The Athletic: What's next for JJ McCarthy?

[purplefaithful]

Hype, coachspeak, and whatever else notwithstanding...

...JJM's job this offseason is to show growth, across the board. He needs to get bigger/stronger/tougher, he needs to push his passing fundamentals to new levels, he needs to work on his "touch" so he can rely less on his "piss missiles", and he needs to study the playbook until it's written into his DNA.

He needs every moment he can schedule with JJ, with Addison, with Hock and even Jones. He's got to bring the latest, most upgraded version of himself to camp possible.

None of this is caused by Murray's addition, it all needed to happen anyway...but, the need to answer the challenges certainly gained volume.

Step up, kid. A whole lot of us would love to see you be THE GUY for many years to come.

^^^
BINGO!

The criteria for success of McCarthy (for now) is show improvement and mind your business...

I dont think its fair to expect him a 2nd year player with 10 games under his belt (actually 9.5 as he pulled himself out of GB) to beat out a 7 year vet who's thrown 121 td's over his career.

[CFIAvike]

IMO, none of this conjecture matters. JJ’s future is not with us. If it was, we’d be seeing what his progression this year looks like on the field. If the team TRULY believed in his development, there would be no question he’d be the starter this year. They don’t…it’s absolutely not debatable. This pie in the sky, “going back to the bench for the year is best for him” bullshit is frankly stupid. The Vikings do….not….believe….in….JJ.

I’m not even pissed about us punting on JJ the player…I’m pissed that the Vikings and a majority of the fanbase proved, without a shadow of a doubt, that it can’t handle drafting and developing a young QB. It took one year for the team to toss all those plans into the fire and go back to the free agent QB well.

And I’m TIRED of hearing that we’re only paying Kyler $1.5 million and that’s why we signed him. Come on…. If the Cards weren’t paying him this year he was likely a “3yr/100 mil level QB” and everyone knows it. That’s likely 90% of the reason we didn’t sign him long term, as it would have offset that language. Hasn’t anyone put together that the reason we’re not spending money this year and are seemingly clearing cap space next year is to be able to sign Kyler long term? The only question of how much we pay him is dependent on how well he plays.

Everything your eyes can see is that the Vikings are done with JJ McCarthy and likely developing a drafted QB. Barring injury, JJ never starts another game for the Minnesota Vikings.

[purplefaithful]

This pie in the sky, “going back to the bench for the year is best for him” bullshit is frankly stupid. 
Who are you quoting from the Vikings on that? I do agree that he needs reps more than holding a clip-board at this time.

The Vikings do….not….believe….in….JJ.
Conjecture...

Majority of the fanbase proved, without a shadow of a doubt, that it can’t handle drafting and developing a young QB.
100% agree!
Hell, I'm guilty of the very same thing. I'll give myself some grace being out of practice.
But still hoping he's qbotf. 

Hasn’t anyone put together that the reason we’re not spending money this year and are seemingly clearing cap space next year is to be able to sign Kyler long term? The only question of how much we pay him is dependent on how well he plays.
Thats an interesting theory
Not sure I would have connected those dots this early myself. But interesting take! 

IMHO there are reasons (really strong reasons) to not just turn over the reigns to JJM yet. At least without seeing lots more growth from him. How he does in OTA and TC will be interesting to follow, hoping for the best. 

But yah, I dont expect him to beat out a 7 year vet who's thrown over 100 td's. 

[CFIAvike]

IMHO there are reasons (really strong reasons) to not just turn over the reigns to JJM yet. At least without seeing lots more growth from him. How he does in OTA and TC will be interesting to follow, hoping for the best. 

But yah, I dont expect him to beat out a 7 year vet who's thrown over 100 td's. 

The “better off back to bench comment” is just a widely spread narrative I’ve seen from lots of Vikings fans. 


I also don’t believe it’s just conjecture about them not believing in JJ. I feel like they’ve proven it by what’s come out about him from multiple “unnamed sources” within the organization. It’s also not THAT they signed another QB for the “QB room”…it’s who.  They’re SPRINTED to Kyler Murray to sign him. Not an older vet to mentor/push/be a possible starter. They went and got a 28 year old former #1 overall pick looking to revive his career. This is almost EXACTLY the Jones/Richardson scenario in Indy except Murray is likely more talented. 

This team is gonna say whatever they want, but actions speak louder than words. And literally not ONE action this offseason is showing ANY belief in JJ McCarthy

[purplefaithful]

Well, I still hold out hope that JJM is the future for this franchise.

I also dont think JJM was ready to start last year and the more I hear/read coming out post season, I dont blame the Vikings for not leading with him in 26.

Just too much at stake (for coaches & players) and too many unknowns have surfaced to just hand him the reigns imo.