Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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Hasan offers observations of Vikings WRs in camp
Arif Hasan of The Athletic recently posted 73 observations regarding 73 different Vikings players in training camp so far.
And while we won't get into all of them here, Hasan did have some praise for Minnesota's wide receivers group.
To start, he has liked what he has seen from Pro-Bowler Adam Thielen, noting Thielen "is in a class of his own among the receivers."
Hasan wrote:
He's been able to separate instantly at the release and generates even more throughout the route. As good as some of the corners in camp have been, they've had a difficult time keeping up with him — a good sign that his hamstring injury [from 2019] hasn't kept him from performing at a top-notch level.
Hasan opined he has seen some ups and downs from first-rounder Justin Jefferson, but noted that likely has to do with not being able to get on the field with his teammates and coaches for offseason practices this year due to the pandemic.
That said, he's looked good off press, something he didn't deal with much in his final year at LSU as a slot receiver but saw a fair amount as a sophomore given his outside responsibilities. Though Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak has indicated he foresees the greatest level of comfort for Jefferson in the slot given his most recent experience there, he's already beginning to prove his worth as a potential outside receiver. If he can do that, it frees up Thielen for his most effective role on the inside.
Hasan also singled out Chad Beebe, who missed nearly all of last season with an ankle injury.
Of the backups, Chad Beebe might be looking the best. His biggest problems — drops and deep speed — haven't really shown up much in camp thus far. He's done an excellent job getting open, though the nature of his style of route-running is such that he looks better in one-on-ones, where there's significantly more space, than in 11-on-11 drills. He's had some difficulty with option routes, which is a classic responsibility for a slot receiver, especially in Kubiak's system.
Beebe had two receptions for 70 yards in 2019, including a 61-yard gain against the Packers in Week 2 at Lambeau Field.
Beebe and the rest of his teammates continue camp practices at 2 p.m. (CT) today at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan.