What's it like to face Justin Jefferson in practice? Let Akayleb Evans explain

EAGAN — The Minnesota Vikings’ social media team has a duty to publish any and all miraculous Justin Jefferson catches from training camp but the unfortunate result of showing highlights against your own team is that somebody has to be on the wrong end of those Moss’ings.

On a number of occasions, that has been Akayleb Evans.

The second-year cornerback has taken every rep with the first team going back to OTAs and is preparing for his first opportunity to be an NFL starter by battling the best wide receiver in the universe day after day. While the outside world gets to see the times that he loses — like on the first day fans were present at TCO Performance Center when JJ pulled off a crazy move at the catchpoint and Griddy’d his way into the end zone — the one-on-ones have been a learning tool for Evans, who is set to face the likes of Mike Evans, AJ Brown, Deebo Samuel, Chris Olave, Davante Adams and Amon-Ra St. Brown this season.

“I don’t think there’s a better guy for him to compete against on a day-to-day basis [than Jefferson],” defensive coordinator Brian Flores said. “Speed, quickness, route-running, high-pointing the ball, releases, you’re not going to see a better opponent. That should give all of our DBs this feeling that….it doesn’t get much [harder] than this.”

So what is it like to face Jefferson? How is it making Evans better? In a sit-down conversation with Purple Insider, Evans explained that it begins at the line of scrimmage.

Those who keep stock of draft analysis will recall critiques of Jefferson’s ability to get off the line against press coverage as one of the reasons he was the fifth receiver taken in 2020. Well, it turns out those criticisms were juuuuust a bit off and he has throttled opposing corners off the line for three years.

“He’s very quick and fast, so off the line of scrimmage he could be gone in a flash,” Evans said after practice on Sunday.

Evans explained that there is a chess game that goes on between the corner and receiver at the beginning of a play. Is he playing hard or soft press coverage? Is it off coverage? What type of release does he anticipate from the receiver? What techniques will he use to play physically with him?

“Mixing it up, showing him different looks and making him think,” Evans said. “If you do the same thing over and over again, he’s going to figure you out like any great receiver will.”

“You always have one move and then a counter to it,” he continued. “There are different things you can do as a DB to mix it up but it’s all about working your tools especially in the offseason and adding stuff to your toolbelt.”

Of course, mixing it up isn’t always enough. Evans said Jefferson’s ability to dip his shoulders low to the ground while still accelerating is difficult to face because, even with his length, the corner can barely get a hand on JJ. He’s prepared for that now.

The middle of the route is where Jefferson truly tests his opponents — not just in their ability to run stride for stride alongside his 4.4 40-yard dash speed but in their patience. Jump at one of JJ’s setup moves and it’s over.

“Trying to be slow and not guess and jump out of position because it’s easy to fall for head fakes,” Evans said. “He’s real twitchy. When he gives you [a move] you feel like you have to respect it.”

Patience isn’t the only coverage hack. Knowledge is power for cornerbacks. Evans said that understanding leverage — whether it’s playing outside toward the sideline or inside closer to the rest of the defense — and knowing where he has help from linebackers or safeties is vital to having a chance.

“Being in tune with the defense and my techniques has been a big focus of mine,” Evans said. “I feel like I have the tools, it’s just a mindset thing. No matter who I’m going against in practice I’m staying true to the technique and the defensive scheme and lock in every single rep and stay focused and good things will happen.”

Evans and Flores seem like a match made in football heaven. Evans has length, athleticism and footwork that seems to keep him on the hip of receivers, even if they are the best in the world. Flores plays an aggressive style that routinely asks corners to handle the NFL’s top receivers on an island while he sends blitzers at the quarterback.

“It’s definitely a good fit,” Evans said. “His mindset across the board has been very beneficial.”

Head coach Kevin O’Connell has taken notice of Evans’s commitment to making improvements after a rocky debut season that included a breakout game against Washington and a concussion that kept him out after Week 13.

“I remember seeing him maybe the Monday or Tuesday after the season, and he was here [at TCO Performance Center] consistently,” O’Connell said. “It was really really cool to see a player that sets his goals, and he has a mindset to go get it done. He’s doing the things that nobody really sees, that will not surprise any of us when we go see him have success.”

But there’s no scheme or offseason work that can prepare a cornerback for Jefferson’s ability to make unbelievable contested catches.

“Trying to be physical at the catch point — there’s only so much we want to do out here in practice but gloving it, raking arms that’s the best thing you can try to do,” Evans said, shaking his head.

If there is one area where he will need to step up from college it is making plays on the ball. Evans only had one interception in college and had just four pass breakups on 47 targets in his last college season, per PFF. Jefferson is giving him lots of work in that regard — and in every other facet of his game.

“It’s a very difficult task but it’s one that’s going to make me a great player,” Evans said.