The Vikings’ Next Trick Play

Plus, that Justin Jefferson guy happens to be a good ball player.

The Vikings’ WR1 tends to attract attention. He had a good day at the office in New Orleans, as his 6 catches for 79 yards and 1 touchdown demonstrate. What’s similarly of note is that he got lined up at fullback on one play and then got involved in the pair of second half trick plays.

Much of Minnesota’s motive rests in finding a way to punish a Saints defense that’s too committed to devoting defenders to Jefferson.

Good coaches know how to identify the other team’s weakness before then exploiting it. Great coaches identify the other team’s strength before then finding a way to turn it into a weakness.

As it relates to these plays, New Orleans is tasking its defense with getting a pile of players to Jefferson to limit the damage he can do. That’s a strength if done correctly. However, what O’Connell is trying to do in these moments is to turn that strength — a numbers advantage to wallop Jefferson — into a weakness.

On that first play where Kyler Murray goes to Bartholomew, the play came painfully close to working. Many likely thought of the old “game of inches” saying while watching the play from the couch. Maybe a healthy T.J. Hockenson gets tasked with making that grab, a thought that many had.

But then that second trick play wasn’t so pretty. Jefferson came painfully close to tossing an interception. Blake Brandel, the do-it-all offensive lineman, turned into a defensive back in that moment.

What’s still true, though, is that the play could have worked. Tai Felton was shaking loose down the field since a deep defender was flying up to try to neutralize the threat of a bubble screen to Jefferson. An alternate version of the play could have involved Jefferson going deep to the speedster.

Maybe the Kyler Murray pass could have worked in a different universe. Getting the ball into Murray’s mitts cleanly likely sees the QB scampering for an explosive gain since he had a pile of bodyguards in front of him. What would need to be stressed, though, is that Jefferson needs to read the moment (easier said than done given how fast the game goes); if he sees danger, then Jefferson’s job is to tuck the ball and run rather than put the pigskin in a dangerous situation.

Next up for the Vikings is a Week 7 game against the Colts. In the meantime, the players are soaking up some much deserved rest. Quite possibly, the coaches have the necessary breathing room to cook up another creative play call or two.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.