As J.J. McCarthy nears return, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell takes himself to task for offense’s woes

O’Connell said McCarthy is “symptom free” from a Nov. 23 concussion and expected to start Sunday vs. Washington.


Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is expected to retake the reins of a struggling Vikings offense this week as he’s close to clearing the concussion protocol, coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday.

McCarthy is “symptom free,” O’Connell said, and will be a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. If McCarthy remains symptom free after a full practice and is cleared by the team’s medical staff and an independent neurological consultant, he will return as the starter this coming Sunday against the Washington Commanders.

The Vikings offense sank to a new low during rookie quarterback Max Brosmer’s first NFL start against the Seahawks. The franchise’s first shutout loss since 2007 left O’Connell looking inward and pondering further systemic changes.

“We all can be better,” O’Connell said. “I’m going to personally look at myself and continue to find a way to coach the details of the plays that are called, and what type of plays we’re going to call and how many plays we’re going to take into games. If we’ve got to limit our inventory and just demand execution, we’ll do it more than we already have, which has been part of the process over these last few weeks.”

Coaches have already toned down gameplans to help McCarthy and Brosmer, ranging from easier cadences at the line of scrimmage to fewer formations and personnel groupings.

They are considering further simplification to get everyone playing better. The Vikings didn’t run for a first down until the fourth quarter at Seattle.

“It’s getting great combinations in the run game,” O’Connell said, “it’s handling movement defensively in the run game so you don’t end up with unblocked players at the point of attack.”

Brosmer, an undrafted rookie, had shown the ability to “function in our offense” during practices and the preseason, O’Connell said, so he was asked to check into plays at the line and progress through full-field reads.

While O’Connell commended Brosmer for checking into the right play against a Seahawks blitz early in Sunday’s loss, the rookie sped through his progression and threw a hurried deep ball over receiver Jordan Addison.

O’Connell said he believes a simpler approach could “lead to a little bit more rhythm and timing to our pass game.”

A broader necessary change than the individual play calls is O’Connell, the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, having visions for attacking defensive coverages.

The Vikings ranked second in both the 2023 and ’24 seasons in throws gaining at least 20 yards. Seemingly no longer capable of reaching that explosive standard, O’Connell said his in-game decision making needs to reflect that understanding with the type of passes he’s calling.

“It needs to take a back seat to what is the best thing for our offense in that moment, in full transparency,” O’Connell said. “Things I may see, chances to get maybe in cuts screaming or, you know, high crosses running or vertical chances that have always kind of gave us the lift in games.”

Tight end Josh Oliver was supposed to block Seahawks edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence on the fourth-and-1 play near the goal line that led to Ernest Jones IV’s 85-yard interception return for touchdown, said O’Connell, but he pointed the finger at himself for the play call. 

Nobody blocked Lawrence and he nearly sacked Brosmer, who hastily tossed an underhanded pick instead of taking the sack.

“Ultimately, I didn’t like the play call,” O’Connell said. “It’s totally on me in that moment. ... We better have a schematically more sound play and that’s totally on me. It’s not on Josh, it’s not on Max ... It was on me and it was a massive play in the game.”

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What a year he's having. Looks smooth and accurate. Big athletic kid. New England was smart not to part with him for the 3 number one picks Minnesota offered. Had some bad moments last year, but damn he's on track to be a top 10 QB in the NFL. I had bagged on him early in the year but that was oh so wrong, lol.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/4717...start-game

Dumb ass kid. Got it by the tail but can't get out of his own way. 3rd overall pick in round 1. Yuck.

Tennessee Titans: 1-11 record; .571 strength of schedule
New Orleans Saints: 2-10; .502 SOS
New York Giants: 2-10; .539 SOS
Las Vegas Raiders 2-10; .556 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 3-9; .480 SOS
Washington Commanders: 3-9; .517 SOS
New York Jets: 3-9; .534 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 3-9; .565 SOS
Atlanta Falcons (pick belongs to Los Angeles Rams): 4-8; .498 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 4-8; .517 SOS
11. Minnesota Vikings: 4-8; .532 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 5-7; .488 SOS

We're moving on up...That SOS isnt doing us any favors! 

Will Wentz be the veteran QB competition in camp next year? I think they might have to think bigger than that.

Man, the look on the faces of some of the players on the sidelines yesterday was a gut punch.  It seems to me KOC has maybe lost the team?  The body language was of a team that has quit.  What a mess.

The bad news:  we had a severe cold snap over the weekend that froze up my automatic waterers for the horses.  I set about figuring out the problem, which I thought was a GFCI breaker.  
As I was texting my electrician back and forth during the first half of the game, he suggested that it was usually the actual heating element, which was an easier fix.

After Max's first interception, I left to go get the replacement part from the local farm & ranch supply store.
I'm glad I did not wait.  So I didn't see the second half live.  Thankfully.

The Good news: I spent the rest of the afternoon fixing the automatic waterer.  
My horses are happy and well watered now.  

But I cannot do this anymore...not for a while.
I can only afford to take a peek with one eye to maybe check a score or stats.  This is just not fun.

The wheels have fallen off this wagon. 
I had believed that he could not do worse than JJM.  He did. 
I felt bad for Max.  I feel bad for now departing Adam Thielen.
I gotta take a break.

I am happy that I still have a college football team to root for (FCS playoffs...go Griz).

I acknowledge that I lived in Colorado for ten years and went to multiple Bronco games and my daughter and her family are avid Bronco fans (with the Vikings as #2 with a nod to me).  And I can pull for Bo Nix who I had loudly advocated here during last year's draft.

But I just can't do this anymore.  I like y'all, and will likely take a peek back here from time to time, but my head hurts from banging it against a brick wall.

Express your displeasure 

952-828-6500

For obvious reasons...

I think thats the last win we might see this season? Unless something really big improves at QB. 

Commanders
At Dallas
At NYG
Lions
Packers

Too bad this years team sucks...Such a great home schedule remaining and 3 of the 5 are at home. That might actually work against them this year - sadly.