The Evolution of Stefon Diggs

[BwareDWare94 723]

2nd year Vikings WR Stefon Diggs was a phenom for stretches of the 2015 season--through his first four games, totaling 419 yards, including 6 catches for 87 yards in his very first game against Denver (we're talking Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. trying to cover him, here). Through the last 9 games of the season, however, Diggs barely mustered 300 receiving yards (301). What teams did to slow him down was pull a classic move against a young receiver. Press coverage was applied, and he struggled to get out of it. At the same time, when Diggs did make receptions, they were generally fairly important to either the drive or game in question. He wasn't approaching 100 yards receiving anymore, but he continued to make plays and was still an emerging threat at the position for the Vikings.

 

What is it that makes Diggs such a threat when he's not particularly big (6' and >200lbs)? It's a combination of things, honestly. His route running is something that the Vikings staff--and their media team--have raved about since he arrived at his first training camp. Diggs is one of those players who runs routes at full speed, from the first step until he turns around for the ball. This allows him to use his 4.46 speed to get immediate separation if he can avoid the jam at the line of scrimmage. Diggs is one of those receivers who, when he's playing well, is going to be wide open 3-4 times a game, and you just hope that your QB doesn't miss him (and Teddy DID miss him quite a lot, last season). Here's a highlight video from his rookie season that showcases his abilities:

 

 

2 Weeks into the 2016 season and Stefon Diggs has torched both Tennessee and Green Bay (with Green Bay's top corner regularly on him, at that). What could have given us some sort of indication that this was possible after such a lackluster second half of the 2015 season? It's all in the little intricacies of playing the position. Diggs' first step is everything, and once teams started to press him, it became clear that it was not something he was accustomed to. At the same time, he was still making plays, but wasn't racking up yardage like he did through the first four weeks. In all of Diggs' impact games last season, he made at least one high yardage catch. Against the Rams, it was 30 yards (only 46 on the day, but 30 in one chunk is probably going to result in a scoring drive). Against the Raiders, he only had 2 receptions, but averaged 23 yards per catch. Against the Falcons and Cardinals, he didn't have high yardage but drew defensive penalties on multiple occasions. Against the Bears in arguably his best game of the second half, he scored twice. Against only Arizona was Diggs truly disappointing, because that was one of Bridgewater's better games in the 2015 season. Other games where Diggs was practically invisible had more to do with Teddy Bridgewater playing terribly than anything else.

 

In the playoff game against Seattle, Stefon had less than 30 yards receiving, but each catch that he had was pivotal in some sense. Overall, Stefon Diggs' yardage was down in the latter half of the 2015 season, but that had more to do with the terrible play of Teddy Bridgewater than anything. Diggs did struggle against press coverage, but very few young receivers excel against it right away.

 

Enter the 2016 season and after 2 games Stefon Diggs looks like a completely different player. Shaun Hill targeted him regularly against Tennessee and helped Diggs rack up over 100 yards. Sam Bradford did not miss Diggs when he was open against Green Bay and, on catches where coverage was tight, placed the ball where only Diggs could catch it.

 

Last night, Stefon Diggs was a phenom, and may have had his coming out party as a stud NFL receiver. Chris Collinsworth kind of choked on his tongue once he'd realized what he said, but at one point he compared Diggs to Antonio Brown. It's a little early for such high level praise, but when it comes to route running and sure-handedness, Brown may be the receiver who Diggs most resembles as he continues to blossom as an NFL receiver.

[BJORN 679]

Not surprised at all to see Diggs killing it at this level. Still mad SteVo stole my boy in our mock draft. He mostly fell due to injuries and the fact that he got suspended in his senior year for getting into a fight at Penn State. He was stellar at Maryland and was a top recruit in the nation at WR.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Not surprised at all to see Diggs killing it at this level. Still mad SteVo stole my boy in our mock draft. He mostly fell due to injuries and the fact that he got suspended in his senior year for getting into a fight at Penn State. He was stellar at Maryland and was a top recruit in the nation at WR.

 

 

I did no such thing, I'm not nearly that good a scout.

[BJORN 679]

 

 

I did no such thing, I'm not nearly that good a scout.

Oops, it was Bucman. I've been harboring this hate for you for no reason

 

[Cherry 1,302]

About time some Vikings wideout Bware oozes about does something. Who was it last year? Charles Johnson? And before that? Jarius Wright?

Edited September 19, 2016 by 2-14

[Packers Dynasty 2010 116]

He wasn't going against out top corner. Shields is easily our best corner and was out for the game. Randall is in his 2nd year and will continue to have his ups and downs. Did quite well against Robinson last week, shit the bed this week.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

He wasn't going against out top corner. Shields is easily our best corner and was out for the game. Randall is in his 2nd year and will continue to have his ups and downs. Did quite well against Robinson last week, shit the bed this week.

 

He's still young. It's one of the hardest positions to transition to in the NFL, imo. Just gonna take time. The Packers should be aware of that as well.

[Packers Dynasty 2010 116]

 

He's still young. It's one of the hardest positions to transition to in the NFL, imo. Just gonna take time. The Packers should be aware of that as well.

 

Ya, and considering he was a safety in college. Still surprised we did not try lining Rollins or Gunter up against Diggs to see if they could handle him better.

[Bucman 891]

Oops, it was Bucman. I've been harboring this hate for you for no reason

 

. Diggs was plagued with shitty QBs in college.

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

I think Diggs will be good, but I don't think he'll ever be a top 10 receiver. He'll excel though as a compliment receiver.