Jefferson was the best rookie receiver in the NFL this season. The Vikings receiver totaled 1,400 receiving yards, an all-time rookie record and 465 more than the next closest rookie’s total.

That isn’t what Jefferson was seeking, though.

“I wanted to be the best receiver I can be,” Jefferson told Steve Wyche and Jim Trotter on their Huddle & Flow podcast. “I didn’t want to really compare myself to the other rookie receivers. I wanted to be the best receiver in the league.”

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and Jefferson are the top candidates for offensive rookie of the year, with the NFL announcing the winner the night before the Super Bowl. Odell Beckham was the last receiver to win the award, taking it home in 2014, and receiver Percy Harvin was the last Vikings player to win it in 2009.

Yet, Jefferson waited a long time to hear his name called on draft day. He was the fifth receiver off the board, following Henry Ruggs III (No. 12), Jerry Jeudy (15), CeeDee Lamb (17) and Jalen Reagor (21). Jefferson was the only rookie receiver to break 1,000 receiving yards, and his 88 receptions topped the rookies, too.

“I kept a chip on my shoulder, if you want to say that,” said Jefferson, who played at LSU. “I just felt like I was one of the top receivers, especially off of the performance I did with the national championship, having over 1,500 yards, having 18 touchdowns. So being the fifth receiver picked up, I felt that was disrespectful on their part.

“I just wanted to prove everybody wrong. All of the doubts about me playing outside, me not being a fast receiver, me not being able to go deep. So this past season, I worked on all of those things. I just tried to clean up my game a little bit more and be that versatile receiver.”

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/01/15/justin-jefferson-being-the-fifth-receiver-drafted-was-disrespectful/

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Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Feb 2, 2021 17:24:48 GMT -6

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Post by Funkytown on Feb 2, 2021 17:24:48 GMT -6

Jefferson is a smart guy and he knows that Cousins chucking him passes all over the field each week helped him become a finalist for this award. The Vikings rookie receiver spoke to The Viking Age on Tuesday and he talked about some of the things that impress him the most about his quarterback.

“A lot of people put a lot of shame on Kirk. Kirk is a great quarterback. He does whatever he needs to get the team going. He’s never backed down from any fight and he fought this whole season.

Even though he was getting a lot of criticism, he kept fighting, he kept doing his own thing, and he still ended up as one of the top quarterbacks this season.”

Jefferson clearly isn’t afraid to defend Cousins from his haters. But the receiver probably scratches his head as many people do when they criticize a quarterback who just threw 35 touchdowns and more than 4,200 yards.

Cousins has been in the rumor mill lately and if he doesn’t return to Minnesota for next season, it’s possible that Jefferson could see his numbers head in the wrong direction.

But if the Vikings bring back their current starting quarterback for the 2021 campaign, there’s a good chance that Jefferson could take another step closer to becoming one of the top current receivers in the NFL.

And he's already a leader!

Last Edit: Feb 2, 2021 17:25:35 GMT -6 by Funkytown

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,661 Likes: 31,586 Fan Since: 1998 Member is Online	Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Feb 3, 2021 18:49:27 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Feb 3, 2021 18:49:27 GMT -6 Love this kid! Sticking up for his guy!

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,661 Likes: 31,586 Fan Since: 1998 Member is Online	Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Feb 3, 2021 19:00:43 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Feb 3, 2021 19:00:43 GMT -6 Good read!

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,661 Likes: 31,586 Fan Since: 1998 Member is Online	Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Feb 4, 2021 13:36:48 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Feb 4, 2021 13:36:48 GMT -6

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Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Feb 5, 2021 15:45:07 GMT -6

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Post by Purple Pain on Feb 5, 2021 15:45:07 GMT -6

Zone Coverage: Is Justin Jefferson's "No Drops in 2021" Promise Realistic?

Justin Jefferson wasn’t shy in setting lofty 2020 goals. The Minnesota Vikings’ first-round pick pledged to himself that he’d catch 60 balls for 1,000 yards and six touchdowns. Turns out the mark was too easy. Jefferson met all three by Week 13 and spent the final quarter of the season padding his Rookie of the Year candidacy.

His 88-catch, 1,400-yard, seven-touchdown season sets a high bar to clear in 2021, but Jefferson is already making one thing clear: He’s not going to leave any yards on the field due to drops.

