Vikings

A Sense of Normalcy Should Help Justin Jefferson Avoid A Sophomore Slump

Photo Credit: Brad Rempel (USA TODAY Sports)

Justin Jefferson’s rookie season was so good it made history. The Minnesota Vikings receiver put up 1,400 yards in his first season (a record in the Super Bowl era) and took down franchise records that were held by Randy Moss. His signature dance took over the world to the point that Olympic athletes are doing it and his offseason workout videos are going viral on Twitter.

Entering his second season, it’s only natural to ask if Jefferson can top his historic rookie campaign. And with training camp opening this week, the bigger question was: Can he do it again?

The answer to that question is somewhere in the middle. It may not be reasonable to expect Jefferson to get 1,401 yards but it’s more reasonable to expect a level of consistency.

“If he were to have the same season he had last year and do it 12 or 13 times, he’s probably going to Canton,” Kirk Cousins said of Jefferson. “When you talk about what’s the next step, it’s not about changing who he is, it’s doing it again.”

The art of consistency is what will help the Vikings determine if Jefferson is a great receiver. Of the top-10 rookie yardage totals of all time, seven of those players had a better yardage total the following season. Of the three that didn’t, Anquan Boldin and Terry Glenn suffered season-ending knee injuries before rebounding to have productive careers.

If Jefferson wants proof, he doesn’t have to look any further than his wide receivers coach, Keenan McCardell.

McCardell was one of the most consistent receivers in the league after breaking out with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1996. That campaign started a run where McCardell posted 1,000 or more receiving yards in five of the next eight seasons. In two of those seasons, McCardell posted 800 or more yards.

Although some receivers will only get their numbers if they are the primary target, that wasn’t the case for McCardell. He was part of one of the NFL’s best-receiving duos with Jimmy Smith, who also broke out in 1996 and went on to post 1,000 or more yards in nine of the next 10 seasons.

His situation is eerily similar to the one Jefferson has in Minnesota. Jefferson’s rookie season almost certainly has attracted the attention of defensive coaches across the league, who now have had a year to prepare. Therefore, Jefferson could see double teams that will open up more production for Adam Thielen.

That could drag Jefferson’s numbers down, so it’s his ability to navigate these defensive schemes that will determine if he has a solid sophomore season.

Jefferson looks like he’s up to the task. He put in the work this offseason to lay the foundation for that success. In a more normal situation, he was the beneficiary of a full off-season program and worked out with Pro Bowl receivers Stefon Diggs and Jarvis Landry. With the addition of McCardell to the coaching staff, Jefferson spent the summer working on his weaknesses and studying different routes and concepts to make him an even better receiver.

“I understand a lot more,” Jefferson said of the difference. “Just being in OTAs, being in minicamp and going to training camp, everything is a lot more smoother. We’re into the playbook more smoothly and the connection has grown a lot from the first time I stepped in this building.”

The thought of Jefferson being more comfortable should be terrifying for opposing defenses. If he is able to get open at the same rate, it should open up opportunities for all receivers to become a consistent threat.

It’s the type of environment Mike Zimmer has been shooting for over the past couple of seasons. With the same system that produced the fourth-most yards in the NFL last season, Jefferson and the rest of the offense should feel comfortable even as they go up against some of the top defenses in the league.

That process starts with another strong season with Jefferson. With any young receiver, it’s possible we could look back and wonder what could have been. But with the stability surrounding Jefferson, there’s a good chance he can avoid the dreaded sophomore slump.

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