The Minnesota Vikings will be looking to replace the receiving impact Stefon Diggs provided with a unit based approach. The growth of Irv Smith Jr. could help with accounting for a portion of that.
The Vikings have long embraced using two tight end sets and involving them both as receiving threats. Minnesota may be getting creative with how they do it, as they’ve shown so far in training camp.
According to Arif Hasan of The Athletic, the Vikings have experimented with lining up Smith Jr. on the outside ‘a little more often’ than they conventionally do with players at tight end.
The Vikings have been experimenting with lining [Irv Smith Jr.] up outside a little more often than they’ve lined up tight ends on the outside in the past, and this could become a regular possibility.
Smith, a second-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, provided solid production during his rookie campaign in 2019. He appeared in all 16 games (7 starts) and recorded 47 targets, 36 receptions, 311 yards, and 2 touchdowns. He was targeted just one less time than Mason Rudolph.
The Vikings’ involvement of Smith Jr. on the outside seems to be working quite well. Hasan noted Smith Jr. has been ‘doing the most’ of Minnesota’s tight ends so far in training camp and has shown to be a ‘sharp route-runner.’
Among the tight ends, Irv Smith Jr. seems to be doing the most. He’s been a sharp route-runner, which was a bit of a question for him in the past — so his ability to make cuts at speed is good to see. It’s not the final stage in his evolution as a route-runner, but it’s good progress.
For an NFL team to thrive in the passing game, it’s crucial to create matchup advantages. With Smith Jr., the Vikings can line up out wide more often and capitalize against linebackers with his speed and use his size to outcompete corners for the ball.
The ongoing progression of Irv Smith Jr. will be fascinating to monitor throughout the remainder of the Minnesota Vikings’ training camp. If he can have this translate during the regular season, the offense as a whole could surprise.
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