In a self-produced behind-the-scenes video of one of Jefferson’s offseason workouts in Miami, the 22nd overall pick made the following claim: “I ain’t dropping no balls next season,” he said. “Just watch. No drops. Zero. Put my check on it. Put my whole life savings.”

If, say, Chad Beebe or Bisi Johnson made this claim, it would be more easily accomplished considering their low target share. But a player like Jefferson? It would be a rarity, considering his anticipated workload.

In the past 15 years that Pro Football Focus has tracked drops, only two receivers with 100 or more targets have gone a full season without a drop: DeAndre Hopkins in 2018 and Larry Fitzgerald in 2019.

However, Jefferson showed he has great hands in 2020. Pro Football Focus pinned four drops on him, and several were still tough catches.

...

The day after the Panthers game, where Jefferson had three balls bounce off his hands, head coach Mike Zimmer razzed him in practice.

“He never [drops passes],” Zimmer said. “I said to him, ‘I don’t see you dropping balls,’ and he said, ‘You won’t see it again.’”

Jefferson wouldn’t have a drop in the final five games.

The former LSU star had the lowest drop rate of any receiver with 100 or more targets among rookies. The last first-year wideout with a lower drop rate under that criteria was Michael Thomas (4.2%) in 2016.

Expand it to rookies with 50 or more targets and Jefferson drops to third behind Jalen Reagor (3.1%) and Darnell Mooney (3.2%). Still, though, he was far and away better than some of his other first-round peers who played big roles in their respective offenses. CeeDee Lamb dropped nine balls for the Cowboys, and Jerry Jeudy dropped 12.

Jefferson is now on record saying he wants to run smoother routes in 2021 and drop zero passes. He also believes that a starting job in Week 1 will put him on a greater trajectory for receiving yardage. It took Jefferson until Week 3 last season to crack the starting lineup.

“Who knows what I would’ve did with [starting in Week 1],” Jefferson said. “I guess I’ll just wait until next year to start out from Week 1, and hopefully I get more yards than I did this year.”

These are ambitious goals. Then again, Jefferson had no trouble exceeding them in Year 1.

zonecoverage.com/2021/minnesota-vikings-news/is-justin-jeffersons-no-drops-in-2021-promise-realistic/

HarryHits22 Hall of Fame Inductee Posts: 14,518 Likes: 966	Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Feb 7, 2021 4:04:58 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by HarryHits22 on Feb 7, 2021 4:04:58 GMT -6 JJ got snubbed

diehardtwinsfan Moderator Posts: 11,979 Likes: 7,517	Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Feb 8, 2021 7:01:55 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by diehardtwinsfan on Feb 8, 2021 7:01:55 GMT -6 to be fair, Hebert had a fantastic season too including setting a number of rookie QB records of his own... I wouldn't lose that much sleep over it, as much as I wanted him to get it.

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Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Feb 8, 2021 8:57:49 GMT -6

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Post by whoskmoon on Feb 8, 2021 8:57:49 GMT -6

Herbert was a very average QB this year despite the numbers. His offense was actually pretty bad at scoring and that lack of scoring typically ends up being because a QB is inconsistent and unable to sustain drives. Still, that is better than the vast majority of rookie QBs can do.

JJ was a top 10 WR who benefitted a bit from the guy opposite him as well as defenses selling out to stop Cook. He had one of the best rookie seasons by a WR in history, but WR is a much easier position to come in and make an impact at.

In the end voters thought a QB having one of the best rookie seasons of all time was more impressive than a WR having one of the best rookie seasons of all time, and it is tough to argue that thought process.

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,661 Likes: 31,586 Fan Since: 1998 Member is Online	Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Mar 21, 2021 18:48:48 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Mar 21, 2021 18:48:48 GMT -6

Purple Pain Hall of Fame Nominee Posts: 8,744 Likes: 2,877	Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Mar 25, 2021 9:29:08 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Purple Pain on Mar 25, 2021 9:29:08 GMT -6

Purple Pain Hall of Fame Nominee Posts: 8,744 Likes: 2,877	Justin Jefferson will end up our best WR since Randy Moss Apr 10, 2021 8:23:34 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Purple Pain on Apr 10, 2021 8:23:34 GMT -6