[OC] Vikings Offensive Player of Game 1
Before the season kicks off, I'll be taking a look at the Vikings' best offensive and defensive player each game and highlighting exactly why and how they had such a good game. For simplicity sake, I'll be choosing whoever PFF rated as the best player on each side of the ball that week. Right now that's the easiest way to do it, but I'm open to other suggestions like possibly a vote for the upcoming season.
Week 1 versus the Tennessee Titans, we scored two defensive TDs and kicked three FGs, so our O wasn’t very successful. We couldn't get anything going on the ground, and Shaun Hill wasn't exactly lighting anyone up. However, there was one player who was able to shine despite the circumstances, and that was Stefon Diggs.
Diggs had 7 receptions for 103 yards to go with six first downs. He did the majority of his damage in the intermediate area, making three catches on deep curls.
The first curl is the only one where he didn’t gain a first down. He ran the route to 5 yards in front of the LB and after the catch shows his slippery ability to make people miss and pick up additional yardage.
On his other curls he makes sure to really sell the deep route to the DBs before stopping on a dime and picking up two easy first down catches.
Two of his catches were on simple out routes for first downs. Although they were technically the same route the way he runs them varies and shows some of the nuances that makes Diggs a top flight route runner.
The first one is versus a Cover 3 look so Diggs sells the deep route versus the corner before making his break. This forces the DB to open up his hips and gives Diggs the space he needs to undercut the DB and high point the ball.
The second out is versus a Cover 1. Look where Diggs starts off aligned in the slot. The DB is playing with outside leverage so first Diggs sells the inside route before breaking back out just as the DB starts to commit, and this allows him to shield the DB from the ball and high point it for another first down.
His biggest play of the game was on a fade route. Off the line he gives a stutter to freeze the CB and get a read on him. He then beats the CB down the sideline but has to adjust to an underthrown ball to his back shoulder in order to make another contested catch for a first down.
The biggest play that didn’t happen was on the post route where Diggs sprung free in the end zone. It was the perfect call versus quarters as the Titans safety and corner fail to communicate on the scissor combo by Diggs and Rudolph. This frees up Diggs, but Hill was unable to put the ball in a spot where he could have a chance to make a play.
When you just look at the numbers, Diggs put together a 100-yard game for an anemic offense. Taking a closer look at his catches though gives a glimpse into the type of player Diggs is and what makes him a special player. His ability to vary his routes versus different coverages, stop on a dime, and attack/adjust to the ball, all contribute to the first of many good games for Diggs in the 2016 season.
Week 1 versus the Tennessee Titans, we scored two defensive TDs and kicked three FGs, so our O wasn’t very successful. We couldn't get anything going on the ground, and Shaun Hill wasn't exactly lighting anyone up. However, there was one player who was able to shine despite the circumstances, and that was Stefon Diggs.
Diggs had 7 receptions for 103 yards to go with six first downs. He did the majority of his damage in the intermediate area, making three catches on deep curls.
The first curl is the only one where he didn’t gain a first down. He ran the route to 5 yards in front of the LB and after the catch shows his slippery ability to make people miss and pick up additional yardage.
On his other curls he makes sure to really sell the deep route to the DBs before stopping on a dime and picking up two easy first down catches.
Two of his catches were on simple out routes for first downs. Although they were technically the same route the way he runs them varies and shows some of the nuances that makes Diggs a top flight route runner.
The first one is versus a Cover 3 look so Diggs sells the deep route versus the corner before making his break. This forces the DB to open up his hips and gives Diggs the space he needs to undercut the DB and high point the ball.
The second out is versus a Cover 1. Look where Diggs starts off aligned in the slot. The DB is playing with outside leverage so first Diggs sells the inside route before breaking back out just as the DB starts to commit, and this allows him to shield the DB from the ball and high point it for another first down.
His biggest play of the game was on a fade route. Off the line he gives a stutter to freeze the CB and get a read on him. He then beats the CB down the sideline but has to adjust to an underthrown ball to his back shoulder in order to make another contested catch for a first down.
The biggest play that didn’t happen was on the post route where Diggs sprung free in the end zone. It was the perfect call versus quarters as the Titans safety and corner fail to communicate on the scissor combo by Diggs and Rudolph. This frees up Diggs, but Hill was unable to put the ball in a spot where he could have a chance to make a play.
When you just look at the numbers, Diggs put together a 100-yard game for an anemic offense. Taking a closer look at his catches though gives a glimpse into the type of player Diggs is and what makes him a special player. His ability to vary his routes versus different coverages, stop on a dime, and attack/adjust to the ball, all contribute to the first of many good games for Diggs in the 2016 season.
