Defenses game-planning against him
Adam Thielen started the 2018 season on a historic run. He had over 100 yards receiving in the first eight games of the year. But after that, he only had one contest with at least 100 yards for the remainder of the season.
So did Thielen suddenly forget how to play during the second half of 2018? Probably not and it’s much more likely that teams studied his film and game-planned to take him out of the Vikings’ offense.
Thielen saw a lot more double coverages as the season progressed and he not only had to worry about the guy lined up over him, but he also had to deal with a safety rolling over the top.
The additional weapons Minnesota has added in the offseason should help offset the number of double coverages the veteran receiver sees in 2019, but their arrival won’t end them completely.
Opposing teams will have to pick their poison when it comes to what they want to take away from the Vikings’ offense each week. Some defenses may decide to take Stefon Diggs out of the game plan, others may want to stop Minnesota’s run game (assuming it gets going in 2019), and others may decide to eliminate Thielen as a factor in the offense.
If Thielen is the gray duck more times than not, then his overall numbers and production in 2019 could decline because of it.