Kirk Cousins Describes Tarkenton's Encouragement to Extend Plays

[Viktor]

Kubiak's approach keeps defenses on their toes.


"I'd like to believe that when you put those personnels on the field with heavier people – tight ends, fullbacks – that it puts the defensive coordinator in a bind because he's assuming that it's going to be run, or, 'This is going to be a tighter formation,' " Cousins explained. "And when you have versatile players like an Irv Smith or a C.J. Ham that can line up in a lot of different places and do a lot of different things, you'd like to think it puts defenses in a tough spot and they can't quite make their call just off of personnel alone.


"I do think personnel is one of those things that's the 'game within the game,' and when you have versatile players and you can stay very multiple with what you do within a personnel, it can make for a great advantage," Cousins continued. "So last year we still moved the football well in a lot of different personnel groupings that didn't involve receivers. Ultimately, it does come down to running the football well, and I think when you do that you have a lot of flexibility to stay in [fewer] three receiver sets."


That being said, Cousins is also looking forward to continuing building chemistry with receiver Justin Jefferson, whom the Vikings tabbed with the 22nd overall draft pick in April.


Jefferson has made a positive impression thus far in Verizon Vikings Training Camp, albeit in limited outings thus far.


"I think he's just doing a nice job here getting the play call in the huddle, getting out, getting lined up, knowing where to go, what to do, the depth to go on the route," Cousins said. "And ultimately why you bring him in is for the natural stuff. Learning the plays takes time no matter how good you are, but when the instincts can take over and you can make great plays, that's what you're looking for. He's shown an ability to do that, so we have to continue to get more reps, get more plays together, find out where he's most comfortable and certainly keep him in that comfort zone early in the season and continue to [add to] his plate where, as the year goes on, we're asking him to handle anything and everything, and hopefully he can handle it."


The Vikings are scheduled to kick off their season on Sept. 13 against the Packers.


Asked what they're doing during an unprecedented offseason to set them apart from other teams, Cousins said it boils down to which team best adapted to the curveballs of 2020.


"[Vikings Head Coach Mike] Zimmer and Gary Kubiak said the team that handles this unique circumstance the best, the team that can still get a lot of work done virtually, that can get a lot done in walkthroughs and what not, is going to come out of this in a much better place in September and then through the season," Cousins said. "We have understood that, and we have tried to take that to heart and apply it to the way we work.


"Just being in camp right now, honestly, it's more similar to where we would be at this time than what April, May, June, July were like," he added. "Those were more the months to make up ground. Now we are able to play football and get back to a pretty normal routine."