The Minnesota Vikings lost a tough game to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night by a score of 24-7.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has received a lot of criticism for making improper reads and not hitting a wide-open receiver down the field. This has happened quite a bit during his tenure with the Vikings.
There are times where the criticism is warranted but other times it isn’t. The following clip is one of those times. Lets discuss it.
The Vikings have 11 personnel on the field. Two wide receivers to the top, a tight end to the nearside and both a running back and Justin Jefferson in the backfield. The idea of having Jefferson in the backfield is going to be as a decoy. It also will make an impact on film the more you utilize him out of the backfield.
The play sets up with clear-out routes from both receivers at the top and Johnny Mundt runs a 10-yard hook. Out of the backfield, Jefferson runs a wheel route which pairs well with the hitch (rub route) but isn’t meant to be a read. The screen pass is the only read here.
Seeing Jefferson that wide open on the wheel route is really frustrating but it’s not for nothing. The Vikings will be using this down the line with Jefferson or somebody else running that same route on a play-action or screen fake.