Kevin O'Connell highlights key trait that set Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison apart from the rest

Kevin O'Connell praises Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison's ball tracking

After Jefferson and Addison had an incredible day where they combined for five touchdowns, it was their ball-tracking on the deep touchdowns they scored. O'Connell talked about how their ball tracking is special and evoked one of the best deep ball receivers when discussing it.

"I would love to sit here and say that it's something you can coach up and you do. Keenan does a great job drilling different things. But I think ball tracking from a receiver, especially down the field, is a natural, gifted thing. Things are happening so fast, guys are moving fast to be I mean, the real elite ones. I think both those and when it comes to that, I mean in the laces, the revolution. The way the game slows down when the ball is in the air, the way they're able to track and understand exactly how to either pace themselves down and like Jordan [Addison] did on his first touchdown, and come back and get the football play through contact, his long kind of post he had in the in the second half, and then Justin's clearly, thinking back to some of the plays he's made down the field over the last almost three years now, I think it's something that those guys are really special for, and it's something that I've always looked at.

"I can remember, you know, a guy that always comes to mind is Deshaun Jackson when, you know, I was coaching against him in the division when I was in the NFC East for that, you know, couple years there, I just remember being like, that's the trait, not only a guy that can fly but a guy that can track the ball and really effortlessly make something that's very, very difficult look easy. And there's been great examples of it, but I think we got two of them right here in our building."

Ball tracking is what can separate players from good to great. Jefferson and Addison's ability to track the ball downfield is a major factor in generating explosives down the field.

The Vikings have the most completions of 20+ yards with 27, yards with 969 yards and tied for first in touchdowns with 7. It's a staple of how O'Connell likes to run his offenses. 

It's also noteworthy how O'Connell talked about how ball-tracking could be a major factor in how the Vikings prioritize who will end up being the next wide receiver they bring in. You could make an argument that they should consider taking a receiver with an early pick to continue fortifying their roster with weapons. Getting one that has plus ball-tracking looks like it's a priority for the Vikings.