Theo Jackson, left, said he bugs veteran Vikings safety Harrison Smith, right, every day for little tips on reading different pass coverages and keys. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Metellus called it “the best of both worlds”: Jackson gets to reap the benefits of his hard work and play with the ones, but he also gets to keep growing as a leader when he’s with the twos.
Leadership is the area both Metellus and Hutchings said they expect Jackson to grow his game most this season.
In any defense, leadership from the secondary is important.
“You’re the quarterback of the defense, so you have to be able to communicate,” Metellus said. “You have to be able to bring the guys along with you. You gotta be able to fix the mistakes, and you can’t do that without leading from the front lines. [Jackson’s] been doing a great job taking that role.”
But with defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ more elaborate scheme, that leadership from the top of the field is even more crucial. There has to be a deep understanding of the system, the language, everything about what Flores does in order to be able to coordinate on-field adjustments for the entire defense.
That’s where Smith said he’s taken the most pride in Jackson’s growth over the past two seasons: seeing him increase his grasp on everything Flores’ defense throws at players.