When the Minnesota Vikings selected wide receiver Jordan Addison in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, the prevailing thought was that they got their running mate for Justin Jefferson.
Addison’s pro debut saw him on the field for 56.25% of snaps (36) and he made the most of them. He caught four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. That first score was a sign of what the Vikings can expect moving forward.
Buy Vikings TicketsThis is a 3×1 set with the wide side being the strong side. The concept here is a modified version of a Pin concept, which is a beater against quarters coverage running a post route and an in-route to put the defender in conflict.
This is a beater for quarters and it’s designed to put the defenders in conflict in the same way. Quarters coverage has four deep defenders and they are each responsible for a quarter of the field.
T.J. Hockenson is running a flat route after chipping, making him the outlet option if nothing comes open.
Jefferson is in the slot and is running the in route of the pin concept, except he does it in the form of an out route. Addison runs the post from the outside completing the route concept.
Normally, the Pin concept has players on opposite sides so they cross and create conflict for one of the two defenders in the middle of the field, but you can have them on the same side.
When Jefferson and Addison reach the apex of their route, it creates conflict. Jefferson is running right at the second deep defender from the left. Theoretically, he needs to pass off Jefferson to the outside defender and take the post route. He does that, but the presence of Jefferson has him hesitating just enough to allow Addison to get past him and wide open.
Pin is the route concept that the Lions beat the Vikings with last December with wide receiver Jameson Williams.
With Addison having firmly established himself, the Vikings have a trio of weapons they can lean on long-term.
