It's been a quiet few weeks for sensational Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.
After averaging about four receptions for 72 yards over six scores per game while scoring five touchdowns through the first eight weeks of his first NFL season, Thomas was limited to seven scores, four catches, 34 yards and zero scores in the last two Jacksonville games.
Granted, Thomas is over a pectoral injury he suffered in the last game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 when he scored a touchdown.
However, Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson has dismissed the notion that Thomas' performance was limited by his injury.
Instead, Pederson pointed to the coverage Thomas has faced in the Jaguars' recent matchups, primarily Cover 3 Cloud in Week 9 against Philadelphia and a mix of traditional Cover 2 and Cover 3 Cloud against Minnesota in Week 10.
Accordingly, Thomas often had two defenders keeping him in check during these games.
“If you watch the football game closely and don't follow the ball, you'll see what Philly did in normal down situations. Some were on third down as they had a corner and a safety. So they've basically doubled in size [Thomas]” Pederson explained on November 4th, pointing out that the Eagles had not previously presented the coverage much throughout the season.
“It's hard to throw the ball there to a player who has doubled. So you have to go to other places with the ball. So that was part of their game plan.”
As for the pairing, Pederson acknowledged that the Vikings' effective pass rush further limited Thomas' options in Week 10. Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones took three sacks and was pressured 10 times on 27 dropbacks Sunday.
The Jaguars start slot receiver Christian Kirk in Week 8. Keep in mind that the opposing defense may devote more resources to slowing Thomas down.
But Pederson believes the attention Thomas deserves can be managed by the coaching staff moving him around the offensive formation before action and Thomas recognizing possible double teams.
“I think you can arrange it in stacks or bundles. “You can move him around the formation a little bit and do some things that way,” Pederson said Wednesday.
“The only downside to this is that the offense has to be stationary at the snap so that the defense can still move and set up. So let's do our best to move him around the formation and then make sure Brian obviously knows he's going to be doubled at times. He just has to work to get free.”
Thomas' next test comes Sunday against Detroit's secondary. The Lions have allowed 244.2 passing yards per game this season, fifth-most in the NFL.