Justin Jefferson ready to prove he’s better than Cooper Kupp in Kevin O’Connell offense

Justin Jefferson is so excited to be playing for Kevin O’Connell and running the same offense that helped transform Cooper Kupp into a superstar.

Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson is ecstatic to be running the same Los Angeles Rams offense under new head coach Kevin O’Connell in which Cooper Kupp flourished.

No doubt about it. The third-year pro out of LSU is more talented than Kupp. However, the Rams’ No. 1 wide receiver won the receiving triple crown a year ago, taking home Super Bowl 56 MVP honors as well. Jefferson had played for the defensive-minded Mike Zimmer the two previous seasons, but he is brimming with excitement over getting to work with the promising head coach.

Here is what the Vikings’ No. 1 wide receiver said about the new offense his team is now running.

"“Now I see why Coop was wide open so many times … It’s so wonderful being in this type of offense,” said Jefferson about the Minnesota’s new offense on The NFL Network."

O’Connell was part of a Super Bowl team, but he was not the straw that stirred the drink in L.A.

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While Jefferson should have plenty of success in this offense, O’Connell is not yet Sean McVay.

Justin Jefferson cannot wait to run the same offense that Cooper Kupp just did

Though it is easy to see how O’Connell will pattern his Minnesota offense over what worked in Los Angeles, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. While Minnesota may have the better former Florida State star at running back, O’Connell has to prove he really is a taller version of McVay. But perhaps most importantly, Kirk Cousins needs to get on Matthew Stafford’s level. Good luck, man!

As with Los Angeles, Minnesota should be a playoff team. Heck, if the arch rival Green Bay Packers underwhelm, the Vikings can win the NFC North and host a home playoff game or two. However, the Vikings have a first-time head coach in O’Connell and a first-time general manager in Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who picked O’Connell to be his guy over his former NFL colleague, Jim Harbaugh.

Ultimately, running a similar offensive scheme to the Rams could help the Vikings get over the hump. Unfortunately, that may not be enough to eclipse Green Bay in-division. For a franchise that had a complete change-of-guard at the helm, the Vikings still face an absurd amount of pressure, all things considered. It would be disappointing to miss the NFC playoffs for a third year in a row.

Jefferson has to be a catalyst in the Vikings offense if Minnesota wants to achieve the improbable.